Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS,

What a beautiful weekend!! As we approach another beautiful spring week ahead, I trust you will find time to enjoy the outdoors and its ever evolving moments.  As we together meet the many challenges ahead of us, I am reminded of a quote I hold dear; “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”  -- Nelson Mandela

This past Tuesday was Earth Day, and I would like to share some additional environmental efforts happening in FCPS! For example, since January 2023, Marshall Road Elementary School students have been composting their lunch scraps — an effort that pays off in an estimated 300 gallons of food waste becoming compost every week, or nearly 30 tons since the program began! The initiative, the brainchild of school PTA President Monica Nuno, requires a partnership between parents and the school to operate. It has paid off in community pride and environmentally savvy students. Roughly three years ago, parent volunteers at lunch were struck by the amount of food waste they saw and wondered what they could do about it. Marshall Road Garden Educator Christene Hendon worked to secure grant funding from Amazon Web Services Northern Virginia Community Fund to help pay for a composting contract for the first year of the initiative. More information about the program  can be found online . Go Roadrunners!!

It was great to hear from Skyler Verloop, the AVID Coordinator and Social Studies Teacher at John R. Lewis High School. Skyler shared the good news about a field trip that AVID students at Lewis High School took to Shenandoah National Park on Earth Day.  Skyler reports, “I was awarded a grant I applied to from the Shenandoah National Park Trust to take students to Shenandoah to learn about careers in the National Park Service. It could not have gone any better. At the park we met five different National Park employees, and they described their jobs, education, and their path to working for the National Park Service. We learned from a botanist, an interpretive ranger, a volunteer coordinator, a National Park police officer, and a communication specialist who focuses on maintaining radio networks within the park. All the employees were very passionate about their jobs and shared great advice with the students.

“On top of learning about careers in the National Park Service, we also did a hike at Shenandoah and enjoyed multiple look out points in the park. Most of the students have never visited Shenandoah before and they all enjoyed seeing this beautiful park for the first time. This was one of the most unique field trips I have ever coordinated and probably the most enjoyable one. The feedback from students was very positive and it was great to see their enjoyment learning about careers they never thought of and also seeing how much they enjoyed the beauty of Shenandoah National Park.” So many inspiring educational events happening each and every day!!

And at Clearview Elementary School, Jeanne Lukas-Ross has been involved with FCPS’  Get2Green and Eco Clubs since she became a teacher at Clearview. She enjoys being outdoors and is a certified Virginia master naturalist — a trained volunteer that helps gather data for scientists, restores and maintains habitats, and completes education-related service projects. But even more so, she strongly believes that “the kids need to be outside.” As a kindergarten teacher, Jeanne was observing weaker fine motor skills in younger children, and more time being spent on electronics. She wanted to help balance these changes with getting children outdoors and interacting with natural materials. At Clearview, students in grades K-3  participate in a weekly outdoor learning class . Go Team FCPS and go Yellow Jackets!!

Centreville Elementary School Principal Josh Douds shared with me that sixth grader Aditya is making waves in the world of competitive badminton! Following his remarkable achievement as the 2023 Junior National Champion, Aditya's dedication and skill have earned him a coveted spot on the USA team for the upcoming Pan American Junior Badminton Championship.  I look forward to connecting and playing a set of badminton ;>)

He has been selected to compete in both boys' doubles and mixed doubles at the prestigious tournament, which will be held in Guatemala this July. This is a fantastic accomplishment and a testament to Aditya's hard work and talent. Josh says that “When I spoke with Aditya about how he was feeling, he stated, ‘I am happy and proud to represent the United States at the Pan American Junior Badminton Championship.’” Congratulations, Aditya! Go Eagles!!

Over spring break, three FCPS teams competed in the  FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics World Championship competition in Houston, Texas. Our teams collectively went 23-10 over the course of the weekend, playing against some of the strongest competitors from around the globe. “Worlds was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. Seeing our hard work pay off was so amazing, and getting to compete with so many different teams from all over the world was a fantastic experience. Finally, the atmosphere was special. Seeing so many people united through FIRST was so cool,” said Nick Abbott, a senior at Madison High School who participated in the event.

Every year, students design, build, program, and compete with new robots created in just a few months. That alone is an incredible feat. To have them playing on the world stage and doing so well is even more impressive! Congratulations to the following teams for their accomplishments and fabulous performance at the World Championship:

• Robotics Competition (600 teams across eight divisions):
  • Madison High School ranked 11 out of 75 teams.
  • Woodson High School ranked 28 out of 75 teams.
• Tech Challenge (256 teams across 4 divisions):
  • Oakton High School (pictured above) ranked 11 out of 64 teams.

Leading for tomorrow’s innovation is Goal 5 of the  2023-30 Strategic Plan . Go Warhawks, Cavaliers, and Cougars!!

This week, we held the last  Community Conversations of the school year 2024-25 at Mount Eagle and Mason Crest elementary schools. We discussed a variety of topics, including boundary changes, start times, safety and security, the school year calendar, artificial intelligence for tutoring, challenges facing multilingual learners, and equity in math course offerings.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to join me over the last few months to share their thoughts and ask questions. As a listening leader, I value this time to connect and engage with our parents, students, staff members, and the community. A new set of Community Conversations meetings will be held in the fall — I can’t wait!

On Tuesday I attended the Oak Hill Elementary School ribbon cutting ceremony! This project added over 26,000 square feet to the building, including new classrooms, art rooms, Early Childhood Class-Based/Preschool Autism Classroom rooms, a secure entrance vestibule, and new outdoor classroom. Renovations and updates were also made to existing classrooms, the library, kitchen/café, gym, music room, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

It was a beautiful day to celebrate this new chapter of Oak Hill’s history, and I know students and staff are making the most of their wonderful new learning and working spaces! These needed updates were made possible through the 2019 and 2021 voter-approved bond referendums — thank you to our Fairfax County community for helping build our future!! Go Wolves!!

On Thursday morning, I attended the All-County Principals meeting at our Willow Oaks Administrative Center. During the meeting we discussed effective leadership strategies for times of uncertainty, the draft FCPS Scorecard, and the implications of  collective bargaining when planning for next school year. Our principals continue to work hard to make sure all students finish the school year strong. Go Team FCPS!!

At last Thursday’s School Board meeting, we honored FCPS’ Virginia High School League Winter 2025 championship athletic and academic teams, and National Concert Band Festival performing ensemble groups. They are: 

• Lake Braddock Secondary School, Gymnastics. 
• Chantilly High School, Boys Swim and Dive.
• South County High School, Girls Indoor Track and Field.
• West Springfield High School, Boys Indoor Track and Field.
• South Lakes High School, Boys Basketball.
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Scholastic Bowl.
• Chantilly High School, Speech.
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
• West Springfield High School, Wind Symphony.
• Cooper Middle School, Symphonic Band.

Congratulations to all for your outstanding accomplishments!

In the  Strategic Plan Update section of the School Board meeting, I discussed Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation . Specifically, every student will graduate ready to thrive in life after high school and with the skills to navigate, adapt, and innovate for a sustainable future. FCPS strives for all students to graduate with a plan and a way to demonstrate their qualifications for postsecondary success. This is measured by:

• Students graduating on time.
• Students persisting through school and not dropping out.
• Students leaving with a clear postsecondary plan and relevant high school diploma.

To help meet our goal, this year we are pursuing strategies to: 

1. Systematically identify and support students at-risk of not graduating on time through graduation plans; Multilingual learner consults; accessible credit recovery options.
2. Provide targeted support to schools with higher rates of dropout/other risk factors through On-Time Graduation Resource Teachers, counselors for newcomer Multilingual learners.
3. Support school engagement and postsecondary momentum through a focus on attendance and academic intensity and transition support for students with IEPs.
4. Ensure appropriate use of credit accommodations  through increased awareness of and access to credit accommodations for students with IEP or 504 plan.
5. Strengthen transcript evaluation and advisement/scheduling practices through a review of advising practices; course audits; ongoing counselor training in transcript evaluations.
6. Leverage the Goal Innovation Team with predictive analytics to identify students off-track; expansion of graduation plans; transition supports; removing barriers to graduation.

For most seniors, their secondary plans include college. As you can see in the graphic above, 87% of seniors in the Class of 2024 planned to enroll in college, 7% planned to work or enlist, and 5% planned to pursue other education. In 2023-24, 94.58% (baseline 94.06%) of students graduated on-time and 3.81% dropped out (baseline 5.0%), an improvement from the baseline on both measures. There is still a lot of work to do, but FCPS is on track to meet its 2029-30 overall goals. This work matters!! 

In the  Academic Matters section of the School Board meeting, I discussed the  Advancement Through Individual Determination (AVID) program . AVID’s mission is to close opportunity gaps by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. Fifty-three schools in FCPS have the AVID program: 25 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, 13 high schools, and two secondary schools. 

The goals of the AVID program in elementary schools are to:

• Grow students’ individual agency and relational capacity.
• Develop a growth mindset and academic dispositions from pre-K-6.
• Enhance students’ opportunity knowledge.

The goals of the AVID program in secondary schools are to:

• Provide academic support for rigorous courses (Algebra in 8th grade, Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Enrollment (DE)).
• Build Portrait of a Graduate skills, confidence, and student ownership of learning.
• Equip students with Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading skills.
• College and career exposure and experiences.
• Focused support in AVID elective while building teacher efficacy schoolwide.

AVID’s results show the program is working. For seniors in the Class of 2024:

• 78% were eligible for free- or reduced-price meals.
• 86% took at least one AP, IB, or DE class in high school.
• 94% planned to attend a 2- or 4-year college.
• 74% enrolled in Algebra 1 by eighth grade. 

AVID supports the  2023-30 Strategic Plan , with a specific emphasis on  Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence  and  Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation.  

And in the Superintendent Matter s section of the School Board meeting, I discussed my visit to Pine Springs Elementary School during spring break that I mentioned in last week’s issue of  Weekly Reflections , ribbon cuttings at Frost Middle School and Oak Hill Elementary School, as well as the robotics team at Oakton High School. 

On Friday morning, we were treated to a performance of “To Change a Planet,” by the Lees Corner Elementary School Orff Ensemble. Orff Schulwerk, developed by German composer Carl Orff and educator Gunild Keetman, is a child-centered approach to music education that integrates music, movement, speech, and drama.

It emphasizes active participation, creativity, and a playful learning environment where children can discover musical concepts through exploration and improvisation. Leah Kmetz, music teacher at Lees Corner and a certified Schulwerk educator, says the music the students performed is centered around protecting our earth, and each selection was arranged by the students in the group to express themselves. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day!!  Go Polar Bears!!

On Friday afternoon, I paid a visit to Bull Run Elementary School, led by Principal James Marotta, for its inaugural Special Olympics Inclusion Revolution Pep Rally which was the culmination of the school’s week-long Inclusive Schools Spirit Week. I was inspired by the excitement and inclusive spirit shared. Go Bulls!!

On Friday evening, we hosted a meeting of the 2e Superintendent’s Advisory Committee at Gatehouse Administration Center. 2e stands for  twice-exceptional learners . In FCPS, 2e learners are: 1) eligible for subject-specific, part-time, or full-time Advanced Academic Program services, and 2) have either an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. The committee consists of families, teachers, school-based administrators, and central office staff. At the meeting, the committee reviewed the definition of 2e; discussed programming and practices; and reviewed and modified the committee charge to ensure alignment with program goals. Learning happens best in community!!  I appreciate the collaborative efforts to improve our support of our students – each and every one of them. 

Later Friday evening, we held a meeting of the  Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee . We discussed the boundary review process so far, as well as “Before and After” maps of split feeder boundary adjustments. Information about Friday’s meeting will be posted on our website and sent to staff and families on Monday, which is part of our normal process of updating the community on the committee’s work. I invite each of you to continue following along as we move forward together by signing up to receive the School Boundary Review newsletter . 

On Saturday, FCPS held a virtual Instructional Job Fair with hundreds of teacher candidates seeking positions within FCPS. A big thank you to our dedicated Human Resources team and all the principals, assistant principals, and school-based staff who took time to be a part of this important work! Go Team FCPS!!

On Saturday morning, I stopped by Falls Church High School to be a starter for its 20th Annual Jaguar 5K and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run. What a great community event. Along with Principal Dr. Ben Nowak, I had the opportunity to start the two races for the morning. I thought my best line connected to the Seattle weather (power misting) was that I was pleased to see so many cats out in the rain ;>) Go Jaguars!! 

Next, I went to Katherine Johnson Middle School for an event with  Food for Neighbors to celebrate the launch of the group’s 10th food sorting site . Food for Neighbors works to address hunger among middle and high school students in Northern Virginia, and collaborates closely with many of our schools, providing them with essential food supplies. These supplies are then discreetly distributed by school social workers to students facing food insecurity, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals without stigma or barriers. Learning happens best in community and our community continues to support our mission driven work; this work matters.

Next, I went to the Reading Opens the World (ROW) event at the Lorton Community Center. ROW was started in 2011 to help put books into the hands of students in need, including children in Title I schools, students with disabilities, and military connected children. They offer a wide selection of titles to give to students, families, and educators, from early childhood books to board books and young adult titles. They’ve given away a total of 10 million books — wow!!

This year, they will be giving away over 30,000 books to our community, with up to 10 books for each student and 50 books for each educator to add to their classroom library. Books are vital to all of us, and instilling a love of reading is one of the most important ways we can help set children up for success. An interest in books doesn’t just help young people academically, it also opens their world and helps them understand themselves better. As Maya Angelou shared, "When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young."  So many different titles and so many young people and educators in attendance.  It was a great way to spend a misty spring Saturday!!

These wonderful types of opportunities help provide our students with excellence. As you know, our excellence here at FCPS is at a crossroads due to ongoing underfunding and budget cuts. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors finalizes its budget next week, and FCPS is currently underfunded by $150 million.

Now is the time to ask: do we want continued excellence, or are we ready to consider cuts to important programs that we have come to expect from FCPS? 

• Do we want safe, secure, and up-to-date buildings?
• Do we want the best teachers who can afford to live and work in our community?
• Do we want to maintain our class sizes?
• Do we want STEM, middle school athletics, and a wide variety of career and technical programs like our Academies?

I urge each of you to visit  fcps.edu/crossroads and learn how you can help us keep our school district — and our entire community — strong. Together, all things are possible!

I’d like to share with you an opportunity from the Virginia Department of Education to provide input on proposed updates to the criteria for measuring high school employment, enlistment, and enrollment (3E) Readiness within the new  School Performance and Support Framework . When the state Board of Education adopted the framework in September 2024, they did so without acknowledging work-based learning experiences as a meaningful way for students to develop their readiness for employment after high school. The proposed updates to the 3E Employment section add opportunities to recognize high quality work-based learning experiences, expand opportunities to recognize the full range of state-approved industry credentials, and introduce the opportunity to recognize successful completion of state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses for any student.

To support these proposed updates, the state Board will also be adopting updated definitions for four types of “high-quality work-based learning:”

• Registered apprenticeships.
• Internships.
• Clinical experiences.
• School-based enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Historically, school-based enterprise and entrepreneurship have been especially valuable for many of our FCPS students with disabilities and multilingual learners who may be pursuing a nontraditional pathway to graduation. Looking more closely at this example, school-based enterprise and entrepreneurship are work-based learning experiences that provide students with opportunities to design, plan, operate, and grow a business located at the school campus or online. In preparation for the May 20-22 state Board of Education meetings, the Virginia Department of Education released a web-based form to collect public comment about the proposed updates to the Employment section within 3E Readiness. Details on the proposed 3E Employment updates and the link to the public comment form can be found on the  VDOE Every Student Succeeds Act webpage . Public comments can be submitted through the online form until Sunday, May 18.

Our  2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation , encourages the expansion of opportunities for students to access CTE, specialized courses, and other apprenticeship opportunities as key components of ensuring our students are prepared for post-secondary opportunities, so including a measure of work-based learning within the state accountability system is a step in the right direction. 

As I think about contemporary events, I want to share that Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) policies continue to be consistent with all applicable state and federal laws. We have assured this annually for several decades. Earlier this past week, I reinforced this by certifying our compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, its implementing regulations and decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals interpreting the same, to our state education leaders. 

Here in FCPS, I continue to believe our diversity is a strength and that each and every child deserves access to a world-class education. The power and promise of public education come to life every day in our schools through the tireless dedication of our staff -- you, and everything each of you do every day to support our mission driven work, as well as the transformative moments of learning that our students experience. This work matters – maybe now more than ever. And so, as I contemplate the coming days, I came across this quote and am reminded of its power for us today …

“When you know who you are; when your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will; no cold can touch your heart; no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive.” -- Chief Seattle (1780-1866) Leader Of The Suquamish and Duwamish Native American Tribes

I trust that each of you will enjoy an abundantly inspiring week ahead and I look forward to seeing you in the coming days. What an amazing journey we are on...

Take good care,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.