Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS!

Wow, what another amazing summer week here in this great school division.  I enjoyed spending time at the kick off meetings for a wide variety of staff this past week.  We have so many hard working professionals in this school division who form the pillars of support that enable success in the classroom for our students, each and every one of them. Such great energy and excitement!

As we think about going back to school, I want to take a moment and recognize that it is a transition we need to thoughtfully support. "Going back to school is a transition for everyone," says Lynn Bufka, a practicing psychologist who also works at the American Psychological Association, "No matter the age of the child, or if they've been to school before." In thinking about how to have the best start of school ever, I want to share  tips for back to school compiled by experts from around the country.   I trust everyone is getting to bed a bit earlier and enjoying the new routines being built for the coming year. I can’t wait to see you as I am out and about in schools and the community in the coming weeks and months. 

This school year, we will be piloting a new tablet-based system on our school buses that will significantly enhance safety and efficiency. I recently  had the opportunity to speak with Bus Driver Supervisor Lei Shi , who demonstrated how the new technology supports our drivers with turn-by-turn navigation, real-time route adjustments in case of detours, and accurate tracking of student riders. I had the opportunity to visit with staff and better understand our new technology, so exciting!!

The system includes Radio Frequency ID (RFID) card scanning which allows drivers to verify student identities, track when and where students get on and off the bus, and confirm that students are on the correct route. This information is transmitted in real time, enabling our dispatchers to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. Eventually, families will also be able to monitor their child’s location through the Here Comes the Bus app. I’m proud of this innovative step forward and deeply grateful to our dedicated drivers, routers, mechanics, and transportation staff who play such a critical role in the daily lives of our students. Your commitment to Team FCPS makes us stronger, safer, and more connected!  Together, all things are possible…

On Monday morning I had the pleasure of visiting McNair Upper Elementary School's summer Bookmobile at its first stop in the Woodland Park neighborhood. I was met by an excited group of students who shared their book choices with me as well as showed off the popsicles and prizes they earned by reading and returning their books each week. This initiative was brainstormed as a creative way to support students’ literacy in the summer months, particularly for students who live outside of walking distance to the public library or may have limited access to acquiring new reading material during breaks. Book talks and authentic literacy conversations fueled excitement around reading in their community all summer long! Visiting and chatting with students, staff, and families reminded me how much I enjoy a good summer read!!

Mallory Janofsky, advanced academics resource teacher and the driving force behind this project, shared that through partnerships with the Herndon-Reston Rotary Club, the RoSigle Foundation, and via donations from small business and community members, nearly 1,000 diverse books stocked the mobile library! Melissa Goddin, principal and weekly Bookmobile volunteer, introduced me to the dedicated staff and former students volunteering to support the project that day. The Bookmobile stands out as a powerful example of the opportunities we can provide for students when schools, community organizations, and families come together around common goals like literacy and equitable access to high interest books. I look forward to seeing this project grow each summer! I know McNair Upper's students will remember the Bookmobile and seeing their teachers visit them in their own neighborhoods for many years. Go Mustangs! This work matters!!

Later on Monday, I attended the Fairfax Association of Elementary School Principals luncheon in Tysons Corner. I continue to be so inspired by our principals and their leadership, it matters. We have so many opportunities to make the power and promise of public education come to life for each and every student. 

On Tuesday, I stopped by the annual  FCPS Work-Based Learning (WBL) Conference , hosted at the St. James athletic complex. This full-day event brought together over 100 high school-based staff who play a vital role in guiding students through meaningful, career-connected learning experiences aligned with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Led by Matthew Bechtel, FCPS work-based learning (WBL) specialist, and the Office of Career and Technical Education, the conference focused on expanding student access to high-quality WBL opportunities and strengthening partnerships with industry and community leaders. These efforts directly support Goal 5 of the FCPS  2023-30 Strategic Plan : Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation — providing all students with the skills to navigate, adapt, and innovate for a sustainable future so that they graduate ready to thrive in life after high school.

A highlight of the morning was the WBL Student Panel, where current students and alumni shared how FCPS’ internships and apprenticeships — such as Trades for Tomorrow and the Summer Internship Program — helped them build confidence, gain critical skills, and clarify their postsecondary goals. Their stories reinforced the importance of providing equitable, real-world learning opportunities that connect education to purpose and future success. Thank you to the many members of Team FCPS who support this work! 

On Tuesday night, we held a meeting of the  Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee .  Key takeaways from the meeting are available on our website. You can also see  materials that were shared with the committee . We reviewed the analysis that has been done to date on FCPS programming and identified key themes. Members then broke into their subgroups to review and discuss the key priorities they have been working to identify, and then each subgroup presented their top three priorities to the full advisory committee and identified common themes. The next Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee meeting will be held in early September. 

Wednesday morning, I had the pleasure of attending the Great Beginnings Summer Institute (GBSI) at Hayfield Secondary School and helping welcome the newest members of Team FCPS. GBSI is a four-day professional development, orientation-style opportunity that includes two days in a grade-level specific cohort, a division kickoff event, and school-based orientation.

Now in its 31st year, GBSI has grown from 50 participants in its first year to more than 900 new, returning, and transferring teachers. Wow! The 50 cohorts led by 86 coaches had a week filled with professional development, resource sharing, networking, and so much more. Thank you to all the new teachers who attended last week — we are so happy to have you join us! Thank you as well to all the offices, departments, vendors, and employees that helped make GBSI possible. We are the leaders that other divisions across the nation look to for inspiration. Let’s make sure we give our newest members of Team FCPS a warm, inviting welcome this coming school year!! 

Later on Wednesday morning, I had the opportunity to join school social workers at Robinson Secondary School for part of their training on human trafficking during their school year kickoff. The experiences shared were a powerful reminder of the complex and challenging work our school social workers undertake every day and how vital they are in ensuring the safety and well-being of our school community. While academic success in reading and math is essential, it is equally — if not more — important that our students are safe and well. I deeply appreciate the profound impact they have on our students' lives, often in ways that go unnoticed, and I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to our most vulnerable students. Well done!!

On Wednesday evening, I was honored to speak at the Educational Townhall at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall to discuss how FCPS supports our military-connected families. As you may know, we have approximately 13,500 military-connected students, 96 of our schools have been recognized as  Purple Star Schools , and FCPS is working hard to have all of our schools earn that designation so that we can become a  Purple Star Division by September 2026! As the daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, I know the many sacrifices military families make, such as frequent relocations, so we have many supports in place to make the transition to FCPS as easy as possible. This work is part of the Strategic Plan’s Goal 2:  Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered — every student will experience an equitable school community where student health and well-being are prioritized, and student voice is centered. Together, all things are possible!! 

I look forward to welcoming our military connected youth and families at our 1 ^st Annual Back to School BBQ.  We will be gathering on Wednesday, August 13, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at MVHS.  The event was inspired by our military connected youth council to the superintendent.  So many of our students have been a part of the global military community and want to make sure they stay connected as our new year starts.  I look forward to connecting with our students and families!!

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of visiting Hybla Valley Elementary School, one of six open feeding sites across our division hosting our Food and Nutrition Services’ (FNS) Summer Food Service Program. Witnessing this program firsthand, I was struck by the energy and purpose of the moment — students arriving with bright smiles and staff serving meals with kindness and efficiency!  So inspiring!!  Thank you to one and all for supporting the power and promise of public education!!

The Summer Food Service Program runs from the Monday after school lets out until the Friday before it begins again at six sites spread throughout the division, providing essential nutrition and a safe gathering space for students during the summer months. This work reinforces the vital role FNS plays in sustaining our children’s well-being and sense of community, and builds upon the Strategic Plan’s Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships .

When we ensure access to nourishing meals, we also nurture our students’ readiness to learn, thrive, and engage — no matter the season! I’m deeply grateful to our FNS team and the dedicated staff at Hybla Valley for making this program possible. Truly, this work matters!!

As you’ve heard me mention a few times this summer, FCPS has had an  inaugural class of 21  summer interns . This trailblazing group includes current students and recent graduates, who embody what our students can and will achieve long after they’ve graduated from FCPS. Thursday marked their last day, and we held a closing event for them at the Gatehouse Administration Center to celebrate their accomplishments. We are so proud of their growth over the past six weeks and grateful they had the opportunity to contribute to mission-driven work that showcased the power and promise of public education! 

All of the interns participated in the Great Beginnings Summer Institute that I previously mentioned, and many supported Educate Fairfax by preparing food packs for students in need. Others helped manage multimillion dollar procurement contracts, interviewed parents and students about preferred summer programs, created content for the  summer intern and  FCPS Instagram pages , as well as many other projects. They represent the future of our schools, our communities, and our workforce. I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished, and I can’t wait to see what they do next!

On Friday morning, I attended the school year kickoff for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) at Luther Jackson Middle School. Did you know that last year FNS served more than 5.5 million breakfasts and over 13.5 million lunches to our students? Wow!  I continue to be so proud of our staff and the special dedication, this work matters!!

Later Friday morning, I went to the school psychologist kickoff at Robinson Secondary, where they welcomed 21 new school psychologists and five psychology interns. Across the department kickoffs I attended this week, I was so energized by the excitement of Team FCPS. Everyone is ready for a strong start to the school year!

Saturday morning, I started this beautiful weekend by attending the football scrimmage at Westfield HS.  The student athletes and coaches had a great scrimmage and the many referees attending also worked on getting back into the swing of fall athletics.  It was great to have a few minutes to chat with all the concession stand volunteers who spend so much time cleaning and preparing for the upcoming season.  Learning happens best in community and it is clear that over and over, our community shows up.  Go Bulldogs!!

Later Saturday afternoon, I attended the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta. It was a well-attended and spirited event featuring a number of critical thinkers who planned for watercraft success.  The weather was great and the energy was at a fever pitch. While I do not think any speed records were broken ;>), the goodwill was ever present.  Learning happens best in community and the community certainly turned out to support the event!! 

As we celebrate the almost 90 year anniversary of the Boys in the Boat win in the 1936 Olympic Games, I thought this quote was timely…  “It is hard to make that boat go as fast as you want to. The enemy, of course, is resistance of the water, as you have to displace the amount of water equal to the weight of men and equipment, but that very water is what supports you and that very enemy is your friend. So is life: the very problems you must overcome also support you and make you stronger in overcoming them." — George Yeoman Pocock.

Wishing you and yours a joyful summer week ahead,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D. Superintendent