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August Newsletter 

Message from Ilryong Moon

Setting the bar high with After-School Specialist Jerald Minnis, a former college and professional basketball player!

As another school year begins, I find myself reflecting on both the excitement of a new beginning and the remarkable journeys that bring each of us to this moment. 

Like so many families who have come to this country seeking opportunity, I still believe that education can change the course of a life. Looking back, I remain profoundly grateful for the teachers, mentors, and community members who opened doors for me and inspired a lifelong commitment to public education and service. 

That is one of the reasons the start of each school year continues to fill me with optimism. 

In just a matter of a few weeks, our hallways will once again be filled with students eager to reconnect with friends, meet new teachers, and discover new passions. Our educators will welcome a new class of learners, bringing with them creativity, compassion, and a commitment to helping every student succeed. Families throughout Fairfax County will begin another year of supporting, encouraging, and celebrating their children's growth.

Every school year tells a different story. Students arrive with new dreams, new challenges, and new opportunities to learn. Teachers begin with fresh ideas and renewed energy. Together, they create experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Across Fairfax County Public Schools, those experiences take many forms. Some students will design innovative engineering projects, conduct scientific research, or explore computer programming. Others will discover talents through music, visual arts, theater, athletics, world languages, or Career and Technical Education. Many will find their voices through leadership, service, and civic engagement. Every classroom offers the opportunity for growth, discovery, and achievement.

As School Board members, we have the privilege of witnessing these moments every day. We see firsthand the dedication of our educators, the resilience of our students, and the unwavering support of our families and staff. Those experiences remind us why investing in public education matters and why every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.

As we begin this new school year on August 24th, I wish every student, educator, staff member, and family a year filled with curiosity, achievement, and joy. I look forward to celebrating your successes and working together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Welcome back, and here's to another outstanding year in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Best,

Ilryong Moon

What's New & What's Next

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

What's New in the School Board

FCPS Alumni Awards

Join Our School Board Advisory Committee

School Board Student Representative Opportunity

What's Happened in July

FCPS Leadership Kickoff

Chief of Staff: Marty Smith Retirement

DIT Accelerate 2026

Southern VIP Camp

Global Ambassador Teacher Program

Summer Graduation Ceremony

Potomac League Playoffs

Bulletin

FCPS Summer Meals Program

FCPS Adult English Classes

Community Advisory Committees

FCPS Cell Phone Policy

Ed Tech Motions

School Board Recess

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

What's New in the School Board

Welcome New Student Representative to the School Board Newt Shosteck Newt Shosteck, the School Board’s Student Representative for the 2026–27 school year, joined us for his first public meetings this summer! A senior at Hayfield Secondary School in the Franconia District, Newt will serve as the voice of FCPS students throughout his term, representing their perspectives and priorities to the Fairfax County School Board. For more details, please read his bio here.

Help Us Celebrate Outstanding FCPS Alumni

For more than 150 years, Fairfax County Public Schools has prepared students to succeed in every path they choose. Today, FCPS alumni are making an impact around the world as leaders in government, business, the arts, science and technology, education, community service, and countless other fields.

Now is your opportunity to help recognize those individuals whose achievements reflect the power of public education.

Educate Fairfax is accepting nominations for the 5th Annual FCPS Alumni Hall of Fame, which honors distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in their professions, communities, and beyond. Whether they graduated in the 1950s, the 1980s, or more recently, we are looking for alumni whose accomplishments inspire others and embody the values of leadership, service, and excellence.

Nominees must have graduated from high school at least five years ago and demonstrated notable achievements, leadership, and positive contributions to society. Hall of Fame inductees represent the very best of the FCPS alumni community and serve as examples for current and future students.
Do you know an FCPS graduate who has made a lasting impact?
Nominations are open through Aug. 31, 2026.
Help us celebrate the remarkable individuals who continue to strengthen our communities and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Submit a nomination today.

Educate Fairfax is a 501 (c)(3) non profit that works to make a positive difference in the lives of FCPS students. “We energize the power of the community to invest in educational excellence and prepare students for the future​​”.

Join our School Board Community Advisory Committee

Make Your Voice Heard!

Fairfax County Public Schools is currently accepting nominations for Community Advisory Committees for the 2026–27 school year. These committees serve as important bridges between the community and the School Board, helping shape policy, improve programs, and amplify diverse voices across FCPS. I currently have one vacancy.

• Challenged Materials Interdepartmental Review Committee The Challenged Materials Interdepartmental Review Committee consists of members representing School Board members, the student representative, and school division staff appointed by the respective Regional Assistant Superintendent. For a little more context on this committee, see the notes in BoardDocs, and Policy 3009. 1-Year Term 

If you’re interested in serving, please email SBMoonStaff@fcps.edu with your resume, contact information, and a short statement explaining your interest in the committee.

Interviews will be conducted with selected applicants, and final appointments will be made at a School Board meeting in August.

School Board Student Representative Opportunity

Are you a student in grades 9-12 looking to become more involved with the Fairfax County School Board and help shape the direction of Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) programs?

The Fairfax County School Board Student Representative is seeking applications from students interested in serving a one-year appointment to one of the Community Advisory Committees. The Community Advisory Committees represent the concerns of parents, students, and other stakeholders which can help inform and shape Fairfax County Public School programming and resources.

There are seven committees that make up the Fairfax County School Board Community Advisory Committees. Each focuses on specific issues affecting FCPS students. The work of the committee will be presented in an annual report with recommendations to the Fairfax County School Board.
Time Commitment and Expectations: Committee members should expect to meet once a month, often in the evenings. Members will be committing to a one-year term, which runs from August 1 to July 31, with the possibility of renewal for most committees.

For more information, you can contact Newt Shosteck, Student Representative to the School Board.

To apply to one of the seven Fairfax County School Board Advisory Committees as a student appointee, please complete this Google form.

What's happened in July

FCPS Leadership Kickoff

I attended, and spoke on behalf of the school board at, the FCPS Leadership Kickoff at Fairfax High School.

I am grateful for the opportunity to engage our leadership teams, and as I mentioned during my speech, the grind never ends! While the rest of the world thinks that school pauses in June and goes into sleep during July, FCPS leadership teams spend their summers in the trenches; building student-centered master schedules, planning for the return of teachers and staff members, while crafting meaningful Professional Development lessons, while meticulously studying year-end data to build early intervention plans before the first bell even rings. The Line of Accountability for student success begins with the School Board, Superintendent and leadership teams!

Our FCPS leadership teams consistently pour their energy, empathy, and expertise into preparing for students they have not even met yet. The School Board’s vision and priorities for this year remain steadfast. We are committed to academic excellence, supporting the whole child, and ensuring every single building has the resources to thrive. But we cannot achieve any of these without the dedication of our leadership teams across all levels. These teams are the engine, the heartbeat of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Chief Of Staff: Marty Smith Retirement

Mr. Marty Smith bid farewell to the attendees at the FCPS Leadership Kickoff that he was retiring from FCPS after 32 years of service. From being a classroom teacher at Flint Hill Elementary School to being in his current position as Chief of Staff to Superintendent Reid, Mr. Smith has been an essential part of FCPS for many years.

I appreciate (and will miss) his professionalism and unwavering commitment to supporting FCPS students, staff, and communities. 

I wish him the best of luck as he enters retirement and moves on to the next chapter of his life!

Department of Information Technology: Accelerate 2026 Conference

One of my favorite annual events to attend is the FCPS Department of Information Technology (DIT) Accelerate conference, which was held this year at Oakton High School. As predicted, content centered around generative AI dominated presentations and conversations alike.

Keynote speaker Dr. Jules White from Vanderbilt University summed up the dilemma facing students and educators today—before the AI revolution, computers “didn’t think”. But now, computers are capable of intelligent thought and the ability to translate human thought into computation. This can also be done in an enormously fast and cheap manner, which makes generative AI applications accessible and easy to use, especially for our students. As stated by Dr. White during his presentation as well, the current “AI Revolution” has been in effect since ChatGPT became available in March 2023.

Monica Anderson, the Director of Internet and Technology Research at the Pew Research Center, presented some alarming statistics to show how our teens are using AI chatbots and what they are using these chatbots for. I urge you to take a look at these statistics and talk with your children. The full study can be viewed at: How Teens Use and View AI

Generative AI is a part of our lives and isn’t going anywhere, which requires clear expectations for our students, educators, and district leadership moving forward.

I am looking forward to Superintendent Reid working with the recently established Education Technology Review Committee (ETRC) to present to the school board her recommendations so we can make informed decisions relating to generative AI use.

Southern VIP Camp at South County Middle School

I attended the Southern VIP Camp at South County Middle School to continue my support and advocacy for FCPS’ after-school and summer programs.

I was able to join in many fun activities, such as STEM programs, board games, volleyball, and basketball.

Of course, with the World Cup going on, the FC 26 video game was also a popular choice for campers!

The VIP Summer Camps are led by the experts from FCPS Middle School After-School Programs and Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services. The campers enjoy a dynamic mix of sports and games, fitness, creative arts, and STEM activities. 

Please visit the FCPS VIP Summer Camp web page for more information. For regions and schools represented and attendance data, please view the chart below:

FCPS Global Ambassador Teacher Program

I once again attended the kick-off for the FCPS Global Teacher Ambassador Program.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is proud to continue its partnership with Participate Learning. Over the past three years, this collaboration has brought a total of 173 outstanding teachers from around the world into our FCPS classrooms. This year, we are excited to welcome 31 new international teachers representing Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Chile, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, the Philippines, South Korea, and Trinidad and Tobago. During our welcome and onboarding session at the Gatehouse Administration Center, our global teachers were welcomed by their school principals and teachers.

As the 9th largest school system in the U.S., we continue to hire many teachers, and we are able to draw excellent teachers to work for us. Through collaborations with partners like Education Fairfax and Participate Learning, our teachers and students also get to have opportunities to benefit from the highly-qualified and passionate teachers from around the world.

We are deeply grateful to welcome these teachers to our school communities. Their presence adds cultural diversity and global perspectives to the learning experience. I look forward to the many ways they will support and inspire our students throughout the year!

(L-R) Sandy Anderson (Springfield District), me, Ryan McElveen (At-Large)

FCPS 2026 Summer Graduation Commencement Ceremony

I was pleased to attend and represent the School Board at the FCPS 2026 Commencement Ceremony at West Springfield High School.

This event celebrates FCPS students who obtained their diplomas during the summer, which can be for a variety of reasons, such as missing credits,  transferring from abroad, or simply choosing to graduate earlier than originally anticipated.

As an international transfer student who repeated my sophomore year of high school, I empathize with these students and their families, and understand the amount of dedication and willpower it takes to power through adversity and walk across the stage with a diploma in hand!

I am proud of each and every graduate who demonstrated the resilience and determination to finish their diploma programs, and wish them the best in their future endeavors—whether it be attending college, pursuing a trade, entering the workforce, or something else entirely.

Potomac League Playoffs

With the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup, I decided to shift gears to watch some local baseball! I attended the first-round matchup of the Potomac League playoffs between the top-seeded Chili Dogs and the last-seeded Gators, coached by my Staff Assistant, Dane Pototsky. I wanted to render support to my staff, who donates his time to many baseball players while juggling his School Board work obligations. In an upset for the ages, the Gators scored two runs in the last inning to win 3-1, showing that you never know how a game will turn out, and that focus and determination can overcome even insurmountable odds.

The Potomac League was started seven years ago by the late Rob Hahne (Westfield, Langley) and legendary local coaches Mark “Pudge” Gjormand (Madison) and Scott Rowland (Oakton, Centreville, South Lakes) as a summer league for Northern Virginia college baseball players. Many of the coaches are current/retired FCPS employees and the majority of players are FCPS alums who now play college baseball (in the game I saw, there were a total of 15 FCPS high schools represented between just two teams!).

The league has grown substantially; to the point where they call beautiful Capital One Park in Tysons their home for every game. It was truly an exciting atmosphere, and I cannot wait to check out another game!

For more information on the Potomac League, please visit their website.

Bulletin

Search for your opportunity

Helping Families Stay Nourished All Summer

Summer may be halfway over, but there's still time for families to take advantage of free, nutritious meals through the FCPS Summer Meals program.

We're proud to partner once again with FCPS Food & Nutrition Services to help ensure students and families have access to healthy meals while school is out.

Children and teens can receive free breakfast and lunch at participating FCPS Summer Meals sites.

To help make family mealtime a little easier, we're also funding one free breakfast and one free lunch for adults at six participating schools:

• Braddock Elementary School
• Dogwood Elementary School
• Glen Forest Elementary School
• Hutchison Elementary School
• Hybla Valley Elementary School
• London Towne Elementary School

If you or someone you know could benefit from the program, there is still time to participate.

Find a Summer Meals location near you:https://bit.ly/FCPSSummerMeals

FCPS Adult Education Courses

Learn or strengthen your English language skills through a trusted source: FCPS Adult and Community Education.

Learning English can open doors to new opportunities, stronger connections, and greater confidence in your everyday life. With adult English classes through FCPS ACE, you can build practical English Language skills to help you communicate at work, support your children’s education, engage with your new community, and achieve your personal goals. Classes are designed for learners at all levels and provide a supportive environment where you can practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing with experienced instructors.

FCPS ACE offers affordable, in-person classes for adult learners from beginners to advanced, and specialty courses for career advancement. Classes are held at convenient FCPS locations throughout Fairfax County, with day and evening classes available. Testing is required for all new students to ensure you are placed in the correct learning level.

Registration for the Adult ESOL Fall Term is now open. Scholarships are available. If you are interested in strengthening your English Language skills, please visit the FCPS ACE website for more information and scheduling.

Community Advisory Committees

The committees I will be joining

I will serve on the Administration, Audit, and Budget Committees, and act as Board Liaison to the Fairfax County Affordable Housing Advisory Council. 

For the upcoming year, I have appointed community members to several community advisory committees that help inform and guide the work of the Board. The following individuals have been selected to serve on these committees:

Congratulations to all of my appointees. I am looking forward to working with each of you.

A special “thank you” to Brian Thoreson, Darcy Kim, and Will Chilcutt for your continued service!

New FCPS Cell Phone Policy

As I also mentioned in my June Newsletter, SB108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1, 2026 and states that all schools in the state must follow a "bell-to-bell" phone-free policy. FCPS’ current cellphone policy is now bell to bell for elementary, middle, and high school students.

On May 7, 2026, as part of its annual review of FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to FCPS’ cellphone policy in order to align with SB108. FCPS’ updated cellphone policy is “bell to bell,” which means that students at all grade levels can only use cellphones, cellphone accessories, and smart devices before and after school. This does not apply to school-issued devices. 

High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime. Middle and elementary school students are already prohibited from such use. 

Please view the FCPS Cellphone Policy web page for more information.

EdTech Motions Passed by the School Board

During the July 16th Regular Meeting, the School Board passed several motions establishing policies, guidelines, and timelines regarding Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence.

Although we are still in the infancy stage, these motions represent a positive step in enacting clear expectations for our students, educators, and district leadership moving forward.

Nevertheless, I was not able to support one of the motions related to prohibition of use of AI, as I felt that the board should first let the superintendent work with the recently established Education Technology Review Committee (ETRC) to present to the school board her recommendations before making the decision.

You may view these motions and the entirety of the July 16th Regular Meeting on BoardDocs.

School Board Recess

With the conclusion of the final July regular meeting, the School Board is officially on recess until late August. The next time we meet, students will be back in their classrooms in the midst of the first week of school!

Upcoming School Board Business & Meetings

Broadcast & open to the public:

Thursday, August 27, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 24, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting

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 FCPS School Board Meetings website 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: Dane Pototsky | 571-423-1074