Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Michelle Reid shared updates and reflections on the division’s recent activities as staff and students prepare for the new school year.
Reid highlighted the energy at various kickoff meetings held for staff, noting the importance of supporting students during the transition back to school. She cited psychologist Lynn Bufka: “Going back to school is a transition for everyone,” adding, “No matter the age of the child, or if they’ve been to school before.”
This year, FCPS will pilot a tablet-based system on school buses aimed at improving safety and efficiency. The technology provides drivers with turn-by-turn navigation, real-time route adjustments, and student tracking using RFID card scanning. This allows for verification of student identities and real-time information sharing with dispatchers in emergencies. Eventually, families will be able to monitor their child’s location through the Here Comes the Bus app.
Reid also visited McNair Upper Elementary School’s summer Bookmobile initiative in Woodland Park. The program was created to support literacy among students who may have limited access to books during summer breaks. Through partnerships with local organizations and community donations, nearly 1,000 diverse books were made available via the mobile library.
Mallory Janofsky led this project as an advanced academics resource teacher. Principal Melissa Goddin and other volunteers supported its implementation. Reid said these efforts exemplify how collaboration between schools, community organizations, and families can expand opportunities for students.
The superintendent attended several events throughout the week, including a luncheon with elementary principals in Tysons Corner and the annual Work-Based Learning (WBL) Conference at St. James athletic complex. The WBL conference focused on expanding access to career-connected learning experiences aligned with Career and Technical Education programs—an effort that supports Goal 5 of FCPS’s 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation.
A highlight was a student panel where current students and alumni discussed how internships like Trades for Tomorrow helped them gain skills and clarify postsecondary goals.
On Tuesday night, Reid participated in a meeting of the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee. Materials from this meeting are available on FCPS’s website.
Wednesday included welcoming new teachers at the Great Beginnings Summer Institute (GBSI), which has grown over three decades from 50 participants to more than 900 attendees this year across 50 cohorts led by 86 coaches.
Reid also joined school social workers at Robinson Secondary School for training on human trafficking during their kickoff event. She emphasized their vital role in ensuring student safety: “While academic success in reading and math is essential, it is equally — if not more — important that our students are safe and well.”
Later that day she spoke at an Educational Townhall at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall about support systems for military-connected families within FCPS. With approximately 13,500 military-connected students enrolled across 96 Purple Star Schools, FCPS aims to become a Purple Star Division by September 2026 as part of its strategic plan goal focused on student well-being.
To further support military families, FCPS will host its first Annual Back to School BBQ inspired by input from its military connected youth council.
On Thursday Reid visited Hybla Valley Elementary School—one of six open feeding sites running Food and Nutrition Services’ (FNS) Summer Food Service Program—which operates throughout summer break providing meals to students across six locations in Fairfax County Public Schools.
She noted that last year FNS served more than 5.5 million breakfasts and over 13.5 million lunches districtwide.
Thursday also marked the conclusion of FCPS’s inaugural class of 21 summer interns who contributed across departments including Educate Fairfax food pack preparation, procurement contract management, communications projects, and research initiatives supporting public education missions within FCPS.
Friday saw kickoffs for both Food and Nutrition Services staff at Luther Jackson Middle School as well as new school psychologists welcomed at Robinson Secondary—21 new psychologists plus five interns joined this year.
Over the weekend Reid attended Westfield High School’s football scrimmage followed by Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta—a community event promoting teamwork among participants.
Reflecting on these activities Reid concluded her message by quoting George Yeoman Pocock: “It is hard to make that boat go as fast as you want to… but that very water is what supports you… So is life: the very problems you must overcome also support you…”
“Together, all things are possible,” she wrote in closing.
