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Dear Lee District Families -
Last evening, I had the honor of seconding the motion to welcome Dr. Michelle Reid as our next superintendent at Fairfax County Public Schools. This morning, Dr. Reid visited her first FCPS school - Garfield Elementary - right here in Region 3!
In her comments to our Board yesterday Dr Reid said, “I believe my heart beats strongest when I am in classrooms and with our students.” This was evident today as we visited with amazing teachers and students. Thank you to Principal April Cage and her team for a beautiful “first day” in Fairfax County Public Schools!
 Left photo: Dr. Michelle Reid visiting Garfield Elementary School. Right photo: Chair Stella Pekarsky (Sully District), Dr. Michelle Reid, Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Lee District), and Vice Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Member-at-Large)
Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Passover and Happy Easter!
Stay well,
Tammy
Fairfax County School Board Announces National Superintendent of the Year As Next Leader
The Fairfax County School Board voted to appoint Michelle Reid, Ed.D. as the next superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools. Dr. Reid is known regionally and nationally for strong instructional leadership. She was named AASA National Superintendent of the Year in 2021 for exemplary communications, her work in closing achievement gaps, and leading her previous school system in uncharted territory at the start of the pandemic.
She has been praised for her early pandemic response; her creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students; her equity work; strength in both personal and organizational communication; and understanding of regional, national, and international issues. Dr. Reid is also known for leading robust community engagement to ensure all stakeholders, including students, have a voice. “Everyone has a lived experience,” said Dr. Reid. “When you walk by inequity you have lost the moral authority to lead. I am committed to listening and learning from this community so, together, we can build on the strengths of Fairfax County Public Schools while developing schools of the future, not the past.”
With a STEM background, Dr. Reid has a proven track record in improving math and science proficiency, but is also a strong believer that success in these subjects does not happen without equally strong literacy skills.
Dr. Reid’s commitment to increasing access, opportunity, and equity for all students in public education led to the creation of Northshore’s Racial and Educational Justice Department. She is committed to bringing that equity mindset to her leadership of FCPS and will focus on ensuring that each student has access and opportunity to reach their greatest potential. During her tenure, she has overseen increases in graduation rates for all students - especially English Language learners.
“Dr. Reid is focused on academic achievement and outcomes for every student in our Fairfax community. She has previously demonstrated the highest professional standards when it comes to leading a school district and a proven track record of working to build a successful future for students. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to working closely with her,” said Fairfax County School Board Chair and Sully District Representative Stella Pekarsky. Dr. Reid has served as superintendent for Northshore School District, Washington, since 2016 – a school district that is seen as the gold standard in Washington State. She previously served as superintendent of South Kitsap School District in Port Orchard, Washington. Prior to becoming South Kitsap's superintendent, she served as deputy superintendent, district athletic director, and high school principal in Port Angeles (Washington) School District.
Dr. Reid received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington, master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Washington, and her bachelor’s degree in Natural Science/Chemistry from the University of Puget Sound. Fairfax County Public Schools is the 11th largest school district in the U.S., with 199 schools and centers; 180,000 students; and 25,000 full-time employees.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
- PEC Meeting (Gatehouse): Tuesday, April 19 - 2 p.m.
- Audit Committee Meeting (Gatehouse): Wednesday, April 20 - 4 p.m.
- All-Day Work Session (Gatehouse): Tuesday, April 26- 11 a.m. - SR&R
- Regular School Board Meeting (Jackson Middle School): Thursday, April 28 - 7 p.m. - Trust Policy, Special Education Annual Plan, ES Language Arts Basal Resources
Visit the citizen participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas and handouts.
The meetings can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11) and on the FCPS website. Meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube page.
Appointment of Assistant Superintendent, Department of Human Resources
Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand has named Sherry Wilson, who currently serves as director of Human Resources in Chesapeake (Va.) Public Schools, to the role of assistant superintendent, Department of Human Resources, effective June 1, 2022.
“Dr. Wilson brings a wealth of experience to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), not just in HR, but also as a former teacher and school administrator. Throughout her career, she has made a measurable impact in expanding recruitment and retention initiatives and improving diversity in hiring,” said Brabrand. “We look forward to her leadership in continuing our efforts to attract world-class educators and support staff to FCPS." |
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Wilson has 11 years of high-level HR experience in addition to previous experience as both a school administrator and a teacher. During her tenure with Chesapeake Public Schools, she led efforts to reduce employee shortages through innovative initiatives to streamline the hiring process. She developed “Grow Your Own” programs to increase recruitment and retention of teachers, implemented a teacher mentor program that extended beyond the teacher's first year of teaching, and created an HBCU Ambassador program to assist with recruitment and retention of employees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
A graduate of James Madison University, Wilson earned her master of science in educational leadership from Old Dominion University and her doctorate of education in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix.
She also served two terms on the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure (ABTEL) for the Virginia Department of Education.
School Board Policy 2100 - Student and Staff Health and Wellness
Last evening, the School Board voted to approve Policy 2100, Student and Staff Health and Wellness. Changes to this policy were made based on the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE) review of the Local School Wellness Policy.
For a complete list of all the changes, including at 15-minute break for Middle School students, please review Policy 2100 here.
US Senator Mark Warner - Academy Day 2022
Senator Mark Warner invites high school and middle school students, their parents or guardians, and school counselors to Academy Day 2022. Attendees will have the opportunity to join breakout sessions with representatives from the United States service academies for presentations and an interactive question and answer period.
On the main stage, you will hear from representatives from the Virginia congressional delegation about the application procedures for congressional nominations to the academies, as well as, speakers from the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board, the University of Virginia ROTC programs, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, the Virginia Military Institute, and the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin University. There will also be time to speak in more detail with any of these representatives at their virtual resource tables.
Save the Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Location: Virtual
To ensure you receive it and the registration link for the event, please email academy_noms@warner.senate.gov. For more information on the Academy Nomination Process, please visit www.warner.senate.gov.
Tutor.Com is Now Available - Launched April 14
 FCPS students now have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.
Students will be able to access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following instructional videos:
Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
April is the Month of the Military Child!
Purple Up! on April 20 to celebrate military-connected youth and thank them for their service!
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize and thank children from military families for their contributions and sacrifices. The nationwide commemoration was established in 1986 by former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger.
I want to thank all our military families in the Lee District. I value the dedication and service you bring to our community.
Click here to learn more and help us recognition and thank our FCPS children from military families for their contributions and sacrifices.
Celebrate Earth Week April 18-22 with Get2Green Resources
All students and staff are encouraged to join FCPS Get2Green in celebrating our division-wide Earth Week 2022 next week. Earth Week is an engaging way to foster conversation and learning about environmental topics that are essential in developing students as environmental stewards and ethical and global citizens.
Visit the Get2Green Earth Week webpage for this year’s Earth Week “Bingo” boards, daily themes, driving questions, joke of the day, and fun facts. Engage students with FCPS Earth Week Bingo boards for an opportunity to receive water bottle decals for staff and students.
Earth Week 2022 Themes
Students and staff can wear the color matching each day’s theme to show their Earth Week spirit!
- Monday, April 18, Watershed Day (blue).
- Tuesday, April 19, Zero Waste Day (purple).
- Wednesday, April 20, Climate Change Day (red).
- Thursday, April 21, Energy Day (yellow).
- Friday, April 22, Earth Day (green).
For more information, contact Donna Volkmann at dovolkmann@fcps.edu
4th Annual Environmental Expo at Fort Hunt Park
Join us for the 4th Annual Mount Vernon District Environment Expo: Get Outdoors! Learn and Do! on Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Road. We were excited to partner with the National Park Service George Washington Memorial Parkway. Attendees will learn about the environmental and climate challenges we face on a daily basis and actions you can take to help.
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Edison Global STEM Team Named State Winner in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition
A team of students from Edison High School’s Global STEM Challenges Program were named a state winner for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition. The group of five young women (Dakota Bitterman, Victoria Bujoreanu, Cameron Hui, Layla Lahlou, Sophia Wiegold) produced a short video describing their and their peers’ agricultural engineering designs. The student teams were challenged with using what would be considered “waste” in order to create technologies that addressed the concerns of food access or environmental impacts.
Check out the video below.
Twain Middle School Headed to Odyssey of the Mind World Championship
 Congratulations to a Twain Middle School team who will be moving on after qualifying in third place to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. The Odyssey of the Minds is a problem-solving competition. The finals will take place at Iowa State University - May 25-28.
The Odyssey of the Minds is a problem-solving competition. Odyssey of the Mind has been a leader in education for 40 years. It’s emphasized creativity, science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. Read here to learn more about this organization.
Upcoming Lee District Performances
Hayfield Secondary School - Hayfield Dramahawks
The Hayfield Dramahawks will be performing Disney's Beauty and The Beast.
April 28-30 at 7pm
May 5-7 at 7pm
Tickets $12.00
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hayfielddrama.com.
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Lewis High School - Lancer Theater Presents
The Lewis Lancers will be performing a spring musical - You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
April 28-30, May 6 at 7pm
May 8 at 2pm
For more information, visit the Lancer Theater website. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
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Mount Vernon High School - Spring Musical
The MVHS Theater Arts program will be presenting Matilda The Musical.
April 28-30 at 7pm
April 30 at 2pm
For more details and to purchase tickets visit the MVHS Theater website.
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Prom Dress Pop-Up at West Potomac High School - Available to All Students
West Potomac Pop Up Prom (formally Princess for a Night) is once again giving away beautiful prom dresses, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and make-up!
We have dresses in all styles, colors, and sizes. All students are welcome! Click here for more information.
West Potomac High School
Girls Team Locker Room - Room 111
Saturday, April 16, 10:00am- 3:00pm.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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