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Recognizing our new and renewing National Board Certified Teachers

May Newsletter

Message from Ilryong Moon

This month I’m thinking about how each of us can make a commitment to lifelong learning. In my role, I see so many remarkable examples of how FCPS focuses on ensuring every student has access to an excellent education, and, recently, I’ve noticed the ways that adult learners pursue knowledge in unique ways. 

Working toward National Board Certification is a rigorous commitment to learning that teachers take on above and beyond their traditional workload. Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) means they have earned the most respected professional certification available in K-12 schools. The excellence of an FCPS educator earning this certification is not just seen in their hard work, studying, researching, and demonstrating their positive impact, but also in the practice of their craft–truly the art and science of teaching. 

NBCTs show a commitment to student learning and to being active members of their own professional learning community. FCPS is fortunate to have two newly certified NBCTs and eight renewed members in our community. The School Board honored these educators at the April 9th meeting.

Upcoming event with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University

I will join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s (OLLI) speaker series at 9:40-11:05 a.m. on May 13.  I will share stories from my book Hamburger Coke in a presentation that details my own immigration journey and how I've used public service as a way to give back to my community. I’ll also talk about the work of the Fairfax County School Board and my responsibilities as a School Board Member. OLLI’s commitment to lifelong learning means that adults 50 and older can access courses, lectures, and special events to keep their own educational journey ongoing. You can join my presentation by registering at the link provided below. 

Register to attend the lecture virtually or in-person.

You can also learn more about OLLI George Mason and view the courses they offer on their website.

Keep learning!

Best,

Ilryong Moon

What's New & What's Next

FY27 Budget Update, County Public Hearings

School Calendar Town Hall and Votes 

New Calendar Proposals and Opportunity to Give Feedback

2026 Special Education Family Conference

Cares of the Quarter

FCPS Retirement Ceremony

Staff Departures

Bulletin

Washington Korean Women's Society Scholarship

Adult and Community Education's National Apprenticeship Week

FY27 Budget Update

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors held three Public Hearings on the FY27 Budget where School Board Chairwoman Sandy Anderson gave comments on behalf of the School Board, articulating the challenges created with a $44 million gap in the proposed County transfer and FCPS’ Adopted Budget. The Board of Supervisors at its budget mark-up on April 28 failed to take any action to reduce the gap. I am now carefully watching the State’s budget process to see if additional funding is available to remedy this shortfall.

Important dates to note:

• School Board, Budget Public Hearings, May 12 and May 13 (if needed)
• School Board, Budget Committee Meeting of the Whole, May 14
• Full School Board Vote on May 21, 2026

School Calendar Town Hall and Votes

Every member of the FCPS community is impacted by our school calendar and I believe strongly that the School Board must work with the affected community in a transparent manner to develop a reasonable schedule that prioritizes student well being and learning. In the process of developing the school calendar, the School Board must hear from members of the FCPS community to help shape the weekly and monthly sequence. I worked with my colleagues Mateo Dunne and Ricardy Anderson to host a town hall meeting to hear that feedback. 

Many in the community expressed their frustrations with our current calendars, and we should fix them. I share your concerns about the frequent interruptions students and families experience. 

At the April 9th School Board meeting, my votes on proposed calendar changes followed our current policy and regulation. Unless the Board changes policy or the Superintendent changes regulations, I believe those should govern our decisions.

I voted in favor of the motion to designate Veterans Day as a school day, and against the motion to designate Indigenous People’s Day as a school day. These votes follow what’s in existing policy.  

Also, I voted in favor of limiting the number of early release days at the elementary level to eight days.

Discussing changes to the school calendar at the April 9th School Board Meeting

While not a permanent solution, I believe these votes were important to have now so that we give the community certainty about the 2026-27 calendar, allowing you to make the plans that affect your families.  

Now I am turning my attention to a larger conversation about future calendars–for school year 2027-28 and beyond. I support providing as many five full instructional day weeks as possible. 

While several calendar interruptions are outside of our control, such as elections and special weather events, other elements like teacher workdays, staff development, and school planning days are governed by regulation. Many other components of the calendar are also open to school board guidance, for example, the board determines the duration of winter and spring break. Winter vacation is defined in regulation as the period between the legal holidays Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but the school board has discretion to add other days as needed. 

New Proposals: Feedback Wanted

Five new calendar motions were introduced on April 23 and will be voted on at the upcoming May 7th meeting. I want to hear your thoughts on these proposals.  

Please email AtLargeMoonFairfaxcountyschoolboard@fcps.edu to share your feedback by May 6th.     

Main Motion #1: I move that the Fairfax County School Board direct the Superintendent to increase the number of full school weeks (defined as five consecutive days of student instruction from Monday to Friday) for SY 2027-28 and subsequent years, with a target of at least two-thirds of school weeks by SY 2028-29, consistent with the historical average for full school weeks from SY 1988-89 to SY 2013-14. 

Main Motion #2: I move that the Fairfax County School Board direct the Superintendent to increase the duration of the summer holiday (measured from the last day of school to the first day of school) for SY 2027-28 and subsequent years, consistent with the historical average for summer days from SY 1988-89 to SY 2013-14. 

Main Motion #3: I move that the Fairfax County School Board direct the Superintendent to designate all Federal holidays (established by law under 5 U.S.C. § 6103) as student holidays for SY 2027-28 and subsequent years. 

Main Motion #4: I move that the Fairfax County School Board direct the Superintendent to, in addition to community engagement required by policy or regulation, establish an advisory committee consisting of community members, modeled on the Boundary Review Advisory Committee and with two representatives from each high school pyramid, to provide feedback on the development and implementation of school year calendars. 

Main Motion #5: I move that the Fairfax County School Board direct the Superintendent to evaluate the potential academic, financial, and operational impacts of a balanced school calendar (for particular schools and pyramids or the division as a whole); in the event the Superintendent finds a balanced school calendar would provide significant benefits (for particular schools and pyramids or the division as a whole), the Superintendent shall solicit community feedback and present her recommendations to the School Board by January 2027. 

I will work with my colleagues going forward to create more workable calendars and calendar policy based upon your feedback.

2026 Special Education Family Conference

FCPS hosted the 2026 Special Education Family Conference: Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, with Dr. Shelley Moore, a nationally recognized leader in inclusive education, as the keynote speaker.

Dr. Moore shared her personal journey–from being a student with learning disabilities who felt she didn't belong, to becoming a researcher dedicated to dismantling the "medical model" of disability. She reminded us that for too long, education has focused on "fixing" students to make them fit a pre-defined norm, rather than designing environments where diversity is the starting point.

Inclusion is a Verb 

Dr. Moore told a story about a child’s birthday party to help illustrate how belonging is achieved in a group setting. At this party, Dr. Moore’s daughter saw every other child choosing a pink unicorn balloon from a menu of options. But her daughter asked for a bat to go along with her favorite skeleton toy. The example helps us understand the importance of recognizing individual differences.  

For a "bat" to thrive, they must feel safe enough to be authentic rather than "masking" to fit in.

"Unicorns" are the dominant group and play an important role in celebrating the differences seen in “bats.” True belonging doesn't come from the teacher or the school alone, it comes from peers choosing to value the "bat." Building these skills, relationships, and environments are essential to an inclusive classroom.

Cares of the Quarter

Educate Fairfax announced Lisa Choi, reading specialist at Fairfax Villa Elementary School, as the newest recipient of the FCPS Cares of the Quarter award. Ms. Choi’s students showed off “book bags” that she created, just one illustration of her care and contribution to student learning. Ms. Choi is described as a "master of her craft" with an "unparalleled commitment to families and staff."

Congratulations Ms. Choi, and thank you for your dedication to FCPS!

Cares of the Quarter recognition ceremony at Fairfax Villa Elementary School

FCPS Retirement Ceremony

Jorge Gamarra (left) and Gregory Walsh (right)

FCPS gathered to celebrate our outstanding team members who are retiring this year. This is always a special event to hear the many, many years the retirees dedicated to our schools. I reconnected with old friend Gregory Walsh, who came to teaching as a second career and spent 22 years sharing his talent. I also met Jorge Gamarra who is retiring after 32 years in the system.  Jorge said he remembered my story from Hamburger Coke when we met at the event.

Congratulations again to these wonderful individuals and best wishes for where you go next.  

FCPS Staff Departures

Two FCPS leaders are moving on to new things. Region 4 Assistant Superintendent Pablo Resendiz has been in the position since 2024 and will be returning to Texas. Dr. Geovanny Ponce, Chief of Schools, has been with FCPS since 2023 and is leaving to be the next superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 School District (Illinois). Both of these educators are Hispanic and have made countless contributions to FCPS. Students, families, and the community will continue to benefit from their hard work for many years to come.  

Megan Vroman is moving into the Chief of Schools role. She has been assistant superintendent of Region 2 and I look forward to continuing working together. 

In my office, staff assistant Tamara Azar is leaving to focus more on her passion: how we find, prepare, and retain excellent teachers. Before jumping back into teacher preparation, she will spend the summer traveling with her family, trying to grow a few tomatoes and cucumbers, and preparing to be an empty-nester this fall. Just as she misses her two wonderful children, I will miss her wisdom and wit.   

Thank you to all of these outstanding members of the FCPS family and best wishes.

With Pablo Resendiz (left), Geovanny Ponce (right), and Tamara Azar (bottom)

What's Happened in April

Afghanistan’s Refugee Children In American Schools: Challenges and Solutions

Panelists discussed supporting refugees from Afghanistan

Researchers, educators, and community members came together to examine educational challenges facing Afghanistan's refugee children in the United States, especially here in our area.

Following the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghanistan's children entered U.S. public schools. I personally worked with a couple of dozens of Afghan families in early 2022 to help get their children enrolled in school.  

My key takeaways from the event were the need to build cultural competence among staff and build an understanding of gender issues in particular; a need for more psychological support and outreach to ease adapting to the American education system and its cultural norms; the ongoing challenge of illiteracy and lack of formal education of many refugees and recognizing that learning to read is not the same as learning English; and, finding ways for social service organizations to collaborate more closely.

Cub Scouts and Public Service

Cub Scout Pack 1140 and Den Leaders

Cub Scout Pack 1140 invited me to speak to their Den as they work toward earning the Citizenship badge. Den members were interested in learning about the process of becoming an elected official and different kinds of voting.  I was happy to share my journey into public service and also information related to voting, including rank choice voting. These young scouts had some excellent questions and are well on their way to being informed citizens!

John H. Lewis High School “Meet your Legislator”

Answering questions from Lewis High School U.S. Government students

The John H. Lewis High School “Meet your Legislators” event paired 10th-grade U.S. Government students with local elected officials, and I had the pleasure of talking about my own experience as an FCPS School Board Member. The goal of the event was to give students an understanding of how elected officials serve their communities and work for them. I spoke about my motivation for running for office, path to leadership, and my day-to-day responsibilities as a school board member. Students asked me about the toughest decisions that I’ve had to make as a school board member, and I shared that it was those issues which required me to draw on my personal principles even when it might be unpopular. 

Taste of FCPS

(Clockwise from top left) At Taste of FCPS with fellow board members Seema Dixit (Sully), Sandy Anderson (Springfield), and Ryan McElveen (At-Large); Food service staff person Chris Detrick; Terra Centre students Kate (5th grade) and Ryan (3rd grade); Talking about student engagement opportunities

Food and Nutrition Services continues to impress me with their efforts to provide unique, nutritious, and delicious food for students. At the latest Taste of FCPS, I was able to try new menu items including beef bulgogi and kimchi. Introducing dishes from around the world is a fun way to expand our understanding of other cultures and food traditions, and I was proud to see these staples of Korean culture on the menu. I also really liked the mac and cheese–I can see why my own sons used to love it and why this continues to be a student favorite. 

Fairfax Players Art Festival

Fairfax Players Art Festival celebrated with theater performances from several FCPS schools

The Fairfax High School Theatre Department hosted a beautiful day of crafts, food, and live performances at Veterans Amphitheater in downtown Fairfax. There were performances from Fairfax HS, Robinson SS, Frost MS, and Fairfax HS Academy. I couldn’t stop smiling with this Daniels Run Elementary student while wearing my gigantic balloon hat. I am grateful for these unique experiences to meet students and families doing what they most enjoy outside in the community. 

Langley High School’s 60th Anniversary

Celebrating 60 years with Langley High School

Langley High School celebrated its 60th Anniversary and I had the privilege of speaking to the crowd. In brief remarks, I highlighted the school’s strong reputation over the years, which stems from the people who make it possible–students, staff, parents, and community members–all coming together with the common goal in mind of providing an amazing educational experience for all Saxons. I shared that in Korean culture 60 years is significant for having achieved a level of maturity that is seen in being open minded.  

Michael R. Frey, A Life Well Lived

At the memorial for Michael R. Frey, former Sully District Supervisor; At bottom right, with Gary Reese

Family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of Michael R. Frey, Sully District’s first Supervisor who served from 1991 to 2015. His contributions to the Northern Virginia community are seen in our everyday lives–whether you’re visiting Udvar-Hazy Center, which Michael helped secure for our area, or finding your next best friend at the Michael R. Frey Animal Shelter, a cause that was dear to his heart–Michael was active in public and community service. At the reception following the memorial, I reconnected with Gary Reese, former Sully District School Board Representative and Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve alongside Michael, where we always worked to find common ground in service to FCPS. 

All-County Choral Festival

Performers at the 2026 All-County Choral Festival

The wonderful voices of sixth grade students from across the county joined together at the 2026 6th Grade All-County Choral Festival. Under the direction of Maria A. Ellis, distinguished conductor, music educator, and radio host and accompanied by professional pianist, organist, and vocalist Jon Laird and student musicians, singers from 97 schools created a celebration of voice as they performed traditional choral works, folk songs, a vocal arrangement of Japanese haiku, African American spiritual hymn, jazz swing, and other classics.

SEVATruck Foundation

Celebrating 10 years of partnership with SevaTruck Foundation

Braddock Elementary School is celebrating its 10-year partnership with SevaTruck Foundation, an organization founded on the belief that it is the community’s collective responsibility to ensure that no child goes hungry. Established in 2016, SevaTruck embodies the spirit of Seva, or selfless service. The organization feeds about 300 meals at Braddock ES and 175 at Bailey’s Primary Monday through Friday for students to grab-and-go after school.

One Greenbriar

One Greenbriar basketball game brought together Greenbriar West and Greenbriar East Elementary Schools

In the truest spirit of fun and competition, Pandas and Roadrunners from Greenbriar West ES and Greenbriar East ES came together for the 2nd annual One Greenbriar basketball game. The game was tied at the end of regulation and went into overtime. At the end of the two minute overtime period, while one team was 2 points ahead, it was One Incredible Greenbriar that won the day.  

And a fun moment–a game referee remembered me from his 1996 graduation from Woodson when I was in my first year of service on the school board.

Fashion in Motion

Students showcased their fashion designs

Fairfax Academy’s student fashion show, Fashion in Motion 2026 was as promised–an evening of “innovative designs and captivating runway moments.” Student designers showed their creativity and uniqueness at the show and models walked the runway in style helping the clothes shine.

Global Action Showcase

The Global Action Showcase is a collaboration between FCPS’ Global Classroom Project and the Global Leaders of Fairfax County and celebrates students engaging with some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 17 goals altogether, serve as the call to action for students to focus on innovative solutions that can have an impact not only locally, but also at the national and global levels.

Examples of student projects presented at the Showcase; Students from multiple high schools came together for a project on Responsible Consumption and Production (at left); High school presenters (top right); Braddock ES students share their homegrown salad greens with me and School Board Member Ryan McElveen

Bulletin

Washington Korean Women's Society Scholarship

The Washington Korean Women’s Society (WKWS) will award four one-time scholarships of $1,500 each to Fairfax County Public School seniors who will be attending college in the fall of 2026. The application is available to students and parents on Naviance's Scholarships and Enrichment Programs page and will be posted on the Scholarships for FCPS Students website soon.

Submissions are due by May 20, 2026. Applications are open to students of all ethnic backgrounds.

ACE's National Apprenticeship Week

NAW Promotion

FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with $100 off select online skilled trade courses through May 31, 2026. This limited-time promotion provides students with an affordable pathway to industry-recognized training programs in fields such as plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, and welding.

These self-paced, online courses allow learners to balance work, family, and education while gaining credentials that can increase earning potential and career mobility. 

New Enrollment Opportunity: Apprenticeship 101

FCPS ACE is also announcing open enrollment for “Apprenticeship 101: Core Construction Skills,” an introductory program designed to launch students into construction careers.

This comprehensive course provides 80 hours of apprenticeship-related instruction and leads to an industry-recognized credential through the NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research). 

Made possible through grant funding, the program is offered at exceptionally low tuition, ensuring that cost is not a barrier for individuals seeking entry into the skilled trades. The course covers essential topics including safety, construction math, tools, communication skills, and career pathways in construction.

Explore skilled trade courses, take advantage of the NAW  2026 promotion, enroll in Apprenticeship 101, and learn more at www.fcpsace.org. 

Upcoming School Board Business & Meetings

Broadcast & open to the public:

• Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:30 a.m. Forum Topic One, Creation of a School Board Legislative Committee; Forum Topic Two, Creation of the Educational Technology Committee
• Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 11:30 a.m. All Day Work Session
• Thursday, May 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
• Monday, May 11, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Audit Committee 
• Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Budget Public Hearing
• Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Budget Public Hearing (if needed)
• Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 4:30 p.m. Administration Committee
• Thursday, May 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Budget Committee of the Whole
• Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Governance Committee
• Thursday, May 21, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
• Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m. Advisory Committee Summit

Individuals should check BoardDocs for the agenda for School Board meetings since there are closed meetings that often occur before the public portion of the meeting begins.

School Board Regular Meetings and Work Sessions are broadcast live and available to the public on several platforms:

• FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11),
• FCPS YouTube Channel, and
• FCPS website

If you miss the live broadcast of any School Board Meeting or Work Session, you can also watch archived broadcasts:

• FCPS YouTube channel (English), and 
• FCPS en Español YouTube channel (dubbed in Spanish)

** Dates & times are subject to change. Please check the 2025 School Board Annual Work Calendar for the latest information.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Contact: Ilryong Moon | 571-423-1089

Director: Sarah Park | 571-423-1074

Staff Assistant: Tamara Azar | 571-423-1074