Article Text

Fairfax County Public Schools’ May 2025 CARES recognitions spotlight employees whose support extended far beyond their regular duties, from sheltering children during a family emergency to helping seniors complete graduation requirements.

Kylee West of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School received the Region 2 honor and was named a Summer 2025 CARES of the Quarter recipient. When a family emergency left a student responsible for younger siblings, West volunteered to welcome the children into her home for four days and nights. She provided meals, clothing and a stable place to stay, arranged daily calls with their mother and filled the weekend with games and a zoo trip while the family recovered.

Central Office recognition went to Woodson IT employee Tim Roberson, who helped establish Canterbury Woods Elementary School’s news studio. After learning that a student hoped to become a television journalist, Roberson connected the student with an on-air host for an interview.

Chandrani Ohdedar of Churchill Road Elementary received the Region 1 honor. A parent praised her close attention to a student’s academic and emotional adjustment after changing schools, her communication with the family and thoughtful support before and after the child underwent surgery.

Mount Eagle Elementary’s Shannon Southard was recognized in Region 3 for helping staff, students and families navigate school and community resources. Fluent in Spanish, Southard has built trusted relationships with the school’s large Spanish-speaking community while counseling students, connecting parents with services and supporting colleagues.

Region 4 honored Robinson Secondary film teacher Jody Hull. Nine films made in her classes were nominated for the Virginia High School League State Film Festival, reportedly the highest total from any Virginia school. A parent credited Hull with creating an inclusive filmmaking community and inspiring a student to pursue film and writing after graduation.

Wafika Albani of Greenbriar East Elementary received the Region 5 recognition. Several submissions described Albani as a vital connection between families and the school. In one incident, she stayed on the phone with a frightened parent for nearly two hours while working with school staff to locate a child who had not arrived home on time. The child eventually returned safely.

Region 6 jointly recognized Bren Mar Park Elementary educators Sadida Chaudhry and Natasha Triplett. The two meet repeatedly each week to coordinate instruction, share their schedules with colleagues and design inclusive lessons that give students multiple ways to demonstrate learning.

Other May submissions highlighted employees who helped students overcome immediate academic and personal crises. Hayfield Secondary Algebra 1 teacher Monica Pena spent two class periods tutoring a senior she had never met before the student’s final Standards of Learning test attempt. The student passed and remained eligible to graduate on time.

West Potomac High School’s Peter Cashman similarly used planning time to tutor a senior who still needed a verified Algebra 1 credit. Erin Boutilier, Franklin Holland and other West Potomac employees were also recognized for helping students finish graduation requirements with patience, flexibility and repeated opportunities to succeed.

West Springfield High School biology teacher Thomas Castro remained at school until 7 p.m. on the final day for graded work, allowing more than two dozen students to complete assignments, quizzes and tests. He also provided pizza as they worked.

At West Potomac, biology teacher Amana Bhuiyan bought several hundred dollars’ worth of snacks for students taking SOL exams. Although she initially planned to serve her own classes, she welcomed more than 100 biology students who stopped by for fruit, doughnuts, croissants and other food.

A storm that struck Fairfax on May 16 caused power outages at 10 schools and prompted a weekend response from Food and Nutrition Services operations specialist Sean Petitt and Facilities Management assistant manager Michael Lind. Petitt monitored refrigeration times and temperatures, advised kitchen managers about food safety, developed backup meal plans and visited schools when students returned Monday.

Other employees were recognized for acting quickly during emergencies. Regina Patterson of Freedom Hill Elementary rendered aid when a colleague lost consciousness, contacted administrators and the school nurse, and kept students safe until first responders arrived. West Potomac staff members were thanked for helping save a student and protect others during a serious incident, while Principal Jessica Statz and the administrative team were praised for calmly managing communications, meals and dismissal during the crisis.

When Hayfield Elementary lost power shortly before a scheduled program, Denise Meridieth of the Office of Safety and Security and Marlyn Rivera of Edison Support Center helped coordinate a rapid response. Rivera arrived to assess the situation, contributing to the restoration of power.

Transportation employees also received recognition for protecting students and solving urgent problems. Patrick Delaney of Forte Center stepped in when a bus driver canceled shortly before a district soccer playoff game, allowing the Lewis High School girls’ team to reach the competition. Kings Park employees Michelle Crabill, Juanita Saavedra and Pam Lieber stopped to comfort and protect children after a school bus broke down, while Ravensworth employees Jessica Scharpf and Erin Fortenberry supported students until families were contacted and another bus arrived.

Stonecroft Transportation employees Christina Kim and Sonia Mial helped a parent locate an appropriate safety harness for an autistic child. Kim met the family at the student’s drop-off location in heavy rain to explain the available options. Kim later worked with Diane McKee and Gloria Glenn-Yates to arrange transportation for a Centreville Elementary kindergartner returning after a car accident with a broken leg.

Bus drivers Sanj Moore and Yamaan Safady were recognized for providing dependable, welcoming rides and creating a reassuring start and finish to students’ school days.

Several nominations focused on inclusion. Colin Powell Elementary educators Jeffrey Stratford, Estavia Rowe and Jennifer Burke helped a student with special needs participate fully in chorus and perform a solo at the final concert. The student’s abilities were presented alongside those of classmates, creating what a parent described as a powerful example of meaningful inclusion.

Frost Middle School interpreter Shannon Smith helped a deaf student from Pakistan who had limited language communicate through gestures and facial expressions as well as sign language. Her work helped the student feel safe, understood and increasingly engaged in art class.

Academy Resource Teachers recognized multiple employees for strengthening services for students with individualized education programs. Honorees included Naila Chowdhury, Katie Nelson, Courtney Betzel, Sean Appleby, Lyman Rose, Yasmin Khan-Todd, Kevin Smith, Joe Wolfe, Teresa Clawson-Keeton, Chelsea Harris and Roselyn Abrigo. Their work ranged from including resource teachers in IEP meetings to expanding access to culinary arts, automotive, nursing, photography and other career programs.

School employees were also praised for building confidence through creative instruction. Silverbrook Elementary art teachers Elke Whittle and Laura Lajin organized an Art Gala featuring work and personal artist statements from every student. Janeth Tlatelpa of Rose Hill Elementary brought chicken eggs into kindergarten classrooms, established incubators and webcams, and used the hatching project to teach animal care, responsibility and writing.

Cassandra Thomas of Westbriar Elementary handmade a crocheted animal for every student before SOL testing and asked families to provide personal letters of encouragement. Raymond Mason spent months directing Kings Glen Elementary’s production of “Shrek,” coordinating performers, costumes, scenery and stage crews for the April shows.

Jenny Betten, librarian at Katherine Johnson Middle School, coordinated an April 23 Battle of the Books that drew nearly 140 students from 16 FCPS middle schools. She worked throughout the year with 29 librarians as well as literacy specialists and English teachers to stage the competition.

Many recognitions centered on sustained relationships rather than a single event. Joyce Sisk was celebrated for 50 years of service at Bailey’s Elementary. Parents and colleagues also praised teachers, assistants, administrators, office employees, custodians, food-service workers, technology specialists, family liaisons and maintenance personnel for making schools welcoming, communicating with families and noticing students who needed additional help.

The May submissions collectively show the breadth of work behind daily school operations: employees tutored students after hours, supported families during emergencies, resolved transportation and maintenance problems, improved accessibility, prepared meals, built inclusive classrooms and created opportunities in academics, arts, athletics and career education.