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Two years after graduating from Westfield High School, I began reporting each morning to a Fairfax County Public Schools building I had never known existed.
For six weeks during summer 2025, the Gatehouse Administration Center became my workplace as I interned with the Office of Human Resources. The experience revealed just how many employees work outside public view to keep students safe, develop relevant curricula and prepare schools for the year ahead.
As an FCPS student, I had thought mainly about my principal, the superintendent and the School Board. My first day as an intern showed me that operating the school system requires a much larger network of people.
Summer is especially busy for Human Resources. Staff members organize events, produce employee guides and help manage transitions before students and educators return.
Fellow interns Katie Breighner, Olivia Zemba and Michael Pannutti joined me in supporting a Talent Acquisition Management job fair at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. More than 200 prospective teachers attended, hoping to secure positions with FCPS.
I observed the licensure table, where candidates learned what they needed to do to become licensed teachers. They ranged from recent elementary education graduates to a man with a law degree who wanted to teach physical education. Their enthusiasm for serving the public through teaching stood out.
Building Professional Skills
The internship program placed 20 interns across 10 departments. Every Thursday, the group gathered for professional development covering communication, personal finance, résumé writing and networking.
My journalism and communications background also led to an opportunity with the Office of Communications. With guidance from Social Media Manager Delaina McCormack and Communications Support Specialist Sarah Morris, I launched the @fcpsinterns Instagram account to showcase the interns’ summer work.
Taking the page from an initial proposal and first post to more than 200 followers became the highlight of my internship. It also offered a glimpse into a possible career in digital media.
Creating content for an organization was new to me. Unlike personal projects where I had complete creative control, the account required creativity within FCPS brand standards. McCormack and Morris helped me learn how to make social media accessible, represent diversity and encourage audience engagement.
Learning From Mentors
Mentorship was a central part of the program. My supervisors, Human Resources Business Partner Celeste Jones and Special Programs Manager Beth Boivin, consistently made learning a priority.
Jones, who also served as the internship coordinator, developed an open relationship with the group. She said she was impressed by how comfortable the interns became with her despite the program being new.
Because she was not their direct supervisor, Jones said, interns felt able to approach her with practical questions and requests. She was also struck by how the students brought different backgrounds while sharing a commitment to learning.
Near the end of my internship, I attended the Great Beginnings Summer Institute, a four-day welcome experience for educators who are new to FCPS.
Hayfield Secondary School was filled with new teachers meeting one another, learning about their positions and collecting resources for the coming school year. The activity throughout the auditorium, hallways, library and cafeteria reflected the enthusiasm that drew me to education.
The internship changed my understanding of FCPS and reinforced the value of caring about one’s work. Across the school system, I saw employees dedicating their efforts to students—even when those students may never know who is working behind the scenes.
The program received support from Educate Fairfax and Apple Federal Credit Union.