Community Conversations: Your Voice is Important
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid hosts a series of Community Conversations throughout the school year. These events provide a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to connect with Dr. Reid, ask questions, and share ideas and concerns.
As a listening leader, connecting and engaging with community members across our division is critical to Dr. Reid.
Upcoming Community Conversations include:
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Friday, October 3, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Annandale Terrace Elementary. Register now.
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Friday, December 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Churchill Road Elementary
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Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Fairhill Elementary
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Thursday, December 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bull Run Elementary
Additional registration links will be shared on our website. Pre-registration is not required, but does help us plan.
Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
Weird Brothers Coffee and Fairfax County Public Schools have nurtured a rich partnership. Together, they've created a world of opportunity and belonging for students with disabilities, opening doors to hands-on, meaningful work experiences that ignite dreams and build confidence. Weird Brothers Coffee Owner Paul Olsen is helping Herndon High School’s Work Awareness and Transition (WAT) students prepare for life after graduation by teaching them essential workplace skills and fostering their independence at the coffee roasting factory and coffee bar in Herndon.
Through this inclusive partnership, students are given gateways to careers in hospitality, food service, and retail while discovering their potential. With each hands-on activity — such as greeting and serving customers, washing dishes, cleaning tables, or maintaining the facility — students develop essential workplace skills like communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. Some students even have the chance to train as baristas, stirring pride into every cup they serve.
Weird Brothers helped Herndon High School create a second, equally meaningful work-based learning opportunity at school called The Brewing Independence Café. With Weird Brothers Coffee’s generous support, students take part in training sessions, learning how to use equipment properly, and become familiar with the products served. The café springs to life daily, fully powered by students as they take orders and deliver Weird Brothers’ coffee throughout the school. This student-run enterprise offers youth with disabilities a supported, hands-on experience in a real-world setting. Under the direction of their teacher, students learn to manage online orders, handle money, brew delicious customized coffees, and deliver smiles with every cup they serve.
Weird Brothers’ Coffee is a champion for students with disabilities. Paul Olsen is driven by a deep desire to give every student the chance to be truly extraordinary, and he encourages other business leaders to consider hosting high school students in the workplace.
If you would like additional information about community work experiences for students and developing partnerships with Fairfax County Public Schools, please visit Work-Based Learning.
Image credit: Google Gemini
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is embarking on a transformative journey with the AI Education Roadmap. This comprehensive roadmap will outline FCPS's strategic approach to responsibly integrating Artificial Intelligence into our schools and classrooms. Our goal is to position FCPS as the nation's premier school district in thoughtfully integrating AI into student and staff learning, preparing our students for the demands of a rapidly evolving technology-driven workforce landscape. We are inviting you to join a group of leading industry partners in shaping this critical future.
Our Superintendent will be hosting an event to kick off the process, details below.
Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI & The Future of Learning will launch our AI Education Roadmap on Monday, November 3, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
Beyond this kickoff event, FCPS is seeking year-long sponsorships to support the full implementation of the AI Education Roadmap. Partnering with FCPS offers a unique opportunity to engage with one of the nation's largest and most forward-thinking school divisions. Your involvement will directly impact generations of future workforce participants at the critical intersection of AI and education. This sponsorship offers a chance to maximize your brand's influence and alignment with responsible AI development.
We’ve designed tiered sponsorship opportunities, from pilot-level support to flagship partnership, so that your team can choose the level of engagement that best meets your goals.
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Help build tomorrow’s workforce: Sponsor AI-focused student clubs, competitions, or mentorships that give students hands-on skills for the jobs of the future.
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Upskill Educators: Support training initiatives for FCPS staff on AI tools and responsible integration.
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Champion Responsible Use of AI: Advise on ethical AI curriculum design and content.
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Demonstrate your Company Thought Leadership: Present at workshops, conferences, or forums throughout the year.
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Influence the Direction of AI Education Exclusive Roundtables: Invitations to participate in exclusive discussions with FCPS leadership regarding the evolution of AI education.
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Ongoing Brand Recognition: Prominent placement on FCPS AI Education Roadmap digital platforms, communications, and future events.
FCPS is committed to preparing students for the future through ethical, equitable, and responsible AI integration — an objective that aligns perfectly with the goals of leading AI technology firms and their philanthropic arms. Your partnership will not only elevate your brand but also make a significant contribution to a groundbreaking educational initiative.
To inquire about sponsoring the AI Education Roadmap, please contact Lynette Henry, executive director of Educate Fairfax: lynette@educatefairfax.org.
FCPS is proud to showcase the Secondary Transition to Employment Program (STEP), specially designed for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who are ages 18-22 and seek to develop employability and independent living skills. STEP prepares students with disabilities for life after high school through a variety of work-based learning activities, including community work experiences, paid and unpaid internships, community instruction, and travel training opportunities.
STEP consistently seeks local businesses to support these efforts and host students with disabilities for high-quality work experiences.
Contact Career and Transition Services at 571-423-4150 to get involved, and follow FCPS Career and Transition Services on Instagram to stay informed.
On Tuesday, November 4, a $460 million Bond Referendum will be on the ballot. FCPS maintains two separate budgets: one for general operations and one for the planning/design and construction of our schools, which is solely funded by bonds.
Bond-funded projects enable FCPS to provide accessible, sustainable, welcoming spaces for students and staff to thrive, and for community members to come together.
Tuesday, November 4, is your opportunity to directly impact FCPS schools and communities by voting on the Bond Referendum.
Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote.
The FCPS Partnership Update is taking a break for the remainder of 2025. We look forward to bringing you more partnership news in 2026!
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