Employee News – Tuesday, 1/19/21

Benjamin Schwartz, director, Epidemiology and Population Health, FCHD (left); Dr. Brabrand (center): and Lisa Williams, chief equity officer (right).


Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, director of Epidemiology and Population Health at the Fairfax County Health Department (above, left) and Lisa Williams, FCPS chief equity officer (above, right), joined Superintendent Brabrand for a Vaccine Town Hall last Thursday.


FCPS Staff Receive Vaccine for COVID-19

Staff member receives COVID-19 vaccine from Inova Health Systems employee.


January 16 was the first opportunity for FCPS employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic operated by Inova Health System, as part of the Governor’s 1b vaccine group. Watch the video and see photos.

If you post a photo of yourself on social media after receiving the vaccine, be sure to tell us who you are vaccinating for and use hashtag #vaccinateFCPS


Vaccine Registration Information

Inova's vaccine clinics will be available to FCPS staff for the next three weeks. We anticipate that all staff who choose to be vaccinated will be able to receive both doses through the Inova clinics. Please make your appointment for your specific week as noted under Schedule of Appointments by Week on this page


December CARES of the Month Winners

Congratulations to FCPS CARES of the Month recipients for December! The winners are:

  • Central Office: Dawn Cochran, Stonecroft Center, Transportation.
  • Region 1: Christina Kern, Crossfield ES.
  • Region 2: Dave Wall, Justice HS.
  • Region 3: Brian Welfle and Ann Jopke, Hollin Meadows ES.
  • Region 4: Mike Craven, Burke School.
  • Region 5: Kaitlin Donohue, Eagle View ES.

See what makes the winners specialRecognize a staff member today


Chrome Sync Staff Rollout

Using unique and complex passwords is an important step in protecting your data as well as our students' data. Beginning January 25, the Department of Information Technology (IT) will make Chrome Sync available to all staff. Turning Sync on will help you manage complex passwords as well as access other time saving features across devices such as bookmarks and Chrome extensions.

Please review Chrome Sync documentation and videos to help determine if you would like to use Chrome Sync. If you decide to move forward, IT recommends that you export your Chrome bookmarks before enabling Chrome Sync. Learn how. Please contact the IT Service Desk with questions at ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu or 703-503-1600.


Photo of the Week

Jake Kohut, a band teacher at Canterbury Woods ES and Frost MS, teaches virtually while on duty as a national guardsman.


Jake Kohut teaches Canterbury Woods ES band students from a Humvee. (Photo: NBC News)

It started with a tweet from Canterbury Woods ES last Wednesday. The school praised Jake Kohut for continuing to virtually teach his band students while protecting the U.S. Capitol Building, as a member of the National Guard. (Jake also teaches band at Frost MS.) The tweet, which has more than 3,600 likes, attracted media from around the country. Jake has since been interviewed by NBC Today, NBC Nightly News, WJLA, CNNThe Washington Post, and other news outlets.

We are beyond proud of Jake for his unwavering commitment to our country and his students. Be safe, Jake, and thank you for your service.


Best of the Web Awards Honor Excellence in School Websites

FCPS has recognized six school websites for excellence in web content and use of web-based tools in the 2020 Best of the Web Awards. Winners were recognized at a virtual meeting on January 15. The annual awards are organized by the Office of Communication and Community Relations, and celebrate schools that create excellent websites to inform and engage readers. Read the news release


Congratulations to Our Newest Principals

We are excited to acknowledge our newest principals: 

Please join us in congratulating them! 


VDOE Teacher-Staff Climate and Working Conditions Survey Is Open

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Teacher/School-Based Staff Climate and Working Conditions Survey is open through February 5. The information collected from the survey will help schools ensure that all students and staff have access to a healthy, positive school environment. For more information, please visit the Department of Human Resources intranet page (VPN required).


#OurFCPS Faces: Luis Guerra

Luis Guerra, Building Supervisor, Westlawn ES

 

Not only is Luis Guerra the assistant building supervisor at Westlawn ES, he is also a community staple. He has worked at the school for 20 years (this April), and he lives in the neighborhood.

Luis is guided by the quote, “El que no sirve para servir, no sirve para vivir,” which translates to, “He who does not serve to serve does not serve to live.”  His motivation for working at FCPS is to support his family and to serve his community. He says, “I’m a man of faith who tries to love and respect everybody I meet/work with.” The Westlawn school community deeply appreciates Luis. A great example of that is this virtual celebration that a fifth-grade class organized for him. 

Principal Christoph Hill states, “Mr. Guerra makes us proud to be a part of the Westlawn Family. His love for the children, families, and community is palpable, and his smile is contagious. Mr. Guerra has been a member of our community for over 20 years, seen thousands of children enter kindergarten and graduate 6th grade, and seems to remember everyone. He places the needs of our children above all else, to ensure that every day students enter a building in which they are safe, happy, and loved. Mr. Guerra is the embodiment of #OurFCPS!”    

Luis opens the school every morning at 6:30 a.m. While his favorite part of the job has always been serving the students, without them in the building, Luis says, “Maintaining security and cleanliness makes me happiest.” He adds, “Virtual learning has made me miss working with the students and my staff members inside of the school.” 

When Luis is not busy making Westlawn sparkle, he enjoys watching tv (mainly sports), running with his dog, Bolt, sharing quality time with his family, and attending church.

Luis, we thank you for your shining example of dedication and service to Westlawn and FCPS!


Employee Wellness Webinar: Being Adaptive in an Ever-Changing World

In a world where nothing stays the same, we are seeing shifts in our workplace, cultural norms, behaviors, and ourselves. During our Employee Assistance Program's (EAP) webinar, Being Adaptive in an Ever-Changing World, participants will learn how to be adaptive and maximize the benefits of change at work or home. Please register by clicking one of the sessions below:

NOTE: If you cannot attend the live session, please register to receive the recording.

For additional information, visit our EAP, Guidance Resources, and use Web ID: FCPS. Or, please call our EAP at 1-855-355-9097.


Check Out the January Issue of Audit Buzz

The FCPS Office of Auditor General's (OAG) Audit Buzz newsletter provides an in-depth look into OAG’s work. In this month's issue, OAG summarizes the status of current engagements, highlights its FY 2020 Annual Report, and offers insight on what a risk assessment is and how it is used to identify and prioritize future audit engagements. Read Audit Buzz today


Staff Staples


Note: Intranet access is required to open some of the links in this email. If you're using a mobile device or working remotely, you can connect to the intranet via the Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network)Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions. 

Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!