Structural Trades Technician Khoi Nguyen inspects the ceiling at Robinson Secondary School.
2027 Pay Changes and MyPath Update
MyPath, the new FCPS human resources and payroll system, is launching this December and will be rolled out in several phases. It is designed to streamline the employee experience.
In December, MyPath will replace UConnect, MyTime, and Lawson with a single portal for pay, leave, and benefits.
In response to employee feedback, the following will begin in January 2027:
- Year-round pay for less-than-12-month employees who are paid monthly. This change will also provide a standard hourly rate across the year.
- Less-than-12-month contracted employees who are paid biweekly will receive a consistent monthly amount across their contract year.
Impacted employees in both groups were emailed in May and are being emailed weekly through December with additional details, including a link to the MyPath Stable Pay Calculator Tool.
Please note that 12-month employees and hourly non-contracted employees will have no change to their current pay schedules.
For more information, please visit the MyPath Project page and Payroll’s What You Need to Know page in Atlas.
Open Enrollment Begins Monday!
Open enrollment is your annual opportunity to enroll in or change your medical and dental coverage and enroll in a flexible spending account (FSA) for the upcoming calendar year.
The Office of Benefit Services (OBS) will be hosting open houses to discuss 2027 benefits. Attend to chat with benefit vendors, including representatives from CareFirst and Kaiser Permanente, and OBS staff to get answers to your questions.
Open houses will take place:
Learn more about open enrollment.
Weekly Reflections: Where in Fairfax Is Dr. Reid?
Last week, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s work took her to nearly 10 schools! Was she in your neighborhood? Check out the latest Weekly Reflections.
Employee Conversations With Dr. Reid
Your voice matters, and Dr. Reid wants to hear from you! The final fall Employee Conversation will take place on Thursday, October 15, from 5 to 6 p.m., at Fort Hunt Elementary School.
This is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. You can also reach out to her anytime by emailing Superintendent@fcps.edu.
Principals Partner With Families for Student Success
Our schools are guided by extraordinary school leaders who show that when families and educators work hand in hand, students thrive. At Bucknell Elementary School and Lake Braddock Secondary School, Principals Lindsey Kearns (pictured above, at center) and Rashida Green exemplify this collaborative spirit every single day.
Find out why they were named outstanding principals last year.
Explore AI Tools, Zoom, or Cybersecurity With DIT Hour of Learning
On Monday, October 12, choose from six one-hour Zoom sessions during the next Department of Information Technology (DIT) Hour of Learning. Explore practical tools and ideas you can put to work right away in your classroom or office:
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9 a.m. Discover the XP Community: Learn how Experience Partners (XP) help improve FCPS digital tools. Share feedback about the Contacts Database for the opportunity to earn your first XP badge on Atlas. Your perspective is welcome, whether you use the tool regularly or have never used it before.
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10:15 a.m. ChatGPT in Practice with Coursera: Build practical prompting skills through examples focused on lesson planning, classroom materials, and everyday communications. Explore responsible AI practices and learn about the Coursera ChatGPT Foundations for Teachers credential.
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11:30 a.m. IT Support Services in Action: See Lightspeed Classroom’s Teacher Unblock for instructional YouTube videos and practical demonstrations from the Endpoint Configuration team. Learn which tools you can access and explore ideas you can apply in your role.
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1 p.m. More Than a Meeting: Zoom Productivity Tools: Explore Clips, Scheduler, Tasks, and Notes, with practical examples for classroom work and daily operations.
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2:15 p.m. Cybersecurity Awareness: Discover what can happen after an account is compromised and why promptly reporting suspicious activity matters.
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3:30 p.m. What’s New in Gemini Notebook (formerly Notebook LM): Explore current available features and ways to use your own sources to organize information, support planning, and create useful resources.
Register in MyPDE. Attend as many sessions as your schedule allows.
Licensure and Professional Growth Reminders
Whether you are working toward full licensure, adding endorsements, or taking continuing education, staying proactive helps you maximize your potential and remain aligned with division and state requirements.
If you are currently teaching under a local or provisional license, remember to schedule and take your required Praxis exam(s) to achieve full certification. If you already hold a valid teaching license, adding subject areas increases your instructional flexibility, opens new possibilities, and broadens your career path.
Idaho State University Albion Center Career Credits Update
Please note, program rules for career credits with Idaho State University Albion Center have changed. FCPS will accept credits completed and on a transcript prior to December 31, 2026. However, after this date, only Albion PD+ graduate credit courses will be accepted.
Please visit the Idaho State University Albion Center website for details.
For more information about licensure, visit Virginia Licensure Online (VALO) or the FCPS licensure team page on Atlas.
From Heard to Hopeful: How FCPS Ombuds Empower Parents as True Partners
Every day, Kathy Murphy, assistant ombuds for special education, has a new opportunity to listen and collaborate. Families navigating special education can oftentimes feel overwhelmed. Many parents reach out to the ombuds office as a last hope, feeling discouraged or unsure of their next steps.
Kathy works to help every parent and caregiver feel heard, understood, and hopeful. Read about her work with special education families.
Have a question or concern about FCPS and not sure where to find the answer? Visit the FCPS Office of the Ombuds to learn how an ombuds can help you.
Calendar Reminder: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 12, is a student holiday and staff development day for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. See the employee calendar.
School Board Meeting on October 8
The School Board will hold a regular business meeting on Thursday, October 8, at 7 p.m., at Jackson Middle School. Items on the agenda include:
- Opening of Schools Report.
- Superintendent’s Recommendation for Pre-K and Kindergarten Tech Device Use.
- Motions Related to Instructional Digital Applications.
View the full agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email may 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, one week in advance. Thank you!
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