I trust you are each enjoying this beautiful summer holiday weekend. I want to thank you for the great energy these past several weeks as we each champion our FCPS mission -- Fairfax County Public Schools inspires and empowers students to meet high academic standards, lead healthy, ethical lives, and be responsible and innovative global citizens. It is so inspiring to be back together again as we prepare for mountain top learning experiences throughout this academic year.  It is so important for us to connect and “Remember who you are.” – Mufasa.  We are Fairfax!!

I have heard so many great stories of the work going on in the schools and departments this week. So many excited students, staff, and families about the start of a new school year. Please know how much you are each appreciated. Learning happens best in community and our community is better for your efforts. 

This past week, my Community Conversations took me to the Lake Braddock and Chantilly pyramids. Thank you to all the staff that supports these events; it matters.  During these conversations, I appreciate the opportunity to hear diverse perspectives on FCPS’ strengths and challenges. I’m beginning to take note of common themes around mental health and wellness, safety, and high quality teaching and learning for all students. I want to acknowledge a Chantilly student from the class of 2023, who shared the struggles his friends are having with their mental health and wellness. We need to be holistic in our approach to learning so that all students are ready to meet their potential in a safe and welcoming environment. There are many more opportunities to attend community conversations and to share your thoughts with me. You can register on our website for these events that run through November.  This coming week, I will see you at Madison HS, South Lakes HS, and McLean HS. 

Just before the long weekend, I toured Lake Anne and Dogwood elementary schools, as well as the Hunter Mill District with Board Member Melanie Meren. We sat in on the immersion cohort at Lake Anne where students participate in math, science, and reading in Spanish. We know that as big as our world is, it has grown so much smaller with technology. Being able to speak a second language is important to making connections. At Dogwood, two engineering students showed us their boat building project. Their Portrait of a Graduate skills were obvious in how they communicated what they had done, and how they collaborated in the creation of their final project. Seeing students put learning into action is what it’s all about! Kudos to Dogwood’s teaching team for creating these experiences for our students. It’s the foundation to creating the next generation of STEAM leaders.  Together, we are reimagining possibilities…

Our students continue to inspire and amaze me! Chantilly HS seniors Kaavya Karthikeyan and Akanksha Tibrewala are seeking a patent for a pandemic project. They created a specialized walker to encourage mobility among people living with Parkinson’s Disease. What an incredible achievement! I wish them the best of luck as they seek out this patent. If you are interested in reading more about this, please check out their story on the FCPS website.

While the Artemis Rocket launch did not go off as planned this week due to technical issues, I am excited to share that last year’s Cooper Middle School symphonic band percussion section performance of an original song titled, The Artemis Generation: Exploration, Discovery and the Unknowns, will be played during the launch broadcast. You can get a sneak peak in this video! The connection to space exploration is strong in FCPS. Robinson SS graduate Kjell Lindgren is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), leading the SpaceX Crew-4 on a six month mission. During his first mission to the ISS in 2015, Lindgren spoke with students at Robinson. I hope all of our students realize they can be the next designer of a space rocket, or even live aboard the ISS. It’s our continuing role as educators to plant the seeds of passion and interest in STEAM through meaningful learning experiences. Thank you to Cooper principal Lisa Barrow and band director Matt Baker for sharing this exciting experience with me! Congratulations to the incredible percussion students and parents of the 2021-2022 Cooper Symphonic Band Program: Jai Arora, Humphrey Chan, Jason Chang, Hudson Denney, Frankie Diorio, Daniel Kim, Aadi Malhotra, and Christian Perrin. 

With a goal of streamlining decision making across critical Division work, our Department of Instructional Technology (DIT) set out to build a modern Data + Analytics team as we emerge from the pandemic. DIT was also able to partner with the Harvard University’s Strategic Data Fellow program at the incubation stage to bring on team resources with a deep perspective on educational data. This past school year the DIT Data + Analytics team collaborated with our Instructional Services Department (ISD) to solve a long term challenge and delivered an On Time Graduation (OTG) dashboard. The OTG dashboard combines data from SIS, EDSL, and VDOE to provide a one-stop dashboard for identifying, monitoring, and intervening with students in need of support to graduate on time.

More recently, at my request, the DIT Data + Analytics team collaborated with our Facilities, Budget, HR and SIS teams to produce a comprehensive dashboard tracking school projections to actual enrollments and staff vacancies. This enables our leadership team to visualize schools facing unexpected enrollment changes and potential staffing implications on a regular basis through the school opening phase as well as ongoing throughout the year, as well as catalyze future forward planning. Given the scale, complexity, and importance of FCPS’s mission, it is critical that leaders are equipped with tools that make data accessible and actionable. Using an iterative user-centered design approach, the DIT Data + Analytics team delivers data dashboards and reports that unlock actionable insight from previously disconnected systems. It is also providing the opportunity for us to pause and remain curious a bit longer about the data and the story it is illuminating for us.  As we contemplate new and different strategies to support our students, staff, and families, this real time data is invaluable.  Together, all things are possible. 

Early Wednesday morning, Rachna Suryakant gave me a tour of the Stonecroft Transportation Facility. Driver Nick Rocha showed me the electric bus that he drives, and spoke of the advantages of driving an EV. Nick has been with FCPS for five years and drives routes for Bull Run and Deer Park elementary schools, as well as Westfield High School. I appreciate his perspective on how electric buses save costs in maintenance and fuel. Through the Joint Environmental Task Force with Fairfax County, FCPS is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040. We have eight electric buses with 20 more on the way very soon. You can learn more about electric buses in this short video.

Thank you to everyone who has invited me to visit their school, department or event. My heart beats strongest when I am out in the field and I am always looking for more opportunities to explore all that Fairfax County has to offer. Keep sending opportunities my way!

Soon, the summer heat will make way for the subtle chill that slowly sneaks into our mornings and evenings. I don’t know about you, but I’m Team Fall. I love the crisp air, the vibrant colors and yes, I’ll be first in line for the pumpkin spice lattes, actually pumpkin anything ;>). How about you? Are you Team Fall or Team Summer?  I can’t wait to find a hike to see the fall leaves as they turn in the coming months.  (one that I can take the dogs on :>)

As we are enjoying this beautiful long holiday weekend, let's remember to be mindful of the meaning behind Labor Day which honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of the country. Thank you for all that each of you do each and every day to support our students and families. I hope you will find a joyful way to make space for family and friends this weekend. Today and every day, I hope you continue to find the joys that bring passion to your purpose each day!  

Warmest regards,

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