School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)

School Board Liaison

Robyn Lady

Staff Liaison

Lea M. Skurpski,  Director, Office of Operations and Strategic Planning, Department of Special Services
[email protected]

Committee Purpose

Va. Code §22.1-275.1—Each school board may establish a school health advisory board of no more than twenty members which shall consist of broad-based community representation including, but not limited to, parents, students, health professionals, educators, and others. The advisory board shall assist with the development of health policy in the school division and the evaluation of the status of school health, health education, the school environment, and health services.

Committee Charge

To address the broad range of challenges affecting student health identified by the Fairfax County Youth Survey, we suggest studying how the FCPS 2023 Strategic Plan can support technology and extracurricular activities for brain health with a focus on cognitive, emotional, and social skills. Incorporating neuroscience into the FCPS Strategic Plan can provide a comprehensive lens toward improving student outcomes. Reports of suicidal ideation among elementary students (see Appendix D) suggest the current challenges are becoming more severe without a dedicated focus over the next six years.

SHAC proposes researching the following topics to determine the impact of neuroscience on improving student outcomes:

• Fostering brain health for all - students, families, and staff countywide

• Enabling preventive support for developing and maintaining brain health

• Identifying innovations to pilot and evaluate brain health initiatives with students

SHAC also would like to meet with student groups to obtain their feedback as to the best ways to build and nurture their brain development and growth. Questions for them may include,  “What cognitive muscles are they concerned about?” and  “How can school environments help and hinder who they are growing into?”   SHAC would like to obtain student feedback on how technology, extracurricular activities, sleep, and stress management affect them. SHAC hopes that the data collected can be used to place FCPS at the forefront of holistic student development in the coming years. 

FCPS Wellness Policy

Participation, Implementation, and Support of the FCPS Wellness PolicyThe Fairfax County School Board will engage members of the school community and the general public to develop, assess, review and/or revise the FCPS Wellness Policy and Regulations. The School Health Advisory Committee will assess and review the Wellness Policy and Regulations to make recommendations to the School Board and serve as a vehicle for engaging the public. 

• FCPS Health and Wellness Partnership Program
• FCPS Wellness Leadership
• FCPS Wellness Newsletter  ( Subscribe )
• FCPS Wins Award for Wellness Program from VSBA

Reports, Policies, and Regulations

• 2021-2024 Triennial Wellness Assessment
• FCPS Wellness Reporting
• 2022-23 Staff Response to Recommendations
• 2021-22 Staff Response to Recommendations
• 2022-23 Annual Report
• 2022-23 Attendance Report
• Student and Staff Health and Wellness Policy 2100
• Student and Staff Health and Wellness Regulation 2100

Archives

2023-24 | 2022-23 |  2021-22  |  2020-21

Public Comment

Fairfax County and City residents who would like to make public comment may attend the meeting in person at the location indicated above or may submit a video or audio testimony in advance of the meeting by email to [email protected] . Please submit video or audio testimony by 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday evening prior to each meeting. A maximum of 5 slots are available, first come, first served. Video and audio testimony should not exceed 3 minutes in length.

2024-25 Membership

An asterisk (*) indicates voting members.

School Board Member Representatives - Term Expires June 30, 2025

• Katie Moyer*, Co-Chair, Braddock District

• Robert Goldel*, Dranesville District

• Jen Steiner*, Franconia District

• Mary Rogers Kirby*, Hunter Mill District

• Kelly G. Fernandez*, Mason District

• Dave Behar*, Mount Vernon District

• Liz Royal*, Providence District 

• Ilana Yergin-Doniger*, Springfield District 

• Marija Mladenovic*, Sully District At-Large

• TBD, McDaniel At-Large

• Keena McAvoy*, Co-Chair, McElveen At-Large

• Li-Hui Ueng*, Moon 

• Alyssa Hughes*,  Student Representative – Sawant

• Luke Han*, Student Representative – Sawant 

• Dr. Terri Edmunds-Heard, Assistant Superintendent, Department of Special Services 

• Bethany Demers, Educational Specialist, Department of Special Services 

• Carrie Reynolds, Senior Manager II,  Instructional Services Department 

• Saray Smalls, Department Special Projects Administrator

• Amanda Schlink, Food Services Nutritionist, Operating Office 

• Brian Hochstrasser, Fairfax County Health Department

• Dr. Tuc Nguyen, Medical Society of Northern Virginia

• Cara Shirley, Fairfax County Council of PTAs 

• Jessica Peterson, FAESP (Elementary School Principal) Representative
• Ann Manderfield Smith, MSPA (Middle School Principal) Representative