Hello Team FCPS,

Wow, what a beautiful week!! The summer solstice is now well upon us and we have now officially entered the summer season. With the heat of this weekend, it is hard to even remember the blustery winter weather ;>) 

On Monday the Fairfax County Student Human Rights Commission’s held their end of year celebration. The Student Human Rights Commission is a partnership between FCPS and the Fairfax County Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs. Since SY 2009-10, it’s provided high school students (“Commissioners”) with opportunities to foster dialogues on diversity, develop a greater understanding of human and civil rights laws, and participate actively in leadership and government. Thank you to our Commissioners for uplifting the voices of our young people across our community!

Tuesday, I attended and spoke at FCPS’ Equity Symposium, the theme of which was “Creating Connections, Cultivating Capacity.” Equity continues to be a cornerstone of our FCPS mission. It is so fundamental to us that it is mentioned as part of every goal of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan! 

I was so energized by this fabulous event and the great turnout from Team FCPS — thank you to everyone who came for a day of listening and learning! The symposium was illuminating and timely, especially as we gear up for division wide implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) next school year! Thank you to our Chief Equity Office for this important opportunity to build on our division’s equity literacy and thank you to our speakers, which included our very own Annandale High School’s Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair (and winner of the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award!) Annie Ray. 

Congratulations to the finalists and the second-ever recipient of the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award, Annandale High School Assistant Principal Dr. Sarah Eqab! The award recognizes FCPS staff, students, or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved — this work matters!

The school year may be over, but our division and our community partners are still hard at work supporting students. This past week I met with the National School Superintendents Association, the Educate Fairfax board of directors, and the leadership team of the Special Education Parent Teacher Association. Friday evening, I also attended a banquet for the Washington Area School Study Council, a group of current and retired superintendents who focus on supporting school districts within our region. There’s much to consider as we look forward to starting the next school year energized and ready! 

Last Thursday I hosted an Employee Conversation about the seven three-hour early release Mondays for students during the 2024-25 school year. Key considerations from the conversation included:  instructional time, equity of supervision and enrichment opportunities, logistical challenges, optimizing professional development, and meeting IEP requirements.

Thank you to Team FCPS for sharing their questions and feedback as we strategize on how to best meet both the state training requirements and the needs of our students and families! We will also be hosting two Community Conversations about the elementary early release Mondays at Gatehouse Administration Center this week:

• Tuesday, June 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (register here)
• Wednesday, June 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (register here)

I hope to see you there! As I shared in last week’s Weekly Reflections, engagement from across our community is critical to effectively develop and implement this change. If you are a teacher, principal, or family member and are interested in being part of the Elementary School Early Release Steering Committee, be sure to complete this form for consideration by Friday, June 28. 

We also had a school board work session to hear a number of committee end of year reports this past week. We so appreciate the many community members and staff who serve on these board advisory committees and provide recommendations that support our strategic planning work and the success of each and every one of our students here in FCPS.  These committee reports will continue with more board work sessions this week. 

Saturday evening, I attended the 66th Capital Emmy Awards in Rockville, Maryland. FCPS’ Office of Communications Video Producer Mark F. Jones and Video Production Specialist Andrew Vo were nominated for their video about the Fosters, an FCPS family who lost their son Cayden to fentanyl. Mark and Andrew’s piece illuminates the Fosters’ experience in a way that’s sensitive, impactful, and engaging. It’s a story that needs to be told as our community (and communities across our nation) works to protect our young people from opioids. Thank you again to the Fosters for their insights and thank you to Mark and Andrew for helping communicate this important message. 

Finally, as we embrace this summer season, I challenge each of you to find and take that adventure, to do that thing you have been putting off, to call that friend or family member that you haven't talked to in a while (or a long time), to take that trip and experience something that stretches you and your thinking. And as a reflection, I am reminded of Theodore Roosevelt and his excerpt from the speech "Citizenship In A Republic" delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Happy trails...

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.

Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools