Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS,

What another fantastic FCPS week we get to experience. There continue to be so many exciting activities going on all across this amazing school division. And so, I wish each of you all the best this coming week. If you are a mother, Happy Mother’s Day!! As this weekend comes to a close, I trust you will have an opportunity to find and savor both quiet and abundantly joyful moments in the week ahead. These continue to be our best days …

As you may have seen in my messages to staff and the community on Friday, I am delighted to announce that FCPS has just been named a recipient of the 2026 Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence by The Partnership for Excellence (TPE)! FCPS’ recognition is the first time an education applicant has won the Gold Award the first time they applied!! TPE uses the Baldrige Excellence Framework® to honor organizations for performance excellence through innovation, results, and visionary leadership. These efforts can lead to lower costs, improved productivity, and increases in employee and customer satisfaction. I am proud of our hardworking team across FCPS who keeps students at the center of everything we do, while at the same time ensuring efficiency and cost effectiveness as stewards of taxpayer dollars. Look for more information on this work and resulting honor coming soon!

Last Friday, May 1, I attended the Phase 1 Inclusion Exhibition of Learning where we celebrated the incredible progress our school teams have made towards increasing inclusive opportunities for their students. This gathering brought together Phase 1 and Phase 2 school leaders, division senior leaders, and central office staff to reflect on this year’s inclusion journey. The morning kicked off with an inspiring virtual keynote by Dr. Shelley Moore, who discussed the "Five Leadership Pillars to Inclusion" and the necessary conditions our teachers and staff need to build a strong infrastructure of inclusion. Some of the key takeaways from what Dr. Moore shared were focusing on "place, not placement," planning for everyone from the start rather than just those with IEPs, students’ perspective of their ‘invisible’ disabilities are often not met with compassion or understanding, and debunking the myth that accommodations lower academic rigor.

A true highlight of the exhibition was the power of cross-school collaboration, as Phase 1 school teams led sharing rounds to present their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. I would like to thank and highlight the incredible work shared by Bush Hill Elementary, Dogwood Elementary, Edison High School, Franklin Sherman Elementary, Greenbriar East Elementary, Hayfield Secondary, Herndon High School, Hunt Valley Elementary, Saratoga Elementary, and South County Middle School. Attendees actively engaged by exchanging feedback and discovering new practices to transfer back to their own school communities.

In listening to our schools share at the event and talking to participants, a few of the critical themes for our ongoing work emerged including the necessity of intentional school scheduling, the importance of incorporating student voice to drive meaningful change, and a shared desire for deeper professional development around Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to strengthen Tier 1 instruction. This dedication to learning and growing together directly aligns with our Strategic Plan Goal 2, emphasizing our commitment to creating inclusive environments where all students can thrive. It is inspiring to see our educators leading this vital work, reflecting on how their perspectives have shifted, and setting powerful intentions for the upcoming school year as we build on our traditions of excellence.  

Congratulations to Fanny Salazar-Laske, a family liaison at Herndon Middle School, who was honored at the Herndon 40th Annual Mayor’s Volunteer Appreciation Reception with the Distinguished Service Award! She received the special recognition from Mayor Keven LeBlanc for her outstanding community service, part of the “Heroes Among Us” initiative. According to an announcement of her award, “Whether it’s organizing large-scale monthly food drives, supporting families in times of crisis, helping parents navigate schools and services, or simply lending a hand to a colleague, Fanny shows up every single time – consistently, compassionately, and without hesitation.” We are so grateful for Fanny and her many colleagues who support our students, staff and families in so many ways every day, it matters.  

Fanny’s recognition is a powerful reminder of the profound impact that compassionate, dedicated individuals can have in strengthening both our schools and our community. As Fanny shared, “Volunteer work is the quiet language of love in action — giving my time, heart, and energy to uplift my school and community, not for recognition, but to leave kindness, hope, and a lasting difference wherever I serve.” Go Team FCPS!!

I’d also like to recognize Alberto Rodriguez, orchestra director at Mount Vernon High School, who has been selected as one of the 202 quarterfinalists for the 2027 GRAMMY Music Educator Award ! This award is presented by the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum. There were over 2,100 applications nationwide by teachers ranging from kindergarten to college-level and private schools. Alberto’s continued recognition on the national stage reflects the extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion our educators bring to inspiring students through the arts each and every day. Semifinalists will be announced in September – stay tuned! Go Team FCPS!!  

Congratulations to two outstanding FCPS student-athletes recognized among this year’s Class 6 Achievement Award recipients ! Titus Er of Chantilly High School was named Male Scholar Athlete, and Breanna Graham of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) earned Female Scholar Athlete honors. These students exemplify excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership. As Breanna shared with me, “I'm so thankful for my coaches, teammates, and teachers that have helped me along the way and taught me how to be a better human being.” A powerful reminder that lessons learned through athletics extend far beyond the game. Go Chargers!! Go Colonials!!

Last week was the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, where 600 teams from more than 10 countries competed. FCPS had two teams qualify: Team 614, The Night Hawks from Hayfield Secondary School, and Team 5549, Gryphon Robotics from Marshall High School. The championship was intense, but our FCPS teams were powered up and ready to compete. 

The Gryphons were the third ranked team in their division, leading their alliance to a seventh place finish overall. The Night Hawks had a tougher qualification round, but excelled in the playoffs, ending the competition as the third place alliance. These programs are incredibly important to encourage our students to accomplish difficult tasks while working together as a team – all while exploring potential future careers in programming and robotics. I’m proud to say that FCPS is dedicated to bringing robotics programs to every school over the next three years. Together, anything is possible!!

It was great to hear from Cooper Middle School Director of Bands, Matthew Baker, that, “This week the Cooper Band had the opportunity to host the award-winning Stiletto Brass Quintet. Students were treated to a performance by the renowned ensemble, and a masterclass featuring a student-led brass quintet. In this image, the student ensemble is being coached by the principal trumpet of the Illinois Symphony, Amy Gilreath. Student performers - Andrew Lin, Arjun Tengli, Sarah Workie, Eleanor Hwang and Graham Wiltbank. For more information on this incredible ensemble, visit www.stilettobrass.com .” I so appreciate the fine and performing arts and their integral role in a world class education. This work matters.     

On Monday morning, I visited Crossfield Elementary School for a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of its recent renovation . The project added 11,638 square feet to the school. Crossfield Elementary has long been a cornerstone of its community. Since opening its doors in the late 1980s, the school has served generations of families in Herndon and Reston, building a strong tradition of academic excellence, innovation, and strong relationships. Over the years, Crossfield has grown alongside the community it serves, adapting to meet the needs of a changing and diverse student population while maintaining its close-knit, welcoming spirit. 

I’d like to extend a big thank you to the Fairfax County community for investing in our students! This project’s construction was funded by the 2021 voter-approved bond referendum, and the planning was funded by the 2019 bond referendum. Because of our community’s support, our Rockets can learn and work in safe, healthy, up-to-date buildings. Thank you for helping build our future! 

Later in the day, I attended a meeting of the Strategic Plan Advisory Group held at the Gatehouse Administration Center. The group is composed of parents and community members whose purpose is to provide feedback that informs the implementation of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan and to share ideas for potential partnerships with community organizations as we work to advance our strategic priorities. The focus of this meeting was the data related to Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empoweredand Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunityof the FCPS 2023–30 Strategic Plan . 

Monday evening, I attended the 21st annual Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA) Scholarship Awards Banquet at Willow Oaks. HLA is an FCPS partner organization made up of current and retired FCPS educators and staff, and scholarships were handed out to 26 FCPS graduating seniors, two adult ESOL students, and one educator. The HLA Leadership Award was given to Chief of Schools Geovanny Ponce, who will soon be leaving FCPS to become the superintendent of the Champaign, Illinois, Unit 4 School District. More information about the scholarship recipients is available on our website . Congratulations to all of the award winners!!

On Tuesday morning I addressed Leading the Mission, which is a cohort of experienced principals and central office staff that helps shift their mindset from thinking about what it takes to lead a school or department to how they can influence an entire system. It was an energizing opportunity to engage with leaders who are committed to thinking more broadly about their impact and shaping the future of our entire school division. Go Team FCPS!!   

And on Tuesday evening, we held a Boundary Advisory Core Committee meeting at Gatehouse Administration Center, which is a smaller group of community members that served on the Superintendent’s Boundary Advisory Committee. The group received an update on the boundary community meetings that have been held to date, including initial feedback received. They also broke into working groups to develop an after-action report and a boundary advisory committee handbook. 

On Wednesday morning I had the honor of attending the 2026 Fairfax County Police Fallen Officers Memorial Service at the Government Center to honor Fairfax County police officers that have been killed in the line of duty. Just like team FCPS, Fairfax County Police represent members from every corner of our community who are all united in serving our neighbors and children. For police, that service includes the risk of losing their own lives to protect others. Fairfax County Police, like other local law enforcement departments in Fairfax County, are critical partners in keeping our schools safe. Because of their partnership and collaboration, students and staff can stay focused on learning and reaching their fullest potential. Learning happens best in community, and we remain grateful for our many community partners, together all things are possible.  

On Wednesday evening, we held the final Family Vision Group meeting of the year at TJHSST, where the topic of discussion was artificial intelligence. We heard from experts in the field, and we also provided feedback on how best to support families in understanding the topic. I am always so thankful to the parents and caregivers who take the time to share their feedback and concerns about our schools, together all things are possible.  

During last Thursday’s School Board meeting I presented recommendations for adjustments to our Fiscal Year 2027 Budget as well as an update on where we are in our budget development process. We remain committed to sustaining excellence in FCPS, despite challenging financial circumstances, including the current uncertainty around the state budget. And, as I shared during my presentation, we are  excellent! FCPS is proud to educate one quarter of all multilingual learners in Virginia, and under the new Standards of Accreditation, 100% of our schools are fully accredited. We have more Distinguished or On Track schools than the entire commonwealth! And we saw a 37% increase in our National Merit semifinalists compared to last year as well as other celebration data points we continue to share with our community. This excellence comes despite the significant reductions we had to make in Fiscal Year 2026. 

Our strategic priorities for this budget include:

Investing in the Workforce

• Remain committed to leading the region in attracting and retaining the best talent across the education field.
• Maintain originally agreed-upon compensation to honor collective bargaining agreements.

Excellence in the Classroom

• Restore funding for elementary special education department chairs, advanced academic resource teachers, and partially restore staffing formula adjustments.
• Invest in certified athletic trainers at high schools and provide a dedicated family liaison at every school.
• Maintain the Middle School After-School Program.

Fiscal Stewardship

• Recommend adjustments that strategically minimize disruption to core school operations.
• Utilize one-time funding responsibly to bridge the gap during state funding uncertainty.

We are currently facing a $28 million budget gap that needs to be addressed. At this time, I am proposing to make up the difference by:

• Reducing the staffing reserve.
• Leveraging alternative major maintenance funding.
• Extending the time to refresh FCPSOn technology devices.
• Deferring micro-credentialing.
• Reducing math adoption curriculum materials.
• Reducing the Superintendent’s Strategic Reserve.

I’m so appreciative of everyone on Team FCPS who has worked tirelessly on this budget to make sure that we can meet the challenging financial circumstances we face in Fairfax County. This has been a year-round process with week-to-week and month-to-month adjustments in staffing, resource management, and more. I appreciate each of you as we work together to support our colleagues and continue to deliver on a world class education for each and every student. 

I encourage each of you to stay involved throughout our budget process, including tuning in for our School Board public budget hearing taking place this Tuesday, May 12. The final vote for the budget will take place on Thursday, May 21. 

In the Strategic Plan Update portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, the topic was Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered , specifically positive school climate (safety, inclusion, and sense of belonging; academic support; inclusive, academically-focused culture; and teacher-student trust). 

One way FCPS does this is by offering transition events. Moving from elementary to middle school, or middle to high school, is a major milestone that can bring both nerves and excitement for students. By providing consistent transition experiences such as school tours, student panels, and previews of elective classes, FCPS helps our students feel safe, supported, and ready to succeed at the next level. These events are an opportunity for students to get to know the building, the staff, and the middle or high school experience. I shared this video that shows how these practices focus on building a sense of belonging and empowerment. Our goal is to replace transition anxiety with confidence so that every student feels, "I can do this." 

Early Friday morning, I was able to attend and be inspired by the Lighthouse Schools end-of-year celebration at Willow Oaks. This program has been a remarkable partnership between our schools, the FCPS Department of Information Technology, and ISTE+ASCD , and it continues to serve as a vital cornerstone for division-wide innovation. Since its launch in August 2023 with just seven pilot schools, the initiative has steadily expanded into a vibrant community of 31 participating teams that are modeling innovative practices centered on student and staff needs.

Immediately after a moving keynote from Dr. Joseph South , Hunt Valley Elementary, Davis Career Center, and Columbia Elementary took the stage to share their "Impact Stories.” I was sorry to miss the hands-on Demo Slams, but it was clear that our educators are leveraging emerging technologies as thought partners to spark innovation across FCPS! With 31 teams and counting, the best is truly yet to come for our students and our division! 

Next, I went to West Potomac High School for its annual Fish Fry, which is the last event of the school’s celebration of Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. I welcome the opportunity to get out in our schools and share experiences that build and sustain community. Thank you to Mr. Cooper and all those who support this important community building work. Go Wolverines!!

Later on Friday morning, we enjoyed a performance of the Falls Church High School Guitar Ensemble at Gatehouse Administration Center. Jacob Walker, director of guitar studies, shared the following about the performance, “The Falls Church Guitar Ensemble is a class of students that are in their second, third, or fourth year of guitar at Falls Church High School. They will be performing a program that is inspired by and includes works of Joe Hisaishi, the composer known for his highly influential film scores with Studio Ghibli from the 1980s through the present.” Their performance was a wonderful showcase of the creativity, talent, and dedication that our students bring to the arts. Go Jaguars!!

On Friday afternoon, I had the pleasure of celebrating the graduates of our Accelerated Certification Cohort, a dedicated group of educators and staff who have spent the past year preparing for leadership roles across FCPS. I shared my appreciation for their commitment to balancing the demands of work, family, and an intensive program, all while staying focused on serving our students and school communities. I also reflected on the important role leaders play in creating environments where every student can succeed and every staff member feels valued. As these graduates move forward, I encouraged them to stay grounded in purpose, build trust through relationships, and lead with courage as they help advance the goals of our Strategic Plan. It continues to be an excellent business proposition to invest in higher education for our staff with strong research-based return on investment data. Indeed, close to 8,000 staff have benefited from tuition based higher education support over the last five years. It was an inspiring afternoon and a reminder of the strong future of leadership in Team FCPS! 

On Friday evening I attended a Boundary Community Meeting at South County High School regarding potential boundary adjustments affecting the Gunston, Halley, Laurel Hill, and Lorton Station elementary school communities. Dr. Nardos King is leading the work in this neighborhood, and we look forward to supporting improved boundaries for teaching and learning. I appreciate the community spirit as we work through these challenges, together all things are possible.  

I ended the day on Friday at West Springfield High School to check out its production of Mamma Mia . According to WSHS Theatre Teacher Ashton Schaffer,“ Our production was the work of over 160 students, dedicating many hours of their time and talents to our theatre program! West Springfield is dedicated to not only producing great theatre but building strong theatre makers. Some of these students made their high school theatre debut in this musical and worked with seasoned students to create this sold-out performance. Our tech team tackled many challenges , most notably: how to build and safely operate a 15-foot turntable. All the sets, lighting, costumes, props, and scenic elements are student designed and built for the production.” I continue to enjoy the productions all over our county, it matters. Go Spartans!!

My first stop on Saturday morning was to attend a middle school track meet at West Potomac High School where we had a great deal of energy!! The hard work of so many students and their coaches as well as volunteers are inspiring. Learning happens best in community, and I continue to be grateful to our community for showing up. 

Early Saturday afternoon, I had the opportunity to join community partners, elected officials, families, and students in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAHNPI) Heritage Month at Mason District Park. It was inspiring to see our community come together to recognize and honor the many cultures, traditions, and stories that help make Fairfax County such a vibrant and welcoming place. It was also great to celebrate our young people and their achievements.  

I reflected on the importance of ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to learn about the diverse perspectives and contributions of AANHPI communities throughout the year. From our social studies curriculum to our world language programs and community partnerships, FCPS remains committed to creating learning environments where every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Diversity is one of our greatest strengths and together, we can continue building a stronger and more connected community for all. Learning happens best in community, and we resolutely remember that together all things are possible. Mahalo. 

I then went to Westfield High School for a performance of Anastasia . While I did get there a bit late, I was so impressed with the production and the talent of those both on the stage and those supporting the stage. I particularly loved the story and its implications for us today. Christine Maxted, the director, shared, “In bringing Anastasia to the stage, our goal was not only to tell a story of a young woman searching for her identity, but also to explore how memory lives within all of us. This production asks: What do we hold on to? What do we let go of? And how do the stories of our past guide us into the future?” Great questions for all of us to ponder. Go Bulldogs!!

As we turn to graduation season, I want to thank the family of William J. Foreman, an FCPS alum who tragically lost his life in a car accident just seven days after graduating in 2006. William’s parents, Louise and Mark Foreman, have spent the past two decades supporting and inspiring other students in our school division through the creation of the William J. Foreman Memorial Scholarship . This scholarship program aims to assist high school seniors who have faced significant challenges during their high school years and successfully overcome them to graduate. It has provided a combined $130,000 over 20 years to help these students pursue their college education. Reaching this milestone is a testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of Louise and Mark Foreman, William’s parents. Their continuous support and collaboration has been invaluable to our students and I want to thank them for their generosity and devotion to the FCPS community in honor of their son.

Well, it has been another fabulous FCPS weekend! I love that we started with the heat reminiscent of summer days to come and then are finishing up with the soothing and nurturing spring rain that supports calming steady growth.  As May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I am thoughtful about one of my favorite big ideas in working through the challenges/opportunities I occasionally find in front of me; “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” -- Lao Tzu. I am so proud to walk this journey step by step with each of you …

Take good care,

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