FCPS CARES - October 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
Mirna Soriano, Lorton Transportation Center
"I am recognizing Mirna for stepping up to support our operation during the most critical time of the year. Weeks before school opens the transportation leadership team has many benchmarks to meet supporting returning staff and updating office procedures. Many communications are prepared for school staff, students, and parents. When school begins, transportation office hours are extended (earlier and later) as we support all student transportation ensuring students transportation needs are met and until each child has safely returned home. Mirna worked to complete not only her duties, but she also stepped up to support OTS by completing additional duties from a position left vacant. Not for just a few weeks, but for over two months Mirna’s work was flawless and was completed without hesitation or grumbling. I am so proud and thankful for her dedication and support to our office during a very busy, stressful, and important time of the year! OTS operations, parents, school staff, and students are fortunate to have Mirna on our team."
- Francine Furby, Lorton Transportation Center
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Region 1
Ashley Scott, Churchill Road ES - View the celebration
"As a high school librarian, I have a limited number of nonfiction picture books. I was working with a World History teacher on creative ways to engage her students at the start of their unit study on the development of civilizations and Ancient Egypt. We decided we wanted to do a read-aloud and then a picture book exploration for content, and as modeling for their picture book project, they would complete it as a culminating activity. I explained the project to Ashley and asked if she could send me some Ancient Egypt picture books I could use. More than simply sending me a few books, Ashley took the time to go through her Ancient Egypt collection and send me books on all aspects of Ancient Egyptian civilization, while also finding the perfect fiction picture book (that I did not even know about) that explores the development of civilization in general, which would more effectively accomplish the goals the teacher and I had. She took time from her day to help me develop an entire set of materials to fit the needs of students from a completely different school from her own. I appreciate her kindness and professional collaboration, which helped advance a lesson plan to a more reflective and relatable level for students."
- Karen Rowley, Oakton HS
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Region 2
Gregory Williams, Glasgow MS (Pictured) - View the celebration!
"Since last spring, Mr. Williams started expanding the sports programs available at Glasgow. We were aware that cross country was starting, but he felt we needed to offer more for our kids who do not have all the opportunities available to them that other families may. Mr. Williams has recruited some other staff members and some parents to help support him. He has started fall basketball, fall soccer, winter volleyball, and, hopefully, spring flag football. Not only have tons of kids been to practice and games after school, but just last Friday, they had a tournament at Jackson Middle School with a tremendous turnout. Not only did Mr. Williams do something incredible for our school, but he also reached out and included other middle schools in the Mason district. He has added so much to our community and has made a huge impact on these students. We are so lucky to have him.."
- a Glasgow MS community member
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Region 3
Laura Osborne, Rose Hill ES - View the celebration!
"I have worked with Laura since 2018 in the early childhood class-based special education program. I have watched her care for and nurture her students each year. This year, I have seen her go above and beyond what is required to ensure that her students make progress. While this is not atypical behavior for Laura, this year, her caseload presents multiple challenges. She continues to find creative ways to reach students on an individual level and celebrate with them even if their progress is not as she'd hoped. Laura engages students personally and her care for them is evident in all that she does. Her care, however, does not stop with her students. She supports their families as well. She is in daily communication with families to keep them apprised of what goes on in their child's classroom. Her teammates also benefit from her experience, expertise, and professionalism. She is always willing to help out in any way necessary. It is a joy and a pleasure to work with Laura. We are all richer for the experience of spending time with her."
- Ed Windhausen, Rose Hill ES
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Region 4
Susan Waring, Caitlin Schifter, and Megan Counts Laurel Ridge ES - View the celebration!
"My daughter is a member of the LRES Military Kids Club. The club itself means a lot to my child but I would like to recognize the staff members that participated in the potluck dinner last week. All educators give so much to the life of a child but to take the time and energy to share dinner and fellowship with the military families of our school was really special. Mrs. Waring, Ms. Schifter, and Mrs. Counts' time spent with our family has contributed greatly to the feeling of home and belonging our Army family feels in our community."
- a Laurel Ridge ES parent
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Region 5
Elisabeth Frostick, Sandy Nolff, and Waleed Mufti, Chantilly HS
"Two days in a row the team of Ms. Frostick, Mr. Mufti, and Ms. Nolff have responded with care, compassion, and expertise during a time of student medical crisis. They have acted quickly and efficiently to handle emergency situations and deliver emergency medications while coordinating the medical response. They have been absolute professionals during difficult times of need this week."
- Maura Edwards, Chantilly HS
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Region 6
Anthony Garza, Hayfield SS
"Coach Garza is an outstanding caring individual of the highest character, who cares deeply for his students, and his fellow colleagues. I am very blessed to work with him. Last week I found out that I was going to need a few weeks off for a medical matter. He and I were selected to co-chair the Outstanding Employee Awards program this year, but with my impending medical issue, I knew that I would not be able to assist him much with its roll out. I let him know what was going on, and he immediately told me not to worry, and that he had everything covered! His willingness to add extra volunteer duties to his already full plate at Hayfield is very inspiring, and we are very lucky to have a person of his character working with us day in and day out."
- James Mercer, Hayfield SS
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Other FCPS Cares of the Month Recipients
Nick Choobineh, Sprague Technology Center
"Nick always helps with a smile and a sense of humor. So thankful for his support at Haycock."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Rachel Wynder, Union Mill ES
"My daughter is a 2nd grader at Union Mill Elementary School. This year she has Ms. Wynder as her teacher. My daughter adores her teacher. Ms. Wynder makes my daughter feels so welcome. My daughter can be very shy with new teacher. However, Ms. Wynder ensures she gets to know all her students and encourages them to step out of their comfort zone. We are so blessed to have her this year. She is a wonderful addition to the Union Mill community."
- a Union Mill ES parent
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Nadia Pietri, Hayfield SS
"Nadia is always supportive and willing to help out at Hayfield. Today specifically she knew I was working on another project and offered to take on a task I normally complete to support our teachers at the end of the quarter. She is always a positive force and is willing to help out anyone in need; students, parents, and staff. We are so lucky to have her at Hayfield!"
- Regina Natale, Hayfield SS
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Cara Shirley, Hollin Meadows ES
"When you think of the kind of educator you want in the life of your child, Ms. Shirley is that educator. She gives her all to our school community in her role as a school counselor, which is often a thankless position. She is always available to speak to and support parents as they navigate the challenges their child may face. The students adore her, she is upbeat, encouraging, supportive and a real advocate for students, ALL students. Many parents in our school community are very thankful to have Ms. Shirley at our school."
- a Hollin Meadows ES parent
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Banafsheh Jamshidi, Kilmer MS
"Ms. Jamshidi is a good teacher because if we don't have a pencil, she gives us a pencil and she does not scold us, she speaks with us friendly."
- a Kilmer MS student
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Stacey Mitchell, Lake Braddock SS
"Not necessarily this day but every day she’s the absolute best and always cares about student’s individual needs."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Kayla Mejias, Dranesville ES
"Kayla is a 2nd year special education teacher at our school and to say we are lucky to have her is such an understatement! The relationships that she builds with her students are truly amazing. She creates such a safe and trusting place for students to be comfortable with themselves. She has a mutual respect for her students and their families that is calming and reassuring. Kayla definitely models the belief that every behavior is communication and she works tirelessly to determine what it is that her students want to relay to her and is always seeking out ways to help them get their thinking heard and understood. She impacts so many more people than she realizes. I appreciate her dedication, leadership and advocacy."
- Rena Rose, Dranesville ES
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Avin Sindy, Colvin Run ES
"Ms. Sindy consistently keeps me updated with my son’s progress, both emotionally and academically. In such a short period of time, she has already given us the comfort to know that our son is in the best hands. I see the growth in my son at home and it amazes me to see how she has been able to accomplish this all within the first quarter. We are beyond thankful for her!"
- a Colvin Run ES parent
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Laura Kearns, Glasgow MS
"It is with great pleasure that I'm writing this letter in recognition of my daughter's math teacher. Thank you, Ms. Kearns for your dedication in teaching our kids. From my personal experience, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all the guidance, support, patient and encouragement you've always given my child and especially during this month of October. Wishing you'll continue on your path towards successful achievements."
- a Glasgow MS parent
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Ryan Northcutt, Woodson IT
"Ryan spent hours last school year setting up our news studio on a mobile cart due to our space considerations. It wound up being a brilliant idea because it allows us to film and live broadcast school events like graduation. He also came twice before our graduation ceremony to get us all set up. When I needed to set up our studio software on Windows 11, he visited the school and spent hours again. He came back a few days later to make sure everything was working well. I am so grateful for his technical expertise and thoroughness and also how he always follows up to make sure everything is running well. I can't express how much we appreciate Ryan here at Westlawn ES."
- Joleen Michalowicz, Sprague Technology Center
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Abesh Ghile, Key MS
"Where do I even begin? I am new to Key this year and I have been BEYOND blessed to have Ms. G as my IA. She is constantly one step ahead when it comes to classroom management, and to say she goes the extra mile to support teachers is an understatement. I was recently out on unplanned leave, and to know that my students were in good hands with Ms. G was SUCH a weight off my shoulders. She is truly the gold standard of IAs. I am so lucky to work with her and the Key community is so lucky to have her!!!"
- Mary Fouse, Key MS
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Margaret Von Kolintz, Fort Hunt ES
"Among the multitude of things vKay does for Fort Hunt, she has been a HUGE help to me with the morning news. She is always willing to step in and support me in any way she can. She always has a positive attitude and a smile on her face. vKay is an integral part of having our news show, and the consistency it offers our classroom’s morning routines."
- Sarah Lee, Fort Hunt ES
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Dawn Robey, Lorton Transportation Center
"Dawn Robey has been an integral support in making our before school program a success. As we needed to make adjustments and updates, she graciously made the changes and communicated with us; she is responsive and timely with her correspondence. We truly appreciate Dawn's flexibility and dedication to our students and their education. Thank you, Dawn!"
- Jennie Skerker, Herndon ES
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Danielle Powers and Dawn Alexander, Frost MS
"If the American Library Association were to compile a list of the top middle school librarians, Danielle Powers and Dawn Alexander would surely be on it. Their energy, proficiency, and adaptability would earn them spots. Danielle and Dawn also fit another list: ten of the top books from WordsRated's survey of America's Favorites.
1: A Thousand Splendid Suns: Any teacher who has taught a thousand students has made it. They're established. Danielle and Dawn teach over a thousand *during library orientation.* Their light has reached more than 21,000 students!
2: Good Omens: Neil Gaiman's novel is about two beings who team up to save the universe. The world Frost students inhabit is rife with divisions.
Danielle and Dawn bridge those gaps. Athlete, musician, singer, dancer, writer, reader, non-reader: any of them can get into their lively picture-and-joke-filled presentation and scavenger hunt -- especially with a treat at the end. By starting this way every August/September, they establish immediate positive vibes that pay off the rest of the year.
3: The Midnight Library: The Falcon Focus phenomenon amazes me. The fact that a library can get so crowded that entry needs to temporarily be limited is remarkable. A few students may be trying to get out of class. In this iPhone age, however, the feeling of needing to camp out at midnight to get tickets to a place filled with books is quite a feat.
4, 5, 6, 7: The Outsiders, The Giver, The Catcher in the Rye, The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Dawn and Danielle try to include all students. By the end of my Creation/Destruction and Bio Cube projects, every student had books they connected with. It's also not uncommon to see quiet kids buried in a book. Middle school is a tough time, so it's great to see kids who feel as different as those characters use Danielle and Dawn's space as a refuge -- as a place to dive into worlds better than their own.
8: The Stand: For almost a decade, Danielle and Dawn lent me a stand (a lectern). This gave students a home base that helped them deliver several genuinely great poems.
9, 10: Fahrenheit 451, Pride and Prejudice: I have not seen books burned yet, but in various regions, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 does not seem too far from real life. Fortunately, admirably, Danielle and Dawn are miles away from it. Seeing a book about LGBTQIA+ pride on a shelf when you first walk in is both brave and basic. It combats prejudice in a simple, powerful way. If affords queer students, staff, and families the dignity they deserve.
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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George Winslow, Frost MS
"George Winslow is a man of miles. After school, he monitors miles and improves runners' pace on them as cross country and track coach. During the Frost day, he logs them himself, going the extra mile to make students and staff feel like the effort they put in is worth it. When we were about to come back to the building after virtual learning, one thing I looked forward to was finding out who George Winslow was! During each BBCU faculty meeting (and a few optional ones we both attended), he'd make an appearance in the chat. Many staff members were understandably exhausted and chose to audit anywhere they could, leaving the impression of sharing into a void. George would always contribute with specifically witty and/or well-informed comments. That time period involved a lot of intense current-event topics, so it was helpful to have someone who could both take it seriously and add humor. Since returning to Frost, it's been clear that George's behavior was not a virtual-learning fluke. He's attended student-faculty championships, offered to help for a future 5K, and replied to updates about special events with detailed comments of his own. My favorite reply related to the basketball tournament. He said he had seen so much improvement in the student's attitude and behavior in the past two weeks, which coincided with a leadership role in the tournament. He said he'd be sure to follow up with her about it in class. It was great for both of us to hear. He made our day which seems to be the Winslow way."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Laura Przydzial, Frost MS
"My first impression of Laura Przydzial was that she was a go-getter. During orientation week, there was a staff scavenger hunt. My group featured two driven math teachers and two equally-driven math-teacher daughters. We were ON every clue, so I figured we had it in the bag. To my shock, another team finished before us. When I asked a member of the winning team how they won, they made it clear what happened: the new science teacher crushed it. Everyone played a role, but she was the x factor. I then went to the science teacher to introduce myself and congratulate her. I assumed I’d get a quick “thanks” and she’d move on. That’d both be appropriate, and achievers often don’t have time for others. Instead, Laura expressed a genuine thanks and initiated an animated several-minute conversation. Considering the million things we all have to do each day, subsequent conversations were shorter. The *presence* was still there though. It’s the reason she remembers students’ names and things about them remarkably early in the year, the reason students almost always first describe how they feel in science. Students certainly learn in science. Some I spoke to name dropped chloroplasts and photosynthesis with ease. The lead story, however, is always her energy, her positive attitude, and their feeling of being valued. None of those can be measured in a beaker, on a scale, or with a ruler. Laura has reams of those elements, and Frost is lucky to have her."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Meredith Lee, Frost MS
"The William and Mary alma mater begins with this stanza: "Hark the students' voices swelling / Strong and true and clear. Alma Mater's love they're telling / Ringing far and near." These lines capture why Meredith Lee and I still care about our college and why Meredith's been beloved at Frost for 16 years. If you've heard songs performed in a Frost cafeteria or Woodson auditorium, you can see the relevance of the lyrics. By performance time, beginning, intermediate soprano, advance soprano, and tenor basso all come together strong and true and clear. The fact that tenor basso is included in this list, considering tenor basso behavior, is quite a feat. Meredith's contributions go beyond improving vocals. The nurturing climate she's created has boosted the confidence of countless vulnerable students. Her room was a safe space for all identities before there were "safe spaces.” Her warmth, insight, and willingness to listen has been contagious. Many former students have returned as volunteers/mentors, and some have becomes music teachers themselves! On a personal level, I appreciate her enthusiasm for Mongolian Buffet, Ben Folds, The New Rockers, and Friday Night Lights. She also offered concert tickets and the all-time-best babysitter. Plus, the semester I supported her class taught me more new things than any class since becoming an IA. Moreover, that semester made me hopeful for the future. During it, she included a clip of my toddler son performing the class’ hilarious group number “Lydia The Tattooed Lady.” Brody loved it, the class loved it, and several students gave him a shout-out when he came to the concert at Woodson. Maybe Meredith will still be here when Brody’s a Frost student. May he hear the thunder of her chorus, alma mater, hail!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Matthew Bower, Frost MS
"On the surface, there doesn't seem to be a point to recognizing Matt Bower. He's already earned the respect of students, teachers, and staff, and he's earned several school and county awards. Why bother? It's important to continue writing about Matt because he has not stopped caring. Matt continues to empty the tank in everything he does. Given his love of sports, it makes sense to turn this tribute into a quick, ESPN-style Top 10 List. I.E. Ten Reasons Matt Bower Deserves To Be Recognized.
1: He makes history come alive.
2: Simply listening to facts about Ellis Island and filling out a Google Form doesn't do much. Immigration info could go in one ear and out the other. When that info is accompanied by a simulation across the lecture hall in which your teacher playfully yells at you in character, it sticks.
3: He continues to compile hundreds and hundreds of cards that allow staff members to recognize each other.
4: He keeps the card concept fresh by including stats in the prompts and, this year, linked the text of the winning cards.
5: He supports underdogs. The Commanders have lost 287 times since they last won the Super Bowl, and he still supports them. When fans blindly call for a return to the old name, his eyes are open. He doesn’t cling to history; he considers it.
6: He strives to make the material engaging for and accessible to all students. The only time I’ve seen him angry was once, years ago, when this was not happening. Many times, I’ve seen kids who claim they don't usually like history look forward to team-taught.
7: His JMU tailgate and quarterly get-togethers were portable battery chargers before people consistently used those.
8: His team-taught classes are actually team taught. Both teachers plan and present.
9: Any time an IA enters his room, he makes the class feel like they just got Game Genie added to their Nintendo. The IA feels they just got the star AND lightning bolt in Mario Kart, ready to ping to any student who might need help.
10: Technically, if the NBA had awarded NBA Michael Jordan four MVPs, it would have been fine. People would have still known he was great. He earned a 5th one, though, just as Matt Bower earned this note."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Megan Balduf, Frost MS
"Javan rhinos, Amur leopards, Sunda Island tigers, and Mountain gorillas are four of the most endangered species on planet. Environmental factors threaten their very existence. Considering the threat that iPhones, iPads, Snapchat, and TikTok present middle schoolers, I’m pretty sure Classes Who Pro-Actively Read Books On Their Own is number five on the list. Yet, on multiple occasions when covering Megan Balduf’s classes or supporting students, I’ve noticed a remarkable phenomenon: they’re actually into the reading. Most students have seemed fully aware of where they were in the stories and ready to engage in discussions with their classmates. I find Monster, Fahrenheit 451, and The Lonely Bones inherently interesting, but buy-in for any book these days can be a challenge. I think the key for Megan’s students is her. When you’re led by someone who genuinely cares about words, ideas, and turning pages, it makes a difference. To quote a meme she posted, “Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a fascination, a fate. It is not a hobby.” Passion is contagious. Over the years, Megan has accomplished many things: graduating William and Mary, serving as Department Chair, becoming Highly Qualified, becoming a legitimate runner, and raising literate, curious children of her own. There needs to also be room on that list for connections she’s made with students. She’s inspired a personal hype man and an uncanny Wonder Woman. If you can get Gen Z / Gen Alpha to look forward to Friday’s sustained silent reading, you’ve made an impact."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Cosette Loach, Frost MS
"Cosette Loach is so good at what she does that she can't stop. She used to be able to tap out after five periods. Now, word of the mouth has become too positive, too many kids have signed up, and she's stuck with a six-period Jefferson contract! On second thought, that's a good 'problem' for everyone involved. Having now worked with Cosette as an IA, on Middle School Council, and conferring in the halls, I can see why she's successful. First, she's impeccably organized. This is true for lessons, procedures, folders, and the neatest bulletin board known to man. Then there's the font on the board. Instead of taking on a seventh period, she could copyright Loach Font and make a mint. Organization without compassion is automation, which does not fit Cosette, she goes out of her way to make connections. She asks students about their weekends, integrates students' ideas into the curriculum, and occasionally has a full-class game purely for fun. I appreciate the way she's pro-active with me as well, asking about current students, former students, This Is Us, and the latest [animated] films. She even replies to recaps of my school-wide events. Now in her 21st year at Frost, I wonder if Cosette is considering breaking a school record. If she was, I'm sure students and staff would be all for it!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Clayton Allen, Lake Braddock SS
"Mr. Allen is a phenomenal teacher at LBSS who brought the middle school orchestra program to the next level. His teaching style was super effective and kindness was contagious and had an effect on the students of LBSS as he has taught there since 2014."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Jordyn Myers, Fort Belvoir Primary School
"Ms. Myers is a real joy to have as my son's teacher. She always goes above and beyond to make sure every child feels loved and taken care of while in a learning environment. My son loves going to her class because he knows he will learn while still having fun. And I know, as a mom, he will be well taken care of and also learn the skills needed to set him up for kindergarten. We are so thankful we have Ms. Myers as his teacher."
- a Fort Belvoir Primary School parent
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Anne Duffy, Fort Belvoir Upper School
"My daughter does not have Ms. Duffy as a teacher this year however she finds comfort in learning from her time and time again. The way she explains certain things to her helps her and she gets anxious when someone else explains it differently. But when she goes to Ms. Duffy, she knows just the right words to say to comfort and explain things in a way she will understand. Ms Duffy is a real gem. She doesn't have to take time to help my daughter, but she does out of the kindness of her heart. THAT is a true teacher. One that sees a need and fills it and doesn't say "your not my student."
- a Fort Belvoir Upper School parent
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Jeffrey Sheedy, Fort Belvoir Upper School
"Jeff is a wonderful teacher. He makes learning fun, he is always making sure that the children understand what is going on and if not he stops to help and guide them. He is kind and understanding. You can tell that he loves teaching and we appreciate him so much."
- a Fort Belvoir Upper School parent
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Inhak Hwang, Flint Hill ES
"We forgot to ask to have a yogurt stain removed from our carpet, however when we came in the next morning it had been cleaned by Inhak! The evening custodial staff has been understaffed but Inhak just works harder to help our school. He is always cheerful and willing to help in any way that he can."
- Lynne Kohls, Flint Hill ES
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Stephany Fuentes, Davis Career Center
"Stephany, thank you SO much for lending a hand with interpreting during my transition meeting when the interpreter had to unexpectedly leave. I truly appreciate that you didn't hesitate to help out even though interpreting is 100% not your job! Beyond that, it was so evident that you've worked with families before because you immediately built rapport and ensured she understood everything we were discussing. You were really a life saver!"
- Theresa Piccolo
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Jim Wilcox, Haycock ES
"Jim has a gentle way of bringing humor and light to any conversation that you have with him. He has such nice ways of explaining and teaching. Our students adore him. He takes on extra responsibilities like mentoring and a school newspaper that are so meaningful for the students. How fortunate we are that he chose to work at Haycock!"
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Teresa Padgett, Haycock ES
"Teresa is in her first year as a school counselor and is nothing short of amazing. The students adore her, and she is a strong advocate for them and their families. She is a ray of sunshine and a leader in our school. We are so lucky to have her in our team!"
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Kathryn Dunbar and Melba Louppe, Haycock ES
"Kathryn and Melba are wonderful cafeteria hostesses. We are so lucky to have them caring for our students during lunchtime. It’s not easy to work in such a loud and busy environment, but they do it with grace and energy. Thank you so much to these two wonderful women who make our school cafeteria run smoothly."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Meghan Gerrity, Haycock ES
"Meg Gerrity is only in her second year of teaching and has had a tremendous impact on her students who adore her. She collaborates with her team and resource staff to provide support for the success of her students. We are so lucky to have her at Haycock!"
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Jill Shull, Haycock ES
"Jill Shull is an amazing 6th grade teacher who provides rigor for her students while equally concerned for the well-being of her students. She teams with resource staff and parents to ensure success for the whole child. She’s an exceptional teacher."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Grace Winslow, Alan Leis Center
"Whether it is filling in for teachers during their absences, taking an active role in managing the community board at our center or providing support to the families and children in the PreK Program, Grace Winslow undeniably shines as an outstanding colleague and employee. Her commitment and enthusiasm for her work are visible in every task she undertakes. Grace diligently carries out her responsibilities without the need for acknowledgment. Nevertheless, I want to take this opportunity to convey my appreciation for her steadfast support of our families and her determinedly optimistic approach to her duties."
- Caro Cadena, Alan Leis Center
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Kelly O'Connell, Woodson HS
"Kelly has been and always will be an amazing person, leader and mentor. Every encounter I have had while working with Kelly has always been positive, collaborative, and very productive. Kelly goes above and beyond to help resolve transportation concerns and to make sure to support not only our students but our transportation staff."
- Rachelle Wigenton, Lorton Transportation Center
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Bryanna Valenti, Eagle View ES
"As a brand new teacher, Bryanna is learning SO MANY THINGS! I have been particularly impressed with her ability to quickly develop trusting relationships with both her students as well as her grade level teammates. Her passion for students is obvious from the moment you step into the room; she is prepared, caring, compassionate, and fair. It is abundantly apparent that she's taken the time to really get to know her students so that she is best able to support them, both academically and developmentally. She is such an asset to our team at Eagle View!"
- Becky Scott, Eagle View ES
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Madison Thomas, Eagle View ES
"As a brand new teacher, Madison is learning SO MANY THINGS! Dealt a difficult case load with multiple changes already this school year, Madison has tackled each challenge full-on. She consistently collaborates with her general education counterpart, related service providers, and behavior management resources to quickly bring herself up to speed regarding current best practices, and faithfully implements plans and collects data to make informed decisions. She proactively reaches out to all the appropriate resources to get her questions answered and provide quality instruction and intervention to all students. I am so excited she's on our team at Eagle View!"
- Becky Scott, Eagle View ES
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Tony Mossburg, Eagle View ES
"Tony is a passionate practitioner and approaches all our students in the CSS site with dignity, respect, and high expectations. He coaches them to be their best selves across the school day and responds with compassion and consistency whenever they're experiencing difficulties and crises. While I've only known Tony for a few months, it is abundantly clear that he is knowledgeable, yet constantly seeking to improve his own skill sets; firm yet fair when managing student behaviors; an all-out team player, supporting all classes and teachers in any way they may need; and an incredible asset to the entire Eagle View community."
- Becky Scott, Eagle View ES
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Robert Salzberg, Navy ES
"Robert is an outstanding colleague. He makes himself available to help a co-worker whenever he can. He has a positive outlook and he volunteers to take on tasks outside of his regular job description to benefit our students. The Navy students love Mr. Salzberg's class because he teaches with such creativity and enthusiasm. Navy is lucky to have Mr. Salzberg!"
- Maryn Simon, Navy ES
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Yocelyn Polsgrove, Frost MS
"The name Yocelyn comes from a French word meaning "flowing water." This makes sense because Yocelyn Polsgrove has been able to flow smoothly in and out of roles and leave the people she's worked with refreshed and ready to go. This includes her positions as Spanish teacher at Thoreau, Spanish teacher at Frost, and Jump Start reading teacher at Frost. I hadn't known about her role at Thoreau until recently because she seemed so integrated in the Frost community. She had already offered staff members a file cabinet, decorative flags from 22 countries that had been to the World Cup, and a tip about $2 Rosita's pupusas and tamales. She also helped my student in a wheelchair with a convenient water cup and made my day by commenting on the update for Student-Faculty Basketball. To this point, Yocelyn most impressive accomplishment was Jump Start. She took on a subject she hadn't done before and nailed it. I appreciate her tip about journal entries, her idea about paper plates, and how flexible she was with my ideas about the Writing Secret lesson and the FB Mystery. I also loved her dedication offering to finish prep together outside of school. Working with Yocelyn is viento en popa (smooth sailing) -- whatever works!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Erika Pflugrath, Frost MS
"There are positions most people would consider low stress: Yoga Teacher, Masseuse, Cartographer, and Lazy River Monitor among them. Something not on that list? Spelling Bee Judge. A judge sits for hours in tense silence, intently listening and waiting for each letter. For 33 students out of 34, there's a dark moment. It follows weeks of preparation and a pause so pregnant its water is about to break. When a judge determines a letter has been spelled wrong, they raise their hand, extend their finger, and ding a bell. Game over. Clearly there's more to the bee than winning, and there are many enjoyable, valuable moments along the way. Being a judge is intense though, and Erika deserves credit for doing a great job, for seven consecutive years! The one year she had to miss part of the bee, she did everything in her power to make up for it. The one year a parent made a dramatic challenge, her detailed records quickly resolved it. Beyond the spelling bee, I appreciate the times she's come on her off period to help with a particularly challenging student, the passion she and her family have shown for hockey, and the encouragement she's given new ping pong players and deaf football players. Considering the Excellence in Education award she received at the end of last year, she may not *need* this recognition, but she does deserve it!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Shruti Sharma, Frost MS
"There are positions most people would consider low stress: Yoga Teacher, Masseuse, Cartographer, and Lazy River Monitor among them. Something not on that list? Spelling Bee Judge. A judge sits for hours in tense silence, intently listening and waiting for each letter. For 33 students out of 34, there's a dark moment. It follows weeks of preparation and a pause so pregnant its water is about to break. When a judge determines a letter has been spelled wrong, they raise their hand, extend their finger, and ding a bell. Game over. Clearly there's more to the bee than winning, and there are many enjoyable, valuable moments along the way. Being a judge is intense though, and Shruti deserves credit for doing a great job for seven consecutive years! The one year she had to miss part of the bee, she did everything in her power to make up for it. The one year a parent made a dramatic challenge, her detailed records quickly resolved it. Beyond the spelling bee, I've appreciated the story in Shruti’s newspaper that gave Aster Tewelde an overdue spotlight, her SIMR support for “Stranger at the Gate,” and the redesign she did of her new classroom. Whatever the teaching equivalent of Better Homes and Garden is, take note. She also goes to show that you can be super nice and have control of class. After a not-so-perfect storm of students one period her first year, she genuinely grew, and is now adept at management as well. Go, Tribe! Considering the love Shruti gets from students and staff on a daily basis, she may not *need* this recognition, but she does deserve it!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Lamepa Bromell, Frost MS
"Lamepa Bromell is a font of useful knowledge. On the one hand, if you devote 19 years of your life to the students, parents, and staff of a school, and your own two children, this is not a surprise. It is remarkable, though, the breadth of info she's gone out of her way to provide. She's offered staff tips about Natural Reader, Educational Reader magazine, a contest for students to win $10,000 for their school, free teacher dresses, a Bitmoji-filled Back-to-School template, 101 conversation starters for student discussions, a unique creation site for student videos, an extensive EdTech playlist, a Kudoboard acrostic poem, and a chance for 30 recertification points from the world's largest library. That's also only material shared with the full staff. In 2020, I appreciated the feedback she gave me on an apartment complex, which saved thousands of dollars and helped me afford a second child. In 2021, I was grateful for her access to the Frost 5K archive. This allowed me to create a week-by-week action plan for a reboot. This year and every other year, I've enjoyed our brief, funny riffs on student behavior: #OnlyInMiddleSchool... To me, Lamepa’s best gift was “I Am Missing Frost.” This Covid-era ode to life in the building moved me then and makes me grateful now what we're able to experience. It includes these lines: “I am missing Frosties, those I have known from years of working together and those I have yet to meet. I miss the sharing of ideas without an appointment.” For however many years Lamepa goes beyond 19, I'm glad we still won't need an appointment."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Clayton Allen, Lake Braddock SS
"Mr. Allen makes the effort to attend orchestra performances even while activated for duty which is a testament to his commitment to and support of the students. The energy and excitement of the students is palpable when he enters the room. He is so deserving of this. His absence is felt, his impact is great and I know that both the students and parents look forward to his return."
- a Lake Braddock SS parent
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Amy Hansen, Frost MS
"Anyone who's interacted with Amy Hansen for a decent amount of time knows her favorite color: purple. This makes sense since purple is strongly associated with royalty. Some royalty has a justifiably bad rap: Caligula, George, both Johns, and well, Ivan The Terrible. Amy belongs in a different, heroic group with Benevolent Dictators like Frederick II, Douglas MacArthur, Lee Kuan Yew, Simon Bolivar, and Catherine The Great. Amy could be crowned Amy The Great because she's used her organization, creativity, and empathy to make life better for Frost students and staff. Every element of every lesson is carefully planned and controlled, so students can know exactly what to do and how to be successful. At the same time, there's wiggle room built in for hilarious stories and student riffs. The only time I've seen Amy crushed was during Covid. The barriers inherent in BBCU meant missing out on what mattered most: relationships with her students. Fortunately, since we've returned, the situation has transformed, it's gone beyond what it was. In the past, the second FACS teacher was a part-time position. This year, kids' interest has made the program expand to two full-time teachers, ten total classes! Her commitment to staff has been equally strong. My first real experience with her was her offering to drive me to school when my car was in the shop, when we also bonded about our similar families. I then marveled at how she was able to connect with many others, with rather diverse views. In recent years, I admired that she stuck it out with Social Committee. There would not have been numerous Chili Cookoffs, holiday parties, restaurant visits, and appreciation weeks without her. Is Amy Hansen deserving of Cares recognition? Yas, Queen!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Halona Trivett-Sharma, Frost MS
"In the minute it will take to read this message, Halona Sharma may receive five new tasks for tomorrow. Add to that morning pickup, afternoon pickup, two periods of escorts, and Cat-B lunch duty, responsibilities I've never seen a sub be given, and it may balloon to ten tasks. Few people know what those tasks will be, including Halona herself, but I'm sure every staff member at Frost has full confidence they'll be done well. During the last-day-of-school celebration, when her name came up, there was thunderous applause, the loudest of anyone mentioned in the lecture hall. Who hasn't been rescued by her?When she needs to lead 40+ rambunctious PE kids, she can. When she needs to lead an even tougher class (4 CSS kids in one self-contained science), she can. She does not need to lead though. One afternoon last year, when the English teacher was absent, I led, and she effectively became an IA. This year, in another English class, she stepped in as a team teacher. She provided just what was needed. The dovetailing worked. Her support after a rare bad day in volleyball also meant a lot. With Halona's family shifting to Woodson next year, I'm not sure if she will too. I'm sure, however, everyone at Frost will appreciate the remaining days with her. Whatever those 1000+ tasks are, I'm sure she'll nail them."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Alejandra Pena-Ulloa, Lake Braddock SS
"I am not sure I have the necessary words to express how INVALUABLE Alejandra Pena-Ulloa has been to our Lake Braddock community as the Parent Liaison for Spanish speaking families. She works tirelessly throughout the day to make phone calls to parents, to set up meetings for counselors to meet with parents, and to attend parent conferences and student registration meetings to help with translation. Alejandra has a passion for making sure families get what they need, and proactively takes steps to make sure this happens. I have had the privilege of working with Alejandra this year in SIXTEEN registration meetings. She not only translates the "basics" of what is being shared, but has her own list of additional important information in regard to free/reduced lunch forms, setting up ParentVue accounts, where to call for attendance notifications, and how to find information on our website in their native language. She makes sure all families are fully connected to our school before they leave the registration meeting. She is a dynamo and I am so, so grateful she is with us!"
- Jacqueline Naughton, Lake Braddock SS
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Milka Willis, Lake Braddock SS
"I want to give a shout out to Milka Willis for doing such a wonderful job co-leading the ESOL Parent Night on October 24th for middle and high school ESOL families. The night included valuable curriculum information, ways for parents to get involved in the school, staff to help parents create and access their ParentVue accounts, and parent liaisons to help facilitate conversations. Additionally, Milka and her middle school co-lead for the program made sure there were games and activities for younger children in the family so parents could attend without having to get a babysitter! Lastly, because the presentation at was at night after many parents had worked all day, pizza and drinks were provided as well!! I was so happy to be a part of this event and to support Milka and her co-lead as they truly represented what it means to be an inclusive community!"
- Jacqueline Naughton, Lake Braddock SS
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Ken Kuchta, Lake Braddock SS
"I want to give a shout out to Ken Kuchta for doing such a wonderful job co-leading the ESOL Parent Night on October 24th for middle and high school ESOL families. The night included valuable curriculum information, ways for parents to get involved in the school, staff to help parents create and access their ParentVue accounts, and parent liaisions to help facilitate conversations. Additionally, Ken and his HS co-lead for the program made sure there were games and activities for younger children in the family so parents could attend without having to get a babysitter! Lastly, because the presentation at was at night after many parents had worked all day, pizza and drinks were provided as well!! I was so happy to be a part of this event and to support Ken and his co-lead as they truly represented what it means to be an inclusive community!"
- Jacqueline Naughton, Lake Braddock SS
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Georgiana Rati, Sandburg MS
"Mrs. Rati goes above and beyond to support our students and staff. She is conscientious, confident and competent, and a leader to our department. I admire her teamwork skills, her communication with the team and parents, and her work ethic. She is a teacher-model to follow!
- Delia Dragan, Sandburg MS
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Terri Edmunds-Heard, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"Dr. Edmunds-Heard is doing an outstanding job as the Interim Assistant Superintendent of DSS. Terri is very prompt in addressing constituent concerns, and if she doesn’t have an immediate answer, Terri advises that she’ll investigate the matter and get back to us. Terri always does so and does it promptly. Terri is a role model in excellent communication with School Board Members and their staff. I have spoken with many of my colleagues, and they are equally pleased with Terri’s prompt assistance."
- Stephanie Sheridan, Gatehouse Admin Center
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Irma Munguia, Herndon HS
"Irma was welcoming and very helpful with setting up and making sure we were ready for our day! She went above and beyond, and I greatly appreciate her kindness and positive energy!"
- Aly Al-Shammari, Gatehouse Admin Center
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Mandy Stevens Jolly, Gatehouse Admin Center
"Mandy is an Environmental Health Specialist with FCPS. Over the course of more than nine months, Mandy nearly single-handedly managed the identification, location, pickup, and recycling of approximately 45,000 gallons of expired hand sanitizer from FCPS schools and support buildings. The task involved many long hours coordinating with school building staff, warehouse personnel, and the recycling vendor to fill thirteen tractor-trailer trucks with over 350,000 pounds of expired hand sanitizer from January to August 2023."
- Matt Allen, Gatehouse Admin Center
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Joyce Revollo, Centreville HS
"Joyce Revollo, our School Health Aide, went above and beyond to help me with a very difficult situation that occurred in my classroom. A student fainted, and we were having difficulty reaching the emergency contacts. Joyce arrived and gave great advice, took over calling the student's family until they were notified, and stayed past the end of the school day to make sure we had all the help we needed. She's a great help in emergencies, and every day!"
- Paige Clark, Centreville HS
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Tim Roberson and Ryan Northcutt, Woodson IT
"Tim and Ryan have gone above and beyond to support our student news show at Waynewood. They have been instrumental in our success, and their dedication is truly commendable. Their willingness to visit us on-site to help troubleshoot equipment issues has been a tremendous asset, ensuring our broadcasts run smoothly. Beyond technical support, they have offered invaluable feedback on our news program, contributing to its growth and improvement. Their tireless efforts and willingness to help have made a significant impact on our production, and we couldn't be more grateful for their support."
- Melissa Sullivan, Waynewood ES
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Linda Dean, Haycock ES
"Linda Dean is so intuitive when it comes to understanding the needs of her students. She works so hard to understand all things FCPS, but at the end of the day she knows how to reach and teach her students. Her students thrive in her care."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Jennifer Cottle and Mary Jean Salinas, Haycock ES
"Jennifer and MJ have been a kindergarten team together for many years. The last few have been exceptionally challenging but this team continues to find and share the joy in teaching their students every day. Students in older grades still come back every morning to get their fill of kindergarten magic."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Shobha Agadkar, Cunningham Park ES
"Shobha is an instructional assistant, new to our school this year. She shows exceptional dedication and support to our classrooms. She has consistently gone above and beyond to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment for our students. Her patience, kindness, and enthusiasm have made a significant impact on our students' educational journey. We are grateful for her invaluable contributions to our team!"
- Keri Mina, Cunningham Park ES
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Katie DiGiovanni, Bull Run ES
"We've been hoping and praying for a teacher like Mrs. DIgiovanni, and we're so incredibly thrilled to have our daughter in her class. Not only has she recognized the need for more challenging material in math and reading, and provided it in quantities that actually show that she is paying attention to teaching the curriculum concepts on a higher level rather than simply swapping in bigger numbers. Even more wonderful, Mrs. DiGiovanni pays attention when reviewing the advanced work and marked items right or wrong rather than just accepting completion. For the first time since starting school, my child has had math worksheets that were challenging enough that she got some answers wrong and had to fix it. This must sound like a first world problem/embarrassment of riches, but it is so nice to be able to teach her to learn from her mistakes and that getting things wrong is how you figure it out. Our daughter has come home more excited about school and what she is learning than any other time in elementary school besides the first hopeful week of kindergarten. Thank you, Mrs. DiGiovanni, for being an amazing teacher both to the kids who need extra guidance and the ones who are ready to run full speed ahead."
- a Bull Run ES parent
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Sarah Lee, Fort Hunt ES
"Sarah Lee is always willing to help out and always has a beautiful smile and is a wonderful person. Thank you Mrs. Lee for all you do at Fort Hunt!"
- Cassandra Lewis, Fort Hunt ES
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Allie Sheridan, Westfield HS
"Allie Sheridan exemplifies everything you’d want a teacher to be for your child. She is understanding, supportive, encouraging, and positive. She was proactive when a concern was raised with a school counselor. She contacted us as parents, to hear the concern and offerred support as needed. Her emails have been written thoroughly and thoughtfully. She realistically understood the pressures and needs of my child, while offering support and solutions. She encouraged my child and met one-on-one to ensure my child’s success for the future in her class. She shared positive perspectives of my child (which is rarely shared by teachers), giving hope to us as parents, but more importantly, she shared those views with my child. Her words and actions have made a difference in my child’s attitude toward the class. She’s made my child want to work harder and make more effort, knowing that Ms. Sheridan believes in her. Any student would be lucky to have her as a teacher. I’m filled with gratitude that my child has this opportunity. I believe the rest of the year will be a positive, educational, and successful learning experience. Westfield High School is lucky to have such an amazing teacher on staff!"
- a Westfield HS parent
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Derek Wilson, Bryant AIM
"Mr. Wilson is an instrumental member of the AIM Bryant team. His presence each day enhances both the students' and staffs' daily experience. His calm, compassionate, kind demeanor makes everyone feel welcome. Each class period he works one-on-one with students to get know them as learners, and spends time talking with students to establish genuine rapport. Mr. Wilson is frequently identified as a student's "trusted adult" and confidant. Although Mr. Wilson always has the best interest of others in mind, on October 2, 2023, Mr. Wilson went above and beyond to ensure both students and staff were safe and well. We are blessed beyond words to have Mr. Wilson on the AIM team."
- Kimberly Watts, Bryant ALC
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Marah Rockhold, Haycock ES
"Marah knows where and when she needs to be in the school. She’s amazing at keeping a pulse on what’s happening so she can support the greatest areas of need. She has been a shoulder to cry on for so many of our staff and has kept our teachers afloat with her care and support. Honestly, our school would be lost without her. She’s truly wonderful."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Dionne Pells, Haycock ES
"Dionne is an amazing 2nd grade teacher who cares so much about her students. Using her many years of teaching experience to provide intervention and strategies for students to be successful, she works tirelessly in partnership with parents. Even on the hardest days, she’s smiling and encouraging students. Dionne is the best!"
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Wendy Rath, Haycock ES
"Wendy Rath is an amazing kindergarten teacher who goes above and beyond for her students and their parents every day. She implements interventions from her vast knowledge and experiences, partners with parents, collaborates with the school teams, and is a ray of sunshine even on the hardest days. Wendy and Emmanuelle (IA) are an exemplary kindergarten class team."
- Véronique Lilienthal, Haycock ES
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Pamela Laing and the Cafeteria staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Thank you for all you do."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Pamela Laing and the Cafeteria staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Thank you for working hard."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Pamela Laing and the Cafeteria staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Every day our Cafeteria staff cleans up and give out food for all the students, so to them I say, Thank You."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Pamela Laing and the Cafeteria staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Thank you so much for giving us food, and helping us when we need a utensil or even giving us a napkin. You help us so much! Thank you all!"
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Maria Canas, West Springfield HS
"Maria Canas is the building supervisor at West Springfield High School. It is a very large, newly renovated building that is full to capacity with students and staff. Maria and her team did an amazing job preparing the building for the start of the school year. Even though several staff members were out for various reasons, and some custodial positions are unfilled. Maria and her team of custodians opened the school, the building looked amazing and students and staff had what they needed to start the school year. Maria and the team continue to maintain an impeccably clean building with the support of her staff. When special events come up at the school, Maria is often working late and early to make sure everything is in place. West Springfield is so lucky to have Maria who is such a hard worker, a caring person and a highly competent supervisor. She is dedicated, caring and kind. Maria is the kind of person everyone would want to work with and to have in their building."
- Dianne Stansbery, West Springfield HS
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Elizabeth Poplin, Stenwood ES
"This week I had the opportunity to have a great conversation with my son's 5th grade teacher, Beth Poplin, about his reading intervention. She explained growth areas for my son, how she plans to address those needs in the classroom, and the support we can give from home. We left the conversation with a great game plan that includes letting me know how I can support my son. My son was in 1st grade during COVID and his language arts development truly suffered. While he's made strides the past three years, I finally feel as though he's going overcome some key challenges because of Mrs. Poplin's teaching style and thoughtful support. Kudos to Mrs. Poplin for making herself available, recognizing my son's needs, and putting our family into the support conversation!"
- a Stenwood ES parent
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Leslie Kotecki and Katie Tardiff, Bull Run Early Childhood Center
"A big thanks to Katie and Leslie for providing professional development for early childhood special education teachers! Katie and Leslie designed and facilitated a virtual learning session to address strategies to use when working with children with speech sound production delays. They provided and modeled numerous simple strategies that can be easily implemented with young children and their families. THANK YOU!!!"
- Erin Snell, Bull Run Early Childhood
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Suzanne Baird, Lorton Transportation Center
"Suzanne has been extremely helpful with extra tasks that were temporarily assigned to her. I asked Suzanne to run a report for me during a coworker’s absence. Suzanne not only ran the report, she intuitively improved the report by highlighting data reference points. The quality of her work is exceptional. Her positive and energetic attitude is evident in the work she produces. Suzanne is dependable and is always there when needed, especially in a pinch. Transportation needs to be a reliable service for our student community. Suzanne’s sincere contributions supports our success. Thank you Suzanne!"
- Francine Furby, Lorton Transportation Center
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Lisa Lin, Holin Meadows ES
"Ms. Lin has brought such light to Hollin Meadows. She is thoughtful, intentional, caring and fun. She takes her time to have conversations with our students, form relationships with them, engage with parents and makes our staff feel very important. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with her in ways to support our staff and families."
- PTA, Hollin Meadows ES
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Breann Grzankowski, Flint Hill ES
"Ms. Grzankowski truly embodies "FCPS cares." Not only is she an outstanding educator, but caring and kindness are at the root of who she is and how she teaches. She exudes warmth, and understanding in every interaction she has. She goes above and beyond to make sure each student feels safe, welcome and included. We are so incredibly fortunate that she is part of our school."
- Micol Levi-Senigaglia, Flint Hill ES
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Jessica Statz, Hayfield SS
"I would like to recognize Mrs. Statz for her caring, commitment, and dedication to the students, staff, and community of Hayfield Secondary. Mrs. Statz, all last year (2022-2023), and continuing into this year (2023-2024), has been the acting Associate Principal for Hayfield. This meant that daily she had double duty, which can be extremely demanding for an administrator. Mrs. Statz always made time for her staff, and all the students that she interacted with, all the while managing to balance her home and family life. We are indebted to her for this ultimate act of volunteering, attention to detail, and willingness to go above and beyond for our school, and the Hayfield community."
- James Mercer, Hayfield SS
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Ebithal Badri, Greenbriar East ES
"Three months after teaching Young Scholars at Laurel Ridge, I can't shake the memory of Ebithal Badri. I don't want to either, since Ms. Bibi’s work as a Young Scholars IA at Laurel Ridge this summer is worth remembering. Let's start with the basics. She showed up every day, on time, committed to supporting me, the students, and the lessons. Reliability is not a given with IAs (or any staff member), so this was valuable. More valuable was her attitude. There were no complaints, she was genuinely enthusiastic about slides, projects, passages, clips, handouts, and games. She went above and beyond, compiling author quotes, student quotes, and offering to bring equipment to and from the car the last day. She threw herself into character sorts, carton tosses, blanket bursts, Quidditch flings, My Octopus Teacher, my octopus student, and more. She was also the undisputed Nations Of The World champion. Thanks to her, students learned about Sudan, Long Walk to Water, Laguna Beach, Arabic, Turkish, and what it's like to be a leader. I'm not sure if I'll work with Ms. Bibi next summer. I sure was lucky though, as is anyone who gets to work with her in the future!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Annelle Gonzales, Fairfaix HS
"In their career so far, Tegan and Sara have released 10 studio albums: Under Feet Like Ours, This Business of Art, If It Was You, So Jealous, The Con, Sainthood, Heartthrob, Love You to Death, Hey I'm Just Like You, and Crybaby.
In honor of Annelle Gonzales' beloved band, here are ten reasons Annelle deserves Cares recognition.
1: She's been gone from Frost Middle School for months, yet positive memories of her come up regularly.
2: Frost staff members are proud she took the risk to take on a Safety and Security position at Fairfax High School.
3: She's committed herself, admirably, to her new school, repping Fairfax gear at social events and supporting the band and team at varsity football.
4: At Frost, she *volunteered* to take on what many would consider the most challenging population, kids in CSS.
5: That empathy she has for kids who others might see as purely rebellious or disruptive should certainly help her at Fairfax.
6: The position at Fairfax is not about disciplining students; it's understanding where they’re coming from. This means keeping students safe and secure, even those (especially those!) who are acting out.
7: Her defense of me during a tough time was moving. I also look back fondly on her offers to recruit for get-togethers, her attendance at get-togethers, and many well-written texts.
8: She went out of her way to share with staff a newspaper article about an underappreciated colleague.
9: Lastly, I'm reminded of the afternoon in Chat Club when she bought all her colleagues a can of Coke. There was no need to do this; it was no special occasion; she just wanted to.
10: I'm sure Annelle will have difficult days at Fairfax, as she had at Frost, as anyone would have anywhere. I'm confident though that she will follow the path in Tegan and Sara's Lego Movie song. She'll remain part of two teams, live out a dream, and everything, overall, will be awesome."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Leah Kirby, Frost MS
"Every time I've had to cover one of Leah Kirby's classes, I might as well not have been there. With no prompting, students have accessed the assignment, worked on the assignment, and stayed silent. For attendance purposes, it was good I was in the class. As far as other reasons for being there, I might as well have slipped out, grabbed some Chipotle, and returned before the bell. Students have been on point, more trained scholars than muddled middle schoolers. Until this year, I assumed this was because Leah was a disciplinarian. Students followed like factory workers, effectively clocking hours in Schoology so their boss didn't dock their pay. What I discovered almost immediately when joining her class this year was why students were on point: they cared. Her rapport with the class was a hoot. She imagined JP Morgan dapping, dabbing, and/or tapping, playfully unsure which slang fit, knowing the anachronism would help them remember the lesson. She went on to cackle "mwahaha" at controlling industrialization. She then presented the idea of being an antitrust lawyer, a career in which you could overcome boredom by counting your fortune. Out of context, this approach could seem forced or, as the kids say, 'cringey.' It 100% worked with those kids in that period, though, fueling their interest in the material and the class community. When it was confirmed that a student would be in class a particular day, Leah informed him that he'd have to suffer through another day of history. The student played right along, his 'pain' implying how much he actually enjoyed it. There were plenty of times she played it straight as well, casually commending them for using the checklist when writing and for never being tardy. Students showed they understood and appreciated both approaches. In the past, I've appreciated Leah's sub plans, positive followup, and interest in The West Wing. Recently, I've appreciated that she immediately introduced me to the class, offered to add me to Google/Schoology, included me in class discussions, asked me to a lead a prompt, and dug my knowledge of slant rhymes. I especially liked the way she wove the example of my 100-year-old nana into a student’s response about the invention of the telephone. Considering the climate Leah's created, I'm sure a potted plant could come in to cover or support, and students would be fine. I'm glad that, for the next few weeks, I get to be that plant!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Danielle Hornbecker, Frost MS
"There are many time-honored traditions in education: the first day of school, back to school night, spirit week, winter concerts, spring concerts, and complaining endlessly about any change in the county schedule. Cries go out in halls, lounges, and the Fairfax Teachers And Staff Facebook group any time a vague adjustment is proposed. How could there be this many workdays when we're still in summer, when we're finally getting into the rhythm of lessons, when our brains are already fried at the end of the year? First, how can you not recognize these holidays, and may I add, why are you adding all these holidays to get us out super late? What monsters came up with this?! Considering this, you would think Danielle Hornbecker would be on blast each week, taking undue blame for any schedule shifts at Frost. In reality, though, she's beloved and a source of comfort when weather, Covid, and other elements throw a wrench into everyone's plans. How does she manage this magic? By being warm, flexible, and going out of her way to provide information people ask for as quickly and accurately as possible. Her response rate is lightning, in the top ten of people I've seen at Frost. In my view, virtual learning presented the biggest scheduling challenges. It required reinventing the wheel each month. Each time, though, there she was, with links, bullet points, and corresponding pictures to make for a smooth, clear transition. This fall, staff was also grateful she fixed a prior issue. Last year, a period of 7th graders was a nightmare. In 8th grade, she was able to split those students up, to startling success. Every one of the students who caused uproars last year is doing better this year! It was the Student Services equivalent of David Tyree's helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, a remarkable feat. My only fear is if the NFL ends up hearing of her work at Frost and hires her to call plays next season. If she ends up signing with NY, then and only then would it be worth it. A ring would make up for our giant loss."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Jennifer Zabel, Frost MS
"Can I see Dr. Zabel? Can I see Dr. Zabel? Can I see Dr. Zabel?” In my seven years since shifting to an IA, I have never heard more students in crisis ask for a single staff member. Mid scream or mid shutdown, the meaning is always the same: I want someone who will listen, who will allow me to help myself, who will get me to the other side. Students in crisis are far from the only ones who Dr. Zabel serves. First, members of Frost Minds Matters benefit. Those students then pay it forward by writing encouraging chalk messages and wall post-its for all to see. The rainbow colors in her room and rainbow hearts that surround her door sign provide comfort to yet another group. I've appreciated Jen's unexpectedly sly wit at staff get-togethers and her prowess in staff trivia. I could have done without her trivia prowess, as it would have been easier for me to win, but it was impressive. I recently found out through her door sign that Jen is a Michigan State Spartan. The unsparing, severe aspect of “spartan” doesn't remotely fit, but then there's the university motto: “advancing knowledge, transforming lives.” Sounds like her!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Paola Cespedes, Mount Vernon Woods ES
"From babysitting turtles, to mediating between students and helping parents, Paola truly does it all. Mt Vernon Woods wouldn't be the same without her and we are so appreciative of all she does for our staff, students, and community. Thank you, Paola for taking care of us!"
- Christine Berry, Mount Vernon Woods ES
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Cristina Piccinino, Frost MS
"If someone gifted a teacher a genie and predicted what they'd wish for, a response like this would be likely be, "A small group of young scholars, excited to dive every morning into material they could make an immediate, concrete connection with." They would likely not picture a group of almost-30 8th graders at the end of the day, asked to interpret abstract texts written 200-plus years ago. This second scenario could lead to exhaustion, boredom, and/or rebellion. Yet, the second scenario is the one Cristina Piccinino turns on its head (in a good way) each day. A student whose impulse is to check TikTok the first chance they get can appreciate the 1st Amendment when it's presented with vivid visuals and compelling court cases. The way she designs lessons shows respect for student learning styles; she makes abstract texts relevant for today. Instead of having students flick through a five-minute icebreaker to get to know them, she has them create and share in-depth picture-filled slides. Instead of having student fill in Magna Carta notes, she had them act out a Magna Carta simulation, complete with a bright yellow megaphone and bedazzled purple crown. A final way students can tell she cares is she holds them accountable. Given the chance to stray, numerous students in that late-day period would *stray* it became a plague in several classes last year. This year, that period, they're model citizens: in the room, outside during a fire drill, anywhere in the Civics orbit. Inexperienced teachers might think students prefer total freedom -- a candy-coated carnival at all times. In reality, ultimately, they appreciate structure and follow through. If you have that and meaningful material, they will access the lessons and be glad to learn.This fall, I’ve been glad to be in three of Cristina’s classes. She has treated me as a valued colleague – adding me to class on Schoology, Google, and Formative, asking multiple times for advice about seat changes, including me in class discussions, and taking a picture of a film I mentioned to possibly use in a future class. Moreover, I've appreciated the pause in the usual lesson calendar to consider the situation in Gaza and the knowing smiles about the challenge of teaching current events in 2023. We may never see eye to eye on William and Mary vs. JMU, but time in Civics has been time well spent."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Carolyn Mahung, Frost MS
"Carolyn Mahung *knows* what she's doing. Her handouts, slides, and supplies are on point and, whenever possible, prepared well ahead of time. When students are doing labs, collaborating, or doing Minute To Win It games at the end of the year, they are energetically talking. The rest of the time, they're silent. Of all the things Carolyn knows, though, I most appreciate that she knows what people need. A student who'd experienced major issues in previous classes reported that "Everything was going well in science this year. I like that Ms. Mahung treats us like responsible citizens." When a student reported being in a toxic table group, Carolyn immediately changed seats, and the student reported feeling "so much better." For my part, when I've been exhausted or giddy, and need to talk, she's been there for me. Without her, my son and daughter may never have been born. If she hadn't recommended me for an additional private teaching position, I would never have had the money to afford surrogacy. When aspects of the job became loopy, Carolyn became a strong ally. I don't know a lot about science, but I know Frost is lucky to have science teachers like Carolyn Mahung."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Matthew Griffin, Carson MS
"Our 7th grade HPE team wants to thank officer Matt Griffin for addressing our entire 7th grade HPE students during our introductory Health Unit early this School Year. Officer Griffin informed all of our 7th graders of his role as an SRO and shared his knowledge and wisdom with our students that would benefit them as they complete their journey through the 12th grade and beyond. He kept the students engaged with dynamic presentation based on his knowledge, skill and experience as a Fairfax County Police officer. This Year Officer Griffin Shared very Valuable information from “Virginia Rules” at virginiarules.org. We appreciate that Officer Griffin took the initiative to offer this presentation to our 7th Grade students very early in our School year, so our students will benefit from this information as early as possible. Having an SRO in our School provides engagement with the students, parents and community to provide the safest environment for our students, faculty and staff as well as any visitors on our campus. With the presentation from Virginia Rules and Officer Griffins dynamically engaging presentation, he provided students with information that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Our Carson MS learning Community highly values the Professional and caring approach to his vital role as a School Resource Officer to keeping our building safe and maintaining an environment that allows students the opportunity to learn as much as possible when they arrive at school Thanks Officer Griffin!"
- the 7G HPE team, Carson MS
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Cynthia Pareja and Katie Shea, Irving MS
"Thank you to Ms. Pareja and Ms. Shea for going above and beyond to support my child who went through a challenging few weeks. My child deems Ms. Pareja and Ms. Shea as trusted adults that care for my child's well being and as a family, we are grateful for both of them."
- a Irving MS parent
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Irv Katz, Lake Braddock SS
"He was so kind and did a lot for our school and everytime I walked past his room he would always wave and I would wave back."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Catherine Phelps, Lake Braddock SS
"Ms. Phelps does an amazing job of supporting teachers through the Test Center. She provides a quiet, supportive test environment for students while supervising up to 30 students. She's an amazing asset!"
- Jennifer Farris, Lake Braddock SS
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Amy Trayer, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"Ms. Trayers is such a wonderful resource for all students and staff in FCPS. This is her first year as a school psychologist in Virginia, but you'd never know. Ms. Trayers goes out of her way to assist others and her efforts truly show through her work. Thanks for everything Ms. Trayers, you deserve some recognition for everything you do! You rock!"
- Sophia Martin, Glasgow MS
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Jen Shaddrix, Orange Hunt ES
"Ms. Shaddrix went above and beyond to get OCR services set up for my son. She answered emails promptly, even during the summer. In addition, while the reimbursement was taking some time, Ms. Shaddrix continuously followed up with me and the office representative at FCPS despite not even being my son’s teacher anymore."
- an Orange Hunt ES parent
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Emily Basinger, Mount Vernon Woods ES
"Emily is a phenomenal asset to our school. She ensures all students are receiving the instruction and support they need each day. She continues to work with the MTSS Intervention team to refine the systems and processes to move the school forward so we can support the needs of all the students. You are an amazing leader!"
- Kristen Robinson, Mount Vernon Woods ES
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Jeannette Little, Mount Vernon Woods ES
"Ms. Little is an asset to Mount Vernon Woods. She never hesitates to support our staff and families. Ms. Little always jumps in and helps wherever she is needed. When we were down an office assistant for a long period of time, Ms. Little was always there to support the office staff each day. Thank you!!"
- Kristen Robinson, Mount Vernon Woods ES
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Isabelle Glancy, Annandale HS
"Ms. Glancy is a very very outstanding teacher; she is always caring and very supportive. She always gives me advice. I miss spending my time with her but I always talk to her when I see her. I would love for her to be recognized with FCPS Cares."
- an Annandale HS student
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Kirsten Maloney, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"As our school continues to progress on our path towards excellence, we are grateful for Kirsten's contributions that go above and beyond providing resources. She has generously given the ultimate non-renewable resource, her time. In our pursuit of fostering creative and critical thinking skills among all our students, it became evident that there was a gap in parent knowledge on how to support these life skills at home. Seeking ideas for parent events, we reached out to Kirsten and were pleasantly surprised by her response. Instead of simply sharing a book or an idea, she graciously offered to organize and conduct a series of parent events right here at our school! Kirsten's commitment to our students and their families is commendable, and we deeply appreciate her dedication to going the extra mile. Her valuable contribution of time will undoubtedly enhance the educational experience and create a stronger bond between our school and the community."
- Nicole Yacubovich, Pine Spring ES
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Daniel Shelton, Glasgow MS
"Mr. Shelton has been working with my family to help my child overcome barriers to school absences. He does a great job searching for solutions and making suggestions to help him overcome this challenge."
- a Glasgow MS parent
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Alexis Lewis, Glasgow MS
"Ms. Lewis has worked with our family to help my child overcome barriers to school attendance. She has provided valuable insights and proactive solutions to help address challenges that have been discussed. She has consistently provided fresh ideas and perspectives in an effort to seek resolution for root causes involved in my child's challenges. She has used her professional expertise to find new ways to approach the problem. Her ideas have been very helpful."
- a Glasgow MS parent
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Anne Elizabeth Durgavich, Glasgow MS
"Ms. Durgavich has consistently worked with our family, communicating in multiple e-mail messages, coordinating with my child's teachers, school counselor and the school psychology intern. She has gone above and beyond to assist us in helping find solutions to help my child overcome barriers to school success."
- a Glasgow MS parent
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Julie Hackenberg, Thoreau MS
"Ms. Hackenberg came to a youth football game with her family on a Saturday afternoon to support one of her students. That alone was noteworthy, but the fact that three other Thoreau students were also on the team made their day that their science teacher was at the field. One of these students won the game ball and was so proud to show it to her after the game! The looks on the faces of these boys to know that a teacher cared enough to take time out of her weekend to show up and show support was priceless. Ms. Hackenberg clearly knows that building relationships and connections with students is the first step toward student success!"
- a Thoreau MS parent
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Furqan Ali, Sprague Technology Center
"Furqan is always so helpful and quick to respond when we're working together to troubleshoot access issues with users. Despite moving to another application team, he continues to help out with EDSL whenever needed which we sincerely appreciate! Thanks Furqan for all you do!"
- Kristine Baden, Wilton Woods Center
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Rachelle Wigenton, Lorton Transportation Center
"Rachelle Wigenton was extremely supportive of a school meeting. Her knowledge, calm demeanor, and active listening enabled her to meet the needs of a student and all involved."
- Jill Stewart, Lake Anne ES
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Stacey Mitchell, Lake Braddock SS
"Thanks for your help."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Maribel Forget, Edison HS
"Maribel came to support the MVHS Student Services team during out Signs of Suicide (SOS) screener. Maribel is a bilingual counselor; she kindly helped screen our ESOL level 1 and 2 students. Thank you Maribel for your kindness, professionalism and dedication. We could not have completed the day without you!"
- Rashida Williams, Mount Vernon HS
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Jeanne Sklar, Haycock ES
"Jeanne is such a fantastic specialists' teammate. She is not only a wonderful librarian, but also a fantastic friend. I was having a particularly tough morning and Jeanne was able to calm me down and get me to focus on the more important things that were going on. Jeanne, thank you for always being there for me, especially with the tough times that have gone on the last year or so. I truly am lucky to have you as a teammate and friend!"
- Nisha Hecht, Haycock ES
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Rich Freeman, Mount Vernon Woods ES
"Mr. Freeman is a huge asset to our Mount Vernon Woods ES community. His role is registrar, but he really is so much more. He is our "go-to" guy for EVERYTHING! He is the epitome of a team player. Mr. Freeman greets families, supports students, helps with technology... and even catches snakes when needed! He goes above and beyond to make sure families feel welcomed when they are registering their students. There isn't anything that Mr. Freeman won't do to support his Mount Vernon Woods ES family and beyond grateful to work with him."
- Gina O'Neal, Mount Vernon Woods ES
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George Masten, Davis Career Center
"George, I know this school year has started off in a way none of us expected, and especially for you as a new teacher to DCC! I truly appreciate your positive attitude throughout the speedbumps we've experienced thus far and know your students do too! I can see the positive relationships you're building with your team and am confident they will only continue to grow as the year goes on. It will be so exciting to see what you all accomplish once you're out at the worksite. Thank you for all you do and your unwavering positive spirit!"
- Theresa Piccolo, Davis Career Center
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Kat Frazier, Lake Braddock SS
"Mrs. Frazier gave me plentiful tips on college essay writing. I learned techniques such as making 2-3 sentence paragraphs so that college admission officers focus on the first and last sentences of a paragraph and so it reads shorter than a page-long essay. She is very straightforward when telling us what admission officers want from a student. I have also learned to make my essay stand out from the herd because of her. She told me that admission officers would rather read an essay about a topic that a student finds fascinating than an essay that brags about accomplishments or about tearing an ACL. I find Mrs. Frazier's teachings to be very captivating as she can humor her students while getting her point across. Because of her, I can submit my college applications with confidence and no regrets. Thank you, Mrs. Frazier."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Cassandra Lewis, Fort Hunt ES
"Cassandra comes to work every day in a cheerful mood ready to make others smile. Not only is she amazing in the cafe, but she is also always willing to support students during challenging times. She has a calming presence and I find myself bringing students to her whenever they need a pep talk (she gives great ones). Thanks for all you do for the school and our students!"
- Jenny Baker, Fort Hunt ES
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Christine MacWilliams, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"Christine has been instrumental in supporting our team leads over the last two years at Centreville Elementary. Her coaching and facilitation strategies have had such an impact on our school and progress. She is thoughtful in her delivery of each PD and is a highly respected/skilled facilitator. She leads with purpose, empowers our CT leads, provides PD and resources that are relevant, and implements structures that lead to new learning and skills. Currently, she is leading a PD on the seven norms of collaboration, and we are looking forward to seeing those facilitation strategies transpire."
- Rachel Forte and staff, Centreville ES
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Guery Cespedes and the Custodial staff, Lake Braddock SS
"This past weekend we put on our Homecoming Festivities including celebrating our 50th anniversary and getting to work with Guery and his crew makes it so much easier to put on these events. From the hallway decorations to the pep rally, to the tailgate attended by the entire community & finally our dance attended by over 1300 kids. Custodial staff goes above and beyond every time. They help to take our student's hard work and planning and turn these events into a reality."
- Josh Britton, Lake Braddock SS
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Kat Frazier, Lake Braddock SS
"Ms. Frazier helped me out SO much with my common app essay. It was great having an experienced advisor to help me meet my deadlines. This year early action was way earlier than it usually is, and Ms Frazier was super busy, but she made sure I knew what I was doing with my essay and made me feel so much more confident with applying to college."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Douglas Mooney, Rocky Run MS
"I would like to commend Mr. Doug Mooney, the shop teacher at Rocky Run Middle School. Today, he reached beyond his home school to support students in the Chantilly community when he provided support to a total stranger at Lowes. Mr. Mooney, while at Lowes purchasing classroom materials, saw me (a Chantilly HS parent) struggling to load a flatbed cart into a SUV with a Lowes employee. The flatbed carts were donated by Lowes to the Chantilly High School Marching Band Program. Mr. Mooney offered to take the carts in his truck and deliver them to Chantilly High School, even though he already had a full truck load of materials. Not knowing who I was or what this was for other than it was going to Chantilly High School, Mr. Mooney went out of his way to help, and he took time out of his day to lend a much needed hand. His humility, humbleness, and kindness are profound to this parent, as is his willingness to help his fellow teachers and students in his community, with no expected recognition. This simple act of kindness is more than just that, but an example of his character, priorities, and love for the well-being of students and fellow educators in the FCPS community. He truly is living and demonstrating the values of FCPS and leading by example in this community. Today he unknowingly made a difference to his students, many of whom he may have taught several years earlier, and his fellow FCPS colleagues. For this, Mr. Mooney deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond and demonstrating tremendous character as a total community team player."
- a Chantilly HS parent
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Kathryn Garcia, Gunston ES
"Kathryn is always looking for ways to improve the school experience for our students. I see her working hard everyday, starting from the Kids and Ride line, to the expansion and development of the school garden, to keeping parents apprised of things going on at the school, and of course so much more that I don’t even know about. Keep up the great job! Thank you."
- a Gunston ES parent
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Nicole Oberdick, Gunston ES
"Nicole is the librarian at GES and I’m super impressed with what she’s done in our library in just a few short weeks of being there. She runs the library with efficiency and ease. The children are really lucky to have her. They are super attentive to her read-a-louds. Nicole is very organized and fun. I enjoy volunteering my time with her in the library. THANK YOU!"
- a Gunston ES parent
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Michelle Gotico, Cheri Miller, Safia Moten, Susie Cook, Jen Stevulak, and Nancy de Sánchez, Lake Braddock Secondary School
"The highlight of every LBSS pep rally is the Teacher Varsity Dance performance, and we couldn´t do it without these amazing people coordinating the effort! From music and choreography, to organizing and hosting practices before and after school (and during planning periods), our TVD committee ensures that we are on point and in sync! This year, we had record participation from our staff of Middle and High School teachers, and our performances were met with thunderous cheers and applause by the students and staff in both the MS and HS Homecoming pep rallies. Kudos, TVD Committee, to another amazing performance, and thank you for your continued dedication to your squad!"
- Chrissy Fulfaro, Lake Braddock SS
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Kristine Baden, Wilton Woods Center
"Kristine was able to provide expedited customer service in restoring access to EDSL for a user. Much appreciated!!!"
- Brandon Robertson, Willow Oaks Admin Center
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Rachel Matchett, Leslie Benitez, Cathy Mallon, Vanessa Alfaro and Ahmad Abu-Jamous, Springfield Estates ES
"We are so appreciative of our student monitors at Springfield Estates! They are so flexible and supportive and always willing to lend a hand or change gears as needed. They truly help us SOAR!"
- Megan Brooks, Springfield Estates ES
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Kristine Baden, Wilton Woods Center
"Kristine is always helpful and responsive when I need to publish new workbooks and updates in EDSL. She's quick to respond via email, flexible with scheduling, and works to resolve any issues as quickly as possible so schools have access to accurate and timely data. Thanks, Kristine!"
- Kim Heddings, Willow Oaks Admin Center
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Kristine Baden, Wilton Woods Center
"Kristine has saved the day on multiple occasions when something needed to happen quickly or required support! She is so responsive and thorough, and is essential to making sure schools can access data tools in a timely manner!"
- Allison Barker, Willow Oaks Admin Center
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George Masten, Davis Career Center
"George is returning to FCPS this year and is brand new to our teaching staff at the Davis Career Center. From his very first day of orientation at Davis, George has entered every room with a positivity that is contagious. He is re-learning the FCPS special education programs and all of our systems, and he is doing it with a smile on his face and an inspiring attitude (it's a lot!!). He is a dynamic member of his CLT, always coming in with ideas, a willingness to participate in conversation, and volunteering to lend a helping hand (he's currently our in-house laminator specialist - THANK YOU!). This positivity and care doesn't stop with colleague interactions. In his classroom, George can be observed moving around the room, praising students, and setting the tone for successful student outcomes based on each student's individual needs. This week I facilitated a reevaluation meeting with George where he came in prepared, able to speak knowledgably about his student, and demonstrated clear rapport with the student and family. We are lucky to have George at Davis, and I am incredibly grateful for his dedication to students, optimistic energy, and the positive impact he has on the community."
- Carli McIntosh, Davis Career Center
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Kathleen Powell, Stone MS
"Sra. Powell was my first Spanish teacher in middle school and I now teach Spanish where I first started learning it. Ms. Powell has always gone above and beyond to support me, first as my teacher and now as my colleague of the past 8 years. From helping me set up my classroom that first year of teaching, to collaborating on lessons, co-leading a group of students on a service learning trip to Peru and, on occasion, even caring for my toddler last minute. I am filled with gratitude for her caring and support. MIL GRACIAS. "
- Julia Dary, Hughes MS
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Ingrid Arnoldson, Alan Leis Center
"I wish to acknowledge Ingrid's remarkable dedication to the PreK Program, which she has faithfully served for over 25 years. She stands as a shining example of empathy and compassionate care for the underserved families who come to our program. Ingrid's warm and radiant smile spreads happiness among everyone she encounters, be it families or children. Her unwavering passion and commitment to strengthening and assisting our families go well beyond the call of duty. Furthermore, her proficiency in both English and Spanish significantly aids in communicating with those who require a considerate and patient approach to address their needs. Thank you, Ingrid, for all you do in the community!"
- Caro Cadena, Alan Leis Center
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Christina Mitro, Langley HS
"My 11th grade daughter had some trouble recently with a group project in Ms. Mitro’s AP Language course. She reached out to Ms. Mitro and the response she received back was not only kind, fair and appropriate but gave insight into who she is as an educator and human being. Ms. Mitro handled a delicate situation with affirmation and grace, actions that cannot be overlooked in today’s learning environment. That matters. It meant the world to my daughter. We appreciate her so much!!"
- a Langley HS parent
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David Kuhn, Langley HS
"Mr. Kuhn has rigorous standards for his students AND an incredible sense of humor and humanity. My 11th grade daughter shared that during a passionate classroom discussion about Hamilton-era politics she accidentally slipped an inappropriate word regarding one of the historical figures. She was mortified and Mr. Kuhn accepted her apology with dignity. This exchange and teachable moment meant so much to her. She is comfortable and confident in his class. We need more teachers like him!!"
- a Langley HS parent
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Tracy Grant, Langley HS
"Ms. Grant is a wonderful teacher and mentor to my 11th grade daughter. After working a long day, she attended her school theatre production after school and stayed until 10:00 pm (on a school night!) to offer support and encouragement. She goes above and beyond to connect with her students, and it is so appreciated!"
- a Langley HS parent
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Cheryl Tsang, Westbriar ES
"I let Ms. Tsang know that my kindergartner had mentioned a few times that he didn't have anyone to play with on the playground. After assuring me she would keep an eye on him for a few days, she followed up in an email to me with her observations and sent photos of him on the playground and in class having fun with different children. Despite having a class of 30 students, she still made time for us. She's very on the ball with thorough weekly class letters and detailed communication. We're extremely grateful our son has such a committed, passionate teacher. Kudos to Ms. Tsang!"
- a Westbriar ES parent
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Gina Lee, Robinson SS
"As our school's new SSD coordinator, I've had the pleasure of working with Gina as we have both navigated the new changes brought forth by College Board for the PSAT and how it would be impacting the students with approved accommodations. While we kept getting conflicting information, Gina consistently kept her composure and kept moving with the flow, regardless of how many times the finish line changed on us. Additionally, she handled the actual test day administration technology issues with grace in her communications to the entire school. Not only did she oversee PSAT, she was making sure the SAT School Day was being administered as well and kept her cool under all the pressure she was feeling. Kudos to Gina and making the testing process smooth for staff and students."
- Alison Wolfe, Robinson SS
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William Viands, Herndon Support Center
"Will has supported our school a few times with different plumbing issues that we have had. He has the most positive attitude and his willingness to help is unmatched. Thank you, Will, for all that you do."
- Cooper MS staff
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Weris Jama, Johnson MS
"On behalf of myself and the rest of the CAT- B team I wanted to say a special thank you for always taking care of our program! We are aware of the sub shortage but whenever we have vacancies in our department, she always makes sure we have some sort of support. Weris works extremely hard, and we value/ appreciate EVERYTHING she does! WERIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!!!!"
- Andrea Hester, Johnson MS
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Karen Hershey, Kent Gardens ES
"I wanted to send you a quick note about the amazing experience my daughter is having on the Morning News Show. She is a 5th grader, so this is her first time doing the news show and she is finishing up her first rotation as anchor this week. When she started, we weren't sure how the students would learn to produce the show or how much involvement they would have. It didn't take long for us to appreciate the effort that goes into this fully collaborative and student run show. She takes such pride in being a part of the show and is fully motivated each morning to go in and learn her role for the week. She enjoyed being able to choose the graphics, pick the joke of the day, operate a teleprompter, and this week, deliver the news as an anchor! I was able to come in and watch the show this morning, which was the highlight of MY week! I have been in various roles in the teaching community throughout my career and it isn't lost on me that a show like this takes tremendous time, coordination, energy, and patience. Ms. Hershey has built a program that allows the students to take ownership, grow, and be a part of a high performing team. We fully appreciate and commend the school's support and Ms. Hershey's talent and time that goes into providing this opportunity for the students."
- a Kent Gardens ES parent
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Tiffany Hitz, Robinson SS
"During her Band class, Ms. Hitz invited and welcomed the composer of the piece of music her students were playing to her classroom. The students were enthralled and completely engaged as he taught them and shared information with them from his piece. Kudos to you for thinking outside the box to make music and learning more real to the students; they aren’t just notes on the page to them now, they can put a face to HIS notes."
- Nathan Herendeen, Robinson SS
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Darin Byrd, Lake Braddock SS
"We are so grateful to have Darin's help in our office. Darin stepped up in every scenario we went through to offer his help during the PSAT/SAT administration. His experience and vast SPED knowledge was beneficial in ensuring our students were appropriately accommodated. Darin did this with his southern grace and hospitality, we could not have done this without him!!!"
- Tre Fava and the Testing office, Lake Braddock SS
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Emily Borders, Frost MS
"William and Mary's current motto is “those who come here, belong here.” Her thorough responses and analysis must have made that true for Emily Borders when she was at William and Mary, and it's true for her at Frost today. Emily first fits Frost because she holds students accountable. I remember an English student during virtual learning and a Strategies student after virtual learning who tried everything humanly possible to avoid work. In a caring, upbeat way, Emily kept at it, and got them to produce work samples and genuinely improve. Falcon compassion was evident last year when a student with physical issues struggled with his laptop. Emily went out of her way to secure him a laptop stand that could be moved from class to class. He reported that typing and focusing was easier after. Finally, her attempt to have a meaningful, mutual relationship has made me feel valued. During virtual learning, she asked to set up an appointment, so she could provide insight about a new student. An IA can sometimes be an afterthought, information can trickle down if it's convenient. The fact that she was making an extra effort to include me was moving. Alma Mater, hail!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Lynda Hensley, Frost MS
"In 1983, Depeche Mode sang, “Be responsible, respectable, Concerned and caring, Help the helpless, but always remain ultimately selfish.” In 2023, Lynda Hensley, a fan of the classic synthpop band, embodies three of those four lines. Any time she has mini sessions for kids in the library, a teacher’s classroom, or her own room, she’s prepared. She sends calendar invites, has clear goals she wants to achieve, and adapts on the fly to teachers’ lesson. She's definitely responsible and respectable. During her sessions, she’s concerned and caring about meeting students where they are. She doesn’t expect them to have extended, flowing, collegiate conversations. She adapts her plan for her middle schoolers. In the library, she includes board games to motivate them and fuel conversation. In her classroom, she includes picture-filled tricked-out slides that each contain hooks. Despite all her efforts, kids sometimes can't measure up. One mini discussion group had kids seem helpless to remember where and when to go. Recess would end, and they'd wander back to their classroom, genuinely forgetting to come. When this happened, she didn’t lecture or yell. She'd simply remind them, coordinate with staff members for next week, and make the best of the time she had. The only line that doesn't fit Lynda is “always remain ultimately selfish.” When an opinionated student lashed out at having to come to sessions, she did not take it personally and did not clap back. She thought of where the student was coming from, went beyond herself, and redirected to a positive outcome. To quote Death Cab for Cutie, another Lynda favorite, “good help is often hard to find.” Students who have Ms. Hensley know she'll “never give up on you.”
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Maya Thiellen, Frost MS
"When Maya Thiellen heard I was about to have my first child, she did not simply congratulate me. She offered me diapers, clothes, and then a second round of diapers. This month, when I left my cord at home, Maya lent me her own. When I was an IA in her class, I was not window dressing. Each morning, she gave me a chance to comment during the lesson, a sign that I mattered. Maya's spirit of giving extends well beyond me. She gives students a warm greeting at the door, arranges lessons that keep them from straying off-task, and has appointments to check in during Falcon Focus. Multiple times when a sub did not show up for her teacher neighbor, she made sure the class was covered until the sub showed up. When her small-group English colleagues had two particularly difficult classes, she was there as a sounding board, therapist, and source of comfort. The William and Mary alum in me wishes she could give support to the Tribe, but that's probably a bridge too far. Maya's UVA all the way."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Wesley Woodward, Frost MS
"Some universities have cheers. Ole Miss, Wesley Woodward's alma mater, has Hotty Toddy. The school describes it as a call to “never quit,” a “feeling, ideal, fight song, prayer, verbal handshake, and way of life, all rolled into one.” It's effectively the “We Are One Frost” of the Magnolia State. In his brief time at Frost, Wesley has shown the strength and unity in both mantras. He's continued as a high school football coach while taking on five classes as a first-year teacher AND first-time father. So, he gets a *ton* of sleep. You'd think that workload would leave him groggy and cranky, but his attitude has been upbeat throughout. He's gathered materials and strategies from three science teachers for lessons and asked for insights from me about current students. It's paid off, as one student told me, “Mr. Woodward is easy to talk to.” Another said, “He makes me do better in science.” In a staff meeting, his speech advocating for middle school sports provoked applause from all corners of the lecture hall. If the school year were a football game, we're barely on the first possession, but Wesley's on a steady march to the end zone, on the way to his first win."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Denice Hook, Frost MS
"To me, there are few harder jobs than being a reading teacher. I say this as someone who loves reading, language, and teaching. Reading programs often offer less freedom than English classes, and the population is generally kids who have spent a lifetime struggling with reading, who are now denied electives they may enjoy more. It's remarkable then that Denice Hook has been able to bring success to that many students, to have a number of them behave better than I've seen in any other class and specifically look forward to it. How has she managed such a feat? Energy and connectivity. Instead of the usual reading class with low numbers, her first period had over students. At times, it felt like standing room only. She was able to keep the attention of that many levels and styles by bringing a volume and personality that kept their attention. She also knew who would get along who and what rewards would motivate them. A particular student spent much of the day as a sailor-banshee hybrid, swearing and screeching any chance he got. A quick reminder from Mrs. Hook, however, and he was back where he needed to be. Moreover, I appreciate that she valued me as a person and a colleague. She sought points of mutual interest, expressed gratitude, and gave me things to do. She knew how to relate and delegate. This approach to teaching paid off; more students learned. I'm sad that The Last Kingdom officially ended this year, no more nights with Uhtred, but I'm glad for those mornings spent with Denice Hook."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Katelyn Lott, Frost MS
"To me, there are few harder jobs than being a reading teacher. I say this as someone who loves reading, language, and teaching. Reading programs often offer less freedom than English classes, and the population is generally kids who have spent a lifetime struggling with reading, who are now denied electives they may enjoy more. It's remarkable then that Katelyn Lott has been able to bring success to that many students, to have a number of them behave better than I've seen in any other class and specifically look forward to it. How has she managed such a feat? Authenticity and humor. Students are fed a lot of information over the course of the school year and a lot of Life Lessons. Virtually all of the lessons are well meaning, but students can understandably interpret some as false, forced, or not relevant to their lives. Students in Ms. Lott's classes paid attention to almost all of it. Part of it was the preparation. She kept on top of the content and every line/accommodation in every IEP. The other key part was the delivery. She understood that to get through to some middle schoolers, there needs to be a bit of an edge. An ironic approach can seem the most real. As a result, Katelyn was able to connect with several especially tough students. Reenactments of Rebel without a Cause raged in other classes and the halls, but these students listened better in Falcon Focus and were more productive in reading. I appreciated the day she offered me the chance to read a story and recognized my performance. Lastly, I valued the frequent chances to be independent. IAs schedules can be relentless, so being able to relax and help as needed made a difference."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Crystal Hurley, Frost MS
"To me, there are few harder jobs than being a reading teacher. I say this as someone who loves reading, language, and teaching. Reading programs often offer less freedom than English classes, and the population is generally kids who have spent a lifetime struggling with reading, who are now denied electives they may enjoy more. It's remarkable then that Crystal Hurley has been able to bring success to that many students, to have a number of them behave better than I've seen in any other class and specifically look forward to it. How has she managed such a feat? Effort and ease. On the one hand, she puts in a ton of work to help. Each room she's been in has been warm and inviting. Her posters, furniture, and arrangement have created that climate. Beyond the room, I can't remember an arrival, dismissal, or class change in which she wasn't in the halls chatting with colleagues and monitoring students. Moreover, she offered staff members Thin Mint Thursday and organized a Purple Up party for 108 military students. It's little wonder she was recognized as a long-term sub for "coming midway through a challenging year and being a rock star" and in her first full year as an Outstanding First-Year Teacher. So, the work ethic is clearly there. There's also just a natural ability to connect with people. I remember an especially challenging boy her sub year and a girl with remarkably rude behavior her second year, who thrived in her room. I've also appreciated extended conversations about current events, films, Catholic schools, Ted Lasso, and (most frequently) Foo Fighters. Virginia Hanlon Grohl, the mom of Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl, spent decades in FCPS helping students improve their reading. For Frost's sake, let's hope Crystal does the same."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Viann Le and Saskia Van Der Noordaa, Westbriar ES
"Ms. Le and Ms. V are amazing, they are so welcoming and friendly to the their new kindergarten class! My little one is on the younger side so we worried about her before school started. Ms. Le and Ms. V made school days so fun and my little one loves her time spent there since day one. She even wants to go to school on weekends! They have a BIG class yet they are so dedicated and attend to every child wholeheartedly. They are the best-est teachers we hoped for for our little girl!"
- a Westbriar ES parent
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Purvis Dawson, Gatehouse Admin Center
"Purvis is a man who leads by example, and who will do anything to make sure a child is safe. He heard of a student eloping, and immediately got in position to keep her safe. He is the gold standard for kindness, dignity, and service of others above self. Once again he proved doing the right thing is the correct trajectory."
- Michael Ross, Gatehouse Admin Center
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Jennifer Baker, Fort Hunt ES
"Jen a tremendous resource and help for both the students and staff here at Fort Hunt. She is an excellent listener. Jenny often has a smile on her face. She is truly empathetic and works with the resource team and the parent liaison to reach out to parents throughout the year. If you have a problem or a problem with a student, she always helps to come up with some great solutions. Jenny is truly a dedicated Fort Hunt fox."
- Stephanie Seadeek, Fort Hunt ES
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Guery Cespedes and the Custodial staff, Lake Braddock SS
"They are good."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Guery Cespedes and the Custodial staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Thank you for always cleaning up and helping us when needed."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Guery Cespedes and the Custodial staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Thank you custodians for all you do, you clean our classrooms, fix sinks, and I want to thank you for all you do.
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Guery Cespedes and the Custodial staff, Lake Braddock SS
"I appreciate staff because they clean the school very well."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Guery Cespedes and the Custodial staff, Lake Braddock SS
"Our custodial staff does so much for Lake Braddock and deserve recognition everyday, but specifically for their special day. I appreciate them because they're hardworking and caring for us. Always cleaning late into the day and always showing up for a mess."
- a Lake Braddock SS student
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Ozair Sadiq, Fort Hunt ES
"Ozzie (2nd year as an Enhanced Autism IA) is constantly showing up to face the extreme challenges he faces every day with a big smile on his face. He is always looking to do what he can to help in anyway in a tough situation. He tries his best to help his students without a complaint. He is also great to get to know with the 5-10 minutes of peace he has before the bus rolls in every morning. He truly is a great person for all that he does. I hope this little recognition of Fox of the Week can go a long way to say thanks for all you do."
- Dennis Michaels, Fort Hunt ES
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Ellen Wise, Fort Hunt ES
"Ellen always volunteers to fill in an open slot when we need help with coverage in a classroom or the cafeteria. She does it with a smile and an “of course” whenever we ask her. Her afternoon duty is running the dismissal slides, but she also goes out to the main hallway to remind students to walk, will help with a student who may have forgotten how they were supposed to go home and has helped locate a student who went to the wrong location at dismissal. Thanks for all your extra help at dismissal and more Ellen!!"
- Tracy Hutchison, Fort Hunt ES
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Stephanie Seadeek, Fort Hunt ES
"Honestly, Stephanie could easily take my place here as librarian at Fort Hunt Elementary (but please wait until I retire!) Stephanie is a master at matching students with just the right book at the right time. She keeps up with current children’s literature and is always making recommendations for her students. This has positively impacted their desire to read, and they come into the library eager to find the next book in a series or similar books. She is also a great teammate and has helped Margie Evans with the 6th grade language arts curriculum this year. Stephanie is someone who sees beyond her role as a sixth-grade teacher and strives to be helpful to everyone here at Fort Hunt Elementary."
- Ellen Wise, Fort Hunt ES
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Vince Wang, Sprague Technology Center
"Vince responded so quickly to a request for support that I sent to FCPS IT. He not only quickly handled it, but he did so with personal attention and follow through. He recognized that my request was related to instruction and made sure I had the answer I needed to support our teachers and students. Thank you, Vince!"
- Janet Babic, West Potomac HS
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Aron Sterling, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"During one of the busiest times of the year, Aron dropped his responsibilities to help troubleshoot a technology issue that was impacting hundreds (nearly 1,000) teachers access to an online professional learning resource that is critical to FCPS Strategic Goal #3. Without question, Aron problem solved, helped to identify the issue, and now we have plan moving forward to ensure that all teachers who are enrolled in this high quality professional learning have access to the materials they need to be successful."
- Jean Wyche, Willow Oaks Admin Center
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Llexell Evangelista, Sprague Technology Center
"Prior to leading an AA Professional Development on DeBono Thinking Hats, Llexell helped me modify Thinking Hat cards I designed that teachers could use as a classroom resource. He provided time for a phone call as well as multiple email checks ins. His insight and intentional questions helped me create a resource that teachers in the county can access through the TMPC. Thank you, Llexell, for your assistance."
- Dana Gorman, South County MS
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Jon Gouse, Bryant ALC
"Mr. Gouse, our security person, keeps our hallways clear and helps our students make it to their classes on time each day. However, he does so much more than that! Since he came to Bryant, Mr. Gouse has spent his time helping our students in every way. He listens to them, guides them, nurtures them, and roots for them ALWAYS! Our students trust and confide in Mr. Gouse. He is also an involved member of the staff, coming up with cool ideas for special events and playing a part in carrying them out. Mr. Gouse is pro everyone, making everyone feel special and valued! Thank you Mr. Gouse for being such a strong member of our team! We are so grateful!"
- Nancy Chang, Bryant ALC
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Misha Chernov, Westbriar ES
"Ms. Chernov has been so wonderful over the past year supporting my son and allowing him to truly succeed in music. After some initial struggles, she worked with my son to come up with accommodations that worked for her classroom and met my son's needs. She worked directly with him to come up with a plan so that he could be successful. Her willingness to work directly with him helped empower my son to learn more about himself. The time she took to speak with him made my son feel truly heard and understood and helped him develop skills for self advocating. Ms. Chernov has helped my son to develop a love of music, but more importantly, has helped him to grow as a student."
- a Westbriar ES parent
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Melanie Dunn-Chadwick, Alan Leis Center
"This is not just a one-time occurrence; Melanie Dunn-Chadwick is an exceptional colleague who strives to enhance the lives of students and families and provides them with essential financial assistance when necessary. Melanie has been an integral part of our program for over two decades, and her contributions often go unnoticed because she quickly goes about her work. In her role as a Trauma Informed Specialist within the program, Melanie dedicates herself to guiding and assisting families dealing with traumatic experiences. She also ensures that children can access suitable books and the support they require to alleviate their challenging circumstances. Additionally, Melanie extended her support beyond her official duties. When she identifies families facing financial hardship, she offers assistance through her generous organization, providing them with essential resources. I sincerely hope that this time, Melanie receives the public recognition she truly deserves for her consistent efforts on behalf of children and families in our community."
- Caro Cadena, Alan Leis Center
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Christine MacWilliams, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"Christine took time out of her incredible busy schedule this past week on a whim to support me as a thought partner and give me feedback for a pending presentation. I was really stuck and her expertise and guidance really moved me forward. The presentation would not have been possible or had any success without her kindness and support."
- Kevin Heron, Willow Oaks Admin Center
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Christopher Reid, Herndon Support Center
"Our classroom was hot in early September. We have a ceiling vent which never put out air and we were wondering if that was the problem. FCPS sent out Chris Reid. He got the ceiling vent working within 15 minutes! He also noticed that we didn’t have an intake vent exposed, so he looked around above our ceiling tiles and discovered that ours had been covered! He fixed that as well, and we have been cool in here ever since. Chris Reid taking time to care about our kids being comfortable and problem solving our issues created a much more comfortable learning environment. Thank you very much, Chris!"
- Nicole Jones, Brookfield ES
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Tiffany Ailsworth, Centreville HS
"Thank you Tiffany for all you are doing to support the math team. You are always open to new ideas, available to collaborate, and most importantly student centered! Thanks for sharing your "math passion" with me!"
- Jennifer Diglio, Centreville HS
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Steve Komara, Centreville HS
"Thank you Steve for sharing your classroom lab with me, our new tutors and all the students who need more support from our team!"
- Jennifer Diglio, Centreville HS
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Jeff Stewart Jr., Sideburn Support Center
"Today Jeff displayed excellent technical and customer service skills regarding a large area of the building that was not heating and cooling properly. He was able to figure out how to remove control zones from the equipment to keep multiple areas of the building comfortable. He also set up spot heat and cool units for the area that has an issue for which parts are needed, while providing communication to the main office. He has proven himself to be a real team player and someone who cares about the customers."
- Scott Withee, Herndon Support Center
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Ashlee Clifton, Woodlawn ES
"Ms. Clifton brings joy to Woodlawn every day she is in the building. She continuously goes above and beyond to ensure success for her students and the staff she supports. Every time a Wildcat passes Ms. Clifton in the hallway she is smiling and eager to brighten their day. In addition, Ms. Clifton shows more school spirit than anyone with her good friend Woodie the Wildcat for our Woodlawn school events!"
- Brooke Nyland, Woodlawn ES
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Jude Welling Barrows, Transition Support Resource Center, Alexandria
"Jude not only is an amazing math teacher who strives to build great relationships with her students but she goes above and beyond when it comes to helping her fellow teachers. Not only has created she some amazing worksheets that she willingly shares for EPF, but she took time to translate a Spanish version of a letter to a parent when we could not contact them by phone. IAS is very lucky to have her on our staff."
- Joanne Rosenthal, Bryant HS
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Jessica Trexler and Merv Greenwood, Stonecroft Transportation Center
"A special shout out to Merv Greenwood and Jessica Trexler. Both of these excellent supervisors shifted gears (literally and figuratively) this morning when Area 1 transportation reached out for assistance. There was a reported gas leak at or near Twain Middle School. No students could be released from their AM buses. Jessica and Merv (on a moments notice) headed to assist Area 1 in getting students to Edison High School and Hayfield Secondary School. Thanks to their willingness to assist, Area 3 run coverage was shifted, and assistance provided to Area 1. Merv and Jessica, thank you for being team players, not just for Area 3 but, for the Office of Transportation Services and Fairfax County Public Schools! Great teamwork! Thank you for your assistance and for representing Area 3 in a stellar way."
- Traci Kubo-Carrera, Stonecroft Transportation Center
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Debra Brown, Lake Braddock SS
"At the beginning of this school year, my son's senior year, he was assigned a new counselor based on a shift in alphabetical assignments and I could not be more pleased. Debra Brown is an experienced counselor who is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely cares for each of her students and the student population as a whole. She puts students at ease and makes them feel respected, supported and valued and really listens to their individual circumstances. She goes above and beyond in all she does and should be commended."
- a Lake Braddock SS parent
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Barnabas Musimwa, Stonecroft Transportation Center
"Barnabas is a gift to the students who are fortunate enough to ride his bus to and from Mountain View each day. He greets and says goodbye to each student by name and with a fist bump, every time. His infectious smile and positive energy set the tone for our students' rides to and from school each day. He embodies our motto of Family, Love, Respect, and we are thankful for him!"
- Kim Witeck, Mountain View HS
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Julia Hiles, Robinson SS
"As a substitute teacher at Robinson Secondary for two decades, I’ve enjoyed working around (and with) a large number on the teaching staff. Typically…and often for differing reasons…some stand out. One of my favorites is Julia Hiles. Julia is retired but has chosen to return as a substitute. Occasionally in a long term capacity. Her specialty is Math. Juilia is presently engaged in one of these assignments. Geometry and Algebra 2. With an out-of-school event calling for her attention, she invited me to stand in for her for a brief period. For an ordinary sub, this could be a daunting assignment. Fortunately, I was familiar with the material. Nevertheless, I looked forward to the assignment with some apprehension. Probably recognizing this, Julia invested hours preparing highly detailed lesson plans for each period of each day I will be there for her. You can not imagine ‘highly detailed.” She wanted me to fit precisely into her shoes while she was away. Her students are…hers. Whether she’s there or not. I assure you, any words coming out of my mouth during this assignment…will be hers! Hats off to Mrs. Hiles."
- John Hebbe, Robinson SS
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Aziz Elhayani, Woodson IT
"He was able to fix my projector and share ways to make the screen clearer. Thank you so much!"
- Ashley Guillie
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Linda Kim, Frost MS
"In ASL, “High” is signed by first making the ‘H’ hand, holding it around waist height, then finishing by bringing it up to the level of your head. “Standards” is signed by using your index finger on one hand to count outstretched fingers on your other hand. A second way to communicate “High Standards” is to individually sign the letters L-i-n-d-a K-i-m! Linda shows she cares for (DHOH) students by making them strive to be their best selves. She does not slack off if a student doesn’t put in effort or let them settle into a pattern of problematic behavior. She’s there, immediately, to make sure they achieve all they can achieve. She shows she cares for staff by recognizing those who go above and beyond. When an IA created a listserv, summary, and guide for the team, she went out of her way to give them a shoutout. When an administrator created a refreshment-filled discussion session for IAs to openly share, she tried to organize a group message for the superintendent. It’s no wonder that, years ago, Stephanie Poumade’s writeup about her earned Frost a pizza party. Linda’s still got it!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Hyo Cho, Frost MS
"Grace Cho makes the most of every opportunity. When she worked with buses last year, she made it a point to be there before my student with a wheelchair arrived so there wouldn’t be a delay. When she found out I’d have to bolt to the Falcon Scrape on the opposite side of the school as soon as the dismissal bell rang, she asked if I wanted her to come out early. This year, as a PHA, she offered to take her own time to catch up on Frost things she hasn’t yet learned and did all she could to avoid an absence. When there was a temporary mixup, and there wasn’t someone to support her moving her student, she expressed not frustration but heartfelt appreciation when someone came in to help. I know from experience that working primarily with one student all day can be physically and emotionally exhausting. So far, Grace has risen to the challenge!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Jennie Mattson, Frost MS
"If Jennie Mattson had a spirit animal, it would be an eagle. She soars and swoops through math, science, literacy, history, and Falcon Focus with an eagle eye for what people need. During orientation week, she didn't make people awkwardly ask who she was; she came into the common room and introduced herself. When staff members were supposed to create Canva slides to help everyone get to know each other better, she was the first IA to create one. Any time I'm near her in the hall, she says hello. She also has a keen eye for potential pitfalls. Any staff member whose own child attends a school they work at has the potential to be too involved. The fact that Jennie has specifically mentioned trying not to be a helicopter parent is awesome. I know she's also an asset in Falcon Focus, keeping tabs on students, keeping focus on key points in the Falcon Focus lesson, and asking how else she can help. As her teacher hilariously put it, Jennie's the much-appreciated "adult in the room." All that said, an eagle might not be right for Jennie. Smithsonian Magazine says that a certain other large bird has vision that's eight times better than humans. Jennie's definitely a Frost falcon!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Fiola Flores, Frost MS
"Liz Flores takes on arguably the most challenging group of students in the school and, makes it look easy. Other than an all-too-brief lunch, she has them all day every day. Over almost two decades, she's had kids push, scream, scratch, flee, and (sometimes most difficult of all) not say a word. Throughout, she's maintained an upbeat, firm, positive tone to bring them back where they need to be. During yoga, she's been a role model for all exercises, a key position for students who often seem seconds away from turning Downward Dog into Snoozing Kitten. During small-group core classes, she's brought the content to life with examples of her adventures in Florida, Lima, Bogota, Jakarta, the Galapagos, and beyond. No matter the class, I love Liz’s reaction when I come in for coverage. She expresses gratitude, relief, and makes me glad to be there. To paraphrase a quote Liz posted, "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” When you’re working with kids with Liz, “life is great!”
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Aster Tewelde, Frost MS
"Aster Tewelde takes on arguably the most challenging group of students in the school and makes it look easy. Other than an all-too-brief lunch, she has them all day every day. For years, Aster has been a wise source of counsel and support for me during lunch, Adaptive PE, and Cat-B classes. This year, I loved how she followed up and expressed excitement about my placement. You can count on her. Aster makes a consistent difference. When she's absent, initially, it seems like everything falls apart. The whole group does a great job pitching in, and it ends up going fine. It’s striking though the difference in student behavior when she's around. It’s a testament to her skills as a manager and to the relationships she's built with the kids. I suspect her remarkable abilities stem from injera, from her beloved Eritrea. This fall, maybe Frost can stock flatbread in every staff room. Then we'd have her superpower."
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Erin Siwert, Virginia Run ES
"Ms. Siwert always goes above and beyond for our kids. As our librarian, she is constantly finding ways to get books in kids hands even over the summer. She is forgiving, kind, and creative. Last Friday, my daughter won a character award at school and became shy and upset about the attention. Mrs. Siwert went out of her way to comfort my daughter and then email me to make sure I was aware of what happened. She is beloved by all those around her because of her joy, enthusiasm, and advocacy towards all students."
- a Virginia Run ES
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Patricia Putney, Frost MS
"Patty Putney came into Frost inheriting a job that was already tricky. One, it took her predecessor years to master. She then added arguably the most challenging group of students in the school. A month in, she's made the position look easy. She never seems tightly wound or angry, she exudes calm with students and staff who need it. That's not to say she's lax about her responsibilities. I love how during teacher work week she immediately reached out to me and other staff members to benefit from our experiences with Cat-B. During a lunch conversation, I was impressed by her refusal to settle. That is, despite everything on her plate, she was determined to have the best lessons she could for the group. The linchpin of those lessons has been the new book she reads aloud each morning. It’s something kids and adults genuinely look forward. A Growth Mindset is an essential skill these days, and Patty certainly has that!"
- Colin Verbicar, Frost MS
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Andrew Sheldon, Sideburn Support Center
"I want to commend Andrew for putting together resources for a very successful Bike and Walk to School Day. I was at Churchill Road ES this morning and the bikers and walkers were pouring in with huge smiles on their faces. The PE teacher told me how helpful Andrew was in providing resources. Also, yesterday while at Franklin Sherman ES, the Assistant Principal was telling me how helpful Andrew was in preparing them to do a bicycle unit in PE in the next few weeks. This was completely unsolicited feedback. In addition, Andrew has been very helpful to my office in gathering information on a variety of safe routes to school issues. I want to express my gratitude for all of the time and care this work takes. Kudos to Andrew."
- Elaine Tholen, Gatehouse Admin Center
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Jen Cortesi, Lake Braddock SS
"I am writing today to share my appreciation for an act of kindness my son received this week in school from his science teacher. My son enjoys school, but organization is still a skill he’s developing, and he came home this week and let me know Mrs. Cortesi, his science teacher, helped him organize his entire binder, making it easier for him to turn in assignments and things like that. I recently started a new job and have had less time than usual to help my son, but it warms my heart and gives me peace to know that this teacher is looking out for him and helping him build the foundation to succeed. I have much appreciation for this teacher and just wanted to express my gratitude."
- a Lake Braddock SS parent
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Scott Withee and Aaron Mills, Herndon Support Center
"Today Scott and Aaron were able to repair a HVAC issue that has made two of our school's office spaces much more livable! They were kind, courteous, and very professional. We're feeling very thankful for their expertise!"
- Laura King, Hunters Woods ES
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Deb Christiano, London Towne ES
"This morning, a dog was hit and killed in front of our school. The dog owner was obviously distraught. Mrs. Christiano, a Kindergarten teacher, took it upon herself to help in this tragic situation. She brought the dog owner water, offered her a sheet for privacy and provided emotional support to the family and also the driver of the car. She embodies our school values of care, curiosity and courage in her everyday actions. Mrs. Christiano is consistently a staff member that goes above and beyond her school responsibilities and demonstrates what it means to be a caring individual. We are so grateful that Mrs. Christiano is a member of the London Towne community!"
- Lucy Zamora, London Towne ES
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Catherine Phelps, Lake Braddock SS
"Lake Braddock is one of the largest schools in the county and Mrs. Phelps has single handedly decorated the classrooms, hallways offices of most of the school. While she uses her planning periods and free time to make Lake Braddock a visually more comfortable place to be for staff and students, she remains committed to all her Honors and AP students, past and present, by planning, supporting and encouraging them to be themselves and working towards success. Mrs. Phelps has been an invaluable support to new teachers in her department by sharing her time, resources, and feedback so they are prepared and ready support their classes. Mrs. Phelps is the example I use to be committed to the schools mission and community. We are so very lucky to have her on our Bruins Team."
- Liane Jones, Lake Braddock SS
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Calista Umbel, Kilmer Center School
"Cali Umbel, behavior transition teacher at Kilmer Center School is the definition of a team player. Since joining KCS staff in August, she has continually gone above and beyond to support her students and other staff members. From calmly guiding her students through behavioral crises, assisting other staff members with curriculum questions to brainstorming through various challenges, Cali does it with a genuine smile. Kilmer Center School is lucky to have Cali on our team."
- Kelly Thomas, Kilmer Center School
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Michelle Crumpler, Stone MS
"Michelle Crumpler is involved in all aspects of strengthening our school's community. This is her first year leading our school's new teacher program. In this role, Ms. Crumpler worked to make the best matches possible to support our new staff. Additionally, she organizes quarterly "just in time" workshops for our staff to provide them timely information and resources. As CT Lead, Ms. Crumpler is regularly looking for ways to increase student interest in CTE classes and after-school activities. Recently, Ms. Crumpler organized a meeting with her colleagues and central office to brainstorm ways to connect computer and technology classes together, in order for students to better access working as a team towards a common goal. Ms. Crumpler is also leading our school's cross country team. As the director, Ms. Crumpler organizes logistics and ensures that activities build students' confidence as well as athletic skills. Ms. Crumpler is passionate about her school and community and we thank her for all of her hard work."
- Eva-Beth Levy, Stone MS
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Emily Harrell, Annandale HS
"Ms. Harrell is very caring, she understands what I go through on daily basis. She is so funny and she gives me comfort. She makes my days so much better. She is my favorite teacher. I love spending my end of day with her. She should be recognized for a FCPS Cares."
- a Annandale HS student
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Denisse Stein, Stone MS
"Denisse Stein is our school's Parent Liaison Extraordinaire. Ms. Stein has a true passion for our school's community and works tirelessly to ensure that all families have the information that they need to partner with our school and support students. Recently, Ms. Stein made about 70 phone calls to Spanish Speaking Families about VGA testing, ensuring that families had the important information they needed. She worked long hours to follow up and connect with these families, finding times to talk when families were available. Ms. Stein's dedication to our school and community does not go unnoticed. We appreciate all that she does."
- Eva-Beth Levy, Stone MS
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Kevin Heron, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"Kevin has worked alongside our school's leadership team since the summer, planning meaningful professional development that meets are school's specific needs. Kevin has made himself available to lead workshops with our teacher leaders and to provide coaching to our leadership team. Kevin's expertise, calm demeanor, and willingness to collaborate is very much appreciated. We look forward to many more conversations and learning opportunities this school year."
- Eva-Beth Levy, Stone MS
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Susan Miller, Herndon ES
"Susan works hard to bring positivity and support to our staff and students on a daily basis. Today she organized a staff snack bar with a beautiful fall theme that perked up and brought joy to everyone's Monday here at Herndon Elementary School. Susan also attends all the after school events for students and supports everyone all the time! Thank you from all of us at Herndon ES!!"
- Eric Johnson, Herndon ES
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Jiwa Salima, Willow Oaks Admin Center
"Ms. Jiwa was my daughter’s elementary school social worker, her amazing knowledge help my family get all the support we needed to help my daughter. Thanks to her and the wonderful school staff my daughter was able to enjoy going to school. I hope every Fairfax County Public School has a social worker like Ms. Jiwa. She is the best."
- a Columbia ES parent
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