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Fairfax County Public Schools honored nine schools for outstanding websites, newsletters and social media during the annual School Communicators Conference on Jan. 30.
The 2025 Awards of Communication Excellence recognized school communications that keep families informed, encourage engagement and make important information easier to find.
Westlawn takes Best in Show
Westlawn Elementary School received the Best in Show award for its combined work across newsletters, social media and the web.
Alanna Dushok, an experienced school-based technology specialist, has managed Westlawn’s website and social accounts for years. She also took charge of the Westlawn Weekly last year, introducing stronger photography, topical headings and concise updates tailored to the community.
Westlawn’s Instagram account has attracted more than 600 followers since launching about two and a half years ago. Dushok has developed more than 700 posts, including candid classroom images, behind-the-scenes glimpses and “day in the life” features.
The school’s Facebook page serves as a central location for news, staff profiles, community updates and reminders about events such as weekly Community Conversations with the principal.
Westlawn’s website also offers detailed information about SOL testing, school celebrations and specialty classes. Separate pages cover art, music, physical education, library services, STEAM and the Creative and Critical Thinking Lab. Its social-emotional learning resources include accessible, translatable letters for families.
A Get Involved page provides presentation slides in English and Spanish, along with Zoom recordings of the three most recent Community Conversations.
Newsletter winners
Mosaic Elementary School, Liberty Middle School and Fairfax High School were recognized for family newsletters distributed through the district’s News You Choose platform. Entries were assessed for qualities including consistency, creativity, accessibility, writing and reader engagement.
Heather Brown and Jeff Ward oversee Mosaic Matters, a concise newsletter delivered every other week. Its average open rate rose from 29.5% to 33.8%, while its click rate reached 3.7%.
The newsletter combines school updates, upcoming events, celebrations and broader community information. It also guides readers to Mosaic’s website and social channels. Its editor subscribes to newsletters from other schools in the pyramid to coordinate dates and systemwide initiatives.
Liberty Middle School’s weekly publication stood out for consistent branding, polished photography and accessible, community-focused writing. Photos identifying administrators and student services employees help families quickly determine whom to contact for assistance.
Fairfax High School designed its newsletter as a central destination for school news and celebration. Weekly messages from the principal recap recent successes while previewing upcoming activities.
Staff members, students, programs and partnerships all receive attention, while “need to know” and “nice to know” sections help families prioritize information. The newsletter has achieved a 31% open rate.
Websites recognized for clarity and creativity
Forestville Elementary School, Liberty Middle School and West Potomac High School earned Best of the Web recognition for informative, accessible and frequently updated sites.
Forestville’s website connects its content to instructional priorities, school culture and student achievement. Its About pages explain the school’s emphasis on academics, social-emotional development and responsible citizenship.
Grade-level pages describe classroom expectations and learning experiences, while pages for art, music, physical education, library services, band and strings highlight enrichment opportunities. Features such as “10 Ways Forestville SOARS” showcase diversity, leadership development and family partnerships. Resource pages also give families practical ways to support learning at home.
Liberty Middle School drew praise for its after-school, library, administration and academic advising pages. Its after-school section includes procedures, club descriptions, contact information and related stories.
The library section answers common questions and presents the space as an inviting resource for students and employees. Liberty’s administration page pairs professional photographs with clearly defined responsibilities, making it easier for families to find the right person.
Its course-selection section includes readable guidance and videos that offer students and families a preview of available classes.
West Potomac High School earned recognition for lively announcements featuring strong thumbnail images and short teasers that encourage readers to learn more. Its site also includes features on the Alexandria Community Nutcracker, the Hispanic Interactive Wax Museum and Sisters on the Field Flag Football.
The administration page uses coordinated staff photographs and identifies the groups each leader serves. Student Services content helps visitors navigate counseling, course selection, testing, registration and the College and Career Center.
A Student Life and Activities section covers clubs, athletics and student publications, along with a dedicated page for the Class of 2026.
Social media accounts build wider audiences
Mosaic Elementary School, Hughes Middle School, Falls Church High School and Davis Career Center received social media awards for frequent, creative and engaging posts.
Mosaic’s Facebook and Instagram accounts document learning and collaboration across grade levels and subjects. Brown and Ward work with 12 employees who operate individual school-aligned Instagram accounts, expanding the range of perspectives represented online.
The team tracks coverage of grade levels and school initiatives in a spreadsheet and adapts current online trends for its audience. One recent reel surpassed 12,000 likes and 1 million views.
Rachel Singer and Kristina Burke have built Hughes Middle School’s Instagram presence around vivid photographs of academics, life lessons and everyday moments in the Panther community. Even informational posts generally feature students rather than standalone graphics.
When an event produces more than Instagram’s 20-photo limit, the school shares additional images on Facebook. Clear captions and hashtags reinforce key messages, including the benefits of Hughes’ AVID program.
Falls Church High School’s Megan Walker and Bianca Aiello have helped the school increase its Instagram followers and viewership. Their posts combine current trends with an intentional effort to represent the community’s diversity.
They collaborate with student leaders, athletics representatives, alumni and other employees to produce varied content. The school’s reels were particularly praised for using trends to convey the energy of the Falls Church community.
At Davis Career Center, Chad Clayton has centered social media on celebration and joy. Posts consistently highlight students, their accomplishments and their preparation for careers and life beyond school.
The account’s smiling photographs and enthusiastic captions also emphasize the close relationships between students and employees, demonstrating how a focused message and steady posting can create an effective school presence online.