Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Michelle Reid reflected on recent activities and initiatives in her weekly update to staff as the district moves into October.
Last week, FCPS began the third year of its Lighthouse Schools program at South County Middle School. The initiative allows selected schools to test new teaching practices and technologies before sharing effective approaches with other schools in the division. The aim is to equip students and staff with skills for a rapidly changing future.
Reid highlighted achievements from participating schools over the past two years. Lemon Road Elementary School focused on equity in family engagement by using journey mapping and gathering feedback from families. Centre Ridge Elementary School emphasized career exploration, helping students build technology-based career portfolios. McLean High School redesigned Advanced Placement courses, developed externship opportunities, and updated lab spaces to make learning more relevant.
“This work is more important than ever because the world our students are entering is changing fast. New technologies, new ways of connecting, new challenges not yet imagined — using today’s innovations to shape tomorrow’s success,” Reid stated.
The Superintendent also met with the Student Advisory Council (SAC) at Woodson High School for their annual kickoff meeting. The council includes students from every FCPS high school and discussed initiatives for the 2025-26 school year. Reid provided updates on how FCPS has responded to SAC’s recommendations regarding student attendance, literacy, multilingual learner programs, extracurricular access, and college and career planning.
“Their voices and perspectives will help guide our work as we continue making FCPS a place where every student can thrive,” said Reid.
A meeting of the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee was held Wednesday night. Key materials from this meeting are available on the FCPS website along with a message from Reid. Two additional community boundary review meetings are scheduled for September 29 and 30. In spring, community feedback was gathered on three draft scenarios addressing issues such as neighborhood connectivity, cohort continuity, and overcrowding; a fourth scenario has since been developed based on further input. This new draft map will be presented during October meetings and uploaded to the Boundary Explorer Tool.
On Thursday morning, Reid addressed the Tysons Rotary Club about FCPS’s Strategic Plan for 2023-30, priorities for SY2025-26, budget challenges, and opportunities for collaboration between FCPS and local organizations.
She also discussed the upcoming 2025 School Bond Referendum: “On November 4, Fairfax County residents will vote on whether to approve funding for FCPS school renovations, construction, and planning/design.” The $460 million bond would fund improvements across county schools that host about 500,000 community events each year.
During last Thursday’s School Board meeting’s Academic Matters segment, Reid outlined efforts under Goal 5 of the Strategic Plan: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation. She described how elementary students gain real-world skills through classroom job simulations; middle schoolers learn financial literacy at Finance Park; high schoolers connect with employers at industry conferences leading to internships or jobs.
Reid also shared highlights from fall sports activities—including a new girls flag football program—and her visits to Back-to-School Nights and local libraries as part of National Library Card Sign-up Month.
Friday evening included a visit to Woodburn Elementary School’s first Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Later that night she attended West Springfield High School’s varsity football game against South County.
Saturday saw several events: Reid attended Hayfield Secondary School’s Chesapeake Robotics Icebreaker competition featuring teams from around the region; joined Parents of Autistic Children of Northern Virginia (POAC-NoVA) for their annual Back-to-School meeting alongside FCPS Department of Special Services staff; then visited Herndon High School’s Showcase of Bands event featuring over 30 marching bands.
Reflecting on these experiences as autumn begins, Reid quoted William Faulkner: “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world … would do this, it would change the earth.”
Michelle Reid concluded her message by encouraging staff to take care as they continue their work supporting students across Fairfax County Public Schools.
