Dear Community Members,
Here we are, at the end of the ‘25-’26 school year! The Class of 2026 has walked down the aisles to graduate, surrounded with the final support of the FCPS community of fellow students, educators, administrators, and family. The ritual is getting more and more personal, as my own children get closer to their graduation dates! It truly is amazing to see children grow into adults launching into their lives. I wish all the best to the students and their families, and that there is joy and feelings of accomplishment. Thank you to the educators who year after year add to the trajectory of life after graduation! I enjoyed celebrating with students and families on June 2 with Cedar Lane School, June 5 at South Lakes High School, June 9 with Madison High School and Westfield High School, and June 12 with the resilient and inspiring young adults at the Davis Career Center.
Additionally, Westbriar Elementary School welcomed back a former student, figure skating Olympic gold medalist Ilia Malinin! On June 15, Ilia spent the day speaking to all students and sharing his journey from being a young kid doing backflips in elementary school to the four-hour daily training sessions that developed him into a world-class athlete and the first figure skater to land a quadruple axel spin during the U.S. International Classic in Lake Placid, New York in 2022! Ilia stressed the importance of commitment in following your dreams, as well as the journey of discovering your passions. He said it’s ok to not know what you want to do while you explore your interests, which is an important life lesson for all people.
I’m proud to say that the School Board work I’ve committed to delivering over the past months has culminated in some favorable outcomes for students, families, and educators.
First, the School Board adopted a revised calendar policy, the first update since 2014, well beyond the required five-year cycle of Board review. As Governance Chair, I facilitated this work in response to the overwhelming feedback from parents that this past school year has been: their children need instructional continuity, and the fragmented calendar has burdened families. The answer is more five-day school weeks.
Ultimately the policy codifies some current practices and combines information into one place and not in five different policies. Most notably, it designates the responsibility of the School Board to review and approve school calendars, which has not happened in the past few years. While these are needed updates, and I’m glad the Board did this work, the policy doesn’t address some of the key components that remain a challenge, such as clarifying the end-of-year schedule for high school students, which I’m experiencing as a parent myself as being haphazard. I’m also aware that the community wants more discussion and improvements regarding the length of summer holiday, exploring year-round school (also called a “balanced calendar”), and more.
Second, regarding educational technology and devices: at the June 11 meeting, the Board approved a significant change. For the upcoming ‘26-‘27 school year, parents of preschool and elementary school students will have the ability to **opt-out** of FCPS electronic devices coming home with their students. The Board also directed the Superintendent to develop recommendations for consideration by the School Board in November, including:
- Opt-out options, inclusive of budgetary implications and equity concerns, for parents and/or guardians for any electronic device to go home with students.
- Restrictions on electronic devices for instruction for students from Pre-K to 2nd grade.
- Options for students in higher grades in Elementary School to have electronic devices stored away when not intentionally in use for instruction during the school day.
- Enhancements to digital literacy instruction, with sufficient professional development for staff directly instructing students. This content will be publicly accessible.
I strongly opposed delaying action, since parents are demanding changes for this upcoming school year, and the recommendations presented will not take effect until at least halfway through the school year, if not later. Still, the recommendations will guarantee that the questions are considered for School Board approval, which is progress.
The remainder of June includes a June 23 Work Session with additional work on the educational technology policy, and a June 25 Regular Meeting. Two additional meetings occur in July, including adopting the specific school year calendar for years ahead, voting on the Skyview boundaries (more info below), and establishing Board Leadership for the coming year (Chair, Vice Chair, committee assignments, etc).
Like many constituents I’ve heard from, I am eager for results before the School Board recess in mid-July, and then continue to any next phase of needed work in the new school year.
Finally, you may have heard or seen media coverage about a set of text messages I received from the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last month. These messages challenged my opposition to County budget cuts that removed high school crossing guards from all high schools, including two at South Lakes High School. My response was to stand firm in my advocacy for students’ safety and remain unapologetic in my role as an elected representative for my constituents. All politics is local, and I hope you will continue to show up and speak up to elected officials right here in Fairfax County, including me, who make funding and policy decisions that impact how we live.
School Board Updates and Recent Work
 🪙Get the Money
The School Board approved the annual operating budget for the upcoming ‘26-’27 school year (Fiscal Year 27), at its May 21 Regular Meeting. I voted for this budget. The budget restores funding for advanced academic positions and special education while generally helping to keep class sizes from increasing. Here are portions of my remarks, which you can view in full on my YouTube channel.
“What happens in Richmond and in Fairfax County directly impacts what happens at our schools. We faced painful cuts to high school crossing guards and student transportation for policy-supported phasing due to boundary-changes. The work of the Board has life-changing impacts on our constituents.
I like that this budget finds $5.2 Million in savings by delaying digital device refreshes. It wasn’t too long ago where we had fewer laptops in the classrooms, and I think this is a good place to rethink where we should invest our resources, as parents have told us as well.
There will be great challenges for our FCPS employees as the division moves forward with an $8.7 Million cut to the staffing reserve. I understand the tremendous personal hardship that comes with reassigning positions across Fairfax County. Without a more robust staffing reserve, there is likely much less flexibility for accommodating our dedicated employees. I will be paying close attention to strains on our workforce over the next year, and I trust that our Board will be ready to articulate just how important it is to fully fund our schools.
For the Superintendent, one area for improvement is the timeliness of budget questions being responded to. We are stewards of the public resources. We need to know how and why money is being spent. We must do a better job of showing our work. I ask for more timeliness in answering these budget questions.
For my colleagues on the School Board and the Board of Supervisors, I look forward to better days ahead.”
Skyview High School
Work continues to prepare for the opening of FCPS’ newest high school, Skyview High School, for the upcoming school year. Here are some updates:
The official mascot is: Aviators!
The facility will be used this summer to provide Advanced Swimming & Lifeguard Certification, which will be available for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in SY 2026-2027. The course will be open to students from all FCPS high schools. Interested students can contact Carrie Reynolds at cfreynolds@fcps.edu.
Boundary establishment work continues, and here are important highlights:
- Scenarios 1 and 2 were recently released by the Superintendent. You can view the proposed boundaries on the Explorer Tool, here.
- Scenario 1 would move very small groups of children from Crossfield ES into new feeder patterns. I oppose creating split feeders where about a dozen students move into one school in separation of their peers headed together to a different school.
- Both proposals move Fox Mill Estates, which is the main neighborhood assigned to Fox Mill Elementary School from the South Lakes pyramid into the Skyview pyramid. This is an entirely new proposal, and I’m unclear why the Superintendent is proposing it. If the goal is to balance enrollment, removing the Fox Mill ES population from South Lakes HS will further decrease the already under-enrolled membership. When membership decreases further and further from planned capacity, staffing for the school decreases. This means that programming decreases - including to a selection of academics and extra-curricular activities.
The Superintendent is expected to release the next round of boundary scenarios soon, with the final proposal to be voted on by the School Board in July. An important part of this process is sharing specific comments on the Skyview High School and Western Pyramids Boundary Explorer tool. Click on the map, and click the button to "Leave a Comment." The feedback goes directly to the consultants for them to shape the next round of scenarios.. Thank you to everyone who continues to share their thoughts, and I will continue to monitor this process and press for answers.
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Educational Technology Review Committee receives Appointee
I’ve received an impressive collection of responses from residents applying for the one committee member spot I can appoint to the new ERTC. After a careful review of all applications, I selected Susan Wagoner to serve on the committee. A 20-year educator at FCPS, Susan brings extensive experience as a School-Based Technology Specialist, service on the Program Improvement and Data Team, and more. Her ability to connect learning to process will be invaluable as she explores the implications of technology in the classroom alongside other experts and representatives in Fairfax County. I appreciate everyone who applied to serve and plan to continue offering more opportunities to make an impact in this field.
County and Schools Develop Agreement for Stadium Fields
Our schools serve the entire community, and our athletic fields are in use nearly every day of the year for students, families, and all Fairfax County residents. I have long advocated for Fairfax County to take a more active role in maintaining our facilities, and I’m pleased to announce that the County Executive and Superintendent have drafted a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to split maintenance costs between both entities. With the County stepping up to help with maintenance, it will alleviate the financial burden on FCPS and allow us to better manage our resources. The MOA will also prioritize FCPS for scheduling events and guide how we prioritize turf replacements at stadium fields.
The MOA recognizes that schools are for everyone, and I appreciate the hard work of the staff in making this happen. This is public education!
Community Advisory Committees Inform the Board for the Future
On Saturday, the School Board concluded its Advisory Committee Summit to hear from the volunteers and staff who focus on subject areas to counsel the School Board in their work. Being the Advanced Academic Program Advisory Committee liaison, I can see that recommendations for access in all schools to needed instruction and evaluation of what is working is a theme across the school division. I raised questions to the Superintendent and the Board to seek improvements in these areas - including making recommendations for action when the Superintendent presents Strategic Plan Goal Reports, and budget amendments.
We also received an update from the Adult and Career Education Committee, which shared impressive and exciting data on the increased reach and impact of programming this past year!
The state-required Title I Parent Advisory Committee shared continuing recommendations for improved communications about this federal program, what it means for families and students, and how to access resources.
Upcoming Public School Board Meetings
Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, June 26, 7pm - Regular Meeting
- Thursday, July 9, 7pm - Regular Meeting
- Thursday, July 16, 7pm - Regular Meeting
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, June 23, 10:30am-5:30pm - Forum and All-Day Work Session
To find the current School Board calendar and agenda, please visit the FCPS School Board Meetings website.
Hunter Mill Happenings:
Hunter Mill Student Excellence Spotlight
26th Annual Cappies Gala Awards
Congratulations to our 2026 Cappies Award Winners from Hunter Mill District schools! 🎭🏆
🌟 South Lakes High School
For the play, A Monster Calls:
- Play
- Core Ensemble
- Creativity (Animations & Video Editing): Taylor Clawson, Emilie Fiske, and Isabelle Phillipe
- Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play: Liam Birch
Maryland Theater Guide Returning Critic (11th Grade): Alden Walcott
🌟 Westfield High School
Bill and Jane Strauss Graduating Critic (12th Grade): Mary Campbell
Critic Team
Special Effects & Technology (Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic Young Wizard Edition): Jonah Johnson and the SFX Team
🌟 Herndon High School
For the play, Arsenic and Old Lace:
- Sets: Carson Brownlee, Mubeen Ahmad, Trevor Freeman, and Serena Indrisano
- Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Play: Cara Ethington
🌟 Oakton High School
For the musical, Anything Goes:
- Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Savannah Day
- Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Romain Dairay
Congratulations to all of our winners and nominees for representing Hunter Mill schools with excellence!
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Historic Podium Finish for Madison Women’s Crew
Congratulations to the Madison High School Women’s Junior Eight for their incredible performance at the 2026 SRAA Nationals in Tennessee! After a thrilling journey to the Grand Finals, the Warhawks secured a 3rd place national finish, marking the first time a Madison team has podiumed at this prestigious event since 2012.
Students represented their school on a national stage, and brought home a medal for the first time in over a decade!
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Madison Spring Athletes Compete at State Level Competitions!
Several Madison High School Warhawk teams took it to the post-season, with some competitions happening simultaneously! Wow! Here are the results:
State champions:
- Boys Tennis
- Girls Lacrosse
Runners-Up:
- Girls Tennis
- Boys Lacrosse
- Boys Soccer
- Softball
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Westfield Boys Soccer Wins State Championship
The Westfield High School boys soccer team won 4-2 over Madison High School for the state championship title. What a competition! Westfield’s team athletic sports have had a notable year, with the soccer win following the boys’ basketball win in the winter season.
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South Lakes Track and Field takes 5th Place in VHSL State Championships
The South Lakes High School Outdoor Track and Field Team excelled at the VHSL Class 6 Championships on June 5-6, placing 5th overall in Virginia and putting up twenty top-ten finishes. Two athletes set school records, with Anya Catto hitting 44.53 in the 300 meter hurdles and Alex Guthrie finishing the 200 meter dash in 21.31 seconds. Let’s go Seahawks!
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South Lakes students earn prestigious Girl Scouts Award
South Lakes High School students Avery McCusker and LucyLynn Tombul were honored with the prestigious Silver Trefoil Award at the Girl Scout "In Your Honor" ceremony in Washington, D.C. This exclusive award from the Nation’s Capital Council requires a minimum of 100 service hours across distinct categories including international, green, and local outreach.
After five years of dedication, Avery (304.5 hours) and LucyLynn (147.5 hours) were among only 175 scouts to receive this distinction out of a council of over 45,000! Their community service hours were earned across a wide variety of activities encompassing international, multicultural, green, government, local and Girl Scout activities and often included mentoring younger children. Truly impressive and inspiring!
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Student Alden Walcott Explores Heritage and Resilience in PBS Feature
South Lakes High School’s Alden Walcott recently collaborated with PBS News Student Reporting Labs to produce a moving article and video documenting the history and cultural endurance of the Nansemond Indian Nation. Alden’s work explores the lasting impact of the 1924 Racial Integrity Act, a period when state officials systematically altered birth and marriage records to erase the legal identity of Indigenous Virginians. This manipulation of public records created immense hurdles for tribes seeking federal recognition, as they were forced to provide proof of a continuous history that the state had intentionally obscured for decades.
Through interviews with tribal citizens and scholars, Alden highlights a story of incredible hope and the reclaiming of ancestral traditions, from traditional weaving to language revitalization. As tribal members shared with her, "We were never gone, we have always been here." We are so proud of Alden for using her platform to shine a light on this vital local history and the enduring strength of the Nansemond community!
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Celebrating our Student Leadership Development Program graduates
Huge congratulations to the graduates of this year’s Student Leadership Development Program. A special shoutout to Benjamin Gummer from Madison High School as our Hunter Mill District representative, Benjamin showed incredible leadership and did a fantastic job representing our community. I’ve enjoyed collaborating with him, and look forward to that continuing.
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IB Excellence: Dogwood Elementary’s Exhibition
Dogwood ES is the only elementary school with an International Baccalaureate (IB) program in the Hunter Mill district, and only one of two in all of FCPS! At year ed, sixth graders present about a research question they’ve selected that embodies the attributes of the IB program, as well as Portrait of a Graduate. I heard several presentations about how to prevent bullying; junk food and healthy eating; and financial cyber-scamming. A highlight was a multi-faceted presentation by a team about fashion, including about the impact of fast fashion on the environment, peer pressure regarding what to wear, and how to help those in need of clothing.
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6th Graders: Halfway through!
Sixth graders are halfway through achieving all Portrait of a Graduate skills in an FCPS education! What a fun way to think of this milestone! Shout out to one 6th grader, Landon Lucey, who celebrated the promotion with his parents at Colvin Mill Run Elementary School.
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Hunter Mill Staff Excellence Spotlight
Victoria Stacy of Sunrise Valley Elementary School
Congratulations to Victoria Stacy of Sunrise Valley Elementary School on graduating from the ACC (Accelerated Certification Cohort) in K–12 Educational Leadership and Administration through UVA and FCPS. Victoria was also selected to present her leadership capstone at this month’s Improvement Science Conference at George Mason University.
The ACC program, developed in partnership between FCPS and UVA, is designed for motivated educators and brings together high-performing leaders working toward their Virginia licensure in educational administration.
Well done, Victoria! Thank you for your commitment to students and learning in FCPS!
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FCCPTA awards: Jamileh Abu-Grannam of Aldrin Elementary School
The 2026 FCCPTA Shining Stars Awards Ceremony celebrated the brilliant educators, volunteers, scholarship recipients, and spelling bee champions who make our district thrive. Standing out among these exceptional leaders was our very own Jamileh Abu-Ghannam, who was officially honored with the prestigious Staff of the Year Award for her outstanding dedication to Aldrin Elementary School.
As an instructional assistant, Jamileh brings boundless patience, care, and a student-first mindset to the classroom every day. Beyond her daily role, her volunteer-driven work in photography, social media, and FCPS platforms serves as a vital bridge that unifies our schools, families, and the PTA. Please join us in congratulating Jamileh on this incredibly well-deserved recognition for keeping our community connected and celebrating the students at its heart!
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Hunter Spotlight on Duo of Volunteers: Dorie and Larry Howell
Leading a high school PTSA or a high school athletic booster club is a large volunteer role for any FCPS household to take on. But how about both leadership roles held by adults in the same family? Well this is what Dorie and Larry Howell have done in tandem for the South Lakes High School community!
Dorie is now concluding her service as Booster president, while Larry is concluding his service as PTSA president. Since their daughter is graduating in the Class of 2026, the Howells will be spending their time outside of FCPS.
Since COVID, I’ve observed that schools struggle to fill volunteer roles in organizations that have traditionally added extra support and community-building in our schools. I think it’s important to recognize this, and have discussions about what’s happening and how it can be addressed.
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Louise Archer Elementary School “Touching History”
FCPS has received a prestigious nomination for the 68th Capital Emmy Awards! Our featured video, “Touching History,” earned its spot in the Historical/Cultural News category, a distinction that recognizes excellence in media production across Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. This powerful segment highlights a remarkable discovery during the renovation of Louise Archer Elementary School, where a wooden wall from the original 1930s Vienna “Colored” School was found hidden behind brick for over 70 years.
The video beautifully captures the ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating a unique bridge between the school’s modern future and its historic past. By preserving this artifact from the Great Depression-era three-room schoolhouse, the project honors the enduring legacy of the Louise Archer community. Congratulations to the talented production team and the staff at Louise Archer Elementary for this well-deserved recognition and for keeping our local history alive for future generations.
Watch the Emmy-nominated segment here: Touching History - YouTube
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Global Solutions at the Marshall HS Geography Bee
I attended the Marshall High School Geography Bee last month with my geographer husband, where we observed seniors present solutions to global environmental and social crises. While FCPS doesn’t require four years of social studies, it’s clear the student demand is there. Since the only other senior option is often a rigorous IB track, Ms. Phelps has filled the gap by offering five popular sections of geography to ensure all students have access to global literacy.
Seeing these seniors engage so deeply with geo-political issues makes me wonder: Should a fourth year of social studies be mandatory for graduation? I welcome your thoughts.
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Hunters Woods ES Hosts Loudoun Officials
Hunters Woods Elementary School hosted visitors from the Loudoun County School Board and staff, with tours led by outstanding 6th-grade student ambassadors. We explored the school’s theater, dance, visual arts, and music programs. Our guests were especially impressed that music and strings instruction is available in all FCPS elementary schools. I’d love to see small-group instrumental and vocal instruction expanded even further to strengthen students’ foundations for the secondary years.
A highlight was visiting a second-grade class where students used their bodies to model the stages of metamorphosis. The visit concluded with a student panel, where students shared their experiences in the arts, including the beloved annual 6th-grade artist-in-residence project that leaves a lasting piece of art for the school community. Bravo!
Other Info of Interest
Take a Listen: Podcast on My School Board Work, Championing Public Education
Want to hear about how I approach the job of being a School Board Member, and what I’m looking to do in the future to support our children and schools? Then please take a listen to The Pod Of DC episode by Madison HS parent, and friend, Rick Bernstein,
Stream now on Spotify
Stream now on Apple Podcasts
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Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th Graders; No-Cost Options Available for Immunizations, Flu Shot
If you will have a student in 7th grade or 12th grade next year, please review here the immunizations that are required for the new school year.
Also, note opportunities for FCPS students to obtain school-required immunizations and optional flu shots at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student.
Contacting Me
I prioritize responses to Hunter Mill constituents, so please be sure to identify yourself as such if you contact me. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
To contact me, it is most helpful to please use the official School Board contact form via my website (click "Submit a Question"). This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. Thank you for your cooperation.
Best,
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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
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