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Fairfax County Public Schools has become the first education applicant to receive the Partnership for Excellence’s Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence on its first attempt.
The 2026 award recognizes performance excellence through innovation, results and leadership using the Baldrige Excellence Framework. Superintendent Michelle Reid credited FCPS employees with keeping students at the center of their work while pursuing efficiency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.
The honor arrived during a busy stretch that also included debate over a $28 million budget gap, school boundary discussions, student competitions, staff awards and celebrations across Fairfax County.
Schools spotlight inclusive education
On May 1, FCPS held its Phase 1 Inclusion Exhibition of Learning, bringing together school leaders, senior division officials and central office employees to discuss efforts to expand inclusive opportunities for students.
In a virtual keynote, Dr. Shelley Moore outlined her “Five Leadership Pillars to Inclusion.” Her presentation encouraged educators to focus on “place, not placement,” design instruction for everyone from the outset and recognize that students with invisible disabilities do not always receive compassion or understanding. She also challenged the belief that accommodations reduce academic rigor.
Teams from Bush Hill, Dogwood, Franklin Sherman, Greenbriar East, Hunt Valley and Saratoga elementary schools joined Edison and Herndon high schools, Hayfield Secondary School and South County Middle School in sharing their progress, obstacles and lessons.
Participants identified several priorities for future work, including intentional scheduling, greater use of student feedback and more professional development in Universal Design for Learning to strengthen Tier 1 instruction. The work supports Goal 2 of the FCPS strategic plan, which calls for schools where students feel safe, supported and included.
FCPS employees and students earn honors
Fanny Salazar-Laske, a family liaison at Herndon Middle School, received the Distinguished Service Award during Herndon’s 40th annual Mayor’s Volunteer Appreciation Reception.
Mayor Keven LeBlanc presented the award as part of the “Heroes Among Us” initiative. Salazar-Laske was recognized for work that includes organizing monthly food drives, assisting families in crises, helping parents navigate schools and services, and supporting colleagues.
“Volunteer work is the quiet language of love in action — giving my time, heart, and energy to uplift my school and community, not for recognition, but to leave kindness, hope, and a lasting difference wherever I serve,” she said.
Alberto Rodriguez, the orchestra director at Mount Vernon High School, was selected as one of 202 quarterfinalists for the 2027 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Presented by the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum, the competition attracted more than 2,100 applications from educators working in settings ranging from kindergarten to college and private schools. Semifinalists are expected to be announced in September.
Two FCPS students also received Class 6 Achievement Awards. Chantilly High School’s Titus Er was named Male Scholar Athlete, while Breanna Graham of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology received Female Scholar Athlete honors.
Graham credited her coaches, teammates and teachers with helping her develop as both an athlete and a person.
Robotics teams place at world championship
Two FCPS robotics teams qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, where 600 teams representing more than 10 countries competed.
Team 5549, Gryphon Robotics from Marshall High School, ranked third in its division and led its alliance to seventh place overall. Team 614, the Night Hawks from Hayfield Secondary School, endured a more difficult qualification round but advanced in the playoffs and finished as part of the third-place alliance.
FCPS plans to bring robotics programs to every school in the division during the next three years, expanding opportunities for students to develop skills in programming, engineering and teamwork.
Students at Cooper Middle School had a different kind of hands-on learning experience when the school’s band hosted the Stiletto Brass Quintet. The visit included a performance and a masterclass for a student brass quintet.
Amy Gilreath, principal trumpet of the Illinois Symphony, coached student musicians Andrew Lin, Arjun Tengli, Sarah Workie, Eleanor Hwang and Graham Wiltbank during the program.
Crossfield renovation celebrated
Reid visited Crossfield Elementary School on Monday for a ribbon-cutting marking the completion of a renovation that added 11,638 square feet.
The school has served families in Herndon and Reston since the late 1980s. The project was planned with money from the 2019 bond referendum, while construction was funded through the voter-approved 2021 bond referendum.
Later that day, the Strategic Plan Advisory Group met at the Gatehouse Administration Center. The group of parents and community members provides feedback on implementation of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan and explores possible partnerships with community organizations.
The meeting concentrated on data tied to Goal 2, Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered, and Goal 4, Equitable Access and Opportunity.
That evening, the Hispanic Leadership Alliance held its 21st annual Scholarship Awards Banquet at Willow Oaks. The organization, composed of current and retired FCPS educators and employees, awarded scholarships to 26 graduating seniors, two adult English for Speakers of Other Languages students and one educator.
Chief of Schools Geovanny Ponce received the HLA Leadership Award. Ponce is leaving FCPS to become superintendent of the Champaign, Illinois, Unit 4 School District.
On Tuesday, Reid addressed Leading the Mission, a cohort of experienced principals and central office employees working to expand their leadership perspective from individual schools and departments to the entire division.
That evening, the Boundary Advisory Core Committee met at Gatehouse. Members reviewed feedback from boundary meetings already held and separated into working groups to prepare an after-action report and a handbook for the boundary advisory committee.
Fallen officers remembered
Reid attended the 2026 Fairfax County Police Fallen Officers Memorial Service at the county Government Center on Wednesday morning.
The ceremony honored Fairfax County police officers killed in the line of duty. Reid emphasized the department’s role as a partner in protecting schools and helping students and employees remain focused on education.
On Wednesday evening, the Family Vision Group held its final meeting of the school year at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Experts discussed artificial intelligence, and participants offered feedback about how FCPS can help families understand the technology.
Division confronts $28 million shortfall
At Thursday’s School Board meeting, Reid proposed adjustments to the fiscal year 2027 budget as FCPS faces a $28 million gap and uncertainty surrounding the state budget.
The superintendent said the division intends to preserve previously agreed compensation under collective bargaining agreements and remain competitive in recruiting and retaining employees.
Her recommendations would restore funding for elementary special education department chairs and advanced academic resource teachers. They would also partially reverse staffing-formula adjustments, invest in certified athletic trainers at high schools, assign a dedicated family liaison to every school and preserve the Middle School After-School Program.
To close the remaining gap, Reid proposed reducing the staffing reserve, using alternative funding for major maintenance and extending the replacement schedule for FCPSOn technology devices. Other proposed measures include postponing micro-credentialing, reducing spending on math curriculum materials and cutting the Superintendent’s Strategic Reserve.
Some one-time money would be used to manage the uncertainty surrounding state support while limiting disruption to core school operations.
Reid said the division is trying to sustain strong academic performance despite financial pressure and reductions made in fiscal year 2026. FCPS educates one-quarter of Virginia’s multilingual learners, and all its schools are fully accredited under the new Standards of Accreditation. The division also reported a 37% increase in National Merit semifinalists over the previous year.
A public budget hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, with the School Board’s final vote set for Thursday, May 21.
The board also received an update on the positive-school-climate portion of Strategic Plan Goal 2. The discussion covered safety, belonging, academic support, inclusive academic culture and trust between teachers and students.
FCPS highlighted transition activities designed to help students moving into middle or high school. Tours, student panels and elective-course previews allow children to become familiar with new buildings, employees and expectations before their first day.
Innovation program expands to 31 teams
The Lighthouse Schools program marked the end of its year Friday at Willow Oaks. Launched with seven pilot schools in August 2023, the partnership among participating schools, the FCPS Department of Information Technology and ISTE+ASCD has grown to 31 teams.
Following a keynote by Dr. Joseph South, Hunt Valley Elementary School, Davis Career Center and Columbia Elementary School presented stories illustrating the program’s effects. Other activities included hands-on demonstrations of ways educators are using emerging technologies to support innovation.
Reid then attended West Potomac High School’s annual Fish Fry, the final event in the school’s Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week celebration.
Later Friday morning, the Falls Church High School Guitar Ensemble performed at Gatehouse. The group consists of students in their second, third or fourth year of guitar studies. Director Jacob Walker said its program was inspired by and included music by Joe Hisaishi, known for his film scores for Studio Ghibli.
On Friday afternoon, FCPS celebrated graduates of its Accelerated Certification Cohort. Participants spent the previous year preparing for leadership positions while balancing the program with work and family responsibilities.
Reid encouraged graduates to build trust, remain focused on their purpose and lead courageously. Nearly 8,000 FCPS employees have received tuition-based higher-education support during the past five years.
Boundary talks continue in southern Fairfax
A Friday evening community meeting at South County High School examined possible boundary changes involving Gunston, Halley, Laurel Hill and Lorton Station elementary schools.
Dr. Nardos King is leading the neighborhood process. Reid acknowledged the challenges involved and thanked community members for participating.
The superintendent ended Friday at West Springfield High School’s sold-out production of “Mamma Mia,” which involved more than 160 students. Some were making their high school theater debuts alongside experienced performers.
The production’s sets, lighting, costumes, props and scenic components were designed and built by students. The technical crew also constructed and learned to operate a 15-foot turntable safely, according to theater teacher Ashton Schaffer.
Weekend events span sports, culture and theater
Reid began Saturday at a middle school track meet hosted by West Potomac High School, recognizing the work of students, coaches and volunteers.
She later joined elected officials, community partners, families and students at Mason District Park for an Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration.
The event honored the cultures, traditions and stories of AANHPI communities as well as the achievements of local young people. FCPS incorporates those perspectives through social studies instruction, world-language programs and community partnerships.
Reid then attended Westfield High School’s production of “Anastasia.” Director Christine Maxted said the show explored identity, memory and the ways stories from the past shape the future.
Memorial scholarship reaches 20-year milestone
As graduation season approaches, FCPS is recognizing the family of William J. Foreman, an alumnus who died in a car crash seven days after graduating in 2006.
His parents, Louise and Mark Foreman, created the William J. Foreman Memorial Scholarship to assist seniors who overcame major challenges during high school and successfully reached graduation.
Over 20 years, the scholarship has provided a combined $130,000 to help recipients pursue college educations. The milestone reflects the Foreman family’s continuing commitment to students and its effort to honor their son by supporting young people facing difficult circumstances.