What an amazing time for us to celebrate the abundant summer season.  I want to take a moment and thank those of you who shared your favorite hikes and dog walking paths – I am discovering Northern Virginia one hike and one dog walk at a time ;>)  I trust each of you are enjoying this beautiful holiday week.  Even as we find ourselves enjoying the rhythm of the summer season, we continue to be busy with a wide variety of topics and tasks. 

Just this past week, the School Board voted on the updated FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document for this coming school year. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. We know that students cannot learn when they do not feel safe and supported at school. That is why we review and revise our SR&R each year with student, family and staff input to ensure that we are doing our best to meet that basic commitment. It takes all of us working together to keep our schools safe.  We are continuing to work on ways to support healthy learning behaviors for the coming year, more to come on this important topic. 

During the Academic Matters segment of Monday night’s meeting, I also shared information about the community-guided and data-backed Special Education Enhancement Plan. The Special Education Enhancement Plan is our North Star to improve outcomes for students with IEPs and 504s, celebrate their diversity, and foster their strengths in their least restrictive environment so they can thrive today, tomorrow, and in the future.

This five-year plan guides our work to improve outcomes and to engage students with IEPs and Section 504 Plans in rigorous learning in the least restrictive environment. The plan outlines supports and structures to build staff capacity and increase staff retention. We want to ensure that we continue to have the best educators to support our diverse student population. Finally, there are actions to improve communication and partnership with our families. Effective home and school partnerships are vital to student success. I look forward to continuing to support our shared goal to support each and every student to find their passions and fulfill their hopes and dreams; together all things are possible. 

We have also announced the appointment of three individuals to our leadership team:

Dr. Michelle Boyd was named to the role of assistant superintendent for Region 6, effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Boyd has extensive experience supporting principals, schools, students, and families in her various leadership roles. She has served as the assistant superintendent for the Department of Special Services since 2020. During her tenure, she partnered with state and local health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborated with stakeholders to develop a five-year special education enhancement plan, developed plans to reduce discipline disproportionality, and expanded substance abuse prevention and intervention efforts to combat the local opioid crisis.

Prior to her work in FCPS, Dr. Boyd served as the executive director for the Piedmont Regional Education Program and an assistant superintendent and director with Richmond Public Schools. Under her leadership, she oversaw an increase in graduation rates, math proficiency rates, and students with disabilities graduating with a standard diploma.

A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in special education and elementary education, Dr, Boyd holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from University of Maryland and a doctorate degree in educational policy, planning, and leadership from the College of William and Mary. 

Dr. Nardos King was named to the role of chief equity officer, effective July 1, 2023. Dr. King has served as the interim chief equity officer since November 2021. Prior to her current position, Dr. King served as the assistant superintendent for Region 3, an executive principal for Region 1, assistant superintendent for secondary schools in Baltimore County, and principal of Mount Vernon High School. Throughout her career she has expanded opportunity and access for all students including her work in Baltimore County where she implemented no cost SAT testing, decreased suspension rates, increased graduation rates, and established an inaugural Early College Magnet Program.

As an FCPS region leader, she oversaw gains in student achievement, graduation rates, and parent and family engagement. Most recently, she has provided system-wide leadership to build organizational capacity to provide excellence, equity and opportunity for each and every student, co-championed a community team during the strategic plan process, and led the development of the FCPS equity policy.

A graduate of Virginia State University with a bachelor’s in business information systems, Dr. King earned a master’s degree in special education from George Washington University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from George Mason University. She holds a doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  Dr. King is committed to serving her community and sits on the Virginia State University Foundation Board, the Apple Federal Credit Union Board, and was the president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. She has been recognized with multiple community service awards for her dedication to the community and commitment to meeting the needs of each and every student.  

Dr. Geovanny Ponce was named to the role of chief of schools. Dr. Ponce currently serves as the assistant superintendent of high schools for Houston Independent School District, one of the largest public school systems in the nation. He has extensive leadership experience using data to drive change in a large school division.

During his tenure, Dr. Ponce increased the division graduation rate and percentage of students enrolling in higher education, improved emergent bilingual student English language proficiency, and decreased the dropout rate. Under his leadership, he reduced the teacher turnover rate and decreased the number of vacant positions at the start of the school year. As an area superintendent, he improved the campus ratings of multiple schools through an increased focus on instructional delivery and instructional coaching. Dr. Ponce established partnerships with universities and community agencies to address bilingual teacher shortages and increase student support services.

A graduate of University of Honduras with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Dr. Ponce earned a master’s degree in public education from the University of Houston and his doctorate in education from Texas A&M. He has served on multiple advisory boards for the U.S. Department of Education and was the president of the Association of Hispanic School Administrators (AHSA). Dr. Ponce received the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award and was honored as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Secondary Principal of the Year.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Boyd and Dr. King and welcoming Dr. Ponce to our team! 

And what a celebration of student and staff success! Congratulations to Sofia Lelmini, recipient of the 2023 Laura Ashley Piper Scholarship! This annual scholarship is awarded in memory of Lt. Laura Ashley Piper, who graduated from Robinson Secondary School and served as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board from 1986 to 1987.

As this year’s recipient, Sofia embodies the values that Lt. Piper is remembered for: a commitment to academics, steadfast student participation, and a drive for excellence. She has been an engaged member of Best Buddies and participated in sports. I’m so inspired by Sofia’s dedication, not only to academics, but also to her community and to her future. Way to go, Sofia! 

Finally, I was reminded of the interconnectedness of our work and the recognition of the power of seemingly small moments this past week. Last year, a former Woodson band parent and current FCPS employee noticed an ASL interpreter working with FCPS student drummer Michael Gouin during a band performance.

Sitting in the stands, she recognized not only Michael’s passion, but also the importance of FCPS’ commitment to inclusion for all students. She shared the story with FCPS’ Office of Communication and Community Relations (OCCR), and, last weekend, FCPS Video Producer Mark F. Jones won his first Emmy for his video about Michael's captivating story! Congratulations to Mark and to Michael! Many in the FCPS community helped make Michael’s story shine, from the ASL interpreter and bandmates who supported Michael’s passion to OCCR’s editorial team, photographers, and videographers. And let’s not forget the moment an FCPS employee sat in the stands during a band performance and noticed a story worth telling… A small moment made mighty! 

In reflecting about the meaning of Independence Day and all it represents, I am reminded that the fiercely independent will of the people will not be denied.  I remain grateful for the patriot spirit that gave birth to this amazing democracy.  What we have been handed, we can never take for granted. This week we celebrate the 247th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, there were only 2.5 million people living in the newly independent nation; today, America’s population is more than 323 million. While our country continues to grow, we have much to be grateful for as we celebrate this holiday weekend.

Finally, one of my favorites and her thoughts:  “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”  --  Erma Bombeck

 Wishing each of you a safe and happy 4th of July celebration,

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