After sharing how Frances Coffey spent part of her summer in Africa, we've received several submissions from staff about what they did this summer to rest, relax, and/or recharge. Read some of those submissions below. 

Want to contribute your own story? Tell us more by completing the form below or email your story and photos to [email protected]. 

My husband and I spent a little time traveling. This week here we went to Philadelphia and there definitely was a lot of history there. It was fun to see all the beautiful architecture.

— Cheri Hahn, instructional assistant at Edison High School 

The highlight of my summer was traveling with students to the Global Leadership Summit in Berlin, Germany, focused around building a sustainable future. Afterward, we traveled through Italy to understand sustainability in context. Amazing!

— Angie Rollet, history and social studies teacher at Chantilly High School

Cycling, cycling, and more cycling.    

As a programming teacher, the best ideas are born when I unplug from technology. Hiking, cycling, and vacationing in the Berkshires has made this one of my best summers.

— Selwyn Lawrence, business and information technology teacher, South Lakes High School

Five teachers and administrators from Dogwood Elementary School visited Guatemala to build a house for a family of six with the non-profit From Houses to Homes. This was Principal Kate Beckner's third time volunteering with the group, but her first time taking fellow staff with her. Read more about their experience. 

I went to Lebanon to visit family in Zahlé, a small town in the Beqaa valley where my dad is from. We toured Beirut, Byblos, Batroun, and Baalbek (an ancient Roman ruin pictured), ate lots of amazing food, spent time with relatives including my “Giddou” (grandfather), and enjoyed the rich culture.

— Michelle Gabro, English teacher at Langley High School (at right)

Having retired from FCPS on May 1, I relocated to coastal North Carolina, having a home built in Southport, AKA “America’s Happiest Seaside Town,” and am now working at Cape Fear Community College for a few more years serving students.

After teaching ESY at Deer Park Elementary School, I was off to NYC to visit my daughter. Highlights included: 

• Fantastic high tea at the Whitby hotel, talk about delicious and decadent. 
• Exploring the new Museum of Broadway that opened Fall 2022. 
• Seeing the hottest show on Broadway nominated for 13 Tonys, winner of 4, Some Like it Hot, a new retelling of the classic movie with AMAZING tap dancing and costumes!

I could go on, but you probably don’t have room. Needles to say NYC was FANTASTIC and was THE highlight of my summer!!

— Cathy Boyd, special education teacher at Oak View Elementary School (at left)

Spending every minute possible with my 7-9 month old!

For my summer, I took one month and traveled around Southeast Asia through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. I wanted to see Angkor Wat, which was a bucket list item for me. I went on a tour through G Adventures. They have multiple charity organizations we were able to support that helped young adults learn English and skills for restaurants and tourism, which was amazing to support.

It's fantastic to be able to relate to my students at school since we have many Vietnamese and Asian students so I'm excited to tell them where I've been.

— Gina Consumano, business teacher at Annandale High School (at right)

Spending weekends at the pool to relax and recharge.  

— Shelli Wayland, Human Resources

Hike at Sky Meadows State Park in Paris, Virginia, with my son, Daniel. He loved the humidity and green landscape in his native Virginia, quite different from Spokane, Washington!

— Susan Stager, retirement counselor for ERFC (below)

The Capital Pride parade and festivals both had unofficial FCPS contingents and it was a really awesome thing. With teachers and leaders and parents it felt like I belonged.

— Robert Rigby, substitute teacher

I spent time going around the whole globe visiting Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Vietnam, and Singapore!

And then the rest of the Summer I got to sleep in, didn't work, watch NCIS Tv shows, went to Manassas Splashdown Waterpark, and ate good food over Summer Break!

Fun fact about me, I’ve visited 199 countries and all 50 states. 

— Jonathan Truong, public health training assistant at Oakton High School (above)

I bicycled 275 miles from Akron, Ohio, to Buffalo, New York, along Lake Erie and stopped at every library along the way — more than 25 libraries — to get ideas, talk to the friendly librarians and give my legs a rest!

— Jeannie Sklar, librarian at Haycock Elementary School (at right)

I did a bit of a staycation for my summer. I visited all 23 Fairfax County Public Libraries and visited 22 local parks; some were Fairfax Parks, some NOVA Parks, some National Parks.

— Marcie Atkins, librarian at Oak View Elementary School