Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS!

This is a very busy and exciting month. What a great week ahead of us, and my how the days are racing by. It is truer now more than ever that while the days can be long, the years are short. It seems that the more years I have behind me, the shorter the years become ;>) It is such a busy time of the year; I hope we remember to pause and appreciate the beauty around us and remember to be grateful for all that we have and experience each and every day; these are our best days... 

I want to share a bit more detail about our recent  FCPS  Summer Extravaganza: Building Community Through Learning event . From hands-on STEM experiments to dynamic student performances, soccer drills to high-energy family Zumba — the 2025 FCPS Summer Extravaganza brought learning to life. With over 1,000 attendees, 78 volunteers, and 60 engaged community partners, the event offered families meaningful activities and resources designed to inspire curiosity and connection well beyond the summer. Learning definitely happens best in community!!

Envisioned and led by the Office of Community Relations and sponsored by Educate Fairfax, the Summer Extravaganza showcased the power of collaboration — uniting FCPS departments, local organizations, and student-led initiatives to spark joy, trust, and opportunity for all. Together, we’re building bridges that strengthen every corner of our community. So grateful for all that we have and those whose hands continue to build on our traditions of excellence, this work matters. 

Some great news to share this week: for the twelfth time, the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation has honored FCPS as one of the  Best Communities for Music Education ! In its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that show exceptional dedication to providing access to music education to all students. Districts are evaluated on funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for music programs. More information about the award  is available online . Go Team FCPS!!

I recently learned that the Virginia Council for Mathematics Supervision (VCMS) has named Spencer Jamieson, elementary school mathematics specialist in the Instructional Services Department, as its 2025 Math Leader of the Year! According to the VCMS website, Spencer is “A highly skilled elementary math specialist that possesses a deep understanding of mathematics content and pedagogy and is an expert facilitator of professional learning. His leadership extends beyond the role as a mathematics specialist as he is actively involved in state and national organizations. Most notable is his leadership with Math Forward. Through this work, he galvanized districts across the state building a path for them to collaborate and share resources to affect mathematics across multiple districts. His contributions to these organizations have significantly impacted the field of mathematics education.” Congratulations, Spencer! This work matters!!

For years, Woodson High School has been proudly competing in the  Gallaudet University National Academic Bowl , which was established in 1996 to foster academic excellence, healthy competition, and sportsmanship among deaf and hard of hearing youth – all while making lifelong friends. Students participate in a quiz tournament, answering questions that test their general knowledge and quick recall across categories such as arts and entertainment, current events, language and literature, mathematics, social studies, pop culture, leisure and sports, potpourri, and science and technology. Woodson High School has proudly competed at both regional and national levels.  This year, the team made history by reaching the National Championship match! Though they narrowly missed victory by just two points, their performance was nothing short of remarkable! Team members included Sonan Sahgal, Maggie Smallwood, Karine Jelalian, and Salma Diriye, led by coaches Julie Clinch and Shan Pillai. Maggie Smallwood was chosen as an all-star player as one of the top players in the entire tournament. Go Cavaliers!!

In this heartfelt episode of  Our Voices, Our Future , I sat down with Hanh Bui — an author, former FCPS teacher, and proud FCPS parent. Hanh shares her inspiring journey from an eight-year-old refugee fleeing Vietnam to becoming a dedicated teacher and celebrated author. Through her touching story, she reflected on the pivotal role of her first teacher, Marilou Shaida, and how a single act of kindness inspired her to dedicate her life to teaching and empowering students. Hanh also shares her recent experience connecting with a young refugee from Guatemala, reminding us of the power of stories to create meaningful connections across cultures and generations. 

I’d like to share a story about a soon-to-be retiree that I met recently at  We Honor You , the FCPS retirement ceremony. Joyce Sisk has been working in FCPS for more than 50 years, all at Bailey’s Elementary School! Her sons attended the school, which is across the street from her house. One of her granddaughters works there as an instructional assistant, and her great-granddaughter (pictured above with Joyce) is a student at the school. You can learn more about Joyce’s  incredible journey in FCPS in this story . Go Team FCPS!! 

Monday evening, I met with the  Military-Connected Youth Family Advisory Council at Gatehouse Administration Center. As someone who grew up in a military-connected household, I have a deep appreciation for those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces. These meetings help identify and address unique challenges faced by military connected students, such as frequent relocations and deployments, by advocating for targeted resources and policies.

By working together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment that benefits both military-connected students and the broader community. Many ideas were shared, and plans made to support our military connected students. As a result of the meeting, we are looking to host a division wide social event later this summer. If you are interested in helping with this event, please let me know. 

One such important initiative is the Purple Star Schools designation, which recognizes schools for excelling in their support of military-connected students. I’m proud to say that FCPS has set a goal of becoming a  Purple Star Division by the 2026-27 school year ! Student access to the necessary emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health services to support their successful engagement in school is part of  Goal 2 of the  2023-30 Strategic Plan : Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. 

On Tuesday morning, I attended the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting to help celebrate our  2024-25 winter sports team and individual Virginia High School League state champions . As Superintendent, I am incredibly proud of how our student-athletes and coaches represent FCPS with courage, resilience, and grace. We applaud not just their wins, but the values they embody. Congratulations again! 

I then stopped by Louise Archer Elementary School for their ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of their school renovation. This project marks the start of a new chapter for the Louise Archer community! Learn more about the  Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at FCPS. A big thank you to our capital projects and design and construction team.  Because of the CIP, Louise Archer students, staff, and families are now enjoying the following improvements:

• A new two-story classroom wing addition with an interior courtyard, new cafeteria, and kitchen
• A secure entrance vestibule
• Updates to all classrooms, workrooms, library, gym, and program spaces
• Updates for all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
• And the centerpiece of the main lobby is the refurbished, original Louise Archer School House Exterior Wall, where most of the original wood from the schoolhouse was able to be reused!

It was an honor to be able to uncover this piece of our history and share it with several of Louise Archer’s former students, two of which are Gloria Carter and Alees Coates-Richardson, now both in their nineties. Watch as they  share about their time at the school that served African American children from the greater Vienna area during segregation. 
Tuesday afternoon, I visited Robinson Secondary School to meet with a visually impaired student to discuss how he uses Meta AI glasses in school and whether other students could also benefit from this technology. I so appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the tools our students and staff are using. 

Wednesday afternoon, I attended our last meeting of the  Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Committee (STAC)  for this year at Kilmer Middle School. Each school has a STAC representative. The purpose of the committee is to provide us with input and feedback from instructional staff members on matters of importance to the school system and to provide a venue for them to bring matters of concern to the attention of the Leadership Team. Then, each representative is expected to share the results of the meeting with colleagues at their school. I remain grateful for the contributions of our educators, together all things are possible. 

Working together with employee groups to better address the needs of students and staff members is part of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Pillar C: Diverse, Adaptive, and Supported Workforce . Together, all things are possible. 

Next, I went to Centreville High School for its Choral Broadway Pops concert, which was a lively and entertaining evening of music and movement from musicals and movies, including pop songs from the ‘70’s through today. Choral Director Susan Kraft shared the following about the show: “Our Centreville Choir students worked tirelessly to put together an entertaining show full of Broadway tunes, pop songs, choreography, and senior solos! I’m incredibly proud of how far they’ve come this year. When I started teaching at CVHS in 2023, the choral program consisted of 56 singers. We now have over 100 students signed up for next school year, so our numbers have nearly doubled in only two years! I’m continuously inspired by my students’ talents, passion, energy, and commitment, and I’m so excited for what’s to come in the years ahead!” Thanks for inviting me, Susan, and congratulations to all the students and staff members who made this outstanding event possible. Go Wildcats!!

This week we held  Boundary Review Community Meetings at Robinson Secondary School and Oakton High School. Participants were able to explore and visualize potential boundary scenarios using a customized Boundary Explorer Tool. The tool is  also available on our website . You can  watch this video to learn how to use the tool. 

There are several more community meetings for you to review the scenarios and provide feedback before the start of summer break. They will be held:

• Monday, May 19, 6:30-8 p.m. , at  Herndon High School
• Friday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m. , at  Lewis High School
• Wednesday, May 28, 7-8:30 p.m. , at  Annandale High School
• Thursday, May 29, 6:30-8 p.m. , at  Whitman Middle School
• Friday, May 30, 6:30-8 p.m. , at  Chantilly High School
• Friday, June 6, 6:30-8 p.m. , at  Glasgow Middle School

Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or via Zoom. Childcare for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. Click on the date above to register. Another round of community meetings will be held in the fall. I also invite each of you to continue following along as we move forward together by signing up to receive the School Boundary Review newsletter . 

On Friday evening, I attended the Asian Educators Association’s Asian Leadership Alliance Scholarship Banquet at Gatehouse Administration Center to celebrate its three scholarship recipients. Tori Huynh, president of the Asian Educators Association and the Asian Leadership Alliance, shared more details about the event with me: “At the FCPS Asian Educators Association (AEA)’s 3rd Annual Asian Leadership Alliance Scholarship Banquet, families, educators, community leaders, and partners came together to honor the excellence and resilience of our youth. It was an evening filled with celebration, culture, and purpose. We proudly recognized  three outstanding scholarship recipients :

• Sophie Zhang (McLean HS) , recipient of the Tae Family Scholarship, who will be studying Business with a focus on Finance and Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
• An Duong (Woodson HS) , recipient of the Asian Leadership Alliance Scholarship, who will be studying Business IT at Virginia Commonwealth University.
• Kimberly Hoang (Lewis HS) , recipient of the Asian Leadership Alliance Scholarship, who will be studying Business at Virginia Tech.

“As we celebrated our scholars, we also reflected on the importance of advocacy in today’s political climate. The push for equity, visibility, and representation is more critical than ever. We hope that our scholars will continue to be strong leaders within our Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi American (APIDA) community and create changes through their voices, ideas, and stories. Thank you to everyone in attendance at our banquet, and a big thank you to the AEA Community and Core team, who continue to affirm our APIDA students, families, and communities.”

You can learn more about the event in the  2025 slideshow . Thank you, Tori, for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful event and congratulations to Sophie, An, and Kimberly!

Saturday morning, I visited Rachel Carson Middle School for its 4th Annual Charity Chess Event. This event was organized by Ameya Haldankar, a sophomore at Langley High School. This year the proceeds will go to SPARC, a charity which supports people with disabilities. In previous years, the proceeds of this student-run event supported children who were recovering in the hospital, as well as children recovering from the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. I will say that my chess game was a great way to start the weekend. I appreciate Owen Levine giving me pointers and significant grace ;>) as we “competed.”

Most of Saturday was dedicated to the School Board retreat where we discussed a number of pressing topics as we continue with our mission driven work to support excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every student in our amazing school division. 

Later Saturday afternoon, I went back to Carson Middle School for a Guru Vandana program organized by the Hindu Education Foundation. The event is a way of expressing gratitude to educators for their invaluable role in shaping future generations. In Hindu tradition, Guru Vandana (meaning "salutations to the teacher") honors the deep respect and reverence for teachers. There were also performances by students.  As I mentioned in my remarks, it is so important for us to remember the many traditions that have brought each of us to the experiences we have today.  Gratefulness remains such an important cornerstone of our path forward. 

Sunday morning, I visited the First Baptist Church of Vienna and Rev. Dr. Vernon C. Walton to celebrate his 11 years as pastor at the church. We know our work requires our community partners and we are stronger when we are connected. Learning happens best in community, and our community continues to be amazing. 

Later Sunday morning, I attended the Celebration of Life for former School Board Member Janie Strauss which was held at McLean High School. Janie served as the School Board Representative for the Dranesville District (McLean, Great Falls and Herndon areas) for nearly 30 years. In addition to serving on the School Board, Janie was the chair of the  Cappies , a national initiative supporting student theater and journalism, which she founded along with her late husband, Bill Strauss. Her legacy has made a lasting positive impression on many students and our community. 

Sunday afternoon,  I joined School Board member Ryan McElveen in attending the closing ceremony for the Global Leaders of Fairfax County program at Oakton High School. It continues to be such a gift to connect with our students and their hopes and dreams for a better future. 

The program provides “fellows” with opportunities during their senior year of high school to take part in a project to address one of the  United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within the Fairfax County community, engage with national and global leaders, and participate in field trips to enhance their understanding of international affairs and global issues, including the Chinese Embassy, the World Bank, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Hillwood Estate, and the Lincoln Assassination Tour. Several groups presented their work at a Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education public event last month. In speaking to the graduating fellows about global leadership during challenging times, I shared that thoughtful leadership has never been more important — go Class of 2025!

For this week’s  Advancing Literacy segment, I’d like to recognize Timber Lane Elementary School’s “exceptional” multilingual learner (ESOL) team (Clara Villalobos Cortes, Catherine Muha, Scott Taggart, Tricia Tyskowski, and Elizabeth Smith, pictured above). They were recently nominated for FCPS CARES of the Month by Benjamin Chiet, principal at Timber Lane, for going above and beyond to implement Benchmark while supporting our multilingual learners and teachers. 

Benjamin’s nomination reads, in part: “This dedicated group of educators has demonstrated outstanding collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to supporting both our students and general education teachers in remarkable ways. Under the guidance of our Director of ESOL for FCPS, the team has been recognized for their exemplary work in implementing the new Benchmark Express curriculum. Their ability to adapt and integrate this curriculum into their teaching has not only enhanced the learning experience for our English language learners but has also been a shining example of best practices for Region 2. Recently, each member of the team was recorded as they taught Benchmark Express, with these videos now being used for region-wide professional development. This recognition is a testament to the outstanding quality of their teaching and their willingness to share their expertise with educators across the region. Their dedication to the craft and to their students' success is truly inspiring. Their work is not only transforming the lives of our students but also setting a high standard for professional collaboration and instructional leadership.”

You can  read the nomination in full here . Thank you to Timber Lane’s multilingual (ESOL) team for their inspiring work and thank you to Benjamin for recognizing and celebrating it! Go Team FCPS!!

We know learning happens best in community and the energy present across this community is definitely a testament to the strength of embracing our diversity.  “When you learn something from people, or from a culture, you accept it as a gift, and it is your lifelong commitment to preserve it and build on it.” ― Yo-Yo Ma.

I wish each of you a joyful spring week ahead,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.