Mr. Tenenbaum Recognized as Region 6 FCPS CARES of the Month Recipient!
Winter 2025-26 FCPS Region 6 Recipient
Congratulations to Mr. Aaron Tenenbaumon his recognition as the Winter 2025-26 FCPS CARES Region 6 Recipient of the Month, presented by the FCPS Department of Human Resources. Mr. Tenenbaum was recognized by a Springfield Estates parent who shared how his reflective practice, deep listening, and genuine care for students make him an extraordinary educator.
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story below, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
Below is the submitted write-up by the parent of a Springfield Estates student.
Mr. Tenenbaum, or as my son knows him, “Mr. T” is an extraordinary special education teacher. I am parent to a nine year old twice exceptional student at Springfield Estates. I have also been an FCPS teacher for 24 years and have taught in cotaught classrooms as well as advanced level high school classrooms. I understand in a unique way the demands of the special education teacher and its challenges, but also can recognize unique skill when I encounter it.It’s hard to put into words what exactly Mr. T does that makes him exceptional because as an educator, I’m always reflecting what attributes and behaviors and practices make an outstanding teacher. And I think ultimately, it comes down to who he is as a person. Mr. T is one of the most deeply reflective practitioners I have ever encountered. Every time I have a conversation “debrief” with Mr. T about my child on the phone about this week or the next, I am awestruck at how deeply he listens and ponders the information. Each new piece of information that I communicate as a parent rests upon a few fundamental beliefs that he shows: The parent is the expert of the child and this point of view, even if different from his own, is always deeply respected The teacher is in a mutually respected relationship with the parent and both individuals work for the good of the student. I don’t know ultimately how you teach this or pass this belief system onto new Special Education teacher. I think it rests upon who he is fundamentally. What sets him apart from other special education teachers is not necessarily his craft and understanding of how to maneuver students with autism (although his understanding is exceptional), but it is his genuine love and concern for his students. Parents feel safe in entrusting their students to his care because his concern and attention shows the same regard for who their child is: their strengths, their struggles, their humanity. In a society that commonly dismisses students with autism as either a nuisance or a bother, Mr. T reminds us that some people are in our corner. And we are less tired, less desperate, and less cynical as a result. Teachers like Mr. T remind us parents of neurospicy kiddos that we do not have to shoulder this alone and that they are with us as we navigate this daunting task."
