Nearly 1,300 teachers turned out for the annual Great Beginnings Summer Institute (GBSI) last week at South County High School.

The program aims to support new teachers, teachers who are new to FCPS, and career switchers with professional development, coaching, network building, and resource sharing. “Every student deserves a great teacher and every teacher deserves a great beginning,” said Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid as she addressed the new teachers at the start of their day.

With a nationwide teacher shortage, we ask our new teachers: Why FCPS?

For one military spouse, the choice was easy. Several speakers she enjoyed at a conference she attended before she moved to the area were from FCPS.  “It was an obvious choice,” said Mary Kathryn Thompson, school counselor at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School. She is excited to “take advantage of the learning opportunities this district has to offer.”

For another new recruit, FCPS’ large size and positive reputation made an impression. “I have friends in the area and heard the benefits and support for teachers is great. I think it’s the best district in the state,” said Mark Feld, IB/Honors history teacher at Annandale High School. Feld transferred to FCPS from a different neighboring district and will be teaching high school for the first time. “I’m looking forward to making genuine connections. As I’m working mostly with seniors, I’m excited to collaborate with them and help them work towards their own visions of their future.”

Among the large group of smiling faces was a smaller cohort from George Mason University (pictured in the photo at the top of this page), serendipitously mostly dressed in green, one of the school’s colors. “We went through the physical education program together at GMU which has a lot of ties to FCPS,” said Nathan Moseley, PE teacher at Irving Middle School (pictured back left). “It is a privilege to work at one of the top and largest counties in the country.”

Moseley’s counterpart at Irving will be a familiar face. Matthew Colaianni, (pictured back right) will be joining Moseley teaching PE at Irving next year. Colaianni is an FCPS alum, attending Kilmer Middle School and Marshall High School. 

Although there is much to learn before the first day of school, there is also much for the new recruits to look forward to. GBSI aims to provide new teachers with all the resources they need to start their first year strong; including connections that could last a lifetime. The kick off event last year was only the first step of a yearlong program of activities associated with GBSI. 

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