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Sara Kennedy could have retired years ago. Instead, the Union Mill Elementary School special education teacher continues returning to the classroom, guided by three questions: Does she still enjoy the work? Do the good days outweigh the bad? Is she still relevant and making an impact?

As long as every answer remains yes, Kennedy plans to keep teaching.

Kennedy marked her 50th year teaching special education in Fairfax County Public Schools in 2025, including 39 years at Union Mill. Her connection to the school system began much earlier: She attended Cedar Lane, Marshall Road and Vienna elementary schools, followed by Thoreau Middle School and Madison High School.

Her family settled in Northern Virginia after her parents were stationed in Washington, D.C., with the Navy.

Kennedy discovered her future career during her senior year of high school, when a required volunteer and internship project led her to shadow a neighbor who taught special education. She watched the teacher work with small groups of students who needed additional help or more time to grasp classroom concepts.

The experience showed Kennedy how she could help students participate in the same work as their classmates, sparking her interest in special education.

Early in her career, Kennedy spent a year or two at several elementary schools, including Fairhill, Cedar Lane and Oak View. She later taught for seven years at Laurel Ridge Elementary School.

When Union Mill Elementary opened in 1986, Kennedy joined the new school and stayed.

Technology has transformed her work over the decades. Online materials, quick access to data and easier communication with parents have made parts of the job more efficient. But teacher-issued laptops also made it harder to maintain boundaries between work and personal time.

Kennedy has also witnessed greater recognition of the role special education plays in schools. Collaboration with general education teachers and teaching teams has increased, making her an integral part of delivering services to Union Mill students.

At the same time, paperwork has grown “exponentially,” she said. The workload remains challenging for experienced educators and can feel daunting and overwhelming to the new special education teachers she mentors.

Evidence of student progress keeps Kennedy coming back. In recent years, she has advanced through grade levels with the same students, supporting them in fourth, fifth and sixth grades. By reviewing their individualized education programs and testing data, she can see how they have grown and developed new skills.

“That tells me I’m still making a huge impact,” Kennedy said.

Her favorite moments come when students recognize their own progress, whether they have mastered a major skill or taken a small step forward.

“I like those baby steps when they’re super proud, even if it isn’t perfect,” she said. “Little things add up to success.”