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Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid received the Virginia Parent Teacher Association’s 2026 Power Partner Award during the organization’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on June 5.

The award honors a principal or division superintendent who strengthens student success by building effective partnerships with PTAs and welcoming family and volunteer involvement in students’ academics, health and well-being.

Virginia PTA President Ben Pearson-Nelson praised Reid’s leadership and engagement with parents, teachers and school communities, calling her “a true friend to the PTA.”

Fairfax County Council PTA President Debbie Kilpatrick said the council and its 175 local PTAs were proud to nominate Reid. She credited Reid and the council with developing a strong partnership focused on expanding community and family engagement in Fairfax County and across Virginia.

Reid’s recognition followed more than 100 community meetings held during the 2025-26 school year. Those efforts included the Family Vision Group, Community Conversations, Employee Conversations, Community Boundary Review Meetings, Skyview High School Community Meetings and the State of Our Schools presentation.

The award also acknowledged Reid’s regular attendance at community events on weekdays and weekends, including performing arts programs, athletic events, academic and club competitions, and exhibits.

In the nomination letter, Fairfax County School Board Chair and Springfield District Representative Sandy Anderson said family engagement under Reid’s leadership had become a central part of the school division’s culture. Anderson described the resulting approach as welcoming, inclusive and multilingual, with families placed at the center of public education.

Virginia PTA is a nonpartisan volunteer child-advocacy association with more than 175,000 members across over 950 Virginia schools.