Recognizing and Affirming Every Student, Every Strength
Last week’s 2022 Leadership Kickoff reinforced the Affirm, Assess, Advance message that was introduced last year as a guiding tenant for all work at FCPS. Building upon last year’s message, leaders were encouraged to apply this “Triple A” philosophy by recognizing and affirming every student and every one of their strengths. Dr. Michelle Reid welcomed FCPS administrators and leaders back for the 2022-23 school year.
View more resources from Leadership Kickoff.
Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will be hosting Superintendent Community Conversations across the division this fall to get to know our communities. Events will be scheduled at high schools in each pyramid. Dates, times, and more details will be shared in an upcoming Employee News.
Ready to Teach? Job Fair Offers Opportunities for Those Waiting for License
A teacher hiring event will be held on Thursday, August 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. Although the job fair will offer information on all teaching opportunities, it will include a special focus on the new Teacher Resident program. Teacher Residents will fulfill classroom teacher duties while following a fast-tracked educational route to qualifying for and obtaining a VDOE teaching license. They will do so under general supervision from a school-based administrator.
Applicants should already have earned a bachelor’s degree and have a commitment to meet the minimum qualifications to be eligible for a Virginia Board of Education license within the first year of employment.
This hiring event will be offered both online, and in person at the FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center. Register for the Teacher Job Fair session online. Registrants can select whether they’ll attend online or in person.
Jobs in Special Education
A Special Education hiring event will be held on Wednesday, August 17, from 5 to 6 p.m. Register for the Special Education Job Fair online.
View all available jobs with FCPS. For more information, contact HR Connection online, or at 571-423-3000.
2022 Student Rights & Responsibilities Includes Cell Phone Usage Update
The Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read the Letter from the Superintendent on the 2022-23 Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Guide for Families.
Key changes to the document for the 2022-23 school year include:
- Detailed information about orientation or training stakeholders including school-based administrators and staff, transportation staff, and coaching staff; students; and families.
- Adding rights to protect citizenship and immigration status from unauthorized sharing.
- Changes to FCPS’ Acceptable Use Policy Regulation for Technology.
- A new section on cell phones.
- A clarification on the response to substance misuse violations.
- A clarification on the purpose of individualized education program (IEP) meetings when students with disabilities are reassigned for disciplinary reasons following referral to the superintendent.
The new section on cell phones prohibits cell phone use in classrooms. We recognize that this new policy will be a shift for many students and families this year, but research shows that managing phone use during class time will support students’ attention and ability to fully engage in their learning. Schools are partnering with parents to have students understand the importance of putting their phones away to minimize distractions during class.
- Students in K-8 must keep phones silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day unless there is a medical need or emergency, or teachers have allowed the usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool. Cell phones may only be used on campus before and after school. (Except in secondary schools where students in grades 7 and 8 may use phones during passing periods)
- Students in grades 9-12 must keep phones silenced and put away during all instructional periods unless there is a medical need or emergency, or teachers have allowed the usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool. Cell phones may be used on campus before the first bell, after the last bell, during passing periods, and lunches.
If a parent or guardian believes their child requires access to a personally owned device(s) as an accommodation, they should contact child’s school team—i.e., 504 Committee, Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team, English Language Committee, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Team—to schedule a meeting to have their request considered.
Parents should talk to their child(ren) before the start of the school year about these expectations for this upcoming school year. Families may also review the parental controls available for all iPhone and Android users. More information about the SR&R is available online.
The Benefits of Working for FCPS
As a reminder, the 2022 Employee Benefits Handbook is available online. It includes information on health and life insurance, retirement, disability, and health and dependent flexible savings accounts. Be sure to read Employee News regularly for updates on Open Enrollment, which begins in November.
In addition to these benefits, employees are also encouraged to take advantage of wellness activities through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Wellbeats. The EAP offers up to six therapy visits for employees and their family members. Stay tuned for details on flu shot clinics, usually held in September.
What do you think is the greatest benefit of working for FCPS? Visit our story on the Employee News Blog to share your thoughts.
Treat Yourself to On-Demand Fitness, Mindfulness, Nutrition Classes and More!
Wellbeats, a free program for FCPS benefit-eligible employees, features 800+ on demand wellbeing classes for all ages, ability levels, and interests. Classes range from 5-minute office stretches to 50-minute dance workouts.
Forgot your login information? Here is how to access your account:
- Visit Wellbeats
- Click Login and enter your FCPS email address
- Click “Forgot My Password”
- Wellbeats will email you a code to reset your password
New to Wellbeats? Try the August Challenge. Learn the movements that feel good for you and your body and set you on a path to real results with the 4-week “Find Your Fit” program!
Questions? Email employeewellness@fcps.edu.
Expectant Parent Resources
Thinking about expanding your family? The Office of Benefit Services will offer virtual workshops providing information on how to prepare and plan for child-related leaves on the following dates:
- Tuesday, August 16, 11 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, September 15, 4 to 5 p.m.
To register for an upcoming workshop, please visit the Expectant Parent Workshop website. All workshop materials, including the voiceover presentation and accompanying handouts, will also be posted to this site.
Employee News Anytime, Anywhere!
The Employee News Blog is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest news and information employees need to know. Check the blog anytime, you’ll find it linked on the FCPS website's Employee Resources page. We’ll share the latest blogs in each week’s Employee News newsletter.
Be sure to check for opportunities to share feedback on topics. Your voice matters and we want to hear from you. Your feedback will be shared with division leadership and we may share updates and answer questions in future blog posts.
VDOE Wants Your Feedback on History and Social Science Curriculum Review
Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) robust history and social studies programs prepare all students to be positive contributors to their communities. FCPS aligns curriculum to the History and Social Science Standards of Learning provided by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
VDOE is conducting a routine review of current History and Social Science Standards of Learning. This process began in 2020 and is expected to be complete by November 2022. Public engagement is an important component of the review process and VDOE will consider all public comments received by September 25, 2022.
FCPS encourages families, students, staff, and community members to provide feedback to VDOE and participate in district discussions and feedback opportunities. Learn more and offer public comment on the VDOE website. Keep reading Employee News for more information and opportunities to share feedback.
Congratulations to Our May FCPS CARES Winners
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. All FCPS Cares submissions were reviewed, and six winners were selected for the month of May—one for each region and the central office—to receive extra recognition for their work.
One of the winners is Efrosini Stavros, gifted education teacher at Willow Springs Elementary School. The parent who nominated her wrote: "My son has been fortunate enough to not only be a student in her classroom this year, but a thriving, valued member of her COMMUNITY. He has repeatedly come home telling various stories about his "community," instead of his ‘class.’ Just a simple change of wording and mindset on the teacher's part has completely overhauled his outlook about what school means. He feels important, heard, and recognized for who he is.”
Other winners in May include:
- Pedro Forbes, ERFC, Central Office
- Laura Lee Couch, Great Falls Elementary School
- Amanda Dey, Aly McCarty, and Sara Kugler, Woodburn Elementary School
- Samantha Hartwell, Saratoga Elementary School
- Robyn Ridpath, Fairview Elementary School
Get more information about all the winners and how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee who has gone above and beyond.
New Assistant Ombudsman for Special Education
Katherine (Kathy) Murphy, who currently serves as FCPS Section 504 Program Specialist in the Department of Special Services, has been named the new assistant ombudsman for special education, effective August 15. In this role she will support parents, students, and employees who have special education concerns and will provide deeper knowledge and understanding related to the special education process.
Murphy has served in her current position for 8 years where she has been a point of contact for internal, state, and federal officials. Murphy has considerable experience as a system lead/responder to Office for Civil Rights (OCR) cases involving students with disabilities, as well as responding to parent complaints regarding Section 504 concerns. She has partnered with a variety of stakeholders to develop effective ways to ensure equal access to educational programs for children and youth.
Murphy has also served as a senior educational specialist within the Due Process and Eligibility section of the Office of Special Education Procedural Support, where she utilized strong communication skills, negotiation skills, and problem-solving strategies to resolve parent and school staff concerns. Additionally, Ms. Murphy has developed and delivered trainings for key stakeholders within the school division.
Providing a Safe and Welcoming Space This School Year and Beyond
FCPS is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The Fairfax County School Board recently approved a Trust Policy that solidifies our commitment. It aligns with Fairfax County’s Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy to ensure that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit our Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.
School Leaders, Considering Administration?
The George Mason University Education Leadership Program is currently recruiting for a Fall 2022 Region North (Fairfax region) hybrid cohort. In addition to the cohort, there are fully online and campus hybrid options available.
To learn more about advancing your career by earning a master’s degree or advanced certificate in Education Leadership, register for a virtual information session on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. or Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Once you register, you will receive a Zoom link to join the information session. By attending an info session, your $75 application fee will be waived.
Mason’s Education Leadership Program is 20th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. If you have any questions, please contact Farnoosh Shahrokhi, director of the Education Leadership & Policy Division at Mason, at fshahrok@gmu.edu.
Calendar Reminder: First Day of School
As a reminder, the first day of the 2022-23 school year is Monday, Aug. 22. FCPS parents, students, and staff members are invited to share their favorite pictures or videos from the first day of school on social media using the hashtag #FirstDayFairfax. We will share some of the photos on the FCPS Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages. View the 2022-23 school year calendar.
Staff Staples
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Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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