Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Recognizing advocacy on behalf of students who are marginalized or underserved
Fairfax County Public Schools’ Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) annually awards the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award.
This award honors the legacy of Dr. Bussey by celebrating the efforts and impact of those who work to redress inequitable systems and practices in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Dr. Lawrence Bussey was a founding member of the FCPS Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC). MSAOC is a Community Advisory Committee to the FCPS School Board. In his professional career, he worked as a teacher, administrator, and senior member of the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. After retiring from the Federal Government, Dr. Bussey became an educational consultant and served as an integral member of the MSAOC for nearly 30 years until his passing in 2022.
Eligibility
The award is for any individual staff, student or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Criteria
Selection is based on demonstration of one or more of the following:
- Recognizes and advocates for the reduction of disparities in educational experiences.
- Raises the awareness of disproportionality in outcomes and/or achievement.
- Creates systems, programs, or environments that improve educational experiences and/or outcomes specifically for a group or groups who have been marginalized, underserved, or harmed.
- Improves policy or practice to remove barriers for groups of students who have been historically underserved.
- Promotes the understanding of and response to the root causes of educational outcomes and experience disparities rather than addressing only the symptoms of these disparities.
- Demonstrates prioritization of the interests and needs of the students and families whose interests and needs historically have not been prioritized.
- Communicates a commitment to advocacy with conviction even in response to opposition from those who are well served by the status quo.
- Demonstrates sustained commitment to transforming the educational system through partnership and collaboration.
- Goes above and beyond the expectations of an individual in their role to improve the experiences or outcomes of those from underserved groups.
Nomination Process
The nomination process opens in April each year. Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award.
The nomination package consists of:
- Nomination Information Form
- Nominator Statement (maximum 500 words)
- Two Statements of Support (maximum 500 words each)
Step 1 - Nomination Information
To nominate an individual for this award please complete the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award Nomination Information Form. You will need to provide basic information and a brief description (125 words maximum) of the nominee’s efforts.
Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award Nomination Information Form
Step 2 - Statements of Support
Once you have submitted the initial information, you will receive an email with forms for yourself and 2 others to write:
- Nominator Statement (maximum 500 words)
- Two Statements of Support (maximum 500 words each)
Selection Process
A committee will review all the nominations submitted by the deadline and select the recipient based on the award criteria.
Recognition
Award recipients and their nominator will be notified by email in early June.
The recipient will receive the award in person at the annual Equity Symposium. This year's symposium is on August 5, 2026.
