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January 8, 2024
Dear Forestdale Family:
It is with mixed emotions that I write to tell you today that I have been offered and have accepted the position of Director of Leadership Development for Fairfax County Public Schools, effective January 26, 2024. Due to professional development commitments, my last day at my Forestdale home will be January 23. I will dearly miss Forestdale Elementary and the incredible students, families, and staff with whom I have had the privilege of working and learning each and every day.
My time being a member of the Falcon Family will always be treasured, and I am greatly honored to have been a part of such an amazing and dynamic community of learners and caring individuals. From the moment I stepped through the doors at Forestdale, I was awed by the dedication of staff and families to the students who come to school each day. It was this dedication that inspired me and brought a smile to my face as I joined the team in learning and growing together.
The past nine years at Forestdale, first as your assistant principal and then as your proud principal, have left an indelible impact on me as we worked together to accomplish so many successes as a school community. Twice together, we gained Universal status in Fairfax County Public Schools due to increased student test scores and state accreditation. We have deepened relationships with and among students through Responsive Classroom practices, targeted social emotional learning, and holding true to our values of equity and honoring student voice. We have strengthened family partnerships through collaboration with the PTA and intentional work building networks within our community. We navigated an unprecedented global pandemic, virtual/concurrent learning, and finding our new normal in a post-COVID world. Together, we have worked to ensure our students, families, and staff thrived emotionally, socially, and academically in some of the most challenging circumstances in history. Through it all, we remained one Forestdale Family as we honored our three school values: Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care of this place.
I am so proud of the work we have done together and look forward to seeing the continued gains that Forestdale will make in the future as you grow together. Know that this will be important to me because, as we always say, “Once a Falcon, always a Falcon!”
It gives me great pleasure to share that Dr. LaDonna Tate, current assistant principal, will be serving as acting principal while the Region 6 leadership team works with the staff and the community to find the next principal for Forestdale Elementary School. More information about the principal selection process will be shared with you by Region 6 leadership in the coming weeks.
A belief I hold is that if you love someone, you let them know explicitly and frequently. Because of this, I tell our students and staff “I love you,” every day. Falcon Family, please know that I will always love you and hold each of you in my heart. Serving you all has been the greatest honor of my career, and having you as my family has been my greatest joy.
With much gratitude and love,
Jenny Cunneen
Proud Principal
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