Superintendent's Weekly Reflections
Hello Team FCPS!
I must say it has been quite a week. I continue to be grateful for all the opportunities we have to learn together. This weekend, as our nation reflects on the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we must acknowledge that there is still much work to be done for our nation to fully embody Dr. King’s dream. In 2023, we must continue to lead the way and reaffirm our commitment to equitable access to education and fostering a culture where everyone in our community – students, families, and staff feel seen, heard, supported, and experience a deep sense of belonging. I so appreciate how each of you continue to work tirelessly to support the tenets of this cherished dream, it matters so much to so many. Thank you.
These conversations and accompanying work are also part of the critical work happening across FCPS right now. Our current strategic planning process begins with the foundation of the limitless potential of each of our students. Our role is to provide a mountaintop educational experience that develops that potential and guides each and every one of our students to their unique and amazing future. No exceptions!
I am excited about our strategic planning community forums, which kick off on January 30. I invite staff, families, students, and community members to register to participate. The Core Planning Team, which represents more than 150 stakeholders and includes a diverse range of voices from the FCPS community, convened this past Thursday for their third all-day meeting. Planning team members reviewed student perception data results, identified strengths and areas of concern, and began drafting goals. Please visit our Strategic Planning website to review the student perception data results and materials from this convening.
Strategic planning materials will be distributed next week for key communicators to share with their groups and networks. The first round of division wide student focus groups will begin next month and there will be opportunities for employees to engage in a survey and “reality check” sessions in the coming months.
We are still in need of table facilitators to support our community forums as was recently shared in Employee News. If you are interested in being a table facilitator, please complete the Google form for your preferred event(s) no later than Friday, January 20, at 4 p.m. You will receive a link to the training after submitting the form. We welcome your participation in the strategic planning process.
At Thursday night’s School Board meeting, I proposed a FY 2024 budget that focuses on attracting and retaining teachers and staff at a time when public education needs them most. The Proposed Budget also supports initiatives aimed at closing the achievement gap for all students, which widened during the pandemic, and gives our youngest learners a strong start, including investments for special education students impacted during the pandemic. This commitment includes Special Education Teacher Extended Day contracts that are currently funded in FY23 with ESSER III and will continue to be funded with ESSER III in FY24. A further clarification is that the planned retention bonus applies to all who are FCPS employed in FY23 and remain FCPS employed in FY24 (sorry for the confusion on that one ;>). My proposed budget puts real resources behind supporting student success. I invite you to share your thoughts on the budget during a public hearing on January 23. Speakers can register on our website.
During the Academic Matters section of the recent Board meeting, I shared updates on the Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA). Legislation passed in 2021 in Virginia requires schools to perform content standards testing in the fall and winter. I reflected that there are opportunities for improvement in the timeliness of the information being shared back with schools between the two assessment windows. Families will be receiving fall and winter math and reading results together in the next eight weeks. I can tell you, as reflected in the slide below, that our fall results indicate that we are outperforming other Virginia divisions in every area, in every grade level. I’d like to give a virtual high five to our educators and students who are working so hard and to our families who work to support them. Your work matters!
Earlier this week, I was able to attend the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority meeting, with an invitation to speak about “Future Workforce and Setting the Stage for New Careers of the Next Generation.” I shared our collective gratitude for the business community that has been so supportive to public education, especially here in our community. At last check, our partnerships office counted some 550 community and business partners over the years!! I also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share that 65% of our K-12 students in the United States are preparing for a career that does not yet exist in a world yet to be imagined. So many opportunities ahead…
It is our charge to make sure each and every student is prepared to reach their full and unique potential. This means providing support and resources for students who both do and do not plan to attend a four-year college post-graduation. Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Academy programs offer students specialized training that’s often certification based. A high school Academy is also a place where students can take advantage of leadership, scholarship, and work-based learning opportunities and industry credential exams that help them take steps in their career pathway often before they leave high school. In these programs, students are also able to build relationships with business and industry partners and those relationships and mentorships have led to exciting opportunities for our students. Learning happens best in community!
In Fairfax Inspires, I want to give a shout out to Lewis High School Football Coach, Larry Choates, who was recognized by the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation as their Week 5 Coach of the Week for the 2022 Season. Coach Choates was recognized for his positive leadership and dedication to our student athletes and the Fairfax County Public Schools community. Thank you Coach for being a leader and role model to our students, it matters now more than ever!
Friday evening I had the pleasure of attending two different events featuring so many talented students in our amazing division. The evening began with a visit to the Fairfax High School Chorus Cabaret Concert. The Lions put on a great show illuminating really talented young vocalists and musicians in a more casual setting. Following my visit to the concert, I took an opportunity to watch some competitive girls basketball with Edison High School playing Hayfield High School. It was a great game that came down to the wire with strong competitive teamwork on all sides. Additionally, I must compliment the enthusiastic Edison High School Step Team!! Their spirit, passion, and talented precision are inspiring. I look forward to connecting with them and perhaps learning some step moves in the future ;>) Such positive energy all over this great division.
Saturday presented a number of FCPS experiences. I started the day with attending the 14th Annual Chinese New Year Festival at Luther Jackson Middle School. What an amazing day of celebration as the Year of the Rabbit is ushered in and celebrated. Later Saturday afternoon, I had the opportunity to attend the Lake Braddock Chorus Children’s Concert. What a fun concert this was as our Lake Braddock Secondary School students dressed as a variety of Disney and other childhood favorite characters as they performed young children friendly songs. I was surprised by how many of the songs I knew all the words to ;>) Such a fabulous way to spend time…
Saturday evening, I accepted the invitation of our Franklin Middle School theatre students to attend the musical, Newsies. Principal Dustin Wright and I shared an evening of incredible talent. As I shared in my Instagram post, the performance demonstrated so many lessons learned and great reasons to champion the performing arts. I wonder if it is too late for me to learn to tap dance ;>) I encourage you to take in the show if you have the opportunity!!
Today, I along with many others, had the opportunity to remember, honor, and celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the First Baptist Church of Vienna here in Fairfax County. Sr. Pastor, Dr. Vernon C. Walton, and his congregation hosted a celebratory service that included student voice, music, and reminders of the work we have yet to do as a community and country. We also had an opportunity to engage in service by preparing food and meal packets for those in our community who are dealing with food insecurities. Learning happens best in community and our community cares deeply; together all things are possible.
Today, as we honored Dr. King, I would love to hear what activities you engaged in for this Day of Service. I know our FCPS community is capable of great things when we come together! We also have a new employee blog post where you can share how you demonstrate your commitment to equity in or out of your office or classroom. Together, great things are possible!
Finally, as we conclude this holiday weekend, I am reminded of the wisdom and words shared by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While prophetic many years ago, the sentiment shared seems eternally timely today as he observed; "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." And in so doing, being mindful that, "The time is always right to do what is right." And when the times seem particularly challenging to remember always that; "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." In Our House, we will resolutely stay in the light. I look forward to seeing you soon as I am out in the schools and community.
Warmest Regards,
Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
