Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee
Recognizing the Greatest Achievements in Education
The process of nominating a candidate for the Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee award begins through each school's awards liaison. The awards liaison at each school has information about the nomination process and deadlines.
Any FCPS employee or community member can nominate a school-based operational employee for this award, but employees may not nominate themselves. The employee being nominated must be aware of and in agreement with the nomination. Eligible employees must currently work as a Schedule-A, Schedule-H, or Classroom Instructional Support (CIS) employee who has completed at least one contracted year of employment working with FCPS in their current position at their current work location, or an hourly employee who has been working regularly in one position for more than one year.
Award Criteria
Nominees are school-based operational employees who:
- Provide a unique and exceptional contribution to FCPS through their work.
- Demonstrate commitment and leadership in their field.
- Foster cooperative relationships with colleagues and/or the community.
- Foster an environment where diversity in all of its forms is valued and appreciated and demonstrate keeping equity at the center of their work.
The Selection Process
All schools will conduct a local nomination process to determine their Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee. The Outstanding School-Based Operational Employees from every school then go on to the pyramid level where a Pyramid Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee is selected and put forward to the Region level. The Region winners will be the finalists for the overall Fairfax County Public Schools Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee.
Awards and Recognition
All school-level honorees will be recognized. The annual FCPS Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee will be announced at the FCPS Honors event and will receive $4000. In recognition of collaborative teamwork, the FCPS award winners and their colleagues will also receive a celebration at their worksite.
Questions and More Information
Please contact the school's awards liaison with questions or visit the Outstanding Employee Awards web page.
Outstanding Professional Employee - Previous Winners
2023
- School-Based, Alexa Pugnetti, Administrative Assistant I, Woodson High School
- School-Based, Leonard Roberts, Custodian II, Bull Run Elementary School
- Nonschool-Based, Nicole Wheeler, Bus Driver Supervisor, Lorton Center, Transportation
2022
- School-Based, Frank Sarfo, Custodian I, Little Run Elementary School
- Nonschool-Based, Cassandra Ann Allen, Transporation Instructor, Transportation
2021
- School-Based, Wanda V. Talford, Instructional Assistant, Burke School
- Nonschool-Based, Maria J. Miller, Multilingual Registrar, Special Services
2020
- School-based, Long Van, Building Supervisor, Camelot Elementary School
- Nonschool-based, Patti O. Parisi, Executive Administrative Assistant, Financial Services
2019
- School-based, Celine Sinclair-Peebles, Instructional Assistant, Transition Support Resource Center Fairfax
- Nonschool-based, Quang Nguyen, Field Services Senior Technician, Information Technology
2018
- School-based, Nelson Villalobos, Safety and Security Assistant, Frost Middle School
- Nonschool-based, Kevin Brown, Warehouse Supervisor, Financial Services, Woodson Food Services Warehouse,
2017
- School-based, Rosemary Barry, Administrative Assistant, Frost Middle School
- School-based, Russel Wade, Building Supervisor, West Springfield High School
- Nonschool-based, André Marshall, Warehouse Assistant Supervisor, Financial Services, Forte Center
2016
- Juan (Cesar) Carrasco, Custodian II, Willow Springs Elementary School
- Emily Godfrey, Librarian, Twain Middle School
- Jim Lepp, Producer/Director, Information Technology
2015
- Chun-Yen (Jerry) Lin, Instructional Assistant, Marshall High School
- Brady Rauch, Coordinator Capital Projects, Facilities and Transportation Services
2014
- Willie Hillary, Assistant Building Supervisor, Quander Road School
- Kenny Carter, Warehouse Supervisor, Instructional Services
2013
- Julio Dejo, After-School Program Specialist, Lanier MS
- Steve Kerr, School Investigation Specialist, Human Resources
2012
- Tina West, Administrative Assistant, Hayfield Secondary
- Elizabeth Payne, K-12 Coordinator for Health, Family Life, & Physical Education, Instructional Services
2011
- Shirley Miller, Building Manager, Cooper MS
- Cheryl Temple, Manager, Assistive Technology Services, Special Services
2010
- John Adams, Building Supervisor, Stratford Landing ES
- Delores Herndon, Professional Development Specialist, rofessional Learning & Accountability
2009
- Janet Cameron, Public Health Training Assistant, Kilmer Center
- Sher Tariq Nasir, Database Engineer, Information Technology
2008
- Nancy Bowen, Administrative Assistant, Burke School
- Tom Reinsel, Coordinator, Facilities & Transportation Services
2007
- Preston Everett, Building Supervisor, Mount Vernon Woods ES
- Robert Maffett, Technology Support Specialist, Nancy Sprague Center
2006
- Nancy Gunderman, School Bus Driver, Area III Transportation
- Scott Springston, Multimedia Production Tech, Sprague Center
2005
- Michell Colwell, Student Information Analyst
- Clara Johnson, Building Supervisor, Hunters Woods ES
2004
- Joseph Nguyen, Facilities & Transportation Services
- Bill Young, Herndon HS
2003
- Gina Burke, Human Resources
- Cyndi Clyburn, Little Run ES
2002
- Michael Horgan, Information Technology
- Judy Davidson, Forest Edge ES
- Irvin Green, South Lakes HS
2001
- Toni Tate, Human Resources
- Robert Armah-Sawyer, Woodley Hills ES
2000
- Becky Domokos-Bay, General Services
- Jo Dee Grierson, Floris ES
1999
- Susan Rexford, West Springfield HS
- Joanne Frank, Rachel Carson MS
- Linda Sue Dauphin, Information Technology
- Joyce Dawkins, General Services