🚨 Safety Updates at School and Online

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 01/13/2026 07:00 PM EST
teacher stands in front of her class smiling while working on a lesson on the whiteboard


Reading Specialist Sarah Endorf works with a small group of students during a phonics lesson at Graham Road Elementary School.

Intent to Return Form Opens Next Week

Beginning Tuesday, January 20, all active FCPS school-based instructional staff and other select employees will receive an email from the Department of Human Resources with a personalized link to complete the annual Intent to Return Form. This form is an important part of divisionwide planning for the 2026-27 school year.

The Intent to Return form helps FCPS:

  • Gather staff intentions for the upcoming school year.
  • Support principals with effective staffing and placement decisions.
  • Ensure students are supported by high-quality, high-impact staff on the first day of school.

Completion of the form is required, though responses are not binding.

The form completion window will close on Friday, January 30. Once submitted, responses are shared with principals, Human Resources staff, and region leaders to support staffing planning.

For more information, please visit the Intent to Return Form page on Atlas.

Employees Share Inspiration ‘In the Spotlight’

Every year, the Senior Leadership Team has the privilege of interviewing finalists for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards. During these conversations, they hear incredible stories of innovation, heart, and dedication that often stay behind closed doors. Not anymore! 

“In the Spotlight” is a new video series sharing best practices and inspirational moments from across the division. Each one- to three-minute video is the perfect spark to help you make the most of 2026.

How to Watch

New episodes will be released every Tuesday on the “In the Spotlight” playlist on the FCPS YouTube Channel beginning in February. Check out the playlist now to hear about staff strengthening student connections, helping them learn, and breaking down barriers to athletics. 

Whether you’re looking for a new classroom strategy or a reminder of why the work you do matters, we hope these stories provide a boost to your week.

Enhancing Safety and Security for Staff and Students

As noted in an email from Dr. Reid to all staff yesterday, safety and security for school staff is being enhanced through a new emergency management system. On Tuesday, January 20, impacted staff will be assigned a mandatory training in MyPDE to learn more about the wearable Emergency Response Buttons (ERBs) for staff working in schools. The 15-minute training is due no later than Wednesday, February 4. 

ERBs allow staff to discreetly request help and provide location information within the school once activated. The ERB will only work on school grounds and does not rely on cellular service. All FCPS staff will be notified the day before the system goes live and becomes fully operational.

Learn more about the emergency management system on the Raptor Atlas page. Submit questions online to the FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Office.

Reid Reflects: Safeguarding Students and AI Learning

Dr. Reid speaking on stage to an audience

Last week, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid kicked off a half-day training on ChatGPT for Teachers for technology support specialists (TSSpecs) and school-based technology specialists (SBTS). OpenAI’s education lead, Sam Kanning-Caplan, led an in-depth training on platform capabilities and instructional applications. The training also featured a leadership panel to answer questions including FCPS’ chief information and technology officer, chief academic officer, chief equity officer, and the assistant superintendent of Instructional Services.

Academic Matters: Update on AI in FCPS

In the Academic Matters portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid provided an update on Artificial Intelligence (AI) @ FCPS. 

In her remarks, Dr. Reid noted that studies show students are already using AI, so it is essential that we begin by training adults who can guide this work responsibly. FCPS’ guiding principles for implementing AI include:  

  • Humans in Control: Teachers are the experts responsible for learning and decision-making. AI supports teachers. It does not replace them. 
  • Ethical and Responsible: We must uphold academic integrity and protect student privacy and security.
  • Intentional Adoption: Continuously monitoring AI's impacts, maximizing its benefits, and implementing safeguards to avoid harm.

Read more about this School Board presentation and the ChatGPT for Teachers training in Weekly Reflections. 

🔧 From Work Orders to Workflows: DJ Matheney’s Impact on FCPS Facilities

DJ smiling for a photo in the warehouse


Daniel “DJ” Matheney, plumbing supervisor at the Edison Support Center, was awarded FCPS Honors as the 2025 Outstanding Nonschool-Based Operational Employee. His leadership, expertise, and commitment to service have a direct impact on the daily experiences of students, teachers, and families across the division. 

Just as significant as his technical expertise is DJ’s approach to mentoring and team development. DJ Matheney’s dedication may often happen behind the scenes, but its results are visible every day: in safe buildings, responsive service, and teams that thrive under strong leadership. Read more about how DJ earned his FCPS Honors.

Superintendent Presents Recommendation for Boundary Changes

Dr. Reid recommended proposed boundary changes to the School Board during its January 8 board meeting. This included: 

Explore how the superintendent’s recommendation affects school boundaries by using FCPS’ Boundary Explorer Tool. 

The School Board will vote on the superintendent’s recommendation for boundary changes and implementation on Thursday, January 22. Visit our Comprehensive Boundary Review page for more information.

Superintendent Recommends Name for New Western High School

At last week’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid also presented her recommendation for the name of our new high school located in the western part of the county. The board will vote on the new name for the school at its meeting on Thursday, February 12. 

Learn more about the new high school.

🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Holiday)

Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. 

See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar.

Staff Staples

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