Superintendent's Weekly Reflections
Hello Team FCPS,
What a great spring break week!! I trust many of you enjoyed some time away and hopefully even shared some quality outside time with friends and family. Because it is spring break, I am limiting my 'reflections' today in the hope that we can all enjoy the amazing opportunities spring break has provided. Sometimes, less is more ;>)
I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks as we continue our support of students and their journey over the last several months of the school year. It is truly amazing to pause and reflect on all of the opportunities we have walked through these past years and those yet to come; the result of careful planning and thoughtful preparation. In many ways, spring is a season that reminds us how wonderful change can be. Together, all things are possible...
I would like to share a heartwarming story that was recently sent to me by Chantilly High School Principal Amy Goodloe about one of her students, Om Desai. Om recently provided assistance to Elizabeth Mulenga, a community member.
I’ll be sharing more details in a future edition of Weekly Reflections , but for now, Om selflessly stepped in to help when Elizabeth’s car broke down near the school. Thanks to the skills he learned at Chantilly’s Auto Technology program, Om was able to correctly diagnose the problem and then resolve it on the spot by purchasing and replacing the faulty part. Elizabeth says that over the course of three hours, Om not only fixed her car, but also unknowingly uplifted her during a personally difficult time.
Elizabeth says that given Om’s mechanical knowledge, she was “shocked after learning that he was only a high school kid.” She hadn’t known about Chantilly’s Auto Tech program before running into car trouble. She wrote to the principal, “I am so proud of how your program is transforming and equipping your students to not only enhance their skills, but also positively impacting lives beyond the classroom. I am very grateful for the program and will certainly support it as much as I am able to.” Thank you to Amy and Elizabeth for sharing this inspirational message and way to go, Om! Go Chargers!!
This story of how Om's compassion, combined with the technical skills he learned in his Career and Technical Education classes, led him to help a community member in need, isn’t just uplifting. It’s also a reminder of why excellence in public education matters, not just for our students but for our entire community.
Our excellence — the opportunities we provide for strong academics, enrichment programs, and extracurriculars — is at a crossroads because of ongoing underfunding and budget cuts. This Tuesday, the Fairfax County School Board will be presenting our Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors will finalize the county’s budget on May 6, and the current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million.
You may provide feedback on the county's FY 2026 Advertised Budget by April 24 by taking the Fairfax County Budget Survey or signing up to speak at a Budget Public Hearing . Be sure to also visit our Excellence at a Crossroads webpage for more information and to access our new toolkit. The toolkit includes key messages, sample social media posts, and graphics to help the FCPS community share their thoughts about the county budget.
I’d also like to say thank you to Haiyun Ratliff, mother of Kellie, for sharing this good news with me. She writes, “I want to share with you this exciting news – my daughter Kellie Ratliff, a senior at Lake Braddock Secondary School, participated in the Calculus Olympiad 2025 hosted by George Mason University on April 5, and won the 1st Place Team Competition!” Way to go, Kellie!
Haiyun credits part of her daughter’s success to FCPS, writing that, “My daughter and I also want to thank Mr. Joseph Ruchlewicz who taught her pre-calculus class last year; his class was fun, engaging, and helped her to build a good foundation for calculus. And Ms. Yoosun Han, her current calculus teacher who gave us the information about Olympiad 2025 at GMU and encouraged Kellie to participate. They both are wonderful teachers and my daughter enjoys their classes very much!” Go Bruins and go Team FCPS!!
This week, the Office of Safety and Security, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Police Department - Motor Carrier Safety Unit, successfully completed an awareness training/refresher for FCPS drivers that operate our truck fleet. The event focused on the following topics:
- Pre-trip safety inspection for trucks (a requirement for commercial driver’s license holders).
- Following road safety measures (i.e. seatbelts, speed limits, etc.).
- Anti-distracted driving.
Our drivers have unique skills that allow them to operate large vehicles in congested roadways, park in tight areas at our buildings, and face hazardous weather while ensuring our schools have food, bathroom, and office supplies, and our parking lots and playgrounds are maintained.
“The Office of Safety and Security is grateful for our partnership with the Fairfax County Police Department to keep the safety of our driving fleet a priority during spring break,” said Brian Lambert, FCPS Chief Safety and Security Officer.
In total, 65 staff members from Food and Nutrition Services, the Office of Facilities Management - Grounds Section, and the Forte Center Warehouse participated in this event. Thank you to everyone who works to keep our schools and offices running smoothly and safely! Together all things are possible!!
Early this past week, I stopped by Pine Spring Elementary School to visit the first day of the
Spring Sprouts attendance initiative
and Pine Spring’s Blooming Readers program. The Spring Sprouts program at Pine Spring and other Title I elementary schools addresses chronic absenteeism by giving students the chance to recover missed days of learning. I continue to be so inspired by all the educators who give so much of themselves to support our students' learning; it matters.
It’s also designed to foster deeper connections between students, families, and schools while enabling students to recapture some of the learning that occurred while they were out of school. A similar program, Spring Forward, is in place at some middle schools seeking to provide a boost for students at risk of chronic absenteeism or looking to bolster their skills ahead of state Standards of Learning (SOL) exams.
The Blooming Readers program gives students in third grade or higher some extra support in literacy. This year, 31 schools offered students time to catch up on academics during spring break. The Spring Sprouts, Spring Forward, and Blooming Readers programs demonstrate the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 1: Strong Start , in which every student will develop foundational academic skills, curiosity, and a joy for learning necessary for success. This work matters!! While I was at Pine Spring, I spent time listening to our young readers, visiting classrooms, and witnessing firsthand the joy and growth happening in our halls. Go Bobcats!!
In other student news, congratulations to Rida Karim, a senior at Woodson High School and the 2023-24 student representative to the School Board! Rida was named a 2025 National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award winner, which recognizes the top 1% of high school women in technology across the country. The award honors students in grades 9-12 who are active and interested in computing and technology, and encourages them to pursue their passions. AiC recipients are chosen for their demonstrated interest and achievements in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post‑secondary education. Way to go, Rida!
Switching gears, I’d like to share this email I received from Bill Fulton, director of the Office of Employee Relations. He writes, “At FCPS, we often speak about the strength of our team, our shared values, and the unwavering commitment we each bring to our mission of supporting student safety and success. What makes this commitment even more meaningful is that it often extends beyond the walls of our schools and offices — and into our homes. I'd like to introduce you to one very proud and furry member of the FCPS extended employee family: Ozzie Fulton. Ozzie may not carry an ID badge or attend staff meetings, but he understands the importance of the work we do. Every morning, without fail, he checks in with a wag of encouragement as I leave for work, and every evening, he’s waiting by the door — ready to debrief, remind me to take a breath, and make sure the mission was accomplished.”
“He represents something we all feel deeply: pride in being part of this incredible organization and joy in contributing — no matter how big or small — to a team that puts students first. The connection we have with our pets speaks to the warmth, care, and empathy that drives our work across the division. It’s these small, often unseen moments that remind us just how far the impact of FCPS truly reaches. From the classroom … and even to the living room.” Bill ended his email “with gratitude and a tail wag from Ozzie.” Thanks fur sharing Bill! It sounds like Ozzie is really the ulti-mutt team player. ;>) I look forward to highlighting different pets of the week as we continue our journey together, our fur family matters.
As we approach Earth Day on Tuesday of this week, it’s a great time to share how environmental efforts, and students, are blooming across FCPS. At the Pulley Career Center , students are gaining invaluable hands-on experience through a dynamic work-based learning program in the school’s commercial-grade greenhouse. Guided by a passionate new Get2Green leader, Heather Finch, and supported by Principal Peter Kelly, students engage in meaningful, skill-building tasks that blend job training with environmental stewardship. Each day from 9-10 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m., seven students work in the greenhouse, building essential horticultural skills, practicing responsibility, and developing teamwork, all while preparing for future careers in green industries.
In addition to their daily work in the greenhouse, the students extend their learning through real-world experiences at the Franconia Rec Center and the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, applying their skills in supportive, professional environments. This connection between classroom learning and hands-on practice highlights the power of work-based training in fostering independence and career readiness. Through this program, they’re not just growing plants — they’re cultivating job skills and leading Get2Green environmental action. Their efforts help provide vegetable and pollinator plants to the broader community, supporting both personal growth and a shared commitment to sustainability. This work is part of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation ; 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.
For this week’s Advancing Literacy segment, we are revisiting the wonderful work happening at Franklin Sherman Elementary School. As I wrote in an earlier edition of Weekly Reflections , Franklin Sherman Principal Farris Thomas recently shared with me more about her school’s literacy initiatives, including their “vibrant and successful Literacy Night (pictured above), which fostered a joyful learning environment for both students and the community. The event featured engaging activities designed to ignite a passion for reading, alongside an informative parent session elucidating the evolving landscape of literacy practices and providing practical strategies for home reinforcement.”
Farris says that Franklin Sherman’s educators are dedicated to continuous improvement in their instructional practices, with a schoolwide focus on collaboration, data-driven feedback, and shared expertise. This includes upcoming “Pineapple” teacher visits, which Farris says will “provide a unique opportunity for peer observation and collaborative learning, further enriching our collective instructional repertoire.” Thank you for sharing, Farris! Go Team FCPS and go Pandas!!
As we work toward a strong finish to the school year, I’m excited to see how Team FCPS is bringing the final units of Benchmark Advance to life for our students! Be sure to email me with any photos or videos that I can highlight in an upcoming segment of Advancing Literacy.
It is so great to be back to school this week !! So many exciting and inspiring events going on all across this amazing school division. As we continue through this glorious spring, I love the quote; "Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." -- E.B. White. After visiting schools recently, I continue to see wonder aplenty. So exciting!!
Take good care,
Michelle Reid, Ed.D.
