What an amazing spring weekend!!  I trust each of you had a chance to get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful community this weekend.  I cherish the many opportunities we have to shape our future and nurture the positive energy that transforms our community and world. It is so often the simplest of acts, that when accumulated, support outrageous success. 

We continue to celebrate the Month of the Military Child across FCPS. Last week, I mentioned that I visited Fort Belvoir and we recorded a video message for our military-connected families alongside the Garrison Commander. I hope you will share this message with friends and family and celebrate these incredible children who make extraordinary sacrifices in support of their loved ones who keep our nation safe. In reviewing the video message, I am inclined to realize that neither Col. Messina nor I will be called into any basketball action of note any time soon ;>)

I also have my purple ready for next Wednesday's Purple Up!  That's the day when we support military-connected youth by wearing purple — a symbol that combines the colors of all branches of the military. I hope you will join me to say, “Thank You!” Please also share our Military Families website with anyone military-connected families that you know; it matters. 

This past week I attended association leadership meetings for the Middle School Principals Association and High School Principals Association, as well as a roundtable for principals with three or fewer years of experience. Each week, I continue to enjoy hosting principal and school-based staff roundtable discussions where I hear directly from our school-based leaders and for those who attend to share with one another – you never know where the conversation will take us!

As someone who served as a high school leader for a number of years, I appreciate the leadership they bring to our schools and connecting with my roots. We had a wide-ranging discussion, including how to attract the best of our best to our Title 1 schools, how we use our time we have with our students most effectively, and our coming work in making all our classrooms as inclusive as possible, where all our students flourish.

Thank you to everyone who came to the first of our spring Employee Conversations last week! We kicked our spring conversation series off at Fairfax Villa and Braddock elementary schools.  I so appreciate all the staff who took the time to attend.  I also appreciate all the staff at each of our hosting schools for hosting these events as I know there are a number of details that are necessary for us to pull off these events; it matters.  

One consistent theme was how we can make the best use of our time and resources as we work within our needs-based budget, as well as how we can support the influx of those new to FCPS, including staff, students, and families. Another focus was keeping our compasses pointed firmly towards what’s best for our students through strong partnerships with our families, focusing on foundational skills like writing, and supporting good attendance habits and student mental health. 

We will be holding two more opportunities for staff to connect this coming week. Our spring Employee Conversations continue this week! I invite you to register for one of the remaining scheduled events below, and be sure to bring your questions, concerns, comments, and ideas. As a listening leader, these conversations are vital to keeping your voice reflected in FCPS’ mission!

• Monday, April 8, 4:30-6 p.m., South County Middle School.
• Monday, April 15, 4:30-6 p.m., Frost Middle School.

If you’re interested in attending from a family member or community member’s point of view, our Community Conversations series runs from mid-April to late May. Visit our Community Conversation webpage to view dates and register. 

This past weekend was the National School Board Association (NSBA) Conference. Lots of invigorating discussion on removing barriers to student success and promoting inclusive educational experiences!  I attended this weekend event with eight of our board members and spent time learning from colleagues across the country on a wide variety of topics as well as hearing an inspirational conversation with Ruby Bridges on equity, education, and empathy.  Ruby remains an iconic figure in the fight for civil rights and education equality. 

In this thought-provoking session, Ruby shared her personal journey as the first Black child to integrate an elementary school in the South and the enduring impact it has had on her life and the nation. Ruby Bridges is a civil rights icon, activist, author, and speaker who, at the age of six, was the first Black student to integrate an all-White elementary school alone in Louisiana. Bridges was born in Mississippi in 1954, the same year the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision ordering the integration of public schools. Her family later moved to New Orleans, where, on November 14, 1960, Bridges began attending William Frantz Elementary School, single-handedly initiating the desegregation of public education. Her walk to the front door of the school was immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting “The Problem We All Live With,” in Robert Coles’ book “The Story of Ruby Bridges,” and in the Disney movie “Ruby Bridges.”

As the conference staff shared, this conversation with Bridges reminds us of the critical role we each play in “shaping inclusive and equitable educational environments and emphasizes the importance of fostering empathy, understanding, and open dialogue within school communities to address systemic challenges and create lasting change. Drawing on her experiences, Bridges offered insights into the power of education as a tool for dismantling barriers and promoting unity”; together all things are possible.  

Thank you to Music Educational Specialist Katrina Chaney for sharing a recent FCPS recognition. Katrina shared that “Fairfax County Public Schools has been named a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants! This national association recognizes communities from all over the United States and it is an honor to be chosen. This is the 11th time that we have received the award and they have named 975 school districts this year for the 25th anniversary of the award.” Go Team FCPS!!

The countdown to the eclipse is on!  A reminder that the eclipse is taking place Monday, April 8 and (weather permitting) will be visible in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m.  It appears that mother nature may obscure our ability (with proper eyewear!) to catch this phenomenon, which will not happen again for decades!  As a reminder, approved eyewear must be used for viewing. There is a page on the FCPS website with more information about safe viewing, what eclipses are, and even a link to view NASA’s cameras! 

This will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States until 2044. You can see the path of totality on the map above, courtesy of nationaleclipse.com. The maximum eclipse will occur around 3:20 p.m. I hope that each of you can take advantage of this truly awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, which has been capturing our collective curiosity and imaginations for centuries. We have sent our safety information and Don’t forget to practice safe solar viewing! 

I am very excited to share that I will be sending a letter later this week to our families regarding the new Language Arts curriculum that was approved for this coming school year. Because of this new curriculum, all of our FCPS teachers who help our students learn how to read will have the same high-quality materials and lesson plans. 

This matters a lot because when a student can read well, they do better in all  their classes and are more likely to graduate high school ready for any future they can imagine. Doing a great job of teaching our students how to read is one of the most important ways we can help them succeed and is a critical equity commitment we have made in our strategic plan. Our elementary teachers are already spending more time teaching phonics, spelling, and vocabulary. When students learn to read and write well in Language Arts class, they can read and write well in all of their classes. 

These materials are based on evidence-based literacy instruction (EBLI) which is based on the research of “the science of reading” and it’s a proven way to teach reading. Teachers have been learning and shifting their teaching for the past several years and now they will have a common curriculum so that they will all have the same high quality materials from which to teach. This video shows how it’s already helped students at some FCPS schools read better. Teacher training will begin this summer so that everyone is ready for this coming school year. 

And so in these spring weeks ahead, as we work hard to remain focused on all the opportunities before us, let us be mindful of “No person is too young or too small to make a difference.” – Ruby Bridges.

Take good care,

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