Kate Kettner is a multiple disabilities teacher at Fairview Elementary School. Her husband is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her sons attend Robinson Secondary School and Terra Centre Elementary School.
Change to Teleworking Regulation Effective July 1
As shared in today’s email to staff, the teleworking regulation is being amended effective Friday, July 1. Except in cases required by law, collective bargaining agreements, or exigent circumstances approved by a chief officer, teleworking will be discontinued.
This change enhances consistency and improves equitable work assignments across the school division.
Designated teacher workdays will continue to serve as self-directed planning time. Teachers can complete tasks such as planning, grading, and required professional development at a location other than the teacher’s regular worksite.
Employees with a current telework agreement may continue teleworking under the terms of their agreement through Monday, June 30. If you have questions, please speak with your immediate supervisor.
⏰ Share Your Thoughts on School Start Times
FCPS would like to hear from all staff and families on the possibility of adjusting school start times across the division. You should have received a survey link by email yesterday (April 1). It was sent to all staff and parents/caregivers, and students in grades 5-12. The confidential survey will be open for two weeks.
Plan Underway for Pilot Program for Mason District Schools
The School Board agreed at its meeting last Thursday to direct Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid to provide a cost-neutral plan for a pilot program for as many of the Mason District middle schools (Glasgow, Holmes, and Poe) to begin the school day later. The plan should minimize start time changes for pyramid high schools and is due by Thursday, April 10. Watch this portion of the meeting.
A follow-on motion indicated the plan should include “robust community engagement and consideration of varied student transportation needs, for implementing healthy school start times in conjunction with the holistic boundary review process.”
🎖️ Purple Up! Day
To show our support for all our military-connected families, we are inviting all FCPS staff, students, families, and community members to “Purple Up!” on Wednesday, April 9, for military children.
Why purple? Purple symbolizes all branches of the military as a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force blue.
✨ A positive school climate where students feel a sense of belonging is part of FCPS’s Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
Excellence Is at a Crossroads
Fairfax County residents believe in the value of a strong public school system. Residents live here because of the excellence of Fairfax County Public Schools, even our community members with grown children. Excellence in FCPS comes from its people — dedicated teachers and support staff who make sure that our students are ready to learn. Today, that excellence is at a crossroads.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will finalize the budget on Tuesday, May 6, and the current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million.
Now is the time. Do we want continued excellence, or are we ready to consider cuts to important programs that we have come to expect from FCPS?
Do you believe in the power and promise of public education? Go to fcps.edu/crossroads.
💡 FCPS Achieves $100 Million in Savings From Reductions in Energy Use
Fairfax County Public Schools has reduced its energy use by 31% since 2014, surpassing its 10-year goal of a 20% reduction. This has led to more than $100 million in cumulative energy cost savings since 2013 across more than 28 million square feet of building space. Read more about FCPS’ environmental stewardship and savings.
📚 Ensuring Access to Library Materials for Each and Every Learner
April is School Library Month. In FCPS libraries, students develop knowledge and skills, experience a sense of belonging, find inspiration and support, and have the ability to freely pursue their personal interests and academic growth.
Read about how Library Information Support Services staff — like Meg Rogers (pictured) — support FCPS school librarians.
🏆 Nominate Your Coworkers for an Impact Award
The annual Impact (formerly Excellence) Awards celebrate both individuals and teams exceeding expectations in supporting FCPS strategic initiatives. Award categories reflect the goals in the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Impact is a peer recognition program. Employees know best about the hard work, dedication, and collaborative efforts that occur behind the scenes. That’s why nominations can only be made by current FCPS employees.
Multiple recipients are chosen from each category to receive an Impact Award, and they are recognized at a celebratory event in the fall that includes the presentation of a $1,000 cash award. Nominees must be current employees who expect to remain FCPS employees through the end of 2025.
Nominate an FCPS employee or team by Tuesday, May 6! Visit the Impact Awards Employee Hub page for information and nomination materials.
✨ A diverse, adaptive, and supported workforce is Pillar C of the Strategic Plan.
FCPS Educators Honored for STEM Excellence
Two Fairfax County Public Schools educators have been recognized by the Air Force for their dedication to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, inspiring students through innovative hands-on learning experiences.
Andrea Trumbull of Ravensworth Elementary School and Desanka “Desa” Elwell of Edison High School (above) played pivotal roles in integrating advanced STEM concepts into their classrooms through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research STEM Team’s ACCESS Lending Library Program. Learn more about this STEM award.
✨ The availability of, access to, and student enrollment in STEM courses are part of Strategic Plan Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity.
VDOE Is Going Paperless; Check Your Licensure Online
Instructional staff who need Virginia licensure information — such as a copy of their license or license number — will now need to use the new online platform, Virginia Licensure Online (VALO). New users must create an account with a valid email address. You may need to validate your account with a birthdate and social security number.
Introducing a New and Improved Employee Wellness Newsletter
Starting in May, the Wellbeats Newsletter will be incorporated into the new and improved Employee Wellness newsletter, creating one comprehensive resource for wellness updates, resources, and events. You can find the combined newsletter in your inbox and on the FCPS Employee Hub. Stay tuned for helpful wellness tips and program updates in the new format!
🗝️ Unlock the Power of AI in Education!
Join AI Frontier Labs for engaging, hands-on workshops featuring Google Notebook LM and Gemini AI. These sessions are offered in person at the Sprague Technology Center (Room 8) and virtually. Choose the format that works best for you!
These offerings will allow participants to design AI-driven lesson plans, assessments, and interactive learning activities. Train-the-Trainer sessions will be available to participants after attending.
Visit the IT Hour of Learning Google site for more information and to register.
Unpack the Impact of Disciplinary Disproportionality
As part of FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2, an initiative is underway to increase awareness of disciplinary disproportionality, one of the goal measures. Discipline disproportionality occurs when students who belong to a given group are disciplined at a higher rate than students who are not a member of that group. The impact of discipline disproportionality on student outcomes and the supportive interventions available to address it will be explored through this work.
Speaker Series on Discipline Disproportionality
An in-person speaker series will begin this month. Sessions with the following speakers will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on:
Click on the dates to register in MyPDE. Get more information and read about the speakers.
Training Sessions for Teachers and Support Staff
In-person training by the Equity and Student Conduct team on Restorative Justice and Discipline Disproportionality begins this month. Through interactive sessions, participants will learn the basics of discipline disproportionality, its root causes, and how it affects schools in FCPS. Additionally, participants will consider and reflect on the connection between restorative justice practices and reducing discipline disproportionality.
Trainings will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on the following dates:
Click on a date to register in MyPDE for that session. Funding for substitutes is available upon request.
📍 Comprehensive Boundary Review FAQs and Available
Do you have questions regarding the FCPS Comprehensive Boundary Review process? Check out a list of Frequently Asked Questions and this glossary. If you have a question that is not addressed, please submit your question on our Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.
🗳️ Elections for Retirement Plan Trustees
Electronic elections will be held from Tuesday, May 27, to Thursday, May 29, for one trustee for both the Fairfax County Employee Retirement System (FCERS) and the Educational Employees’ Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC).
FCERS
More than 6,000 FCPS employees receive their retirement benefits from FCERS. This includes transportation, food service, trades and maintenance, custodial, and part-time teaching staff. FCPS employees who are FCERS members are eligible to be nominated and to vote for the vacant trustee position. The term for the newly elected trustee is June 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The FCERS petition outlines the election process. It requires 20 electronic nomination petitions and a candidate statement of contribution.
ERFC
Generally, full-time FCPS teachers, educational personnel, instructional assistants, administrators, administrative support staff, and technical staff are automatically enrolled in ERFC. The ERFC Board is the governing body of ERFC and supports their mission to enhance the financial security of members through prudent financial stewardship. Interested active ERFC members seeking to be candidates must submit a nomination petition and a statement of contribution. Notice 4771 outlines the election process.
Required materials for both elections must be received by Sherri Burris in the Office of Employee Relations by close of business on Wednesday, May 7.
Pay Advices/Pay Stubs Are No Longer Being Emailed
Your latest pay advice becomes available in UConnect employee self-service on the morning of each payday. Log in to UConnect (VPN required) and find “Paychecks” under Employee Self-Service > Pay > Paychecks. Learn more about this change in pay advice delivery.
📕 Elementary Literacy Update
In the Academic Matters section of Thursday’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid provided an update on elementary literacy efforts and the Strategic Plan goal to have students reading on level by the end of third grade. Watch the video on literacy she presented.
Based on third grade iReady testing results from fall 2024 and winter 2025, more students are meeting end-of-year expectations and fewer are below end-of-year expectations. View the presentation to learn more about literacy outcomes.
Read more about Dr. Reid’s week and work in her Weekly Reflections.
✨ Reading on level by third grade is part of Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Spring Break
Monday, April 14, to Friday, April 18, is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed.
See the complete school year calendar or the employee calendar.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a connection to the FCPS network. If you have any questions, please visit the FCPS Tech Support Portal to search for self help articles or submit a ticket.
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Thank you!
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