Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS!

What a great time of the year!! I so enjoy the season and appreciate the warmth of the weekend as well as the fall temperatures ahead. I trust each of you found time to get outside and feel the changing of the seasons as well as finding time for rest and reflection. So many opportunities ….

In good news, the Virginia Board of Education honored five FCPS schools with Exemplar Awards! Two schools received the Highest Achievement Exemplar Award, and three received both the Continuous Improvement Exemplar Award and the Continuous Improvement Graduation and Completion Index and Dropout Rate Exemplar Award. The schools receiving the Highest Achievement Award are Sangster Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The schools receiving the Continuous Improvement Exemplar Award and the Continuous Improvement Graduation and Completion Index and Dropout Rate Exemplar Award are Lewis High School, South Lakes High School, and West Potomac High School. More information about the Exemplar Award is available online. We look forward to celebrating.  

In addition, 69 FCPS students earned the Advanced Placement (AP) ® Capstone Diploma and nineteen students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2023-24 school year. AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from the College Board based on two year-long AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills. Throughout the AP Capstone program, students study a variety of topics across multiple disciplines and have the flexibility to choose topics of personal interest to show mastery of critical thinking, research, and presentation skills. Official AP Seminar and AP Research assessments include academic papers, multimedia presentations, and defense of findings. The availability of and enrollment in advanced, rigorous coursework and programs is part of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity. Go Team FCPS!! 

I am also excited to share that Annandale High School is one of nine schools across the Commonwealth that have received recognition as a Special Olympics National Unified Champion School! This recognition celebrates our commitment to inclusion, leadership, and unified sports, meeting the rigorous standards set by a national panel from the Special Olympics and the education community.

Annandale achieved this honor by fulfilling 10 standards of excellence, including:

• Special Olympics Unified Sports®, where students with and without disabilities compete together as teammates.
• Inclusive youth leadership, encouraging collaboration across diverse student groups.
• Whole-school engagement, ensuring active participation from the entire school community to foster a culture of inclusion.

This partnership supports FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. Go Atoms!!

On Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., I am hosting a Community Conversation at Fairhill Elementary School. These sessions are a great way for you to share your feedback about our schools. Other upcoming events will be held October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School; and October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School. Registration is encouraged, but not required. It does help us plan. You can register at https://www.fcps.edu/superintendent-engagement. I hope to see you!

October is National School Principals Month! Let’s celebrate our dedicated school leaders who play an essential role in shaping their communities and paving pathways for success for each and every student and staff member in their schools! Two such leaders are Raven Jones, principal of Luther Jackson Middle School, who was named 2024 Outstanding New Principal, and Jamie Gadley, principal of Dranesville Elementary School, who was named 2024 Outstanding Principal. Learn why Raven and Jamie were nominated by their peers for this recognition. This work matters!

This week is National School Lunch Week, a time to celebrate the vital role school meals play in students’ health and learning. This Wednesday, each school is participating in “X Marks the Tray” — select hot entree items will come with a sticker that can be redeemed for a whole grain sweet treat for students to enjoy with their meal. Each day, our dedicated Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) team fuels our students’ success by providing delicious, healthy, and culturally inclusive meals. It’s hard to learn on an empty stomach, which is why research has found that eating school meals is associated with improved overall diet quality, attendance rates, and test scores. This work matters! 

FNS has been championing student voice through new student-driven menu options, which Food and Nutrition Services Director Shawn Sawko says were developed to “celebrate our diverse student body by providing meals that are both flavorful and healthy while prioritizing sustainable practices in our initiatives.” There has been great feedback so far. At Graham Road Elementary School, Cafeteria Manager Ana Morrobel-Guzman says that the pupusas and plantains were a big hit, with “several children coming here to the cafeteria to let us know that the food we gave them was excellent.” FNS has also been responding to feedback from families by debuting new printable menus, which you can find on the FNS webpage. This Thursday’s Sweet Thai Chili Chicken Wings sound delicious! Go Team FCPS!!

This week’s Advancing Literacy segment is a special thank you to everyone on Team FCPS who has been learning (and helping others learn!) about Benchmark Advance, our new Language Arts curriculum. 

Pictured above are Claire Silva and Ruth Cheptoo, fifth grade teacher at Hybla Valley Elementary School. 75 grades 2-6 teachers took a deep dive into Benchmark Advance word study, language comprehension and writing instruction at Virginia Hills Center during the recent October 4 teacher workday. We’ve had a total of almost 6,000 educators complete this intensive training! Over the summer and throughout the month of September, almost 6,000 K-6 classroom, multilingual learner, and Special Education teachers completed their initial implementation training. This intensive training is helping make sure students across our division can benefit from the same robust reading and writing resources. This work matters!! Finally, thank you to everyone who’s shared how Benchmark is being implemented in your classrooms and schools — keep those pictures and stories coming my way! I’m looking forward to highlighting your creativity and enthusiasm in upcoming Advancing Literacy segments. Stay tuned for a special video from Navy Elementary next week! Go Team FCPS!! 

On Monday, I attended a meeting, along with Janice Szymanski, our chief of facilities services and capital programs, of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), which is a council of thirteen-member local governments in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C, to discuss affordable housing for teachers. I also attended the Board Member orientation for the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC). NVTC is the trade association representing the Northern Virginia technology community. One of the nation’s largest and oldest tech councils, NVTC represents regional tech companies from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, government contractors, service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofits who are committed to innovating to improve how we live, work, and learn. I look forward to participating in the conversations supporting a brighter future for our community.  

At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from FCPS partner Thru Consulting provided an overview of the division-wide boundary project management plan. Their presentation included a review of priorities, timeline, project governance and management, community engagement opportunities, communications, the role of data, and sample maps and analytics. You can watch the work session online. 

We are creating our Boundary Review Advisory Committee, which will include a diverse group of parents/caregivers, school-based administrators, teachers, operational staff, and community members. The committee’s goal is to provide unique perspectives and insights to ensure that the boundary review process is transparent, includes significant community participation and feedback, and always keeps students at the center of every decision. Please note that participation in the Boundary Review Advisory Committee will be a time-intensive commitment. If you are interested in joining, please complete this application by this Friday, October 18. Lastly, stay tuned for more upcoming engagement opportunities, which may include community meetings, focus groups, and surveys. For more information about the boundary review process or to provide feedback, visit our 2024-26 Boundary Review webpage. 

We also discussed 2023-2030 Strategic Plan Goal 1: Strong Start Pre-K – 12. I am so excited to share the significant progress that we have seen for our percent of multilingual learners that met the state standard for progress toward English language proficiency.

You can read about the strategies that FCPS has in place, and new ones being implemented this year, in our Goal 1 report. This work is making a difference!

Tuesday evening I attended a climate crisis forum focused on how Northern Virginia schools are tackling the climate crisis and empowering students to act. I was excited to share how FCPS is leading the way in environmental education, eco-friendly transportation, and sustainable facilities/energy management. I also had the chance to highlight the work of our wonderful students and the initiatives they’ve championed. This includes the removal of plastic straws from the cafeteria, moving towards installing solar power at schools, and reducing waste. Our students will continue to lead us!!  

Also on Tuesday, I joined our school board as they hosted state and federal delegates and senators, County Board of Supervisors partners, City School Board members, and other community members to present FCPS’ federal and state legislative priorities for the year. Among many other initiatives, our board is working hard to advocate for more school funding in many areas, and to push for a delay or adjustment to next year’s planned School Performance and Support Framework coming from the state Board of Education. 

On Wednesday, I attended the 2nd Annual Multilingual Career Fair at Fairfax High School. I so appreciate all the members of Team FCPS and our community partners who helped our multilingual learners explore their postsecondary options. This includes the Fairfax City Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, first responders, colleges/universities, and representatives from branches of the military. Thank you for helping support our 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’ Innovation. This work matters!!

Wednesday evening was the FCPS Excellence Awards ceremony at Fairfax High School. The pre-ceremony reception gave recipients a chance to come together with their friends and families, colleagues, and supervisors. During the recognition ceremony, awards were given in four categories: Collaboration and Partnerships, Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, Innovation and Improvement, and Student Achievement and Success. I had the honor of congratulating each recipient as we learned about their dedication and commitment to our students and community.

Their efforts help keep FCPS a great place to learn and work! Out of 250 nominees, there were 18 individual recipients and 13 teams recognized; making a total of 100 employees honored. I want to thank all those behind the scenes who made this such a special night. I know our Human Resources team worked hard to plan for the celebration and many staff were part of the nomination and selection process that so thoughtfully honored our exemplary staff. I also want to thank our facility and custodial staff who work tirelessly to support events such as these in addition to their regular duties. The Fairfax High School team really made the evening special for all of us. It was an evening to remember. Part of what makes the Excellence Awards so special is that only FCPS employees can submit a nomination. Recognition from our peers, who know exactly how much work and time we’ve put into our craft, is especially impactful. Go Team FCPS!

Thursday was the Fairfax County Digital Equity Summit. I was excited to join our County and community partners as we work to bring digital equity to our entire region. Internet connectivity empowers people to access educational resources, essential services, and community connections. It’s essential in today’s modern world. It’s also critical in preparing students for the future because it provides every learner, regardless of socioeconomic background, with access to the technology and resources needed to succeed in a digital world. It helps close the achievement gap by providing equal opportunities to develop critical 21st-century skills like digital literacy, problem-solving, and creativity. And as industries continue to digitize, digital equity prepares students for future jobs, fosters social inclusion, and bridges socioeconomic divides, ensuring all students can compete and thrive in the global digital economy. FCPS’ Department of Information Technology offers every student a computing device, along with personal MiFi devices to students without internet access at home. For this school year, we currently have 1,192 MiFi devices checked out to students. We are looking forward to expanding this reach. Thank you to our County and community partners for their collaboration — this work matters!!

On Thursday, I stopped by the school year kickoff meeting for the Department of Human Resources (HR) at Old Town Hall. Having recently wrapped up the hiring season for this school year, this kickoff marked the start of their next hiring season. The day included discussions around their mission and vision, a session led by Tyauna Bruce around maximizing strengths, and team-building activities to foster stronger relationships within HR. It was a productive and valuable day for the team. We are so grateful for all the efforts of our Human Resources team; this work matters.  

At last Thursday’s School Board meeting, I gave an update on the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 2 – Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. Specifically, I discussed Restorative Justice Practices, which help students learn how to manage differences of thoughts and opinions respectfully, minimize conflict before it starts, and establish positive relationships with others. When conflict does happen, Restorative Justice Practices help students take responsibility for their actions, learn from their mistakes, repair relationships, and rebuild trust. 

Many schools have asked for more help this area, and as a result: 

• Training sessions were held to certify facilitators from each school in Tier 3 Restorative Justice.
  • 315 facilitators were trained between January-April 2024. 
  • 81% of schools have 1-2 certified facilitators with a goal of all schools having two facilitators by the end of the 2024-25 school year. 
• All 2023-24 County School-Based Administrator Meetings focused on Restorative Justice and discipline practices.
  Ongoing plans for 2024-25 include: 
• Alternative and Nontraditional schools training. 
• Training for any school needing to have two trained facilitators. 
• Ongoing professional development for school-based facilitators to maintain their certification.

During my presentation I shared this video that provides more information about the impact of Restorative Practices across FCPS and how they shape students' relationships and emotional growth for life.

In the Academic Matters portion of the School Board meeting, I discussed 2024 Virginia Accreditation and SAT Outcomes. As you may recall from last week’s Weekly Reflections, all 199 FCPS schools have been accredited by the Virginia Department of Education, and the Fairfax County class of 2024 performed well above state and global averages on the SAT. As you can see from the graphic above, the Fairfax County average score for the class of 2024 (1178) was higher than the state average (1101) and the global average (1024). These results show that the hard work of our students, staff members, and parents is paying off. Together all things are possible!! View the graphic in an accessible format. 

Saturday was the STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest at Mount Vernon High School. It’s my third year attending, and as always, I was delighted to see the excitement and creativity from our elementary and middle school students. These young learners were diving hands-on into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math activities with the help of high school volunteers/mentors.

This important event helps spark curiosity in our younger students, exposing them to concepts that open a world of career opportunities. It also helps develop Portrait of a Graduate skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and resilience. I can’t wait to see the future these young technologists will create for us! Learning happens best in community and our community remains strong.  

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to attend the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Tysons Corner sponsored event. The business partnered with Educate Fairfax to host this community event, titled "Driven to Make a Difference." This event, led by Daniel Rodriguez, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Tysons Corner and Educate Fairfax Board Member, was a celebration of cars, community, and philanthropy. The car show and marketplace brought together car enthusiasts, local businesses, and community members for a day filled with fun, food, and giving back. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Educate Fairfax.

Educate Fairfax plays a crucial role in raising funds to support essential Fairfax County Public Schools programs, including the automotive technology program. One beneficiary of this event is the Marshall High School Governor’s STEM Academy Automotive Technology Program. Under the guidance of Rebecca Fenton, FCPS automotive technology teacher, many junior and senior students from Marshall Academy were on hand, helping by washing cars. 

The funds raised will be used to purchase much-needed equipment for the program. Additionally, thanks to this partnership, students recently attended a field experience at Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Tysons Corner, organized by Shelli Farquharson, Career Experience Specialist at Marshall Academy.

As we move through this incredible fall season ahead, I am often reflective about those who were part of the fabric of our past fall seasons. A thought that remains top of mind this past week is; “If you see something wrong, if you speak out ... you can change it.” — Ethel Kennedy. Let’s continue to celebrate all that is amazing and remain resolute in our quest to improve the experience of each and every one of our students, colleagues, and neighbors; it matters.  

Take good care,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Fairfax County Public Schools