FCPS CARES of the Month, Benefit Confirmation Statements

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 11/07/2023 06:50 PM EST
Veteran Staff


Staff and volunteers at White Oaks Elementary School who are military veterans include (from left) Ralphael (Ralph) DiBacco, Harley Stuntz, Alan Peek, and Claire Pruismann. Read about their impact on the school. Veterans, thank you for your service to our country, and for continuing to serve our local community and our children.

🎖️ FCPS Employee-Veterans Continue Shaping Our Country's Future

Moose Bruce


As we approach Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11, we would like to say a heartfelt “Thank you” to the many FCPS employees who are also military veterans. Read about Moose Bruce (pictured above) and several other employee-veterans on the Employee Blog.

Are you a military veteran who is now working for FCPS? Email us at EmployeeNews@fcps.edu to send photos, tell us what brought you to FCPS, and share how your military career influenced or impacted the work you do now. Your story may be shared in a future blog.

đź©ş Benefit Confirmation Statements Are on Their Way

Open enrollment ended on Friday, November 3. Soon, you will receive a confirmation statement in your FCPS.edu inbox, which will show your elected benefits for 2024. Please review this statement carefully. Find out more about benefits and open enrollment.

Benefit Corrections

If you need to make corrections to your 2024 benefit elections, you may do so next week in UConnect. To adjust your plans, covered dependents, or flexible spending account enrollment, login to UConnect Monday, November 13, through Friday, November 17, at 4 p.m. Visit the Open Enrollment webpage for more information.

🥗 FCPS CARES of the Month Recipient Cooks Up a Warm, Inviting Environment

Shobana Sen

FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. One of the September CARES of the Month recipients was Shobana Sen, manager of the Gatehouse Cafe (pictured at left).

“Now that the hot food line is back and the salad bar and customized sandwich bar have returned, there is simply no need to pack a lunch or to leave to grab something to eat,” her nomination stated. “Shobana Sen and her team have always created a warm and inviting environment. I wanted her to know how fortunate we are at Gatehouse to have her! She truly goes above and beyond EVERY day!"

Congratulations to Shobana and other September FCPS CARES of the Month recipients:

  • Matthew Brado, Herndon Middle School
  • Stacy Kirkpatrick, Chesterbrook Elementary School
  • Ronna Petitt, Riverside Elementary School
  • Jeni Maenner, Oak View Elementary School
  • Jann Canestra, Cub Run Elementary School
  • Robin Thibodeaux, North Springfield Elementary School

Read more about all the recipients. Do you know an employee who deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond? Submit their story.

SUBstantial Changes: New Substitute Scheduling Management System Coming in the New Year

SmartFind Express will be phased out in the coming months. The Substitute Office is currently in the testing phase of implementing a new substitute scheduling management system. The new platform will offer more user-friendly and intuitive software, customizable profiles for schools and teachers (including maps, parking information, and photos), data reporting features, and the ability to process requests from anywhere using a phone app.  

All time and attendance processors (TAPs) received an email on Monday, November 6, with upcoming hybrid training sessions. Teachers, substitutes, and school administrators should stay tuned for additional communications starting next week including projected timelines, training reference guides, and tutorial videos.   

Updates and resources will be posted on the Substitute Resources Hub page. Please contact substitute@fcps.edu with any questions. 

Instructional Coach Learning Cohort: Apply Now

Applications are being accepted for the Winter 2023-24 Instructional Coach Learning Cohort (ICLC). The ICLC is designed to prepare teacher-leaders for the role of an FCPS instructional coach through in-person professional development, experiences leading in their schools, and asynchronous learning and reflection. Cohort participants  are also provided with observations, coaching, and feedback. There will be seven in-person sessions beginning Wednesday, January 10. 

Teachers interested in becoming an instructional coach for the 2024-25 school year should consider applying. Find additional information and application materials. Please contact Hallie Case with questions.

Preventing Employee Burnout Webinar

Person stretching their arms and sitting at their computer desk


Join your colleagues Wednesday, November 8, 4:30-5:30 p.m., for an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) webinar on reclaiming your well-being and becoming unstuck from a burnout cycle. You will learn practical strategies to regain balance and resilience before stress becomes burnout.

Register for Preventing Employee Burnout to learn how to identify early signs of burnout, create a work environment that makes burnout less likely, and check in with colleagues who are experiencing signs of burnout. 

Find more events on the Hub EAP page and visit the Recorded EAP Workshops page for recordings of previous webinars. 

Access No-Cost Mental Health Support Through the EAP

If you are looking for personalized support, you may want to explore GuidanceResources. This program offers employees and their households information and resources on emotional, financial, legal, family, and work-life issues. You can access up to six confidential counseling sessions per issue, per year, and browse through hundreds of online resources, including mental health toolkits and articles.

Among the things guidance resources can help employees and their loved ones address are relationship problems, stress, grief and loss, energizing a career, or dealing with trauma. If you are feeling angry, lonely, depressed, or just “stuck,” you can visit GuidanceResources for help. 

If you’re looking for self-guided emotional support, you may want to explore KOA Foundation's wellness app. The app provides personalized, on-the-go wellness modules, ranging from dealing with stress and difficulty sleeping, to learning how to manage anxiety. For more information, email EmployeeWellness@fcps.edu.

School Psychologist Week

School psychologists work to positively impact the academic and social-emotional development of all students by providing mental health services that build resilience, life competencies, and good citizenship. Thank you to all the school psychologists hard at work in our schools every day!

Building Strong Partnerships with Families

adult reading a book to child


Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools, community agencies, and organizations engage families in meaningful ways, and families actively support their children’s learning and development. Tips to create strong partnerships with families include:

  • Cultivate trust by showing respect and developing mutual understanding. Ask families about their children — their strengths, interests, and challenges — then use this information to differentiate instruction. 
  • Communicate with families frequently and consistently. Provide your contact information and connect through multiple communication methods. Survey families to see what method works best for them. Provide the family liaison's contact information to families to support building partnerships between home and school. 
  • Use simple, easy-to-understand language and formats. If needed, engage interpreters and translate messages whenever possible. Foster feedback and two-way communication. 
  • Design lessons that include family participation and incorporate content from home cultures. Provide resources to support learning at home. 

This Family Engagement Month, visit the Employee Hub to learn more about Family and School Partnerships and their programs for teachers, staff, and families.

đź’» Help Students Access Free Resources from Tutor.com

student studying


All FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Get more information on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services webpage.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works.

School Board Meeting Scheduled for November 9 at 7:30 p.m.

school board desk


The School Board will hold its regular business meeting on Thursday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m. Agenda highlights include:

  • Renaming of W.T. Woodson High School
  • Secondary Course Offerings
  • Awarding of Contracts

See the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.

Staff Staples

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Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!Â