Employee News: Salary Bonus, Calendar Survey Deadline, COVID Testing

Three people petting a dog


Carson Middle School staff members (from left to right) Veronica Delaney, Monique Berkeley, and Mavis Botchway greet Tucker, a reading/therapy dog. Tucker is a very good boy who provides support in reading classrooms as well as to any student who might be having a difficult day or is feeling stressed.


It’s Bonus Time!

Look for a bonus in this week’s paycheck! All active, eligible employees as of November 1 will receive a bonus. Full-time and part-time contracted employees will receive $1,000. Temporary hourly employees who worked 10 hours or more from October 1, 2021, to October 21, 2022, will receive $500, and those who worked less than 10 hours during that time frame will receive $250. 

Monthly employees will see the payment on November 30. Biweekly employees, including temporary hourly employees, will receive the bonus on December 2. Visit our website for more information on the employee bonus.


Get Ready for Winter Weather

Winter video


Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made

FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).

FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated

Plan ahead, and make sure your contact information is up-to-date in UConnect, so you will receive text messages from FCPS. Bookmark the FCPS website, plan for childcare if needed, and know what items you may want to take home with you before a weather event.


Calendar Survey Deadline, Attend a Calendar Webinar

School Year Calendar explanation video


Watch our new video to learn about FCPS’ calendar development process. The video is also available in additional languages on our website.


Calendar Survey Closes Soon

FCPS employees were emailed an invitation(s) to take the 2023-24 School Year Calendar Survey. If you haven’t participated yet, please do so by Thursday, December 1. Thank you for lending your voice to the calendar development process.


Attend a Calendar Development Webinar

Join us on Thursday, December 1, at noon or 6 p.m.,for a webinar about how FCPS creates the school year calendar. The webinars will be held on Zoom. Please register today.


Employees Unite to Support Students

bags of donation items


In honor of Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday, we are featuring FCPS CARES nominees who have provided a great example of the spirit of giving. 

Jenny Murphy, a learning disabilities teacher at Kilmer Middle School, nominated Gina North, curriculum resource teacher in Special Services; Heather Murphy, athletic trainer, and Caroline Taylor, physical education teacher, both from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology; and Kent Hulnick, an athletic trainer from South Lakes High School. The four employees have provided much needed support to Kilmer’s food and clothes pantries. Visit the Employee Blog to find out what they did. 

Are you and/or your coworkers giving back this holiday season? Tell us about it! Also, check out the Employee Blog for several opportunities to help students and others in the community.


An Elementary Perspective on Strategic Planning

Smiling children video


The success of our strategic planning process depends on our entire community being engaged. Watch as some of our amazing elementary students share their hopes and ideas for the future of schools. Also, stay tuned for information on upcoming opportunities to participate in the development of FCPS’ Strategic Plan.


COVID Diagnostic Testing Available Now

Animated doctor swabbing woman


COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county November 29 and 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information.


Remember to Update your COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form

All FCPS employees are required to complete the Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form. It is your responsibility to update the form as your status changes.

This form helps monitor the health and safety needs across the division, and assists principals and program managers with approving administrative leave for eligible employees for COVID-19 quarantine/isolation. For more information, visit the Employee COVID-19 Resources on the Employee Hub.


Employee Engagement Survey Update

The Employee Engagement Survey closed on Wednesday, November 16. Here's a quick preview of the initial results:

  • 73% of contracted employees and 15% of hourly employees/substitutes participated in the survey.
  • 78% of contracted employees who responded and 85% of hourly employees/substitutes who responded are considered to be engaged or highly engaged.

Full reports will be available in early 2023. Visit the Employee Engagement Survey page for more information.


ESSER III Community Conversation on December 13

Thanks to everyone who provided input on ESSER III funding–which was allocated to FCPS to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and student learning–via an online feedback form in October. Community feedback indicated that there is a general unawareness of the impact of ESSER funding and a perceived lack of communication around how the funds are being used. 

To help address this, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and Sloan Presidio, chief academic officer, will host a Community Conversation on ESSER on Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Gatehouse Administration Building. Please stay tuned for more details. 

Visit BoardDocs for a complete update on ESSER.


Proposed Process for Special Education Enhancement Plan

FCPS will be developing a Special Education Enhancement Plan to help inform our work to increase outcomes for students with disabilities. On November 15, FCPS staff shared their proposed process for developing the plan at a School Board work session. This process includes many opportunities for community feedback and collaboration from a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders such as FCPS employees, parents/caregivers, students, and content experts. View the presentation on YouTubeGet more information on BoardDocs.


Special Education Enhancement Plan Steering Committee: Nominate a Professional or Paraprofessional

FCPS is seeking nominations for professional and paraprofessional staff, in general education and special education, who are interested in contributing to the Special Education Enhancement Plan as part of the Steering Committee. Please use this form to nominate yourself or someone else. Nominations are due by Friday, December 2.


Winter Professional Development Opportunities

Are you planning to take the next step in your career to become a principal? The new Aspiring Principal Academy will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead with confidence and build your network as you prepare for principalship. Applicants should plan to participate in the spring 2023/fall 2023 FCPS principal pool application process. This new cohort-style professional learning opportunity is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, January 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

The George Mason Education Leadership Program has a Region North (Fairfax region) hybrid cohort that will be accepting new students for the spring 2023 semester. In addition to the cohort, there are fully online and campus hybrid options available. If you are interested in advancing your career by earning a master’s degree or an advanced Certificate in Education Leadership, attend a virtual information session on Tuesday, December 6, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm

North TIER has a wonderful line-up of online professional development courses during the winter months. The cost is only $55 for a 30-hour course. Seats fill quickly, so register early.

Visit the Employee Blog for more information.


Calendar Reminders


National Special Education Day

National Special Education Day graphic


National Special Education Day is recognized each year on December 2. It commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs! 

Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.


Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day graphic


Bodhi Day, Thursday, December 8, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as “bodhi” in Sanskrit and Pali. Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum. 

The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. Schools are open on these days, however, the School Board has directed that certain events that cannot be made up at another time will not be held on these observance days. See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.


Native American Heritage Month

Smiling man with feather headdress


Rufus “Rick” Kelly knows he could do information technology work anywhere. However, the Fairfax County Public Schools’ senior technology specialist says his Native American roots and cultural upbringing led him to a 30-year career in public education. Read about Rick's path to FCPS

Visit our Employee News Blog to share how you celebrate or incorporate your culture into your work at FCPS.


Superintendent Continues Community Conversations

Smiling Dr. Reid


FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid continues to get to know families and their needs across the division through her Community Conversations. Two virtual events are being planned for this winter. The first will take place on Monday, December 12, at 7 p.m., followed by a Spanish-language event on Friday, January 12, at 11 a.m. Click the dates of the conversations to register for either event.


Recommended Changes to Family Life Education

Your opportunity to share feedback about the recommended changes to the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum will continue through Thursday, December 1. You may review the recommended changes on our website and provide input on the brief feedback form. Public feedback will be shared with the Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee and the School Board. FCPS staff and the School Board will consider all feedback but will not be able to reply to individuals. 


Provide Feedback on Secondary World Languages Basal Resources

FCPS will adopt new Secondary (Grades 6-12) World Languages Basal Resources for the 2023-24 school year. Basal resources are the primary instructional resources used to teach a given subject. The process for selecting new resources includes an opportunity for the public to review the instructional materials being considered. Public review will run through Thursday, December 8. A review committee made up of community members, administrators, and teachers will meet in November and December to evaluate the materials under consideration as well as feedback from the community. Find more information.


School Board Meeting on December 1 at 7 p.m.

School Board desk & gavel


The School Board will hold its regular business meeting on Thursday, December 1, at 7 p.m. See the complete regular meeting agenda (English only). The meeting can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and on the FCPS website. Agenda highlights include:

  • Midyear Budget Review.
  • Issuance of School Bonds.
  • Proposed New Policy 3290, Parental Notification Regarding Instructional Materials with Sexually Explicit Content.

View recordings of School Board meetings and work sessions on the FCPS YouTube channel. To watch School Board meetings dubbed in Spanish, visit the FCPS en Español YouTube channel.

If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the Board clerk. Find your School Board member and their contact information on the School Board Members webpage.


Staff Staples

Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using 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!