Sarah Ramadan (left), classroom monitor, and Milena Flores Flores (right), pre-K instructional assistant, take a break during class at Forestdale Elementary School.
Announcing the 2023 Summer Equity Symposium
The Office of Professional Learning and Equity, in collaboration with the Equity and Cultural Responsiveness team, announces the 2023 FCPS Summer Equity Symposium. The theme this year is: Forward. Fearlessly.
The Equity Symposium is designed for participants to engage in learning that promotes growth, reflection, and continuous improvement, as we seek a culture of inclusivity, equity, diversity, and belonging. This professional learning experience will include speakers and deeper learning sessions to increase participants' consciousness of equitable and culturally responsive practices.
The Equity Symposium will be held on Tuesday, July 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Herndon High School. Registration details and more information are available at the 2023 Equity Symposium Google Site.
Equity Award Nominations Open
The Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award recognizes advocacy by FCPS staff or community members on behalf of students who are marginalized or underserved. Applications are being accepted through Thursday, June 15. Recipients will receive awards at the Equity Symposium. Visit the award webpage to learn more about the award’s namesake, the nomination process, and criteria.
Updates on Online Student Registration
Online registration was successfully piloted at 26 schools last month. Thank you to the staff and parents who have provided valuable feedback on the process!
FCPS plans to have online registration in place at all schools across the district starting June 30, ensuring a simple and efficient new student registration application process for the upcoming school year. Learn more about registration.
Virginia Computer Science Educator of the Year
Rebecca Otaizo, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) teacher at Weyanoke Elementary School, was announced as the third to fifth grade category winner of Virginia’s Computer Science Educator of the Year. Watch this video about her STEAM student program and innovative teaching.
State Tutoring Grants: Tutors/Teachers can Register to Be Vendors
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is now accepting applications from parents for tutoring microgrants for their children through the K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants program. Tutors, teachers, and providers of educational supports and services who wish to participate as vendors can register and submit an application.
The program was created to help Virginia families address the impact of the pandemic on student learning. It provides $1,500 grants to parents of school-age children for tutoring in specific subjects. Children from homes with family incomes at 300% or less of the federal poverty level may qualify for $3,000 grants.
Available services include in-person, online, and hybrid tutoring provided one-on-one or in small group or large group settings. To become a registered vendor, tutors/teachers can visit the K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants page. All grant payments will be issued directly by VDOE to selected tutors and service providers with no out-of-pocket expenses to families.
☑️ Draft Strategic Plan Survey Closes Tomorrow, May 17
Thanks to all who have participated in the final feedback opportunity for FCPS’ draft Strategic Plan. The survey will close tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17, at 11:59 p.m. If you have not had a chance to provide your input, please let your voice be heard today! Survey feedback will be reviewed by the School Board prior to the presentation of the Strategic Plan as new business at the Board’s meeting on Thursday, May 25. Learn more about FCPS’ Strategic Planning process.
📈 Building a Better Budget—Achieve Financial Wellbeing
FCPS employees are invited to a budgeting workshop with Katie Knight, community engagement officer at Apple Federal Credit Union (AFCU), at Willow Oaks Room 1000-A on Wednesday, May 31, at 5 p.m.. Learn how to deal with the impacts of inflation, healthcare costs, and other topics while making progress toward getting out of debt, saving for home improvements, vacations, or whatever your goals might be.
Seats are limited to 100 attendees. Sign up to reserve your spot. AFCU will raffle off one $25 gift card for every 25 attendees at the event.
Please email questions to employeewellness@fcps.edu or visit the Hub for more information.
🎵 Teacher Quarterfinalists for GRAMMY Music Educator Award
Congratulations to Alberto Rodriguez, orchestra director at Mount Vernon High School, and Ær Queen, music teacher at Braddock Elementary School, who have been selected as quarterfinalists for the 2024 GRAMMY Music Education Award. Additionally, Annie Ray, strings teacher from Annandale High School, is a Legacy Applicant and will also be eligible to win the Music Educator of the Year Award.
Summer Academy Catalog Available, Registration Opens Next Week
The Summer Academy Catalog is now available in MyPDE. Registration opens at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23. See how to register or email Academy@fcps.edu with questions.
North TIER Summer Course Registration
North TIER has a wonderful summer line-up of online professional development courses that are only $55 for a 30-hour course. A graduate credit option, where participants earn two graduate credits from Colorado State University, has extra work and fees. View their summer advertisement for course catalog details and information on how and where to register.
Seats fill quickly, so register early! Contact Aron Sterling with questions.
Blood Drive, Free Breakfast for Those Who Donate!
The Office of Facilities Management will host a blood drive at the Sideburn Support Center on Thursday, May 25, from 6 to 10 a.m. Register in advance. Breakfast will be provided for all who donate or attempt to donate!
📝 Academic Matters: AP, IB, PSAT, and SAT Testing
During the Academic Matters portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Reid reported on Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), PSAT, and SAT testing. Students who enroll in AP and IB courses are more likely to graduate high school on time, enroll in college at higher rates, and save time and money while in college. Dr. Reid shared some data on the number of FCPS students participating in these offerings. AP exam mean scores have increased since 2021, as have passing rates and the number of students taking the exams.
Our number of participants in IB exams have also increased since 2021. FCPS invests in these opportunities to allow students to experience rigorous, college level exams. The first six AP and IB exams are funded for any student enrolled in an AP/IB course. Watch the presentation or view the presentation slides.
Student Rights and Responsibilities Update
An update on the proposed Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) changes was presented at last Thursday’s School Board meeting. Watch the presentation or view the presentation slides.
The Impact of Academy Programs
Kendall Barry, fashion design teacher at Fairfax Academy, grew up attending Fairfax County public schools—including the Academy Fashion program where she currently works.
"I remember the Academy Fashion program's impact on me at a young age," Kendall says. "After working as a designer in the fashion industry for over 12 years for a variety of major national brands, I decided to pivot into a more meaningful career helping students with my experience and expertise."
Are you an FCPS alumnus? What brought you back to work for the school division? Tell us on the Employee Blog or email us at EmployeeNews@fcps.edu.
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Also on the Blog This Week:
Learn about a program helping professionals obtain teaching credentials and a hero at McNair Elementary.
2023 ERFC Trustee Election Results
Kathie Pfeffer-Hahn, incumbent representative of the Educational Employees' Supplementary Retirement System (ERFC) Board of Trustees and teacher at Terraset Elementary School, will serve as an ERFC trustee for three years beginning July 1.
As a reminder, only full-time, monthly-paid instructional, administrative, and educational support employees are automatically enrolled in ERFC. Visit the Hub for more information.
New Resource: Accessibility in FCPS
A new page called Accessibility in FCPS was recently added to the Employee Hub. This page combines resources, professional development, and guidance from within FCPS and beyond. It helps all staff deliver accessible resources to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. On this page, you can:
- Learn about different principles of accessibility.
- Find helpful tips to create accessible documents and presentations.
- Learn about a variety of tools and resources that can help you improve accessibility in your daily work.
Thank you to everyone who works with our websites for their dedication to maintaining high standards for website accessibility.
Celebrating Efforts to Make Websites Accessible
Thursday, May 18, marks the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Our students, staff, families, and community are diverse in many ways. They rely on our websites for many things. Providing an accessible website experience for all users strengthens our caring culture and reaffirms our commitment to equity.
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental wellness is key to student success. Learn more about mental health and resiliency resources to support the students in your life.
Register for the Suicide Awareness EAP Webinar
Register today for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Suicide Awareness: Health and Wellness Webinar on Wednesday, May 17, at 4 p.m., to learn about suicide and strategies for prevention.
This course was designed to help demystify suicide through discussions on why it occurs, identifying risk factors, learning how to intervene with someone who is expressing suicidal thoughts, knowing the importance of creating a safety plan, discovering available resources, and identifying signs and symptoms of depression.
Find additional events on the Hub EAP page. Sign up for our EAP-Wellness Newsletter to get monthly updates and announcements.
💐 Memorial Day Holiday
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 30. See the complete school year calendar.
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!
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