Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS!

Well, we are reveling in the last day of summer and this week starts our fall season. I must say it is a moment when I finally turn the heat on in the car for the morning commute ;>) There are so many celebrations as we mark the changing of the season.  As we are beginning our sixth week of the school year, I want to remind you that the work you're each doing to provide a world class education for each and every one of our students continues to be so important. I appreciate each and every one of you, your work, and as important how you are going about doing the work even when at times it doesn’t feel as though anyone notices.  Our epic start of school has been executed smoothly and we are working collaboratively to problem solve challenges that continue to give us pause. We are practicing patience with one another and enjoying the remarkable traditions this great school division treasures as we learn into the future together.  Loving how we continue to re-imagine the possibilities…

Recently, I visited Glasgow Middle School to talk with students and staff about an important new initiative — enhancing safety and security through weapons detection systems. I had the opportunity to hear directly from students like Owen, DeAnnie, Jared, Alex, Willow, and Isla, who spoke candidly about why feeling safe matters so deeply to their learning. Their reflections were powerful: when students feel secure, they can focus on education rather than fear.  

Principal Lisa Barrow emphasized that the greatest outcome is peace of mind — students walking into school ready to learn. Brian Lambert, our chief of Safety and Security, also shared how these systems not only strengthen safety but also create new moments of connection, as staff greet every student each morning. In Fairfax County Public Schools, learning happens best in community, and I’m grateful for the collective commitment to ensuring our schools remain safe, caring, and inclusive places for all. You can see more of our conversation in this video . 

We are also celebrating being the first school division in Virginia to work with the Virginia State Police to implement Rap Back, a continuous background check system that provides real-time alerts on criminal activity for employees, independent contractors, and level 3 volunteers. WTOP , WJLA and Northern Virginia Magazine reported on this significant achievement last week. With more than 32,000 already enrolled from FCPS, and increasing daily until all are enrolled by the end of October, this shifts us from a reactive process to a proactive safeguard for our students and staff. FCPS is paving the way to keep 1.3 million students across the Commonwealth safe. This is transformative and important work. Thank you for your efforts to support this project. 

In early September, we announced the acquisition of our  new high school in the western part of the county . As we begin to shape its identity, the first step is the naming process. This will be a community-focused process governed by  Policy and  Regulation 8170. Your perspective as staff is invaluable, and I invite you to participate!

The School Board will hold a work session on Tuesday, October 7, to discuss the new high school’s programming and possible boundary status. On Thursday, October 9, the new high school will be covered as New Business during a board meeting, and the one-month comment period will begin. Details on how you can submit potential names for the new high school at a public hearing, community meeting, and via a survey will be available soon. Stay tuned!

On Monday morning, I attended the Region IV Superintendents’ Retreat at National Harbor. It is always a great time for partnering as we plan and work forward together. Our regional colleagues remain strong partners in supporting the power and promise of public education. 

Monday evening was the first  Community Conversation of the 2025-26 school year at Woodlawn Elementary School. These events are opportunities for families and community members to share their thoughts and ask questions. We had a thoughtful discussion on topics that included the homework policy, federal funding concerns, handwriting, and the need for textbooks. Thank you to everyone who joined us! We’ll have several other Community Conversations through mid-December:

• Monday, September 29, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at McNair Upper Elementary School .
• Friday, October 3, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Annandale Terrace Elementary School .
• Friday, December 5, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Churchill Road Elementary School .
• Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School .
• Thursday, December 11, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Bull Run Elementary School .

I hope to see you there! More information is available on the superintendent engagement webpage . 

Monday night, I attended the field hockey game at South Lakes High School against Oakton High School. It was a great game and demonstrated the athleticism and efforts of so many of our student athletes. Go Seahawks!! Go Cougars!! 

On Tuesday morning, I visited Longfellow Middle School led by Principal Chris Butzer. Our first stop was to Nora Oney’s seventh-grade English classroom. While there, we observed students self-reflecting on a recent writing assignment. Having previously received feedback from their teacher, the students were now noting what they had done well on their writing assignment as well as what they wanted to improve in their next writing piece. The students will use this self-reflection sheet throughout the year to monitor their successes and growth on reading and writing assignments. 

Next, we went to the gym to observe eighth graders practicing archery. I had a lesson on shooting arrows from Health and Physical Education (HPE) teacher Todd White which really hit the mark — I shot two arrows and both hit the target! Outside, seventh graders were learning how to use golf wedges to pitch their balls. While there, I talked with HPE teacher Katherine Shapiro about the amount of planning and organization that goes into a well-planned HPE unit, especially when safety is involved such as with archery and golf. Longfellow’s HPE teachers have a lot of experience in planning for and keeping this unit safe for all students because they don't just train their own students, they also lead archery training for others in FCPS.

We also discussed how in springtime, Longfellow partners with the nonprofit Gwyneth’s Gift to teach hands-only CPR. This is critical, life-saving knowledge — as you may have heard about, three Longfellow students and one of their fathers recently went on a scouting mountain biking event, during which the father suffered a cardiac event. The  students saved the life of the father , thanks to the CPR techniques they learned at school!  

I wrapped up my Longfellow visit in an  AVID classroom , where students were researching universities. I asked teacher Elaina Bafaro if the University of Washington was represented in the universities students could pick from. ;>) They were very excited to share what they had learned so far and will continue researching a variety of universities as part of the AVID program. Go Lancers!!

Tuesday afternoon, I had the pleasure of visiting the Thomas Jefferson Library to sign up for a library card as part of the Fairfax Library Foundation’s celebration of National Library Card Sign-Up Month! The entire process took just a few minutes, but it reminded me of the joy and wonder I felt as a child discovering the world through books. Libraries are wonderfully vibrant places, and with my new card in hand, I now have access to an incredible range of resources. The library has a great selection, and I could see how easily someone could reach the maximum allotment of 50 checkouts (yes, 50!),but for this particular visit I left with two selections from the “Hot Pink Collection” — a curated group of today’s most sought-after titles. Vicky Chu, one of the wonderful librarians at Thomas Jefferson Library, kindly walked me through their express checkout system, which was easy and efficient.

What impressed me most, though, was the breadth of what our public libraries offer. In addition to books, my new library card provides access to artwork, thermal cameras, board games, launchpads, and so much more! I loved the signage that read, “Don’t buy it, borrow it!” which perfectly captures the spirit of equity and access that defines our library system. I’m looking forward to spending some time with the books I picked up, and I encourage all our students, staff, and families to take advantage of this special month by booking it ;>) to the nearest library and signing up for a library card if you don’t already have one! Books truly change lives, and with 14 community and eight regional Fairfax County public libraries, there are so many books to discover. Happy reading! 

On Wednesday morning, I attended the Northern Virginia Technology Council meeting, where I had the opportunity to hear from Dmitri Alperovitch, one of the co-founders of cybersecurity technology company CrowdStrike. His insights on the rapidly evolving cyber landscape and its impact on our communities were both timely and thought-provoking. I appreciated the chance to connect with leaders across the region and to consider how education can continue preparing students for the challenges and opportunities in technology and cybersecurity. Learning happens best in community and we continue to be grateful for our community. 

Wednesday evening, I was honored to attend the fourth annual Educate Fairfax Alumni Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at Wolf Trap. This year’s inductees are:

• Amir Abu-El-Hawa (Annandale High School, 2005) – Politics/Government/Military
• Jim Acosta (Annandale High School, 1989) – News/Entertainment
• Maureen Boland (West Springfield High School, 1986) – Education/FCPS Leadership
• Michele Bolos (West Springfield High School, 1986) – Business/Nonprofit Leadership
• Arun Gupta (Lake Braddock Secondary School, 1987) – Business/Nonprofit Leadership
• Mark Holbrook (Mount Vernon High School, 1990) – Education/FCPS Leadership
• Meredith Hovan (Chantilly High School, 1997) – Philanthropy
• Jennifer Montone (Robinson Secondary School, 1995) – News/Entertainment
• Dennis Scarborough (Annandale High School, 1985) – Politics/Government/Military
• Philip Wilkerson (Mount Vernon High School, 2003) – Education/Leadership
• Jennifer Williamson (Fairfax High School, 1990) – Business/Education/FCPS Leadership

This year’s class of alumni represent the very best of who we are and who our students can become. From public service, education, and nonprofit leadership to technology and entrepreneurship, journalism, the arts, and national security, this year’s honorees remind us that the foundation built in FCPS classrooms prepares students to thrive in every field imaginable. Listening to their stories filled me with deep pride and gratitude. Their journeys — rooted in FCPS — demonstrate the power of public education to inspire dreams, open doors, and create pathways to success. They are role models not only for our students but for our entire community.

This celebration would not have been possible without Educate Fairfax, our education foundation, and the generous support of our sponsors: Apple Federal Credit Union, Burke & Herbert Bank, Cigna Healthcare, Cox Business, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Guernsey Inc., I-66 Express Mobility Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Moseley Architects, Ricoh USA, and Samaha Associates. Their investment ensures that our legacy of excellence continues for generations to come. Each inductee has demonstrated their deep commitment to our students, our community, or our country. Congratulations!!

On Thursday afternoon, we held the first of this fall’s  Employee Conversations at Franconia Elementary School. Similar to the Community Conversations, these meetings allow our staff members to provide feedback and share their thoughts. Some of the topics were federal funding concerns, the budget, and class sizes. If you couldn’t attend last week, more upcoming Employee Conversations will be held:

• Tuesday, September 30, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 18, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Look for more information in upcoming issues of  Employee News ! 

This past week I had the pleasure of attending several Back-to-School events, including Thursday evening at Annandale High School (go Atoms!!).  It was great to be outdoors and have so many community members attend this important event.  I love the out of the box thinking, our staff dedication, and the PTA partnership, it matters. 

I also had the opportunity to attend Back to School Nights at Garfield Elementary School (go Eagles!!), and Friday’s PTA Back to School Bash at Bull Run Elementary School (go Bulls!)  These are such great opportunities to share time and build relationships with our families and community. 

On Friday evening, I went to Chantilly High School for its varsity football game against Fairfax High School. It was a great evening of football as well as an opportunity to enjoy the dance team with many junior community dance team members. The marching band performance was also amazing!! Go Chargers and go Lions!!

Early on Saturday morning, I attended the Special Needs Conference and Resource Fair at Northern Virginia Community College, which was hosted by the 7Q Foundation in partnership with All Needs Planning. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with families, educators, and community partners, and to share more about the resources available to support our students with special needs. I truly appreciated the chance to celebrate the collaboration and commitment that help ensure every student can thrive. This work is an important part of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.  Together, all things are possible!!

Later Saturday morning, I attended Providence Day and back to school at Marshall High School on Saturday (go Statesmen!!) It was great to hear from our elected officials and share stories of support with our county partners. Thank you to the Marshall High School cheer squad for sharing their energy and spirit for the day!! Learning happens best in community and it is always great when our community shows up. 

Saturday afternoon, I attended the Nottoway Tribe of Virginia Powwow at the Surry Parks and Recreation Center near Richmond. It was a rich cultural experience with dancing, drumming, crafts, demonstrations, and food. One of the goals of the Powwow, which celebrates the unique heritage, traditions, and contributions of the Nottoway people, is to educate the public about the Nottoway Tribe's history and ongoing cultural practices while fostering a spirit of community and mutual respect.

This year, the theme for the Powwow was  Indigenous Resilience.   The strength of the tribe comes from “…the ability to work together, to remain thankful, and work collaboratively in community …”  I appreciated the opportunity to attend and be a part of the heritage experience for so many in our community and it was a good reminder that we are all part of one community, that of mother earth. 

Early on Sunday morning, I joined the community at Fairfax Corner for the 17th annual Asha Jyothi 5K Fun Run/Walk. Since its founding in 2003, the volunteer non-profit has grown from supporting students in times of need to transforming lives through education and healthcare — both abroad and right here in Fairfax County. Their Educate-Innovate program is a powerful example of what happens when generosity meets vision, investing millions into local schools to expand STEM opportunities and inspire the innovators of tomorrow.

I truly enjoyed connecting with participants and cheering on the many FCPS students and staff who took part in the event. I also appreciate the significant gifts of generosity that support our students. Thank you to Asha-Jyothi and all our community partners who invest in the success of our children! This work matters!!

Later Sunday morning I went to Louise Archer Elementary School, the perfect place (their motto is “Where the Sun Always Shines!”) for the Sun Day NoVA: FCPS Solar & Electric School Bus Celebration event. I joined our community to celebrate the launch of FCPS’ solar initiative and the arrival of 17 new electric school buses, bringing our electric fleet to 48 strong by the end of this year! Both initiatives are part of our division’s commitment to our Joint Environmental Task Force (JET) goals. We are working to support energy efficient schools, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and empower our students to be sustainability leaders in their communities. Here at FCPS, the future is bright — and green!

On Friday evening, another Community Boundary Review meeting was held at Madison High School. All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, ways that community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process. Nine September meetings remain. Please view the full list on our website. 

In October, the latest draft boundary maps, which incorporate the community feedback we received in the spring and input from the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee, will be posted and available to view through the Boundary Explorer Tool.  

At the October community boundary review meetings , we will review the latest draft boundary maps and provide opportunities for feedback on those. Meeting dates, times, and locations are listed below. Registration links will be available soon: 

• Monday, October 13, 6:30-8 p.m., at Robinson Secondary School:  For Centreville High School and Robinson Secondary School Pyramids
• Tuesday, October 14, 6:30-8 p.m., at Herndon High School:  For South Lakes and Herndon High School Pyramids
• Wednesday, October 15, 6:30-8 p.m., at Langley High Schools:  For Oakton and Langley High School Pyramids
• Thursday, October 16, 6:30-8 p.m., at McLean High School:  For Madison and McLean High School Pyramids
• Friday, October 17, 6:30-8 p.m., at Falls Church High School:  For Marshall and Falls Church High School Pyramids
• Tuesday, October 21, 6:30-8 p.m., at Annandale High School:  For Justice and Annandale High School Pyramids
• Wednesday, October 22, 6:30-8 p.m., at Hayfield Secondary:  For South County High School and Hayfield Secondary School Pyramids
• Friday, October 24, 6:30-8 p.m., at Mount Vernon High School:  For West Potomac and Mount Vernon High School Pyramids
• Monday, October 27, 6:30-8 p.m., at Fairfax High School:  For Woodson and Fairfax High School Pyramids
• Tuesday, October 28, 6:30-8 p.m., at Chantilly High School:  For Westfield and Chantilly High School Pyramids
• Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-8 p.m., at Lewis High School:  For Edison and Lewis High School Pyramids
• Thursday, October 30, 7-8:30 p.m., at Irving Middle School:  For Lake Braddock Secondary School and West Springfield High School Pyramids

Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed, and I encourage you to keep up to date on the Comprehensive Boundary Review and sign up for our Boundary Review newsletter . 

On August 1, FCPS took a major step forward in modernizing our volunteer program, launching Volunteer FCPS in collaboration with the Samaritan platform . The response has been overwhelming, and we are grateful to our families, local businesses, and community members for their generosity of time and support! To accommodate the high volume of requests, some process changes have been made. All volunteers must still register through Volunteer FCPS, which enables principals to authorize them to begin their volunteer responsibilities. We continue to work together to keep our students and one another safe. 

For Level 3 volunteers awaiting background checks, provisional approval may be granted to meet schools’ time-sensitive needs. While fingerprinting is expected before starting Level 3 activities, provisional approval may be used when delays occur due to the backlog. All volunteers must still sign in at the school’s visitor kiosk before each volunteer activity. To simplify the background check process, volunteers may use  fieldprint , allowing them to complete fingerprinting at nearby locations rather than traveling to Gatehouse or scheduling virtual appointments. Volunteers can contact their school’s Volunteer Point of Contact (POC) for assistance. We are deeply thankful for the many volunteers who make a meaningful difference in our schools!

Wishing you a joyful early fall season.  As we think about all that we have an opportunity to address, I am reminded of the following; “During a crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams.” — Nigerian proverb.  Let’s continue to stay connected -- together, all things are possible. 

Take good care,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D. Superintendent