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Raquel Joyner’s work with students at Quander Road School often continues long after they leave the Fairfax County Public Schools campus. She attends college graduations and remains available for advice and support years later.

Joyner serves as the special education department chair at Quander Road, one of two FCPS public high schools designed to better accommodate students facing emotional, behavioral, or social challenges. The school provides a small, structured environment focused on students’ academic, social-emotional, vocational, and behavioral development.

Every student at Quander Road has an Individualized Education Program. Most also take Personal Development, an elective that builds social and emotional skills while providing targeted academic intervention and enrichment.

As department chair, Joyner is the main contact for IEPs, Extended School Year services, compensatory services, and tutoring and mentoring programs. She also mentors colleagues while coordinating support tailored to individual students and families.

Interim Principal Larry Jones said Joyner makes every student’s education a priority and adapts assistance to meet each family’s circumstances. He described her as a consistent advocate for all learners, including students with disabilities.

That advocacy reaches beyond school grounds. Joyner has visited families to obtain IEP signatures, assist with summer services, and conduct welfare checks. The visits help connect students with resources and reinforce a sense that they are supported and valued.

One father, writing in support of Joyner’s nomination for Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee, said his son arrived at Quander Road needing a fresh start. He credited the environment Joyner helped create, her frequent check-ins, firm boundaries, and high expectations with helping his son succeed.

Colleagues say those relationships endure. Former students continue turning to Joyner as a trusted contact, knowing they can seek her guidance even years after graduation.

Her work reflects the purpose highlighted by National Special Education Day, observed annually on Dec. 2. The date commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing in 1975 of the federal law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.