FCPS CARES - May 2023

To recognize an employee with an FCPS Cares, please visit our submission page.

To view past submissions, please visit our previous submissions page. 

FCPS CARES of the Month Recipients

Central Office

Jordan Simmons, Bryant HS

"On May 2, 2023, a Bryant student was experiencing a medical emergency. Mr. Simmons saw the student’s condition worsening and requested assistance. The student’s condition suddenly worsened to life threatening. No pulse, no breathing. When I came on the scene to assist, Mr. Simmons was performing CPR on a student who appeared lifeless. After additional intervention, the student regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital, ultimately making a full recovery. Beyond his initial response, Mr. Simmons has connected with this student and has established a mentoring relationship. He is meeting with the student regularly and the only words that can describe what has happened is life changing. Mr. Simmons literally saved this young man's life and has committed to mentor him into the foreseeable future. Thank you, Mr. Simmons."

-  Karen Hertel, Bryant HS 

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Region 1 

Cara Chaapel, Herndon ES - View the celebration

"Cara Chaapel has been teaching for twenty-six years. Twenty of these years have been at Herndon Elementary School. She has a wealth of information for the field of General Music. She has been and continues to be incredibly helpful by generously providing many resources and sharing great lesson ideas. I've been able to use some of these for guest teacher plans for my school's General Music guest teachers as well as use some myself. She is dedicated to her profession and to her students at Herndon Elementary School. She kindly donates apparel to students in need. She incorporates Speech and Reading into her General Music lessons. She assists Spanish speaking students. She recently applied for and received an FGMEA mini grant for purchasing "sensory" instruments for her school's EAC classes. She also recently applied for, and received ukuleles for her school, from "Music for Life".  She is also taking a post-graduate Special Education class. She is also a great friend! Thank you for all you do, Cara Chaapel!!!!!"

- - Suzan Mardis, Hutchison ES

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Region 2

Patience Galvan, Kent Gardens ES - View the celebration

"On the day my daughter's class was scheduled to go to the book fair, she got distracted and missed the announcement for kids to head to the fair to pick out their books. When she realized she had missed it, she was very disappointed, and Mrs. Galvan made sure she had the opportunity to go. However, it was too late when she arrived, and the fair had already closed. Mrs. Galvan very kindly allowed our daughter to pick out a few books from her personal class library so that she wouldn't be so disappointed. This one example of the many ways that Mrs. Galvan treats her students so kindly and makes a major difference in their (and our) lives! She is so wonderful and appreciated."

- a Kent Gardens ES parent

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Region 3

John Grey, Groveton ES - View the celebration

"My daughter has been incredibly lucky this year to have a teacher who cares about his students just as if they were his own children. Mr. John Grey puts a focus on building relationships with students and building a positive classroom community. My daughter is quite timid and quiet, and Mr. Grey has found ways to build a relationship with even the most reluctant child. He finds out what interests the students and tries his best to connect with each of them (In the students’ words, “Mr. Grey is fun!”). His students know that they can go to him to talk about anything, and he’s always interested. Even when they have challenges, he’s always one step ahead and planning how to best support them. In a time when teachers have so many things to deal with, one could easily put building relationships to the side to focus on “more important” things. Mr. Grey values the importance of positive relationships with his students and strives every day to support each of them. We can’t thank him enough for taking the extra time to truly care about his students, especially our daughter."

- a Groveton ES parent

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Region 4

Missy Chappell, Hunt Valley ES - View the celebration

"I wanted to take a moment to share with you our family's sincere gratitude for Mrs. Chappell. Last year at the beginning of 4th grade, our son was "all in" on the strings program. Knowing some of his attention challenges and not knowing the program well after relocating here, I wrote Mrs. Chappell to ask if this was possible for a student like him (with ADHD and high functioning autism). I wanted to make sure we were setting everyone up for success, students and teachers alike. Mrs. Chappell was so kind to me, reassuring me, and encouraging my son to join. She told me the strings program was absolutely for students like him and learning to play the cello was possible for him. I should add, I have no musical abilities, so I really did need to hear this was possible from her perspective. Fast forward to almost the end of 5th grade, almost two years in the strings program at Hunt Valley, and I listened to my son practice playing the cello for the upcoming strings concert with tears streaming down my face. He practiced his music with great focus and commitment. He read music. He played notes. He played songs. He asked me if it sounded good, if I liked the songs, and which one I liked best. I am just so proud of him. I am just so proud of how far he has come. His ability to read music, play notes, and play songs on the cello is a direct result of Mrs. Chappell's effort and teaching. There has been no outside help or anyone else instructing him. We want to recognize her and her efforts. Thank you for making this possible for our son and thank you for making this fun for him. Thank you for opening the world of music to him. I am certain there were a lot of days along the way that were not the most fun or the most rewarding. I know there were many days of cellos forgotten in hallways in the afternoon. Thank you for sticking with it and for believing in our son. Thank you for creating such an inclusive music community, and thank you for your abundance of patience, which I'm certain has been required. We hope that our son will continue in the strings program and continue with the cello, but more than the cello, you have helped us all see his potential and ability to try and learn new things. Our family is incredibly grateful for Mrs. Chappell." 

- a Hunt Valley ES parent

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Region 5

Jaime Carroll, Canterbury Woods ES (pictured) - View the celebration

"Mrs. Carroll is an absolute gem. She is amazing at differentiating a class full of elementary learners and always makes sure my child is working right at the edge of her capabilities, learning, and growing. Mrs. Carroll calls her students her "smart cookies" and gives them the confidence to live up to that name. My child believes in her math, social studies, science, and reading skills because of Mrs. Carroll. My child will be fully ready for second grade thanks to all she's learned this year. Mrs. Carroll is also wonderful at truly living out the FCPS ideal of meeting each child as an individual. She really connects with her students and sees them for who they are, then brings out the best in them. Most of all this year I have been impressed with how Mrs. Carroll builds community in her class. On top of all her amazing teaching, she manages to bring the students together as friends. A warm community of learning is such an amazing gift she gives to students year after year.

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Mrs. Carroll is an outstanding 1st grade teacher. She has taken our son who had little interest in reading to someone who loves to read and is extremely proud of all he has accomplished and learned under her tutelage. She is warm and supportive and just the right amount of tough. I have seen so much growth from him and I attribute it all to her."

- a Canterbury Woods ES parent

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Other FCPS Cares of the Month Recipients

Joy Pablo-Hayes, Greenbriar East ES 

"Thank you to Ms. Pablo-Hayes for always caring and going above and beyond for her students. She is attentive, communicative and supportive of the students and everything they need to feel safe while they learn."

- a Greenbriar East ES parent

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Caroline Hahn, Pulley Career Center

"Mrs. Hahn has been an amazing teacher for our son who has disabilities. She is enthusiastic, kind, positive, and always supportive. Our son has enjoyed going into school and working at his community based worksite everyday this school year. Mrs. Hahn has taught him valuable work skills and behaviors such as being a better self-advocate, paying attention to detail, and staying on task longer. We appreciate all the hard work and dedication of the Pulley Career Center staff and especially Mrs. Hahn! Thank you, Mrs. Hahn!"

- a Pulley Career Center Parent

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Jason Smolinski, Fairfax HS 

"Mr. Smolinski is an excellent teacher who gives students the opportunity to learn Geospatial Analysis techniques for dual enrollment. Mr. Smolinski’s skillful teaching style is inclusive and supportive of all student abilities, and he challenges students to work beyond their potential while facilitating interest in a fascinating area of specialty that can lead to a career. The projects completed in this class were practical and challenging, while integrating techniques for GIS specialists. We are very grateful our daughter had the opportunity to take Geospatial Analysis with Mr. Smolinski. It was a highlight of her senior year and prompted her to think more about GIS as a college major. Thank you, Mr. Smolinski, for your dedicated work and for inspiring our daughter to do her best while learning a new and specialized set of skills!"

- a Fairfax HS parent 

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Monica Lehmer, Forbes Place 

"Monica selflessly serves our community and office with her talents. She goes above and beyond to make this office such a place of laughter and efficiency. Monica has been the backbone of a very challenging office move and still smiles and brings in cake for birthdays in the midst of it all. She deserves to be celebrated."

- Michele Anwyll, Forbes Place 

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MacLean Wilson and Russ Wright, Sprague Technology Center

"Russ and MacLean provide amazing customer service whenever our team needs tech support. We are impressed by how quickly they respond and are able to support us in resolving any issues. They are extremely helpful and never make us feel like we are a burden. Even the smallest request, they take seriously and promptly support our team. Russ and MacLean have positive attitudes whenever we engage with them. We are so grateful to have them as our TSPECs!"

- the Leadership Development Team, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Stephanie Godwin, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Stephanie recently joined FCPS, and immediately began providing excellent customer care to everyone she interacts with at Willow Oaks Welcome Center. She is always smiling and willing to lend a helping hand. Her positive attitude, even during busy events, is refreshing and we always look forward to collaborating with her. We are thankful she joined the FCPS family and want her to know her efforts and positive attitude do not go unnoticed. Thank you for making a positive impact at Willow Oaks!"

- the Leadership Development Team, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Paul Marinero, Mountain View HS 

"Mr. Marinero is always kind and respectful with everyone."

- a Mountain View HS student 

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LaToya Prescod-Williams, Mountain View HS

"She made me feel part of the class, even though it's only been few months I feel pretty comfortable in her class and get to learn about how cash or money works in real life, all that I don't know about Economics. She's one of the wonderful people I have met since coming to USA. I admire her and want to be like her in future."

- a Mountain View HS student 

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Cory Apps, Falls Church HS 

"Coach Apps told me how me getting in troubles gets in the way of me getting my work done which showed me that he cared about me. He would look out for me when I needed and was even there when my parents couldn't make it on time."

- a Falls Church HS student

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Donna Thompson, Centreville HS

"She helped me get through a very hard time and I wouldn't be in a happier place if it wasn't for her. She deserves so much appreciation. She helped me find myself again and made me realize that I am worthy."

- a Centreville HS student

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Giselle Duran, South Lakes HS 

"I was having a bad day and she made the worst joke possible, but it was actually funny to me and I ended up having a good because of the that little moment.

- a Mountain View HS student

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LaToya Prescod-Williams, Mountain View HS

"Ms. Prescod was really nice and understanding and helped me with my missing work."

- a Mountain View HS student

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Peter Garvey, Mountain View HS

"Mr. Garvey is an excellent teacher who teaches us a lot of knowledge and values ​​for our lives, in addition to teaching, he cares about his students, he is an exemplary teacher."

- a Mountain View HS student

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Tina Akula, Brady Sabelli, and Latoya Prescod-Williams, Mountain View HS

"All these teachers have been nice and there for support, they always get you back up on your feet when you are at your lowest and they don't give up on you. They are good people."

- a Mountain View HS student

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Leslie Chekin, Mountain View HS

"Thank you very much for giving me your support and your love, thank you for taking your time to worry about me, you are a wonderful teacher. Thank you for encouraging me to continue with my studies, I appreciate it very much."

- a Mountain View HS student 

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Jeffrey Jones, Mountain View HS 

"Mr. Jones, he is a good person, and he is intelligent. Every time I ask him for help with something at school, he explains to me without any problem, and even though I no longer take classes with him, he also asks me how I am, he is a person who helped me a lot. He listened to me when I felt bad and advised me."

- a Mountain View HS student 

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Allie Ojjeh, Herndon MS 

"Ms. Ojjeh has been a remarkable teacher and case manager for our son this year. She understands and appreciates the magic of middle schoolers and connects with them in a way that is both inspiring and supportive. Throughout the year and several times recently, Ms. Ojjeh has made herself available for "lunch bunch," allowing our son and several of his friends to laugh and connect with her outside the classroom. It says so much that in a time of life in which nearly all adults are a source of embarrassment, our middle schooler and his friends seek extra time with Ms. Ojjeh. She is a true source of support and stability for students at a time when it is needed most. In a year that could have otherwise been very challenging, our son has thrived in 7th grade and we owe so much of that to Allie Ojjeh. Every student needs a Ms. Ojjeh in their middle school life!" 

- a Herndon MS parent

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Kaitlin Elliott , Jefferson Tech HS 

"I had the most wonderful experience interacting with Ms. Elliott regarding a rush request for my son's transcripts. She was very respectful, responsive, and followed up with me numerous times to makes sure I submitted all the right documents. I know that they are super busy during year end, and the fact that she took the time to acknowledge my request and process it quickly meant the world to me. It's employees like Ms. Elliott that makes a school successful and in turn makes the students successful. Thank you, Ms. Elliott, for all that you do."

- a Jefferson Tech HS parent

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Lauren Crispino, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"During an IEP meeting, team members were struggling with graduation requirements needed for a standard diploma. The team members called central office and Lauren Crispino dropped what she was doing to review student’s transcripts and provide a timely answer. After the IEP meeting, the case manager called central office to report how helpful the information Ms. Crispino shared was and that her immediate feedback allowed the student, parents and school staff to create a viable and meaningful transition plan to promote the student’s success. Thank you, Lauren Crispino!!!"

- Sarah Blake, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Bettye Stewart-Payne and Douglas Entwisle, Pulley Career Center

"I want to thank Ms. Stewart-Payne, Mr. Entwisle and his girlfriend for coming to my son’s baseball games. The games are on Sundays in Springfield. Mr. Entwisle and his girlfriend went to his game on May 21st. and Ms. Stewart-Payne went on May 28th. My son was very happy to see them come to his games."

- a Pulley Career Center parent

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Harry Van Trees, Lemon Road ES 

"My child has formed a strong bond with this staff member who has gone above and beyond to make my child feel like he is a part of their school's community, even when my child's relationships with his peers are challenging and tough to navigate. This staff member creates an inclusive environment that lets everyone shine and helps my child express himself in a way where he feels seen, heard, and known. My child always feels supported and welcomed by this staff member who has made time for him over and over again."

- a Lemon Road ES parent

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Tim Roberson and Ryan Northcutt, Woodson IT

"Tim and Ryan came out to our site multiple times to help set up our new News Studio. They helped us decide on a space and secure equipment in a safe way. They even helped clean out our space and make it more accessible for all. Our students and staff are so excited to present a live show next year, all thanks to them!"

- Anne Baker, Franklin MS 

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Cory Fox, Westfield HS 

"As the coach of the speech team, Mrs. Fox puts in countless hours, but her dedication is par excellence . Numerous times she has asked her husband to volunteer as a judge for the regional speech tournaments. It was yesterday, on Monday 5/29/23, when the bus bringing back the students from a National competition in Kentucky had a flat tire in West Virginia causing the kids to be delayed. Mrs. Fox with the help of Mr. Fox made sure that the kids got home on time. Her passion, compassion and dedication go beyond the classroom. One of the kindest people I have ever met. Mrs. Fox is a great teacher and a wonderful coach and a star in the Westfield Highschool  English department."

- Samrudhi Acharya, Jackson MS 

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Sharon Bonneau, Kilmer MS 

"A true example of a teacher who goes above and beyond to nurture, uplift, and support her students, Ms. Bonneau is a seasoned educator who is an incredible inspiration to her colleagues and parents alike! She is an amazing band director who not only meets each student where they are to encourage them in their musical development at their own pace, but she takes the time to actively seeking out growth opportunities for students to build their confidence and musicianship and then cheers them on as they pursue their goals! (What’s more, she sets very high standards and yet ALL the kids adore her…which is an enormously-impressive accomplishment in a middle school setting!) What a gem! We are so grateful for her positive influence and expert instruction she has provided to our children."

- a Kilmer MS parent

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Ameen Jackson and Brooke LaPorta, Bryant HS

"Thanks to the efforts, hard work, and commitment of Brooke LaPorta and Ameen Jackson, Bryant held its first ever Wellness Day. From its inception to its execution, Ameen and Brooke worked together as a team to pull off a fun filled, stress free day for students and staff. Whether it was taking a refreshing walk (as weather picture perfect), baking delicious chocolate chip cookies, cuddling with the furry, soft alpacas, or getting one's creativity out by coloring and jewelry making, there was something for everyone! They even secured additional funding to get healthy snacks and salads for our students. We finished the day off with a motivational speaker who shared his inspiring story to motivate and encourage our students. It was truly a FABULOUS day because of their attention to detail, hard work, and organizing a day focused solely on emotional and physical well-being. Kudos Brooke and Ameen! You all are rock stars."

- Florence Harrison, Bryant HS 

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Mahnaz Khalil Khosravi, Johnson MS 

"Señora Khosravi is an amazing teacher. She interacts with her students, she is caring of her students, and cares for them as if they were her own. I’m sad the school year is coming to an end and she will no longer be my Spanish teacher, it was an amazing experience and I soon hope to see her again after summer."

- a Johnson MS student

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Ashlee Nelson, Irving MS 

"I want to acknowledge and thank Ashlee Nelson, who has truly gone above and beyond in her role as counselor and has been an extraordinary support to our son, who has encountered some significant challenges over the last couple months. She was the one “safe place” he felt he had during very difficult times and were it not for her, I don’t think we could have gotten him to go to school in the first place. Her compassion and patience and diligence in pushing him to grow were truly exemplary."

- an Irving MS parent

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Mike Chierichella, Coates ES 

"This is my 1st year as a co-teacher as a Special Education teacher and working with Mike Chierichella or "Mr. C". He has welcomed me from Day 1 of this school year. Over the year, I have observed consistent positive qualities that have been evident. Firstly, I would describe Mr. C as open-minded. When planning the lessons of the day together, he acknowledges and accepts my viewpoints and modifications to the lessons. His flexibility has allowed the content to better serve all students in the class, not just the ones on my caseload during whole group lessons. Secondly, Mr. C shows sensitivity in the classroom. Some students may have bigger personalities than others, and when a firm re-direction is needed, Mr. C delivers the re-direction with a caring tone, a lower volume, and in a confident demeanor. With this in mind, he addresses all students' needs with respect and patience. Finally, Mr. C is an all-around awesome person to work with! I come into school happy every day, just because he is there, and the support and care I feel daily, emits my shine, too. We debrief after school about the happenings of the day, in turn, being even more prepared and pro-active with whatever the next day may bring. My input is valued! All in all, the student's growth this year, I feel, is due the professionalism, friendship, and same goals in mind, we share as co-teachers in the classroom."

- Adrienne Rafat, Coates ES 

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Desirae Griffin, Fairhill ES 

"This dedicated colleague is putting in extra time and teaching herself a whole new software program to help support our school while I’m out on FMLA leave. Even under normal circumstances Desirae is a most vital contributor, showing up just when a need arises, jumping in to solve problems and brainstorm strategies. But this month she has kicked it up exponentially in my absence as she keeps our little boat afloat. With much appreciation and gratitude from our Fairhill community, I thank you Desirae."

- Amy Spector, Fairhill ES 

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Missy Chappell, Orange Hunt ES

"Ms. Chappell has made a huge difference to my child this year. We had to practically force her to do strings again this year because she did not love it in her 4th grade year. Her experience in 5th grade has been a complete 180 and she now wants to do 6th grade strings next year and it’s all because of Ms. Chappell! So from forcing her to keep playing violin to her choosing it on her own…that’s a huge deal! Ms. Chappell's enthusiasm and teaching techniques have made her a favorite among ALL her strings students."

- an Orange Hunt ES parent

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Joycelynne Jimenez-Rodriguez, Hughes MS 

"During this school year, I have seen my son’s talent and confidence grow from being part of Ms. Jimenez’s orchestra class. Finding acceptance socially is challenging for my son, but she has created an environment where he has made friends and felt comfortable expressing his feelings. My son has grown as a musician and has come to love being a part of the orchestra program, giving him a sense of belonging. Ms. Jimenez keeps her expectations high through challenging music and projects that propel and expand her students' knowledge and confidence in their abilities. In return, her students respect and admire her and rise to the challenge. As a musician, I know how challenging it is to motivate students to practice and instill a love for music at all skill levels. Ms. Jimenez has accomplished this, and the concert last week was a representation of her dedication, love, and commitment to her students. What a great addition to Hughes she has been!"

- a Hughes MS parent

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Terrance Diggs, Lorton Transportation 

"I just wanna give a shout out to my Baker 223. I’ve been driving a school bus for 21 years now and he is the best Baker we’ve ever had on Team 22. He cares, he understands, and he listens. He gets what we need in a timely fashion. His communication is great. He even can throw in a joke once in a while. He does not complain, “out loud” anyways. I just love him, he’s the best Baker!! Thank you Terrance, I appreciate you!"

- Sher Windsor, Lorton Transportation Center

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Maya Nardone, Lake Braddock SS 

"With meetings doubled this year, Maya is always willing to jump in and participate. I greatly appreciate her quick acceptance, especially during her planning periods and sometimes even during instruction. She is a true team player, adds important and insightful information about individual students and makes some of the "hard" work easier. Thank you for all that you do to support not only your colleagues but all the students at LBSS."

- Meagan Tubbs, Lake Braddock SS 

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Edward Bradley, Sandburg MS 

"In his first year at Carl Sandburg middle school, and with FCPS, Mr. Edward Bradley has made a lasting impact on his students. His 8th grade Civics classroom is a safe space for students to express their opinions and explore new ideas and perspectives. Mr. Bradley quickly developed positive relationships with students, treating them with respect and providing support as a trusted adult in the school community. He is a great asset to FCPS and the Sandburg community!"

- a Sandburg MS parent 

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Teyda Paitchell, Lake Braddock SS 

"Kuddos to Ms. Paitchell. I can honestly say that Ms. Paitchell is one of the best teacher in our World Languages Dept. I can bear witness to this, students have told me all they have learned this year in her class, both heritage and non-heritage students. I know this is true because many of her students become my students on subsequent school years. Ms. Paitchell brings her own vast experience from South Florida where she taught ESOL and Spanish for several years. She is an asset to our World Languages Dept., to LBSS, and to FCPS. Thank you for all you do."

- Gil Martinez, Lake Braddock SS 

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Mariam Aboubkar, Coates ES 

"Ms. Mariam is special education teacher in the autism classroom. She is an amazing person, not just teaching kids but advocating for them as well. I have seen many times while working with her how she is incorporating general Ed curriculum with SPed in her classroom and trying her best to enable her students to be able to go in mainstream. That's what all parents wish for their kids."

- a Coates ES parent

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Amanda Dorr, Westfield HS

"Amanda Dorr is an incredible Assistant Principal. She has been an amazing mentor to me as a new AP and demonstrates every day the impact an administrator can have when they operate from a place of love and empathy. She is an advocate for students and teachers alike yet doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations. We are so lucky to work with her."

- Kaitlyn Price, Westfield HS

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Lori Gibson, Gatehouse Admin Center

"On behalf of South Lakes HS, Lori went above and beyond in supporting SLHS and one of our staff members in working through the process of being able to return to work following a workplace injury. Thank you Lori for your kind and supportive behavior!"

- Karen Sterrett, South Lakes HS 

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Joanne Jackson, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Joanne Jackson surprised me by coming into the field and stopping by schools to assist and help with a report that needed to be cleared. She was very helpful and taught me a few things about SmartFind making it easier for us to clear the report. She has always been welcoming and informative in all of my interactions with her. I felt like we had a knew each other and had a relationship even before we met in person. Thank you Joanne for all you do for our Substitutes and Schools behind the scenes. You are Amazing!"

- Veronda Grimes, Mount Vernon HS 

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Peter Komlofske, Hayfield SS 

"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for how hard working, determined, dependable, and just an overall life changing teacher Mr. Komlofske is. He has done such an outstanding job not only educating his students, but also creating a great learning environment for his students to learn and grow in their math career. He has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to his students, he works so hard, and he deserves to be recognized for it. Mr. K has a unique ability to connect with his students and is always striving to help students reach/realize their full potential. I am extremely grateful to have Mr. K as a teacher at Hayfield. Thank you Mr. K I appreciate you so much!"

- a Hayfield SS student 

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Monica Harrison, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Monica Harrison is always polite, professional, and courteous in all my interactions with her. Normally when we speak it is because I have important questions about leave and benefits. She always takes her time and looks up all information needed to answer these questions. I know she oversees many staff benefits but I always appreciate the time and effort she takes to make sure all issues are resolved. If she cannot do it over the phone she always follows-up promptly. I enjoy her taking the time to connect especially because it is over the phone and/or through email only. She is definitely warm and welcoming and it makes the my process so much easier when dealing with staff questions and concerns about their benefits. Thank you, Monica, for all you do! It has not gone unnoticed! You Rock!"

- Veronda Grimes, Mount Vernon HS 

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Amanda Bowser, Bryant HS 

"Ms. Bowser got a call from a student that he was having car trouble. He is so close to graduation and was very worried about possibly missing some important testing. Ms. Bowser tracked down the information about the testing to assure him that everything was okay. Then she borrowed my jumper cables, drove to the location where he was stuck, and helped him with his car battery so he could get to school."

- Randi Davison, Bryant HS 

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Ryan Healy, Falls Church HS 

"For the past twelve weeks, Mr. Healy, a PE teacher at Falls Church High School, has taken the initiative to open the weight room before the workday begins for all staff and faculty twice a week. His lighthearted demeanor, witty character, positive attitude, and reliable nature have created a camaraderie among all who have made the weight room a home. Rain or shine, Mr. Healy can be trusted to show up and to be there on time to open the door. His ultimate go to lifting phrase is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “You gotta keep lifting until it burns.” If anyone peeks from the window, you will hear music, lots of laughing, the sound of weights being lifted and Mr. Healy speaking positively even over our failed attempts to try something new.  The greatest reward Mr. Healy has gifted us is access to a healthy dose of dopamine before we enter the intensity of our classrooms! What a fun way to not only strengthen our physical bodies but our mental health! In a busy season of comings and goings, an unhurried workout session courtesy of Mr. Healy puts our world to rights."

- Sarah Zeballos, 

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Jennifer Schroff,Hollin Meadows ES 

"Mrs. Schroff has the most enthusiastic and positive attitude and it is so contagious! You can’t help but be excited when in her classroom. The students in her class pick up on this attitude and are just as happy and excited! Her classroom is a fun and welcoming space and her students bloom!"

- a Hollin Meadows ES parent

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Wafiqah Albani, Greenbriar East ES 

"Thank you for her. She is helpful."

- a Greenbriar East ES parent

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Cynthia Rosenberg, Plum Center

"As a retired FCPS ESOL teacher and current ACE instructor, Cindy Rosenberg has been an indispensable resource by volunteering to tutor our Mountain View ESOL student in person each Tuesday morning. This student was in desperate need of one-on-one help with pronunciation, phonics, reading, and writing. After a successful year in classes and learning English, our student is now in reach of a possible path to graduation thanks to Ms. Rosenberg's consistent help and care. A HUGE thanks from Ms. Chekin and Ms. Bates who greatly appreciate her expertise, effort, collegiality, and friendship!"

- Lora Bates, Mountain View HS 

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Kylie Murray, Jefferson Tech HS 

"Ms. Kylie Murray, the TJHSST Theater Arts teacher, goes above and beyond in her creative, nurturing and productive classes and extracurricular activities. She is skillful in teaching all aspects of theater arts, including stage management, sound, lighting, set, props, costumes, publicity, choreography, voice training and (of course!) acting. She creates a culture of learning, so that students are introduced to and explore all of these areas, and then she supports them and recognizes their individual contributions as they delve deeper into specialties they choose. One of the most remarkable things about Ms. Murray is how she has fostered an extraordinarily warm, dedicated, and mutually supportive community of students in just the one year she has been at TJ. At a time when teenagers may grapple more than ever with isolation, stress, and low self-esteem, compounded by 2-3 years of COVID-19 remote learning, or mask-wearing when in school, Ms. Murray has patiently and respectfully met her students where they are at and helped each of them on their personal journeys to be healthier and happier. Obviously, this has been very beneficial to students’ emotional health, but it also has contributed to dynamic extracurricular theater productions that are marvelous team efforts. Specifically, under Ms. Murray’s leadership, 40-50 diverse TJ students have enthusiastically taken on the grueling two-months of daily, after-school effort for each play. These productions have been extremely successful and have benefited TJ and the broader community, as evidenced by the nominations her students have received this year for the National Capitol Area Cappies Awards for critic team and individuals, lighting team, sets team, and vocalist. The multidisciplinary nominations demonstrate how Ms. Murray has successfully nurtured students’ integrated arts, humanities, and STEM skills within TJ’s unique environment. Ms. Murray’s achievements have sometimes seemed almost magical, but as parents, we know that they are the result of her hard work, teaching expertise, and extraordinary kindness. TJ is very fortunate to have Ms. Murray as a teacher, and we are very grateful to her!"

- a Jefferson Tech HS

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Hiroko Boalick, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Hiroko really took the time to understand her client and give her the best possible chance for success.  She spent significant time and attention outside of job coach sessions to create visuals, write detailed notes, and come up with positive reinforcement planning in order to best support her student. Without her care, flexibility, and understanding, the student would not have been able to ultimately have a wonderful learning experience and very positive outcome. The student's experience working with Hiroko is going to have such a positive impact on her future."

- Melissa Hancock, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Sharon Denisar, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Sharon Denisar worked creatively to come up with an individualized plan to support a student going out to a jobsite in the community for the first time. She was willing to make changes to typical procedure in order to allow this student to have valuable 1:1 support while taking a big step in gaining access to the community. She really thought outside the box and gave this student a chance to find success."

- Melissa Hancock, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Emma Patton, Dranesville ES 

"Mrs. Patton has gone above and beyond to ensure that our student has all he has needed to be successful this year. She has a remarkable way of supporting each student individually, in all their glows and grows, while continuing to address the group needs. Our student has been able to thrive this year, in many different ways, while very much enjoying his fifth grade experience, thanks to Mrs. Patton."

- a Dranesville ES parent

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Fatimazahraa Ataba, Providence ES 

"I would like to thank Ms. Fatimazahraa for her constant assistance and for her kindness. We as a parents appreciate Fatima"

- a Providence ES

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Kendall Barry, Fairfax HS 

"Ms. Kendall is an outstanding teacher that demonstrates how much she loves and values her students! My daughter pushed to get into the Fashion I class this year and we’re so happy with Ms. Kendall’s class! She takes the time to get to know each student’s talents, wishes and personality; and works hard to ensure she’s the best she can be for them all. During this year’s fashion show, Ms. Kendall utilized the strengths and talents of each student in a particular role that was best suited for them. They were greeters, ushers, photographers, stagehands, backstage support, and every other role needed to carry off the show! The venue was packed but there were not an issue or complaint, and all left with smiles on their faces. The students seemed to have had a great time and really showed off their skills and talents. Ms. Kendall carried off the event with her normal cool, calm demeanor which I’m sure helped the nervous designers and models complete their jobs with ease. We thoroughly enjoyed having Ms. Kendall as our daughter’s teacher for her senior year! A huge THANK YOU to Ms. Kendall for all her sacrifice and dedication to the kids."

- a Fairfax HS parent 

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Samya Salih, Davis Career Center

"Samya Salih has been a wonderful asset in our classroom. When added to our class late in the year, she quickly learned the routines that provide the structure our students require. One student in particular needed additional support, and Samya was instrumental in supervising their daily schedule and class work. When she was recently on leave, she provided the substitute the student's schedule and visuals to make certain the student would have a continuum of support in her absence. Due to her care and diligence, this student and others in the class enjoyed a day of instruction without any interruptions."

- Laurie Stiles, Davis Career Center

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Kendall Barry, Fairfax HS 

"Ms. Barry is an outstanding teacher! My daughter was finally able to get into the Fashion I class this year and we’re so happy with Ms. Barry’s class! She takes the time to get to know each student’s talents, wishes and personality; and works hard to ensure she’s the best she can be for them all. During this year’s fashion show, Ms. Kendall utilized the strengths and talents of each student in a particular role that was best suited for them. They were greeters, ushers, photographers, stagehands, backstage support, and every other role needed to carry off the show! The venue was packed, and everyone left with smiles on their faces. Ms. Barry carried off the event with her normal cool, calm demeanor which I’m sure helped the nervous designers and models complete their jobs with ease. We thoroughly enjoyed having Ms. Barry as my daughter’s teacher for her senior year! Thank you!"

- a Fairfax HS parent 

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Damion Dawson, Tim Roberson, and Ryan Northcutt, Woodson IT Center

"Damion, Tim, and Ryan came out to Poplar Tree Elementary to help us reorganize and clean up our newsroom. The news show at Poplar Tree is such an integral part of our school culture and we had been having mic and camera issues for a while. They were so helpful and kind, sharing ideas for how we could improve, adding teleprompters to each of our cameras, and letting us borrow some of their updated equipment so we could try it out to see if we want to purchase ourselves. Morning news shows encourage student leadership, creativity, and all of our Portrait of a Graduate attributes. We are so grateful to have people like them who work in FCPS who can ensure that schools can give students these opportunities!"

- Leslie Leisey, Poplar Tree ES 

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Zeury Santana Carrasco, Bryant HS 

"It is impossible to target just one date that Zeury in indispensable. Zeury comes to work every day with a positive attitude and energy that is contagious. It is like she cannot help enough. She really is a Bridge between the administration and our parents and guardians and students. She is wonderful, non-judgemental, and always ready to help. Thank you so much Zeury!!"

- Karen Hertel, Bryant HS 

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Stephen Kingston, South County HS 

"Mr. Kingston did a PHENOMENAL job with coordinating the 2023 Prom for SoCo! He worked countless hours to ensure that every student who wanted to attend was able to do so. The details, including coordinating the venue, decor, music, food, and selfie station, are just a sampling of the numerous aspects of that evening that made it such a positive experience for all Stallions! The event left our students and staff with so many positive memories. Way to go, Mr. Kingston!"

- Kambar Khoshaba, South County HS

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Shanae Hill, South County HS 

"Mrs. Hill did a PHENOMENAL job with coordinating the 2023 Prom for SoCo! She worked countless hours to ensure that every student who wanted to attend was able to do so. The details, including coordinating the venue, decor, music, food, and selfie station, are just a sampling of the numerous aspects of that evening that made it such a positive experience for all Stallions! The event left our students and staff with so many positive memories. Way to go, Mrs. Hill!"

- Kambar Khoshaba, South County HS 

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Araceli Manoatl, Westfield HS 

"Araceli is an incredible parent liaison here at Westfield High School. She goes above and beyond in working with our team to support our students, communicate and connect with our Spanish speaking families, and to build relationships to foster cooperation with all stakeholders. We are so lucky to have her!"

- Kaitlyn Price, Westfield HS 

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Kristen Fannon, Belle View ES 

"Thank you, Ms. Fannon, you are a wonderful coach and mentor to your Girls on the Run. The time you spend with your student-athletes has a priceless impact on them. We appreciate you!."

- a Belle View ES parent 

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Catherine O'Brien, Belle View ES 

"Thank you, Ms. O'Brien, you are a wonderful coach and mentor to your Girls on the Run. The time you spend with your student-athletes has a priceless impact on them. We appreciate you!

- a Belle View ES parent 

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Sara Griffiths, Belle View ES 

"We are so appreciative of Ms. Griffiths and her wonderful commitment to be a Coach of Girls on the Run and Belle View Elementary Track Team. The student-athletes love her kind and caring demeanor. She is an amazing coach."

- a Belle View ES parent 

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Meghan Trimer, Belle View ES 

"Ms. Trimer is the amazing Coach of Girls on the Run and Belle View Elementary Track Team. We are so grateful for her commitment to coach her students outside of school time. Her positive attitude and energy are contagious!"

- a Belle View ES parent 

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Kylie Murray, Jefferson Tech HS 

"We just wanted to highlight the amazing work Ms. Murray has done in her first year at TJ as the new theater/drama teacher. With the first year's set of shows now complete, both the work the department has done and, much more importantly, the community that permeates it has been THE difference maker for my kid as she gets ready for graduation. Ms. Murray came in as a replacement for another beloved teacher and had to prove herself, not only as a teacher but as a director and a mentor and excelled at all of these things, putting in a lot of personal time to make sure the kids got what they needed to grow and feel safe and included. And to keep that many kids involved and motivated when there's no actual academic requirement to do so is also worthy of a lot of praise! They stayed late, they put on a technically complex musical during AP week, and they loved doing it. TJ has been great for my kid in many areas, but she definitely found a passion in the theater and in the arts and Ms. Murray was an important cog in that wheel this past year.  TJ and FCPS is very lucky to have her."

- a Jefferson Tech HS parent

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Mian Chen, Jefferson Tech HS 

"My freshman has a very good experience learning Chinese online with Ms. Chen. Online study is never easy for students yet Ms. Chen is very clear in explaining in both English and Chinese. She is always very accommodating, as well.  When my child has a schedule conflict (e.g., school orchestra concert) with the Chinese class, he was able to listen to the recording, if needed. Additionally, we are kept abreast of our child's progress report through regular emails. To date, this is one of my child's best online classes. Thank you Ms Chen for excelling at what you do and providing an enjoyable online learning experience.

- an Online Chinese Language class parent 

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Kathryn Garcia, Gunston ES 

"My son was in the hospital for 4 months for his bone marrow transplant. Mrs. Garcia is a school/parent liaison. We informed school that the doctor was allowing him to come home for the first time in 4 months. Mrs. Garcia offered to coordinate with the 6th grade teacher to have his classmates to come outside to meet with my son to show him love and support. My son was thrilled to see everyone again. During a tough hospital stay in October 2022 and December 2022, Mrs. Garcia coordinated and worked with principal, school staffs, and 6th grade teacher to send my son get well cards and videos. This meant so much to him and our family. She was gone above and beyond her job. Mrs. Garcia is an extraordinary person who make differences to a child’s life with her kindness and love."

- a Gunston ES parent 

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Caitlin Franks, Chantilly HS 

"Caitlin Franks was recently promoted from Asst Coach to TSPEC which has an entire new set of expectations and requirements that she been working hard at learning and executing. For the last several weeks, Caitlin not only completed the expectations and duties of her new position during the normal working hours but also volunteered and worked many extra hours both early in the morning before school started and late into the night to help the new assessment coach with the preparation of the SOL materials for the Spring Non-Writing SOL window. Her tireless and dedicated support ensured the success in administering the SOLs to the students at Chantilly HS. Caitlin is an exceptional employee and a kind and giving colleague! Words can't begin to express how grateful I am to her for her knowledge, support and expertise. I thank you as do the students here at Chantilly who don't realize how hard you worked to help them succeed!"

- Jeanette Schutte, Chantilly HS 

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Christopher Hinton, Kent Gardens ES 

"Mr. Hinton’s read aloud opportunities have exposed his students to a variety of genres, authors, and titles the student may have otherwise overlooked. My daughter absolutely looks forward to school every day because of read aloud time. He’s told the students “Missing read aloud is like missing lunch,” so anytime read aloud is missed, she feels like she’s missed the most important part of the day! Thank you, Mr. Hinton, for exposing the students to some great literature!" 

- a Kent Gardens ES parent 

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Kim Lacy, Sprague Technology Center

"I appreciate her willingness in jump in, bringing solutions and most of all always in a positive attitude. Assisting me with my SIS issues anytime I need. Thank you!"

- Adriana Barreto, Greenbriar East ES 

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Kathryn Reimer, Davis Career Center

"Kat (Kathryn) Reimer typically goes out of her way to support students. When she learned one of the students was not able to attend the end-of-the-year dance, she stepped up her game. After talking with the family, she learned the student had never attended a dance while at Davis Career Center because they didn't have the transportation to take her. With the family's permission, Kat drove the student both ways to the dance. The student was thrilled for weeks in advance looking forward to that dance. Because of Kat's act of kindness, that young lady had the time of her life the night of the dance."

- Laurie Stiles, Davis Career Center

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Erin Heyerdahl, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Ms. Heyerdahl not only seamlessly transitions between counseling students with their troubles to celebrating SOL exam successes with a happy dance, she supports students in their growth, however that manifests. A student with a beautiful voice but terribly self-conscious about singing in front of others challenged herself to audition to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at graduation. Ms. Heyerdahl used her own experience as a singer to coach this student through the tough parts of the song, helped her adjust her key and encouraged her with her mindset for performing. This student has already overcome so much, but with Ms. H's support, is so proud of herself and looking forward to sharing her accomplishment with her family and peers at graduation! Thanks Ms. H!"

- Jude Welling Barrows

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Fanny Salazar-Laske, Herndon MS 

"Fanny was instrumental in making our community meeting on the dangers of Fentanyl a success. The meeting was held at Herndon Middle School on May 17, 2023. We had over 100 attendees. Many were there due to Fanny's outreach. She helped us with organization and outreach all along the way. She provided wonderful snacks and hospitality for the county and FCPS experts that came to present at the meeting. They all felt very well taken care of. Fanny is a true community leader in Herndon. She is well connected and works tirelessly to make sure our Herndon families have whatever it is they need so that their children can be successful in our schools."

- Elaine Tholen, Gatehouse Admin Center

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Tom Vaccarello, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Mr. Vaccarello is always so responsive and supportive when we reach out to him. He ensures principals are supported and student safety is always the top priority. His service to the community is so appreciated!"

- Kathleen Quigley, Franklin Sherman ES

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Lenia Magne Suaznabar, Terra Centre ES 

"Lenia is our new cafeteria manager, and she is doing an excellent job immersing herself in the Terra Centre community. She always has a smile on her face and welcomes students into the cafeteria line. She is friendly to our staff and families and has been a welcome addition. Lenia’s daughter even contacted me this week and wanted to recognize her mom as a wonderful kitchen manager, and I could not agree more. Lenia’s daughter said she knows her mom works hard every day to ensure each student gets a meal. Her daughter is so proud of her hard work at Terra Centre and so are we!" 

- Rebecca Gidoni, Terra Centre ES 

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Candice Cetinkaya, Holmes MS 

"Candice stepped in as a substitute so that teachers could pull students to remediate for Science SOL retakes. This was a huge help! We are so grateful to have had her support today."

- Brandi Goncz, Holmes MS 

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Megan Lister, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Megan continues to show up for Holmes in so many ways. She stepped in as substitute today so that we would have enough coverage for Science teachers to pull SOL remediation groups. Megan has consistently been a resource that we can call on in times of need. Thank you, Megan, for everything you continue to do to support our teachers, coaches, and students."

- Brandi Goncz, Holmes MS 

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Cathleen Barry, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Cathleen was a lifesaver today! She stepped in as substitute so that we would have enough coverage for Science teachers to pull SOL remediation groups.  Cathleen has consistently been supportive, even outside of her content area. Thank you, Cathleen, for continuing to help Holmes out in times of need. We don't know what we'd do without you!"

- Brandi Goncz, Holmes MS 

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Diana Fuentes, Forbes Place 

"Diana is super responsive and efficient in helping me process through my retirement. She is very supportive of all my needs and so organized and quick!! It appeared to be a lot of paperwork, but she has been awesome in guiding and communicating through the digital steps." 

- Paul Downey, Sprague Technology Center

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Beth Boivin, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Beth does great work in supporting the Excellence Awards. Her communication and follow up help to keep the process going. The process has improved greatly over the years with her support and communication, and it is a valuable program to ensure we can take time to recognize the great achievements of our staff."

-Paul Downey, Sprague Technology Center

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Kim Lacy, Sprague Technology Center

"I was having some difficulties in SIS and Lacy helped right away; always in a positive attitude. Nothing for her is too little or too big. She has expertise and knowledge of what she is working on."

- Adriana Barreto, Greenbriar East ES 

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Susan Stager, Forbes Places

"No one ever wants to lose a loved one. In the midst of heart break, it is so incredibly wonderful to work with someone like Susan to make the process less daunting. Susan guided me in next steps in the loss of my four children's father, Thomas Pollock. She provided step by step directions and contact numbers. Susan's efficiency and willingness to answer multiple emails in a kind manner was greatly appreciated. Thank you Susan!!!"

- a FCPS former employee relative

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Christie Panameno. Gatehouse Admin Center

"I would like to recognize and compliment Christie Panameno for her outstanding work as our HR Hiring Specialist! She is very knowledgeable and responds to all of my inquiries in a timely manner. I applaud Christie for all of her work, especially during the busy hiring season!"

- Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, Gatehouse Admin Center

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Susan Culik, Mountain View HS

"I would like to send a shout out to my teammate Susan Culik for planning and executing an excellent school culture building activity. To celebrate spring and all things earthy Mrs. Culik led a garden tire project. This was a great mentor activity. It gave me a lot of time to engage with my students, in a relaxed environment. I’m sure getting a school size number of tires and painting materials was no small feat. Thank you, Mrs. Culik, for sharing your time and garden with us all."

- LaToya Prescod, Mountain View HS

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Michael Carr, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Michael has been amazing in supporting the West Potomac math department with SOL remediation this spring. He worked with several reluctant learners who needed some confidence boosting while reviewing for their SOL. We appreciate his willingness to jump in and help in any capacity. Michael's positive attitude and flexibility do not go unnoticed."

- Renea Mielec, West Potomac HS 

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Caroline Tuss, West Potomac HS 

"Caroline has been amazing in supporting the West Potomac math department with SOL remediation as well as assisting special education teachers with instructional practices. We appreciate her willingness to jump in and help in any capacity. Caroline's positive attitude and flexibility do not go unnoticed. We are so thankful for her assistance throughout the year (and especially now with remediation)!"

- Renea Mielec, West Potomac HS 

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Margaret Lowe, Terra Centre ES 

"Ms. Lowe is the definition of a teacher who goes above and beyond. She is a fantastic SPED teacher who truly cares and respects her students. She communicates often with emails or phone calls, but also by texting pictures or videos of how well the students are doing at school. These are moments that working families are not able to see and she bridges that gap by providing us with these messages that gives us joy and happiness. Ms. Lowe does not stop working at school. At least for me, she maintains her relationship with my daughter and ensures her comfort and safety at her own children's birthday parties and dance recitals. She looks after her and loves her as one of her own. I have seen this very often with other students she has and as a teacher myself, I love to see this! Now my daughter has another trusted adult in her life she can talk to and feel safe with. Thank you for helping our daughter grow and thrive!"

- Natasha Triplett

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Cindy Ko, Cherry Run ES 

"I want to recognize Ms. Ko for being an amazing teacher. Throughout this whole year, she has worked incredibly hard to build a relationship with my child. She has gotten to know his emotional and academic needs, developed appropriate interventions when necessary, and has made learning incredibly fun for him. As the end of the year is approaching, I can see that he has made a lot of academic and personal gains."

- a Cherry Run ES parent 

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Brittany Lee, West Springfield ES 

"Ms. Lee is a first grade teacher at WSES and she is excellent. My daughter thrives in her class and feels so confident and smart, as a result of Ms. Lee’s influence." 

- West Springfield ES parent 

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Jennifer Walker, West Springfield HS 

"I want to take this time to thank Jennifer Walker for being an OUTSTANDING educator. My daughter, a freshman, had a tough time in middle school with math.  She had a very distinct hate for math. With love and patience Ms. Walker has taken her time to help my daughter learn and fill in the gaps she was missing. She has always shown my daughter kindness and empathy. West Springfield High school is very lucky to have an educator as amazing as she is. Someone with integrity, who cares about students and their parents, and puts students first. We are going to miss her very much. She set the bar so high for math teachers in the school. Thank you Ms. Walker for everything!"

- a West Springfield HS parent

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Dustin Wright, Marcy Kneale, and Alisha Martinez, Franklin MS and Central office

"I wanted to acknowledge the outstanding leadership demonstrated by Dustin Wright, Marcy Kneale, and Alisha Martinez throughout the development of the FCPS Strategic Plan. Their dedication, organizational skills, inclusivity, and tireless efforts have made a remarkable impact on our division, laying the foundation for a promising future pathway for FCPS. Their unwavering commitment to this project was truly commendable. From the very beginning, they exhibited exceptional organizational skills, ensuring that all aspects of the strategic planning process were meticulously managed. Their attention to detail and ability to coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders played a vital role in bringing together a cohesive and comprehensive plan. One of the teams greatest strengths was their inclusivity and ability to bring diverse perspectives to the table. They actively sought input from a wide range of individuals within our organization, fostering an environment where everyone felt valued and heard. By incorporating these varied viewpoints, they ensured that the FCPS Strategic Plan truly represented the collective aspirations and goals of all stakeholders. I cannot emphasize enough the countless hours that they dedicated to this endeavor. Even in the face of challenges and tight deadlines, they remained unwavering in their commitment to producing a plan of the highest quality. Their tireless work ethic and perseverance were genuinely inspiring and served as a motivating force for the entire team."

- Nikki Yacubovich, Pine Spring ES 

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Michael Strausser, South County HS 

"Michael continues to grow a program that ensures students are excited to explore career options in the automotive industry.  He is always willing to diagnose employee car issues and offer ongoing support and advice. Thank you Michael for joining our team here at South County!"

- Marci Garrison, South County HS 

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Linda Shannon, Manuta ES 

"As a parent, I was shocked that Ms. Shannon jumped right in to help sort out bus assignment confusion when the office staff was busy on one of her first days in the building. I have come to learn, that is just her way! Whether you are sitting on the mat watching your child's basketball practice or have a question about a school process, she takes the time to connect with parents personally and assure them that their voices are heard. As a School Psychologist, I am continually impressed by her compassion and genuine concern for the well-being of all of her students. Mantua is not a small school by any means, yet Ms. Shannon takes time to get to know each child. A very recent example of this was in the way that she "MC-ed" the annual PTA Talent Show. She introduced each of the night's 65 participants by sharing personal anecdotes that made each child come to life for the audience beyond the act he or she was about to share. Ms. Shannon reiterated throughout the event how proud she was of each child for having the confidence and courage to get up onstage and vulnerably share their passion and talents with us. When one performer sang a song that touched on themes of feeling left out, Ms. Shannon spoke earnestly to the children seated up front about how important inclusivity is at Mantua and what each of them could do to make sure no child at school ever feels that way. We are so lucky to have Ms. Shannon at the helm."

- Sarah Painter, Virginia Hills Early Childhood Center

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Shawntel Miner, Gatehouse Admin Center

"I had an amazing experience with Shawntal Miner today! We had a teacher that has been working through a disability/leave issue and has been having complications with our vendor. Shawntal took the time to meet with me and helped to resolve the issue quickly and efficiently. She was so pleasant in working with us and called the teacher immediately to reassure her that a solution was in place. I know that it is difficult managing the volume of HR request but Shawntal made us feel as if we were the most important part of her day. FCPS is lucky to have Shawntal Miner!" 

- Tony DiBari, Westfield HS 

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Sarah Pennington, Wilton Woods Center

"On 5-15-23, in despair wildly searching the web for my transcripts, I have to reach a deadline by the end of this month to further my education in the canine field, so I’m registering to become a license dog groomer, and I would like to go to Animal behavior College. So long story short I went on West Potomac high school’s website found the department I needed to call about transcripts, left a voicemail, I am very diligent on inquiring answers to my question. So I started to compose an email. Then my phone started ringing not knowing that Sarah Pennington is on the other end coming to my rescue. Instead of prolonging the process, I had immediate relief with her advice and step-by-step guidance. Just a sense of relief in doing just a normal day routine. Sarah is committed to helping others I've seen it with my own two eyes yesterday. I just had to reach out to show my appreciation to give encouragement to her, knowing that her efforts are not wasted and she is helping others and she helped me yesterday. To be honest she saved me. Thank you, thank you." 

-  a former West Potomac HS student

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Kimberly Sholtis, South County HS 

"Mrs. Sholtis is an exceptional teacher and leader at South County High School. She is passionate about helping her students learn the Spanish language, and she believes in personalizing the learning experience for every student. In addition to superb relationships with students, Mrs. Sholtis is a very talented school leader. She co-leads our Instructional Council, and she serves as the Chair for the World Languages department. In that capacity, Mrs. Sholtis works tirelessly to support all department members in every way possible. Her care and concern for ALL Stallions illustrates that she "walks the talk" with prioritizing the people she serves."

- Kambar Khoshaba, South County HS 

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Laurie Laso, Bryant HS 

"I would like to acknowledge and recognize Laurie Laso, a remarkable social worker at Bryant High School, for her outstanding efforts in organizing a heartfelt Mother's Day Luncheon. This event was specifically designed for mothers and grandmothers who have tragically lost their sons to homicide. It is important to note that all of these young men had attended Bryant High School at some point during their high school years. The luncheon took place on the Saturday before Mother's Day and left an indelible mark on everyone who attended. Laurie's dedication and attention to detail made the occasion truly memorable, meaningful, and powerful. The mothers expressed immense gratitude for Laurie's efforts in ensuring that their sons were not forgotten. The luncheon provided them with a unique opportunity to share their sons' names and stories among other moms who had experienced similar losses. The strong connection they felt with one another helped them realize they were not alone in their grief, providing comfort and solace. Laurie's creativity shone through in the thoughtful arrangements she made. She created a beautiful banner, provided spring-like plants for all attendees to take home, organized a tree-planting ceremony, and arranged for a plaque containing the names of all the young men to be displayed. The highlight of the event was when the mothers and grandmothers were invited to speak about their beloved children. This experience brought about a profound sense of healing and solidarity for everyone present. Laurie's passion and dedication were evident throughout the entire process of organizing this luncheon, from its inception to its execution. She gave these mothers and grandmothers a safe space to express their sorrow and find moments of joy amidst their pain. Laurie's efforts have undoubtedly made a lasting impact on the lives of those who attended the Mother's Day Luncheon, providing them with a sense of community, understanding, and hope as they navigate their unique journeys of grief. "

- Pipi Harrison, Bryant HS 

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Stephanie Miller, Lake Braddock SS 

"I like Mrs. Miller's class because she always makes it fun and she's never mean."

-  a Lake Braddock SS student

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Stephanie Miller, Lake Braddock SS 

"This teacher is very understanding, caring, patient, and kind to her students, whenever someone learns a different way using different methods, she takes the time to stop and help to make sure all her students are learning. To me this is a great teacher and I appreciate them."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Megan Pitts, South County HS 

"Ms. Pitts continuously provides amazing input and support for the transition of students from middle to high school. Her insights in IEP meetings ensures a positive and productive conversation, which may not have happened in her absence. Thank you for your passion and your knowledge so families feel comfortable transitioning to SCHS! So appreciative of you and your time!"

- Samantha Tolan, South County HS 

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Cody Boehm, Chesterbrook ES 

"Ms. Boehm was the mastermind behind the Chesterbrook ES play, A Night on Broadway. The play had a large cast and the participants were singing, dancing, telling jokes and overall doing a great job of entertaining a room full of people of all ages. The show was fantastic. It was obvious that Ms. Boehm put in hours and hours of time to provide such a wonderful experience for the cast, the crew and the Chesterbrook community. I could not believe how engaged the cast was and what a wonderful, enthusiastic job they did putting on this show. They certainly learned so many skills by being a part of this production. Congratulations to Ms. Boehm, the other staff that worked with her and Principal Stacy Kirkpatrick for providing a fantastic evening of theater."

- Elaine Tholen, Gatehouse Admin Center

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Felicia Kougblenou, Bryant HS 

"Ms. Felicia is the leader of the Custodial Staff at Bryant High School. On a daily basis, she does so many things for all of us. In addition to keeping all the classrooms, absolutely spotless, she always helps us when we are having a problem. This past weekend, we had a special occasion and Ms. Felicia literally had the tables set up before we even arrived. She stayed to help with all the intricate details as well. Ms. Felicia is always happy to lend a helping hand and she also keeps her staff on their toes as they are amazing as well! Thank you so much Ms. Felicia! You are such a huge part of our Bryant Team, and we love you!"

- Nancy Chang, Bryant ALC

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Michelle Gotico, Lake Braddock SS 

"Ms. Gotico always goes above and beyond. She is the only teacher in Middle School that send me emails on a weekly basis. I am so thankful for that because I am able to talk with my daughter about topics and I can follow the teacher recommendations to help my daughter with the class. My daughter improved thanks to these weekly recommendations. I really appreciate the extra time and effort that Ms. Gotico put on her class, and the extra communication with the parents."

- a Lake Braddock SS parent 

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David Ericson, Churchill Road ES 

"Mr. Ericson has been an amazing teacher for my child. He has the ability to connect with them while teaching. I can't thank him enough for all the time he spends with him. He goes above and beyond as a teacher and as a human being." 

- a Churchill Road ES parent 

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Jennifer Walrath, Cardinal Forest ES 

"Mrs. Walrath has been absolutely amazing with our daughter! Her level of patience and understanding of our daughter’s special needs has made this school year so rewarding! Her willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our daughter was successful in the classroom cannot be thanked enough! We love Cardinal Forest Elementary School and feel we hit the jackpot with the amazing staff and teachers that support our daughter every day!"

- a Cardinal Forest ES parent 

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Anne Buellesback, Lake Braddock SS 

"I can’t say enough positive things about Ms. Buellesbach. She knows her students very well, she anticipates where they will struggle, and she makes time to not only work with them during WIN time but after school as well. She is a master at getting through to kids, if one approach isn’t working, she pivots until she finds an approach that works. In April, she couldn’t make it to my child’s 504 meeting so she took 30 minutes of her planning period to chat and provide me with detailed feedback about my child. I wish every teacher was as gifted and dedicated to teaching as Ms. Buellesbach." 

- a Lake Braddock SS parent

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Jenny Gilchrist, Fairview ES 

"Ms. Gilchrist has been teaching my child this year (4th grade) and she has been amazing with him. He struggles to focus and sit still but she has been so patient with him and lets him try different seating options (wobble stool, chair band, sitting on the floor) and different fidget and focus options. She is always willing to speak with us about his progress and is open about any concerns she has. It has been a wonderful year with her and we will miss her immensely next year."

- a Fairview ES parent 

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Sara Hovey, Bonnie Brae ES 

"Sara Hovey is a teacher we have been honored to partner with for both of our daughters as their third grade teacher, Girls on the Run Coach coach, and now an official mentor too. She handled the move to virtual instruction in Spring 2020 so well and when she noticed my oldest daughter struggling with big emotions, she immediately reached out to make sure I was aware of the changes she was seeing. We had a very difficult year as a family during the 2021-2022 school year when my second daughter was her student. We ended up in regular communication by email, phone, Zoom, text, and in person throughout the school year to make sure my daughter was emotionally supported and succeeding academically.My daughter just absolutely adores her and asked repeatedly to go out to dinner with Mrs. Hovey which she graciously arranged with us one evening at the end of the school year. Mrs. Hovey continued to be an official mentor this year as my youngest moved onto fourth grade and she continues to communicate with us, when needed. I really don't know how successful these past two academic years would have been without her attention to students' full developmental needs beyond just good grades. She has demonstrated an amazing level of communication and compassion. Bonnie Brae is so incredibly lucky to have her! Year after year she continues to shine."

- a Bonnie Brae ES parent 

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Amanda Moreland, Lake Braddock SS 

"Ms. Moreland is a wonderful Advisory teacher. Thanks for all you do!"

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Jacky Schnuda, Kilmer MS 

"Ms. Schnuda always communicates important information with parents. She allowed my son to retake a test when he did not perform well on that test. Ms. Schnuda is always helping."

- a Kilmer MS parent 

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Elizabeth Hild, Kilmer MS 

"Mrs. Hild always shares the Report card with us every quarter. She is always available anytime, responds very quickly to inquiries. She informs of important dates as a reminder. Mrs. Hild helped identify my son's weak points and suggested help for him to improve. Thank you Mrs. Hild." 

- a Kilmer MS parent 

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Kathryn Perez-Gold, Orange Hunt ES 

"Mrs. Perez-Gold has been the perfect match for my daughter this year. She is so in touch and in tune with her students that she not only recognizes when they are overwhelmed or stressed out, but works with them to alleviate it. She is funny, flexible, and focused on ensuring the students in her classroom not only grow academically, but also grow in their self-confidence and self-worth. We are so thankful our daughter had the chance to be in such a caring and supportive environment this year! You rock Mrs. Perez!"

- an Orange Hunt ES parent 

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Jason King, Lake Braddock SS 

"Hey Mr. King, thank you for helping me this year educationally and academically, sure your grading can be critical sometimes, but it's only because you want to set us right and ready for further high school. So yes, thank you Mr. King for also being understandable and giving us many stories in class to listen to, I love them because it's always nice being entertained for a little especially in an English class. thank you!"

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Steve Campbell, Instructional Programs Support Center

"Steve does an incredible job getting us our print orders quickly and the quality is alway top notch. He is our go-to person for every poster and program we make for the theatre program here at Mount Vernon High School because we know we can count on him to meet our deadlines (no matter how much of a time crunch it is), to communicate about our orders, and to provide us with the best publicity materials." 

- Jess Shaw, Mount Vernon HS 

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David Mikhail, Justin Huff, Chrystian Torres, Kevin Kiley, Wilton Woods Center

"Kevin and his team took time to coordinate a Zoom with a student that reported what he thought might be a vulnerability in SIS (it was not a vulnerability). They thanked him for his report, explained why it was not actually a vulnerability, and answered his questions. The student was so excited! I imagine it will be an experience he remembers for years to come." 

- Dana Scabis, Cooper MS 

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Laura Stone, Lake Braddock SS 

"You made English not painful and you're my favorite English teacher ever."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Parvinder Sublok, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"As a curriculum resource teacher, most of Priti’s work is behind the scenes, but her impact is outstanding! She goes above and beyond to support classroom teachers like me. Priti participates in ongoing planning with classroom teachers, shares valuable insights regarding evaluations and evidence based programs, and the list goes on. Most importantly though, she encourages and cheers on her fellow teachers. Priti always has students’ best interest in mind and is willing to do whatever it takes to help teachers be the best educators they can. Priti is truly a hero without a cape!"

- Mariam Aboubakr, Coates ES 

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Kristin Creek, Willow Springs ES 

"Kristin Creek is one of the most caring teachers I’ve ever met. She has been working with my son throughout the year to help him read and write better. We really appreciate all the hard work she has done to help our son improve!" 

- a Willow Springs ES parent 

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Janice Ours, Keene Mill ES 

"I am a parent of two Keene Mill Elementary students and have recently begun substitute teaching there, as well. I would like to commend Ms. Janice Ours, the administrative assistant for KMES, for her outstanding work in communicating with parents, warmly welcoming students, running a "well-oiled" front office, and for ensuring that the substitutes are onboarded properly and are taken care of very well. Keene Mill is a safe, smart, and welcoming place for my children, for me as a parent, and for me as an employee, thanks in large part to the leadership and organizational skills, and heart exhibited by Ms. Janice Ours and the rest of Keene Mill's exceptional team of professionals."

- a Keene Mill ES parent 

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Tynan Rolander, South County HS 

"I love football but I didn’t make the team last year, but I really enjoyed going to the practice every day because of the teammates and coaches, but especially Coach Roe. Coach Roe gave me a job to fill water bottles for players. We carried water bottles together on John Deere, he sat with me on the bus when we were traveling. He was protective of me, made sure I was ok, even though he was always busy. He listened to my silly jokes with smiles. Toward the end of the season, he let me run and catch a football just so I could experience how it was like to play football. I’m sad that he’s leaving my school but because of Coach Roe, I had a great start in high school! Thank you, Coach Ro!"

- a South County HS student 

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Payal Herendeen, Greenbriar East ES 

"Mrs. Herendeen is an exceptional math coach who has made a lasting impact on the lives of so many students and educators. Her dedication to her craft, her unwavering commitment to excellence, and her kind and generous spirit are a true inspiration. We are so grateful for all that she does and are lucky to have her as part of our school community." 

- Kariann Stanton. Greenbriar East ES 

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Chaz Aguado, Lake Braddock SS 

"Thank you Dr. Aguado for an amazing year of guitar ensemble. The winter concert was great and watching the student’s progression from that winter concert to the spring concert was stunning. Their rendition of Toto’s Africa was wonderful. Congratulations on the success of you and the ensemble at VGDA Assessments."

- a Lake Braddock SS parent 

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Kelly McMillan, Lake Braddock SS 

"I have the utmost respect appreciation for Kmac. Her patience to deal with students amazes me and she gains my deepest respect and sympathy. I am very appreciative to have Kmac as my english teacher and I hope to have her in the future."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Denise Steene, Lake Braddock SS 

"SOL's are always stressful. They're stressful for the testing team, for staff, parents but most importantly, they're stressful for students. Mrs. Steene recognized this and went above and beyond to try and alleviate some of the stress students carry. She prepared snack bags for students in my classes to have on the day of the SOL. She wanted to ensure they weren't testing while hungry. The best part: she wrote a "We believe in you!" personalized note on each bag for each student. Some of these are also students she does not know. Didn't matter. What mattered to her was that they were supported and cared for."

- Ashley Danish, Lake Braddock SS

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Sarah Olson, Lake Braddock SS 

"Sarah has made it clear that she is here to help. Period. Doesn't matter who you, what your role is, if she can help, she'll help. The Special Education Biology teachers recently held an all-day Biology SOL review, and she was there from start-to-finish. She was running stations with an answer key, so she could help students make progress while teacher's focused on content. She called for breaks, so we could decompress. She escorted students to wherever they needed to be. She offered snacks and rewards. And this is just on the day of the review! Prior to that she worked with administration and other staff members to ensure we could have time to prepare, as well as the resources we needed to make the day a success. She was instrumental in getting the review day rolling, and we are so grateful for all her hard work and effort."

- Ashley Danish, Lake Braddock SS 

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Molly Harris, Kings Park ES 

"I want to thank Ms. Molly Harris and her two wonderful assistants for making my daughter enjoy going to school and consider it her 2nd home, where she will always be safe, loved and included. They are not only great teachers, they are also great people!" 

- a Kings Park ES parent 

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Heather Mathews, Orange Hunt ES 

"Orange Hunt ES Assistant Principal Heather Mathews has gone above and beyond to support my daughter. She gets to know each student and makes them feel special. She gives her own time to support the kids, even spending her lunch break with my daughter, and staying late so she could finish a test. She does these things because she truly cares, and always with a positive attitude. She really makes OHES a wonderful place."

- an Orange Hunt ES parent 

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Mitsue Hunter, Johnson MS 

"Mitsue has helped me make the difficult transition from transportation management to educating middle school students. Whenever I have a question, she drops what she’s doing and puts her attention to me, and I have had my share of questions. Navigating IEP’s, lesson plans, organizing my files, managing my case load, compensatory services, working with students, and working with parents, no matter the area Mitsue provides suggestions, resources, and advice on all of it. Her experience and expertise, and her willingness to share it has made a tremendous difference to me during this entire first year. Mitsue’s perspective towards students clearly shows her passion for teaching. She is in the classroom before I arrive, and countless days is there when I leave. She almost always has multiple students after school, students say hello to her in the halls often stopping to chat. Building relationships to help motivate students is probably the single most impactful thing a successful teacher can do, and Mitsue’s got this down cold. It’s an experience to see her consistency with writing the date, the learning target, agenda, and homework on the board. She surely leads by example. Mitsue’s skills do not end at motivating students, she motivates new teachers as well. This first year has been challenging, I’ve had lots of questions and it takes me longer to complete tasks, I’ve probably asked the same questions multiple times, but it doesn’t faze Mitsue. She drops what she’s doing and helps me learn. I consider her my mentor, and I’m looking forward to returning to my job next year. Thank you, Mitsue, for helping all those kiddos, and thank you Mitsue for helping me too!"

- Richard Beck, Johnson MS 

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Jesci Huarcaya Padilla, Braddock ES 

"I love my teacher because she always helps me with my science and teach me Spanish and I like Spanish class because I know it already." 

- a Braddock ES student

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Jennifer Hutchinson, Brookfield ES 

"Jennifer Hutchinson is one of the assistant principals at Brookfield Elementary School. I’ve been fortunate to work with her for 12 years and know her to be a really great person. She handles every kind of situation that you could think of, and many more that you could never anticipate, with professionalism, calmness and a great sense of humor. When I’ve asked her for guidance, she has always provided a new thought or asked a question that helps me keep a positive perspective on a situation. She even took care of me when I had a sudden kidney stone attack two years ago during our beginning of the year Open House! I'll always be grateful for that. It’s impossible to count how many different things she handles every day, but even with the constant demands on her time and attention I’ve only seen her treat our students with patience and kindness. Jennifer’s not someone who draws a lot of attention to herself, but Brookfield is definitely a better place because she’s here."

- Cathy Wilson, Brookfield ES 

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Sarah Metcalf, Union Mill ES 

"Today was the kindergarten field trip at the zoo. It is an all outdoor field trip and the morning started with lots of rain. I arrived and waited for the kids to come off the bus and overheard a zoo staff member say they’ve never handled a field trip before and a person answer saying they also didn’t really know what to do. The stage was set for chaos. But instead . . . It was awesome! The kids had an incredible time. Mrs. Metcalf figured out how to rearrange the time to allow all the kids to do everything, adjust lunch, and work with all the parents and staff. The kids were laughing, smiling and making memories. If you ask my daughter, she’d say it was the best day ever! Many thank yous to the teachers who work so hard to make these special days for our kids. It is greatly appreciated."

- a Union Mill ES parent 

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Anna Colaric, Lake Braddock SS 

"I appreciate you for being my teacher this year because you taught me subjects that I didn't know, In some of the subjects I didn't understand it but you gave us tips on how to solve it and it helped me understand how to do the equations. Thank you for teaching me this year!"

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Demarco Brooks, Woodson HS 

"Marc Brooks was a huge help at Westfield High School on Friday. We were shorthanded for a variety of reasons and Marc came from Woodson to help support the building. He jumped right into our building and hit the ground running. Whether it was meeting with students or adults, he treated our school as if it were his own. We were very fortunate to have Marc's support on Friday and it was both noticed by staff and appreciated."

- Tony DiBari, Westfield HS 

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Morgan Hempfling, Lake Braddock SS 

"Great teacher. Whether in teaching, attitude, rules, and testing it's very fun being in your class."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Shane Thurston, Lake Braddock SS

"Mr. Thurston is a very kind and nice person who is very helpful. He is not only fun to be around but he gets into conversations with us too. I love being in his class and I think he is the best teacher to ever touch the surface of Lake Braddock."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Shane Thurston, Lake Braddock SS 

"I can trust Mr. Thurston and come to him if I have any concerns about my school life or personal life."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Anna Colaric, Lake Braddock SS 

"I appreciate Mrs. Colaric because she helped me from the start where my grade was so low and she helped me from the start helping me get my math sense up and get better at math. I was so bad at math to the point where I barley even understood what to do and now I have an understanding on what to do. She's a very good kind and understanding teacher to work with and I appreciate her so much thank you Mrs. Colaric."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Michael Edwards, Lake Braddock SS 

"Mr. Edwards always helped me on work that I do not understand. You also always make fun lessons and classwork. Thank you."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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James Mroz, Lake Braddock SS 

"He always has a happy attitude and is caring to all his students. He is very funny and crack jokes a lot. He is a great teacher and I'm greatful to have him as one."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Luis Contreras, Lake Braddock SS 

"He's really nice and helps me with my problems."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Lea Long, Sangster ES 

"You're the best teacher ever. You helped me a lot. Thanks for everything."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Michael Edwards, Lake Braddock SS 

"He helps with math work and really cares about his students learning growth. He will help you find ways to improve your skill."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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John Crockett, Lake Braddock SS 

"He's a nice advisory teacher and he tries his best to approve late WIN time passes."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Antoinette Velikina and Jenifer Islam, Dogwood ES 

"Ms. Velikina and Ms. Islam have recently accepted additional responsibilities within their Enhanced Autism classroom. They have gone above and beyond ensuring students' needs, structures, and routines are in place. They continue to collaborate with central office staff about implementing best practices to support behavior and instruction. They have a very strong rapport with their students as evidenced by their interactions, conversations, and knowledge of their individual students' needs. They are not afraid to ask questions and are strong collaborators. We just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge their dedication and passion for their students."

- Heather Padgett and Elizabeth McHatton, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Leslie Grumbach, Terraset ES 

"Leslie Grumbach is a fantastic member of our Terraset Community. She is a jack of all trades, and is in 13 different places at once. Her dedication as a teacher, mother, teammate, and community member is incredible. I don’t know how she balances it all. Her students and their parents love her. She has created an environment in her classroom that promotes belonging and safety. Her students thrive and so do the teachers that she supports regularly, even this old vet. I respect and admire her. I feel that she is very deserving of recognition for all that she does and so much more."

- Jacob Miller, Terraset ES 

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Gil Martinez, Lake Braddock SS 

"Mr Martinez has helped me increase my proficiency in Spanish and he is supportive when we fail."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Jordan Blanco, Lake Braddock SS 

"He is amazing because he is very helpful and helps you with assignments."

- a Lake Braddock SS student 

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Brittany Ardnt, Lake Braddock SS 

"Ms. A has done a great job at getting me involved in physical education. She has also done an awesome job at incorporating the education side of PE with fun and that is what I admire most about her."

-  a Lake Braddock SS student 

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Karen Kratz, Lake Braddock SS 

"Ms. Kratz always helps me no matter when and I appreciate her good teaching a nice personality. She also doesn't care when you have a question but she will give you hints and not tell you the answer."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Liane Jones, Lake Braddock SS 

"Mrs. Jones has helped me and others understand what we are learning and she always listens to us when we don't understand a problem. She never puts you down and helps you work through difficult units and concepts. She has a set schedule on where and when you can come and see her for extra help or practice."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Brandon Gilbert, Lake Braddock SS 

"He is a great teacher because he works with all of the students in the classroom and makes the learning experience very fun and energetic."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Gilberto Martinez, Lake Braddock SS 

"Sr. Martinez helped me strengthen my Spanish in writing and speaking. He also is kind and funny and I always look forward to his class. I am glad to have him as my teacher and I hope to have him in the future." 

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Brooke Haymes, Gatehouse Admin Center

"I was unable to submit my paperwork for the provisional grant due to technical difficulty with George Mason. I thought I would just miss out. Brooke emailed me to check in and gave me additional time to finish up. I was able to submit and Brooke followed up to confirm. I really appreciate her checking in with me and giving me the opportunity to finalize this process. Thank you, Brooke."

- Katie Yates, Daniels Run ES 

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Mona Mouneimne, Canterbury Woods ES 

"Ms. Mouneimne has helped my child grow as a student so much this year. The thing I appreciate most about her is that she holds the students to high academic standards. She makes sure her students know what good work is and how to do it. Because of her standards my child has learned and grown this year. Ms. Mouneimne also makes communicates incredibly well with parents, including us as partners in our childrens' learning. We appreciate all she does to enable student success!" 

- a Canterbury Woods ES parent 

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Erin Ferguson, Canterbury Woods ES

"Teaching third grade AAP to students who had a pandemic interrupted kindergarten and first grade year, then spent much of second grade trying to catch up cannot be easy. However Erin Ferguson has handled it with grace. When my child entered this year I wasn't sure how she would handle the fast pace of advanced math. Thanks to Mrs. Ferguson's excellent teaching she's going to end the year where she needs to be. Mrs. Ferguson does all the work to provide the kids tons of opportunities to learn and practice what they are learning both in school and at home, and it shows in how much my child has grown this year. When I look back at how my child recovered from being remotely schooled at the ages of 5 and 6, Mrs. Ferguson will be the one I remember catching her up."

- a Canterbury Woods ES parent 

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Rae Perry, Fairfax HS 

"I have never sent two of these in one year but Mrs. Perry deserves one everyday. She could see that my son was struggling and gave him to opportunity to leave class to study in the library. She has always had my son's back and has always been there for him, even when he makes mistakes and needs understanding she does it. Mrs. Perry is 100% an awesome person and teacher." 

- a Fairfax HS parent 

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Cecillia Chang, Spring Hill ES 

"My daughter proudly reports "Mrs. Chang makes us learn more than we are supposed to!"

- a Spring Hill ES parent 

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Sandra Ragusa, Newington Forest ES 

"Over the last 2 years, Ms. Ragusa lead more than an elementary strings program, she created a community of learners that want to improve, learn, and have friendly competitions among each other. She serves the special education as well as the AAP students by given them the right amount of challenges. My son is thriving in her class, but the best for a mom was to see him and his class performing for the Solo and Ensemble Festival. The group had to take leadership of a song, play together, trust, follow and listen to each other. My son found a passion but also a community, and long lasting friends."

- a Newington Forest ES parent

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Alicia Hawks, Fort Hunt ES 

"Myself being a new teacher to the Fort Hunt Community, one of my first memories during that first week for new teachers was hearing Alicia giving an in-service in the library that morning. Bill, you were there! Anyway, I could tell that Alicia knew her stuff from day one. And she proved it. Anytime I had a question, Alicia had an answer. She’s well versed in best practices that are supported by Fairfax County Public Schools. She knows her way around a pacing guide too. When I came to Alicia recently about a question about the MDA, asking her where I could find different levels, she was on it. Anyone who has visited the CT room can observe that this is Alicia’s modus operandi. She meets challenges head on without hesitation. I am very grateful that Alicia recognizes the potential in others too. To me, that is a tremendous asset for members of our community to possess. And that’s why I’m very happy to be a Fort Hunt Fox with Alicia. Thank you!"

- Brandt Lapko, Fort Hunt ES 

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Bryan Buser, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Bryan has been an invaluable resource for the web curators that manage the websites across the division. He is always ready to help with his wealth of knowledge and expertise. The template Bryan recently created will save curators hours of work that would otherwise be recreated across each school. In what has become his typical fashion, Bryan included video tutorials that he created and an abundance of details regarding the use of the template. Thank you Bryan, for the support and effort you put into making our jobs possible."

- Leo Colgan, Oakton HS 

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William Conner, Lake Braddock SS 

"Mr. Conner came into my 4th period class after our original teacher transferred classes, and I'm so glad Mr. Conner became our new teacher. Mr. Conner is such a nice, kind, smart teacher who truly gets on a friendship level with his students to make them feel comfortable, and enjoy having his class. No matter how bad of a day I'm having at school, when I have Mr.Conner's class I know it's going to make it better. I get to talk to Mr. Conner about things we both like, for instance, football, but he also makes sure we learn when we have to. Mr. Conner is an amazing teacher and I think he deserves to be recognized."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Anna Mcdonald, Lake Braddock SS 

"Ms. Mcdonald is my advisory teacher. She is super nice and very chill. She makes sure we are doing the right thing but lets us have fun. She also supports people and is very accepting."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Allison Riley-Ryan, Lake Braddock SS 

"I appreciate Mrs. Riley Ryan because she is always willing to help me and my classmates when we need it and she is always a person I can talk to if I need it.  She is an inspiration and makes me want to be a teacher when I'm older. Thank you!"

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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William Conner, Lake Braddock SS 

"His teaching is very easy to understand and he is a caring and gentle teacher. He knows what he's talking about."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Dominic Prakash, Lake Braddock SS 

"He makes auto tech fun and enjoyable."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Michael Sanchez, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Michael is an amazing collaborator. When working with MYPDE there are many nuances for setting up sessions for our summer institute. Over the past few weeks, Michael has generously met with us to help us set up our sessions and then when we had an error with registration, Michael was quick to problem-solve and help us to resolve the error. He is a team player who willingly shares his knowledge and insights with other offices. He creates a community environment where he assists in helping others to achieve shared goals. Thank you Michael for always being the person who helps us learn and grow through your collaboration."

- Lori Bedsole, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Mary Lynn Robosky, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Thank you to Mary Lynn for finding new and creative ways to show support and celebrate Central Staff in ISD. These little ways of finding ways to connect others makes a huge impact. We appreciate you!"

- Leigh Kelly, Willow Oaks Admin Center 

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Michele Gates, Chantilly HS 

"Ms. Gates went above and beyond to support a group of Chantilly students in their effort to help send their science fair prototype to Dallas for the international Science & Engineering Fair. When we learned the cost to ship it, I reached out to Michele to ask if anyone at Chantilly could help offset the cost for these students. Michele was able to organize to get half of the cost paid for by the school so the students will have their prototype to showcase at the fair."

- Michelle Gilligan, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Theresa Charles, Lake Braddock SS 

"She is a very good teacher."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Karolina Upton, Lake Braddock SS 

"Mrs. Upton is always there to support her students in any way she can and it seems like she really cares about the greater good of her students. She has been a great help to me recently by staying after school with me to explain anything I don't understand or to simply help me out on a problem." 

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Kathryn Williams, Lake Braddock SS 

"She supports me and understands me. She is tolerant of me and other students. She takes her job as a teacher very seriously."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Gil Martinez, Lake Braddock SS 

"Thank you for always helping me to learn more and more on how to improve my academics. You have helped me to improve my writing and you have built me to be an overall better scholar. I thank you very much for this Señor Martínez."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Ivannia Retana Mora, Falls Church HS 

"We are very thankful to Ms. Ivannia Retana Mora for being so kind and helpful. I had to register my son for High School and we were coming from a non FCPS school. She made the process very smooth and helped figure out some glitches that the SIS system was having with our account. Thank you!!"

- a Falls Church HS parent 

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Luisa Rodriquez, Lorton Transportation Center 

"Ms. Luisa is a special education bus driver in region 4. She provides transportation to our youngest learners with special education needs (with some as young as 2 years old!). Ms. Luisa excitedly greets every child by name as they enter and exit the bus. She plays calming music for our students, and even let a family borrow one of her CDs since the student loved it so much! Ms. Luisa also always has books that she collects, which she offers to all her students to read or possibly borrow (including chapter books for her older Lake Braddock students). Ms. Luisa goes above and beyond every day to ensure our students learning extends beyond the classroom. She makes sure each and every one of our youngest students are and feel safe and cared for. Thank you Ms. Luisa for always looking out for ways to support and help our students grow. You are amazing!"

- Chelsea Harrup, Ravensworth ES 

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Corey Wright, Lake Braddock SS 

"Mr. Wright is a really funny teacher. He makes the class fun and makes me laugh a lot. When I asked him to read my essay, he gave good advice and I think it really helped it. My favorite class is probably history because Mr. Wright makes the class so fun."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Chaz Aguado, Lake Braddock SS 

"In introduction, the motivation of my guitar teacher appealed to motivation in school. My minor depression took the hold in my grades as well as geometry. In the values of the safe a classroom, the steady decrease of stress, provided the confidence to move on."

- a Lake Braddock SS student

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Joshua Richards, Westfield HS

"Mr. Richards has been nothing short of amazing as a mentor for our autistic son. He has given him a safe person to talk to. His friendship has meant the world to our son and to us."

- a Westfield HS parent 

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Brittany Momeni, Spring Hill ES 

"Mrs. Momeni is such a wonderful teacher and I couldn’t be happier. My daughter is always excited and happy to go to school because of her." 

- a Spring Hill ES parent 

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Tony Nguyen, Frost MS 

"Tony is the "handyman" at our school and is a whiz assembling and fixing pretty much anything around our school. This time, he put new wheels on a library side table that had broken legs. Now this piece is even more functional and useful. Just one of many things that he has done for us in the library! Thanks, Tony!"

- Danielle Powers, Frost MS 

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Dave Waite, Sprague Technology Center

"Dave jumped on a call extremely early in the morning to help problem solve getting new employees connected with technology to ensure they hit the ground running on their start date. Dave is extremely easy to work with and his customer service is noteworthy. Thank you Dave for being awesome!"

- Shawn Heilemann, Wilton Woods Center

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David Mikhail and Tainiko Lowman, Wilton Woods Center

"David and Tainiko took time out of their day to help me think through the cyber security aspects of our current cloud migration for FCPS's data warehouse. Their knowledge and expertise in helping us get things right from the start will ensure greater confidentiality of student and employee data for decades to come. FCPS is lucky to have such dedicated individuals."

- Shawn Heilemann, Wilton Woods Center

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Garrett Hubbard, West Potomac HS

"Garrett is the department chair for Science at West Potomac but he is at the same time a coach, confidant, resource, and organizational dynamo. While this is especially apparent as we enter testing season, his leadership has been on display as long as I've known him (and this is my second stint at West Potomac). He truly embodies the idea of a teacher leader: 'primus inter pares' or first among equals. Too often, celebrating leaders is confined to a holiday or maybe a week but it's never the wrong time to do so." 

- Brian Valentine, West Potomac HS

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Janice Victorov, Davis Career Center

"Janice, wonderful job supporting each of your students to reach individual success! It is so fantastic seeing several students at Chesterbrook working independently. This wouldn't have been possible without your help, and this experience will benefit them greatly as they continue their time at Davis and beyond! All of your students are shining in different ways and it's in part due to your care and motivation for each student to grow. Keep up the great work! It's a pleasure collaborating with you."

- Theresa Piccolo, Davis Career Center

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Eva Eckenrode, Orange Hunt ES 

"Our son had been out sick for a week and missed a fun picnic with his class. When he returned to school Ms. Eckenrode made sure he still had the opportunity to celebrate the end of the quarter with some of his friends. It made his day and was so thoughtful!"

- an Orange Hunt ES parent 

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Katie Bruechert, Greenbriar East ES 

"Ms. Bruechert dedicates herself to the students, staff, and community of Greenbriar East Elementary School. One example of her commitment and expertise was displayed during the recent book fair, which created excitement in the community and further spurred the love of reading for students. She is also an asset to the FCPS district and beyond. Ms. Bruechert commits to selecting authors and books to promote cultural responsiveness and equity, and serves as a Newbery Committee member. Thank you for all you do!"

- Nathan Herendeen, Greenbriar East ES 

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Ileana Garcia, Dunn Loring Center

"Ms. Garcia, the parent liaison for IAS, she is always willing to help and she demonstrated this again today. I received a call from a parent with some specific questions and we were struggling to communicate effectively with eachother. It was suggested to me that I contact Ileana and ask for some help. Ms. Garcia responded within minutes saying that she would be happy to contact the parent. She then followed up with an email letting me know what happened and how she helped. She is a gift to our program and I am grateful for her assistance."

- Lisa Dockins, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Melissa Sevilla, Westgate ES 

"Melissa is our Administrative Assistant. She is new to FCPS, Westgate, and the position, and has handled the transition like a rockstar! She has dedicated countless hours to ensuring that our school has everything we need to operate smoothly. From fielding emails and text messages from substitutes at all hours of the day/night and weekends to ensure students have adequate coverage to handling all things ESSER III with finesse and a sense of urgency, Melissa has become a vital member of the Westgate community. We are so lucky and grateful to have her on board! She is such an asset and cares deeply about the work that goes on behind the scenes that supports Westgate in being a thriving workplace with a genuine caring culture. We appreciate you!"

- Andie Ogden, Westgate ES 

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Andrew Wax, Chantilly HS 

"Reading may not be my child's greatest strength yet Mr. Wax is able to explain in a manner that it becomes interesting on what my child initially described as an "Big fat old book." His laborious annotation efforts on the assigned book never ceases to impress me. Most recently, he even started journaling. Now, he is able to devote time reading the assignment without complaining. My child also mentioned Mr. Wax is an avid reader. He read a wide genres of books and read all the books mentioned by his students. That's so inspiring to a young mind! We are very appreciative our child has a good and enriching year with Mr. Wax learning the art of language. Thank you for inspiring him to become a better reader!"

- a Chantilly HS parent 

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Kaitlyn Shrestha, Chantilly HS 

"Per request of my child, I would like to recognize Ms. Shrestha for her excellent teaching skills and accommodating her students' needs. Ms. Shrestha makes key concepts easy to comprehend and displays genuine care for her students. Yesterday, to my surprise, my child even asked me if he has talent in Biology. At the start of the school year, I was really concerned he may not do well in this subject. Surely, his newfound love for Biology is fully credited to Ms. Shrestha for heightening his keen interest in health sciences. This builds a firm foundation as he takes a step closer towards enrolling in the dental program at the academy later. Thank you Ms Shrestha for making a positive impact. Wish you the very the best in your next adventure!" 

- a Chantilly HS parent 

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Madeline Pettey, Herndon ES 

"Mrs. Pettey continually goes above and beyond for all of her students. She works so hard to make sure that each child in class has what they need to be successful in class that day. Today that meant coming downstairs to help my second grader transition from the weekend to Monday in the classroom. Once into school, Mrs Pettey worked with my student to develop a plan for the rest of the Mondays for this school year. I am so grateful to Mrs. Pettey and the wonderful teachers and staff at Herndon Elementary for helping my student have the best school experience possible!" 

- a Herndon ES parent

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Andrea Cabrera, West Springfield ES 

"Ms. Andrea Cabrera is an incredible educator. Her interpersonal skills, love for teaching and her desire to help every child thrive is what puts her in a class of her own. We consider ourselves truly blessed to have experienced her dedication first-hand as she single handedly molded our child's development this year. She is simply the best thing to have happened to us."

- a West Springfield ES parent 

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Sonya Williams, Stone MS 

"I would like to comment on Principal William's outstanding actions as a School Principal at Stone Middle School. I am impressed by her ability and strong efforts in making the hallways safe and clear. As a parent of 2 students at Stone, I am often in the building and see her in the hall and other common areas, library and cafeteria, interacting with students: calling them by name, asking them about their day, and quickly moving them along to their classrooms. She works hard to maintain discipline and foster a safe environment and it is obvious by the reduced number of fights and vandalism in the building. I am also impressed by her efforts to get students to school on time. I often see her outside in the morning when the buses arrive welcoming the students to school and encouraging them to head to class. As she does in the hallway, she often greets them by name and, in a positive and assertive manner encourages student success by getting the students in the building and moving toward a successful school day. Principal Williams made it clear when she came to Stone that behavior and getting students to classes on time would be two of her goals toward a safe school environment. It is obvious that she is working hard to reach that goal and to model that goal for her staff. And, as you walk through the halls, you can see teachers, administrators and staff also being encouraging and assertive in keeping the hallways positive and moving. Finally, I am impressed at Principal Williams positive presence at virtually every activity my children are involved in. My kids are involved in chorus, theatre and some of the after school clubs offered at Stone. Principal Williams is often dropping by to cheer on the students and thank THEM for THEIR service. I would like to thank Principal Williams for her service. Further, she calls them by name, remembers important details and will even text parents, take pictures or send home handwritten notes. These personal touches really show her caring and are, again, an amazing example of leadership for the staff and student alike." 

- a Stone MS parent 

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Timopthy Sampson, Stone MS

"I would like to comment on Mr. Sampson's accomplishments as a science teacher and leader at Stone middle School. Mr. Sampson is my daughter's science teacher and she is very impressed with his teaching style and his classroom interactions. She says that he is an interesting teacher that uses a variety of teaching modes to share the curriculum. This allows my daughter to avoid being bored and distracted and allows her to be invested in science investigations. He is also a teacher that takes time to get to know his students so that he can better teach them. My daughter was struggling in his class for a short time, Mr. Sampson saw that she was slipping, asked her what was going on, and made accommodations to help her get back on track. His willingness to communicate with my daughter an accommodate for her needs allowed her to feel cared for and brought about greater success. Mr. Sampson also ran a game club that my son participated in during the first semester of his 7th grade year. My son struggles to interact with peers his own age but loves games. Mr. Sampson's club allowed him to feel valued and participate with other kids who are similar to him. He was excited to go to school on these days and this added to his attitude of success for the whole day. Second semester Mr. Sampson was the advisor and director of the school play. My daughter was in that play.  Although there were a variety of students in the play, some who were challenging, Mr. Sampson was a strong example of leadership, caring and patience. He also did a great job of leveraging student interest and skills in props, staging, costumes and leadership. The students really seemed to appreciate his willingness to engage the students' success."

- a Stone MS parent 

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Kerri Hutchins, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Kerri Hutchins, School Social Worker for the Homeless/Unaccompanied Youth Office of FCPS. One of my students was on the verge of being homeless and Kerri's swift and efficient actions made all the difference in the world. As soon as I brought this situation to her attention, Kerri immediately took charge and found shelter for my student. My assistant principal, school psychologist and I were amazed at how quickly Kerri was able to communicate with the relevant organization to secure help for my student and obtain the necessary  services. She ensured that the student was deemed homeless, received needed services such as food and McDonald gift cards, and secured transportation to shelter. Despite having a very busy day, Kerri dropped everything to help us out and find a safe space for our student to stay. We are truly grateful for Kerri's dedication and commitment to some of our most vulnerable students."

- Pipi Harrison, Bryant HS 

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Carli McIntosh, Davis Career Center

"Carli is an unsung hero of DCC! As an instructional leader for the school she is everywhere all at once leading CLTs, supporting teachers with lesson ideas, out observing students and providing feedback and ideas on how to support and motivate them, planning field trips, and rearranging her schedule to step in at the last minute to help present information, which she did today at my request due to a scheduling mix up. Carli's commitment to the success of our students, our community, her colleagues, and the overall work of our career center speaks loudly to the person she is, a caring collaborator who is a model educator for all who are fortunate enough to know her. We are so fortunate to have Carli at DCC and we are better because of her!"

- Chad Clayton, Davis Career Center

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Steven Handwerger, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"During a visit to Great Falls Elementary School last week I was able to see Mr. Handwerger in action.  A student was having a difficult time and he dropped everything he was doing and went to help. He spent almost and hour with the student and family members to give them the best possible solution at the moment. His caring attitude toward every student was evident in our conversation. He works across two schools and they are lucky to have him. He could easily work full time at each school with the demands on his time. He works collaboratively with counselors, school administrators, the school social worker and others to make school a better place for each student he works with. Thank you Mr. Handwerger."

- Elaine Tholen, Gatehouse Admin Center

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Heather Van Horn, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"I had the pleasure of spending a good part of the morning with Ms. Van Horn. I was able to see firsthand how she collaborated with the school counselors, the administrators and the psychologist to handle difficult situations in the school. She deals daily with our most vulnerable young students and strives to keep everyone safe and in the best frame of mind to learn. She supports two schools and could easily be working full time at each of them with the workload she carries. The communities trust her and families are so happy to work with her to solve problems and find the best solutions for everyone."

- Elaine Tholen, Gatehouse Admin Center

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Robin Ward, Wilton Woods Center

"I had a last minute high priority request for data. Robin was able to provide exactly what I needed (and more!) in a very short time frame. Additionally, her explanation and support in understanding the data was excellent!" 

- Sara Masluk, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Brandt Lapko, Fort Hunt ES 

"Brandt has been a huge help to me and the 4th grade team this school year and I don’t know what we would have done without him. He has built strong relationships with the 4th grade class he supports. Mr. Lapko knows all the students well and bonds with them on a personal level daily. When there was a long-term substitute in the classroom he pushes into, he co-taught or taught most of the math lessons and helped me show the sub different math strategies to best meet students' needs. He also created anchor charts for the students and hung them around the classroom. Brandt attends both the LA and Math 4th grade CLT meetings and contributes to the team by working with everyone to unpack units, create common assessments and analyze data with us during data dialogues.  His input helps the team see the big picture, especially for the special education students that he is the  case manager for. We are lucky to have Brandt as part of the Fox Family here at Fort Hunt." 

- Krystal Styles, Fort Hunt ES 

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Aziz Elhayani, Woodson IT 

"Aziz did an outstanding job repairing the projector in my classroom. Aziz replaced the bulb and updated the firmware. While doing this he was able to go to a colleague's classroom and fix an IT concern in his classroom. Once getting my projector working he adjusted the projector to optimal settings and installed a improved screen that allowed for a larger image. Aziz did all of this while my class was in session and did not interfere with the learning environment. He engaged with my students in an authentic and professional manner. He thoroughly diagnosed the problem and fixed it. As a result, I am able to use my projector again during instruction and the image is much better than before. Thank you Aziz!"

- Pete Garvey, Mountain View HS 

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Alex Rosales, Sprague Technology Center

"We received some fantastic customer service from Alex Rosales this morning, who helped a teacher pinpoint an FCPS network access issue. He asked the right questions and found the source of the problem, then walked the teacher through the password recovery procedure on her phone, then made sure she was able to do so on her computer also. Alex was extremely patient as he walked her through the process of resetting her account information and password on her phone, and then on the laptop, to make sure she was familiar with it. He was respectful and polite and never gave up on her as she relearned the processes and accesses. It's not only helpful but a blessing when the IT help doesn’t make you feel like a doofus when you’re asking for help.  Alex exceeded my expectations and the teacher was much relieved and reassured by his courteous customer service skills."

- Diana Scheid, Centreville HS 

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Mel Usry, Bucknell ES 

"Mel is a trustworthy colleague who is always willing to help. I'm glad to call you a colleague and friend." 

- Tawanya Scarboro, Graham Road ES 

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JudyAnn Gray, Robinson SS 

"This recognition applies to the entire 2022-23 school year! Ms. Gray goes above and beyond to ensure my daughter is successful in school. She makes learning fun and celebrates their successes! The little things truly mean the most to kids these days, and Ms. Gray gives her time and energy selflessly on a consistent basis! It is clear Ms. JudyAnn Gray is passionate about not only her job, but watching these students succeed under her care. So fortunate we have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing professional!"

- a Robinson SS parent 

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Kim Heddings, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"In the past two years, the social studies team and assessment office have developed a valuable relationship designed to support HS students and teachers across every school. As the specialist for social studies I consider this partnership to be imperative and a paragon of collaboration in FCPS. Kim Heddings, a partner on the assessment team, created a remarkable tool (a workbook) that helps chairs and teachers visualize and understand ongoing reporting of verified credit. It is an amazing resource! When Kim presented the workbook at our chair meeting it received unanimous appreciation, a rare phenomenon indeed.  Moreover, Kim's efforts were proactive. She created a tool with the foresight that it would help teachers, teams, departments, and schools. Ultimately, this benefits students and school culture in a positive way. For this, I am extremely grateful for her and her partnership." 

- Craig Perrier, Willow Oaks Admin Center 

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Kathleen Skocik, Robinson SS 

"Ms. Skocik is not just an incredible teacher, she is an incredible person. She cares deeply for each of her students and desires excellence for each of them. My daughter has Mowat Wilson Syndrome and is in Ms Skocik’s SPED classroom. She thrives and looks forward to school every day. Robinson is a special place full of special people: the principal, the staff, the teachers and therefore the students. Ms Skocik goes out of her way working over time to make sure her special students succeed, reach for their potential, and are prepared to move forward in their education and lives. She has a keen awareness of each child’s strengths and weaknesses, building them up and helping them achieve their goals. Her communication with parents is also so helpful and bar-none."

- a Robinson SS parent 

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Nathan Herendeen, Robinson SS 

"Mr. Herendeen is my child's guidance counselor. I am nominating him because he goes above and beyond to ensure that students are thriving and well cared for, checking in with them often and providing exemplary communication with parents. We feel so fortunate to have him advocating for our child, who has excelled under his guidance and leadership. He is an educator who truly cares and deserves recognition."

- a Robinson SS parent 

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Thomas Whitsed, Robinson SS 

"Mr. Whitsed has been an inspiration to my daughter and myself since she had him in 10th grade for English. She has him again this year as a senior. He really cares about his students and his job and it shows. He’s always going above and beyond to help and offer suggestions or advice. He touches base on progress.  He never seems rushed to get off the phone and he overall genuinely cares! He is literally a blessing to us and he deserves so much more than just recognition!  He’s an amazing teacher and the Robinson Secondary community is so very fortunate to have a teacher like him! We wish him all the best after we leave Robinson this year and we hope many other families get to experience just how truly amazing he is!"

- a Robinson SS parent 

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Eileen Hoppock, Robinson SS 

"Thank you for being such a kind and caring teacher. We especially appreciate the time you have taken to make your class accessible for all of the visually impaired students. When my daughter had to go to homebound instruction, you volunteered to remain her teacher and support her through virtual classes. We appreciate all of your hard work."

- a Robinson SS parent 

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Kaitlyn Polyblank, Bull Run ES 

"Kaitlyn is a fantastic teacher. She builds positive relationships with students. She provides individualized instruction on the grade 3 level content and on students' IEPs. She engages families on a regular basis. She is outstanding."

- Lisa Milman, Dunn Loring Center

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Laura Migdal, Key MS 

"Laura went above and beyond recently to ensure all students had their own plant to observe and care for during our latest Project Based Learning unit on Mini-Gardens. After enlisting student leaders to plant 450 individual plants, the students' excitement and energy towards this enrichment learning was contagious! This made the upcoming enrichment learning even more impactful for our students and staff. Laura consistently tackles her job at the AART and AVID Coordinator from the lens of students and what will help engage students the most in the learning. She never settles for 'good enough' and pushes us all to think about possibility, rather than constraints."

- Danna Hailfinger, Key MS 

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Tracy Soular and Matt Fetters, Sprague Technology Center

"Tracy, Matt, and the entire DLRS team have been so welcoming as I started my new position. I am beyond grateful for their guidance, inclusion and willingness to support me as I have adjusted to my new role." 

- Lori Purvis, Sprague Technology Center

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Jimmy Bochert and Esteban Lopez, Sprague Technology Center

"Jimmy and Esteban have ALWAYS been helpful with any needs that TSSpecs have. They are willing to go above and beyond to support TSSC. They deserve high recognitions for their continued support!"

- Lori Purvis, Sprague Technology Center

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Kara Smith, Cardinal Forest ES 

"Kara allowed another special education teacher to observe her wonderful OG lesson and learn from her exceptional literacy instruction. Kara has high-expectations for all of her students and ensure that every student has the supports/scaffolds they need to be successful during her lesson. Kara always has a smile on her face and truly is a bright light in FCPS. Her students not only are engaged fully in her lessons, but they authentically enjoy being in her class because of her care, dedication, and efforts. Thank you for all you do!"

- Alex Lantis, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Patricia Aldana, Plum Center

"Patricia is a keen observer and always goes beyond expectations. Her desire to support her families greatly impacted the life of one of her three year old students and of his family. Patricia noticed that one of her children might benefit and qualify for special education services. She spoke to the child's parent about Child Find, shared resources, explained the Child Find process, and even made calls on her behalf. The parent was able to feel comfortable to begin the process and the child was found eligible for services. Patricia's passion and selflessness makes a difference on the lives of all her families, every day. Thank you!"

- Micheline Lavalle, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Natalia Sosa Molina, Plum Center

"Natalia's gift of connecting with her colleagues, with families and with children makes her invaluable to our program. Her magnetic energy and ability to truly listen, has very often contributed to finding solutions to what might have been difficult challenges.On a particular instance, she was able to remedy misunderstanding among staff by taking the time to observe, listen to truly understand, and have conversations, always free of any biases. Natalia resolved the challenge simply by being there and making time to understand. Bravo Natalia for bringing humanity and caring to our busy and fast-paced Family Literacy working environment. Your dedication makes a difference!"

- Micheline Lavalle, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Mark K Loftis, Lees Corner ES 

"Mrs. Loftis has been such an outstanding support for our daughter and our family as we navigated some serious struggles this year. After the death of her grandmother, our daughter experienced some emotional challenges that manifested in different ways of acting out. Mrs. Loftis was instrumental in helping us navigate through some pretty big challenges. She went out of her way to communicate with us. She also went above and beyond to make sure she understood how she could help continue some of the tips and tricks we were using at home at school. She has been an outstanding beacon of support and has helped our daughter gain confidence while holding her accountable for her actions when needed. We appreciate you so much Mrs. Loftis!"

- a Lees Corner ES parent

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Lily Reider, Plum Center

"Lily Reider is an exceptional ESOL teacher who goes the extra mile for  her adult students. Recently, in a classroom with one hundred percent Spanish-speaking students, a student from Sudan arrived. The Sudanese student did not speak any English, but showed great interest and enthusiasm in learning. Communicating through WhatsApp, Lily took the time to translate all class materials, even a short book that the class was reading. Her actions impacted the whole class, ensuring greater acceptance and integration across cultures! Bravo Lily for your passion and for making a positive impact on all of your students lives. Your work is commendable!"

- Micheline Lavalle, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Claudia Estevez, Plum Center

"Claudia is a committed and passionate ESOL teacher who truly advocates for her adult students and always goes beyond expectations. Her selflessness and dedication truly changes lives. On a recent occasion, she took her personal time to help a parent write a resume, apply for a job on the FCPS online portal and even accompanied her to the interview. The student was offered employment, her first in the United States. Her dedication to others has an immeasurable impact on our community. Thank you Claudia for all that you do!"

- Micheline Lavalle, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Elizabeth Miller, South County HS 

"Beth Miller is known to both students and staff as a safe, trusted resource. Recently, Beth has welcomed multiple students into her classes late in the year. These students needed a little extra support, and Beth didn't think twice about opening her door to them and providing them with that nurturing space and support that they needed. The same can be said of Beth in her support of new teachers who know that they can seek her out anytime for a listening ear and practical advice. Beth leads with empathy and believes in the positive potential of her students and colleagues. She serves our school community from the heart and we are all so grateful to have her as a teacher and leader."

- Lisa Beskenis, South County HS

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Elizabeth Caligiuri, Bryant HS 

"I want to recognize Liz Caligiuri in her outstanding efforts in helping others. Liz is always willing to go above and beyond to find solutions when no immediate answer is available. I have witnessed this on many occasions and what impresses me most is Liz's kindness and patience in the face of challenging situations. Furthermore, Liz follows up to ensure that things work smoothly for everyone involved. She is by far the most helpful, kindest, and patient person I have ever worked with and I am truly grateful for Liz as she is a real difference maker at Bryant."

- Pipi Harrison, Bryant HS 

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Tim Spicer, Johnson MS 

"I would like to recognize Tim Spicer the KJMS Gym Teacher for all of his help. I am a student monitor and long-term sub for Cat B Students teaching History and Civics. This was my first time actually teaching and when I took the assignment, the current teacher who was taking an assignment for the English teacher who went on maternity leave did not provide me the resources to teach the students. Mr. Spicer, the gym teacher who had previously been a history teacher, heard that I was struggling and took his time to provide me resources he used when he taught history. His assistance was so helpful and I do not have the words to express the appreciation for his help. I am so thankful for teachers like Mr. Spicer and he is what a team member and a teacher should be. Not only did he help me he also exhibits such enthusiasm with the CAT B students and is a credit for to Jackson Middle School and Fairfax County Public Schools as a whole."

- Garline Perry, Johnson MS 

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