Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS!

Wow, what another great spring week we have had!!  Well, it is hard to believe it is already the last week of April!! May is upon us at the end of the week and the wonder of an evolving spring.  It definitely feels like spring with the energy and enthusiasm that being outdoors brings.  

I’m happy to share that Fairfax County Public Schools has been honored by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation as one of the Best Communities for Music Education! Now in its 27th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation recognizes districts that show exceptional dedication to providing access to music education to all students. Districts are evaluated on factors such as funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instructional time, facilities, and community support. FCPS has received this designation 13 times and is among 1,008 school districts acknowledged in 2026. For context, there are approximately 13,000 school districts in the United States. Music Specialist Katrina Chaney says “From our elementary beginners engaging in music creation for the first time to our ensembles performing on world-class stages, this award belongs to the dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and talented students who make FCPS a national leader in music education. Together, we are ensuring that every child can find their voice with equitable access to a high-quality, well-rounded music education.” More information on this designation can be found on our website . Go Team FCPS!!

Also, nine Fairfax County Public Schools students have been awarded 2026 corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation! The students are part of a group of more than 700 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. The complete list of winners is available online . 

Recently, 57 students from FCPS participated in the Virginia Science and Engineering Fair in Charlottesville. Two FCPS student projects received the Grand Prize! They were:

• Daniil Prokofev from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology for the project, “From SMILES to Synergy: Overcoming Drug Resistance in ER+ Breast Cancer.”
• Harshpreet Singh from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology for the project, “Real-Time Magnetic Field Modeling using Physics Infused Neural Operators.”

These projects qualified for participation in the International Science and Engineering Festival to be held in Phoenix, Ariz., May 10-15. Congratulations to Daniil and Harshpreet! A list of first through third place winners and honorable mentions in each category can be found on our website . Go Colonials!!

I’d like to recognize Kristen Salonga, an environmental science for multilingual learners teacher at Justice High School, who has been selected as a 2026 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs! As part of the fellowship, she will be traveling to Senegal for two weeks this spring, where she will be paired with different local teachers in Dakar and Saint-Louis to learn about the Senegalese education system and present lessons to students. The program equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration.  

I also learned recently that Lewis High School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students were invited to attend the grand opening of the Shockoe Institute in Richmond, where they toured the main exhibit, Enduring Freedom. According to AVID Teacher Skyler Verloop, “This experience gave students the opportunity to engage directly with history in a meaningful and powerful way. They also participated in panel discussions and community conversations that deepened their understanding of the site’s historical significance.. “Being present for this historic opening, and meeting leaders such as Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer McClellan, Ghazala Hashmi, and Tim Kaine helped bring classroom learning to life and reinforced the importance of understanding our shared past. This was truly an experience that my students and I will never forget.” Thanks for sharing, Skyler! Go Lancers!!

On Monday morning, it was a true pleasure to visit Fairfax Villa Elementary School to honor Lisa Choi as our Winter FCPS CARES of the Quarter recipient! Lisa represents the very best of FCPS, pairing instructional excellence with a deep commitment to her students, families, and colleagues. Her impact is evident through her innovative literacy work and steadfast support of others. Through her success in securing Educate Fairfax grants for two consecutive years, Lisa has expanded access to reading beyond the classroom. This year, she is creating literacy bags designed to strengthen the home-school connection and ensure students have high-quality books to enjoy at home. Lisa truly exemplifies leading with both high expectations and a caring heart. I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize her outstanding contributions to our school community. Congratulations, Lisa!

This past week, I held two Community Conversations. The first meeting took place Monday evening at Westgate Elementary School, where topics included reducing screen time in schools, traffic safety, the budget, and possible adjustments to the school calendar. The second meeting was held Wednesday at Crestwood Elementary School, where we had a thoughtful discussion about equity and program access at Lewis High School and its feeder schools, budget pressures and potential cuts, and early release Wednesdays. I always appreciate the willingness of parents, staff members, and the broader community to engage, share perspectives, and partner with us in support of our students and schools. Learning happens best in community!!

Tuesday evening, I attended the EduTutorVA Gala at the Army Navy Country Club. This year’s keynote speaker was Virginia’s Senator Tim Kaine, who spoke about the importance of connections, community enterprise, and education. This event supports one of our community partners in bringing our 2023-30 Strategic Plan to life. We celebrated the current tutors and those who founded the program and support our continued work with students. Together, anything is possible! 

Wednesday morning, I visited Gunston Elementary School for an Award of Excellence ceremony for kindergartners and second graders. I always enjoy being in our schools, but there was something especially exciting about the energy at Gunston! The Award of Excellence is important because it is about more than just grades. It recognizes students who show strong life and citizenship skills. I was impressed to hear how students are setting their own goals and thinking about how to reach them. This is the Portrait of a Graduate in action, students who are learning to be responsible, resilient, and focused on improving. These young students are truly spreading their wings ;>) as they lead by example, showing others what it means to work hard and be a good citizen as part of the “Eagle way!” It was an honor to celebrate their success and see the great work happening at Gunston. Go Eagles!!

On Wednesday afternoon, I met with the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions at Gatehouse Administration Center. Learning happens best in community, and we continue to be grateful for all the support our community partners provide in so many ways.

Accessible version of this slide . 

During the Academic Mattersportion of last week’s School Board meeting, I had the opportunity to highlight our ongoing work on Algebra 1 , an essential milestone in our 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence.

Our goal is to ensure all students successfully complete Algebra 1 by the end of eighth grade, setting a strong foundation for advanced mathematics, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pathways, and future success. This work is about more than a single course, it’s about building confidence, problem-solving skills, and long-term opportunity for every student.

To support this effort, we have expanded our Middle School Algebra Access Network Improvement Community (AANIC), which now includes schools across all regions. Through this network, schools are strengthening instructional practices, building targeted supports, and increasing access to rigorous coursework. The graphic above shows that we have had an 18% increase in enrollment since the 2024-25 school year, and a 10.1% increase just since last year! We also know that early access must be paired with strong preparation. That’s why we are continuing to expand opportunities and support, such as summer learning experiences and strengthened core instruction, to ensure students are ready to thrive when they take Algebra 1. This work matters!!

As part of the presentation, I shared a video that shows how Rolling Valley Elementary School teachers help students learn to solve math problems by thinking about the "why" instead of just finding the answer. By practicing this way from an early age, students develop the grit and skills they need to be successful when they reach Algebra 1 by 8th grade.

And in Superintendent Matters , I recognized Volunteer Appreciation Week by thanking the many individuals who give their time and talents to support Fairfax County Public Schools, including our PTA members and volunteers in athletics, arts, and activities. I also highlighted student achievements in music, with 217 high school students selected for the 2026 Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra event and 56 middle school students chosen for the All-Virginia Middle School Chorus. I want to especially recognize our elementary music staff for an outstanding sixth grade Choral Festival, one of the best I’ve attended! I also highlighted my visits to several schools and several student theater productions across the county that I was able to attend, all of which were incredibly well done. I also discussed my participation in community events like the Taste of FCPS and throwing out the first pitch at Great Falls Little League’s opening day. It’s been great to see so many students and families engaged, and I’m looking forward to a continuation of this wonderful spring season!

On Friday evening, I supported a meeting at Edison High School to discuss potential boundary changes for Bren Mar Park Elementary students. It continues to be important to craft the future boundaries thoughtfully. You can get information about this boundary study on our website . 

After the boundary meeting, I made the short drive to South County High School to see their production of Cinderella . What a fantastic production with so many talented students participating in a wide variety of roles. I appreciated having the opportunity to be a part of the excited audience enjoying the show. Go Stallions!!. 

I started my day Saturday at Lake Braddock Secondary School for a Science Olympiad Competition and STEM Expo. The students in the photo above had just completed the egg drop experience, which generated a lot of egg-citement! It remains heartwarming to be a part of the discovery that each of our young people experience, this work matters. 

Next, I went to Hollin Meadows Elementary School for a ribbon cutting for its new bottle cap mural and an Earth Day Celebration. It continues to amaze me what can be created with recycled materials. The environmental lessons learned young will be lasting and serve our community well. Go Hornets!!

In case you missed it – earlier this week, in the Earth Day episode of “ Our Voices, Our Future ,” I met with student advocates from Falls Church and McLean high schools to discuss their journeys into environmental science and solar advocacy. From the Maldives to Fairfax County, these young leaders are using their voices to drive real change, presenting to the School Board and local PTSAs to champion a sustainable future. In FCPS, we don't just prepare students for the future—we empower them to lead today.

Later on Saturday, I drove to Vienna for a celebration of our 2026 National Math and Science Competition award recipients, which was hosted by the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Associations (KSEA), Washington Metro Chapter. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education is more important now than ever. The world is always changing, especially with new technology like artificial intelligence. Fields like biotechnology, renewable energy, and space exploration are changing how we live and work. Learning math and science opens the door to many job opportunities, even jobs that don’t exist yet! The students will lead us!!

And my last stop was to see a performance of Moana Jr. at Katherine Johnson Middle School. I was amazed by how the stage crew team was able to recreate the ocean on a wooden stage. The Hawaiian Islands certainly make for a great background for an entertaining story. Go Eagles!!

Finally, this week, I want to share a tremendous thank you to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue as well as FCPS staff from our facilities and custodial teams, safety and security, region leadership, and Bren Mar Park Principal Elizabeth Williams. Many people saw the fire and the thick black smoke coming off the roof of the new addition to Bren Mark last Sunday. It was an incredible effort, but thanks to the hard work of all the first responders and the FCPS team, students and staff were able to return to school Monday morning. We are so blessed to live in Fairfax County and to have these dedicated staff and resources in place to support us!

We know learning happens best in community, and the excitement present this spring season is a testament to the opportunity of embracing our strengths as an energetic and diverse community. “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,

Take good care,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools