The Dunne Dispatch (Report Card Edition) - March 17, 2026

• Celebrating South County HS's 20th Anniversary. On February 24, I visited South County HS to present a recognition statement and certificate in honor of the school’s 20th anniversary. Congratulations to the entire Stallion community on twenty years of success. I look forward to seeing all that you will achieve in the years to come!

• Fostering Literacy with All Ages Read Together. I was honored to support Read Across America Week with All Ages Read Together (AART) at the Lorton Community Action Center. After reading What to Do With a Box by Jane Yolen, children used their preschool imaginations to create a race car and space ship! Thank you to JK Moving for the generous donation of boxes. AART’s commitment to providing free preschool programs for children who might not otherwise have access to early childhood education is inspiring. By fostering a love for books early on, we are ensuring our students have a strong foundation for future academic success and a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.

• Reading Opens the World Community Book Giveaway. I was honored to speak at the third annual "Reading Opens the World" book giveaway held at the Lorton Community Center on March 14. This is an amazing event where students from across the Mount Vernon District have the opportunity to select free books to build their home libraries. There is nothing like witnessing hundreds of families who are excited to read and start their learning journeys. I would like to recognize and thank the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT) for their incredible dedication and service to our community!

On February 26, 2026, the Board considered whether to provide school bus transportation to students affected by boundary changes

I supported a motion brought by my colleagues Melanie Meren and Ricardy Anderson to fully fund school bus transportation for elementary, middle, and high school students affected by boundary changes. As my colleague Ilryong Moon eloquently argued, this is what FCPS has done in the past, and we should follow that precedent.

Instead, the School Board elected to fund transportation for high school students only. This is inconsistent with our stated commitment to equity that is enshrined in the One Fairfax policy. This decision to limit transportation adversely impacts low-income families who lack the means to provide transportation to their children.

The School Board had the opportunity to reallocate funding from its $8 million reserve or funding earmarked for the renovation of School Board offices at Gatehouse. After a difficult boundary process, I believe it is necessary to support our families and students as they transition to new schools.

View my remarks here. 

The ability of students to engage in extracurricular activities is often predicated on the availability of reliable transportation. Until recently, Mount Vernon HS could only afford to provide after-school buses for students once per week. With the generous support of Alice’s Kids, Mount Vernon HS will now be able to provide a second day of after-school buses, which will enable more students to participate in athletics, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities.  

Many thanks to the Mount Vernon HS parents and community members who brought this to my attention at the 39th Annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting. These parents along with Mount Vernon HS student leaders have been vocal proponents for expanding after-school transit options for several months. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Mount Vernon HS, the Mount Vernon HS PTSA, and the non-profit organization Alice’s Kids to address this critical need. Going forward, I am committed to advocating for FCPS to fund the additional school bus service starting next year.

The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County encourages everyone to think more about peace as both a means and an end, and to recognize young people who work as peacemakers. The recipients generally have a common desire to bring kindness into the world around them.

Congratulations to Mount Vernon District's 2026 Student Peace Prize Recipients:

• Edison HS: Aaya Ali. Aaya organized, launched, and led local fundraisers, collecting over $2000 to support displaced families in the city of Port Sudan. In coordination with the Internally Displaced Persons camp directors in Sudan, Aaya helped create a small library in one of the camps, supplying books suitable for all ages.  The library provided an alternative learning space in the absence of school classes, and camp directors said it gave kids “a sense of normalcy”.
• Hayfield SS: Sinaiyah Emami. Sinaiyah and her brother Azara launched a blog titled We Signed Up Too. The blog was created to provide a safe, supportive space for children of wounded, ill, and injured veterans. Through personal stories, shared resources, and honest conversations, the blog helps young people feel seen and understood. 
• Lewis HS: Rachel Yousaf. Rachel started "Voices for Women" a student-led Instagram page, with over 400 followers, posts about issues such as the pay gap between men and women, unfair myths about women, and the importance of women lifting each other up. 
• Mount Vernon HS: Savonne Clark. FCPS has many resources to support student mental health, but students are often unaware of these free resources. Savonne worked to create a template for schools to use to display their school's mental health team, including counselors, psychologists and social workers, ensuring easy access for students and increasing awareness of the resources available to them.
• Quander Road School: Brycen Smith. Brycen heard a confrontation between a staff member and a student brewing. He asked the teacher if he could talk with the student and help the student see the right approach to communicating with the teacher. The student responded positively to Brycen’s intervention, and was able to avoid a serious disciplinary situation. Brycen would like to have a career in education.
• South County HS: Kayhan Kandahari. Kayhan worked with Harvard STRIPED (Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders) to establish a new policy in New York City to prevent children from accessing weight loss and muscle- building supplements. This policy was adopted by the New York City Council and signed by the Mayor.

South County HS DECA. Sixty-nine South County HS students competed at the 2026 DECA State Leadership Conference. The South County DECA chapter captured the highest-ranking Blue Chip Annual Report Award! South County also earned a newly elected state officer position and celebrated multiple individual roleplay honors. Thirteen students advanced to international competition across business plan, innovation, marketing campaign, and student-based enterprise categories. Congratulations also to William Allen who was named the 2026–2027 Vice President of Career Development! Congratulations, Stallions!

West Potomac HS DECA. West Potomac HS's DECA chapter also had several students who were recognized for their skills and achievement. Congratulations to West Potomac HS medalists:

• Aninah O’Neil- (Entrepreneurship)
• Lee Becton (Finance)
• Luana De Moras (Food Marketing)
• Elyse Schipper (Lodging)

The Irene Rosenbaum Memorial Scholarship provides $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years (contingent upon continued enrollment and eligibility), to Lewis High School students to support their postsecondary education.

It honors the life and legacy of Irene Rosenbaum, a devoted volunteer who supported students and staff at Crestwood Elementary School for nearly 20 years.

A compassionate and steady presence in the school community, Irene spent countless hours volunteering in classrooms, assisting teachers, and encouraging students who needed extra support. She believed deeply that every child deserves dignity, opportunity, and care.

This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors from Lewis High School who demonstrate resilience, financial need, and a commitment to serving others. It supports students who have faced challenges with determination and who plan to pursue postsecondary education or career training.

By honoring students who embody Irene’s spirit of kindness, service, and perseverance, this scholarship continues her legacy of uplifting others through education.

The 2026 application is now OPEN and accepting submissions until April 17, 2026!

Click Here for the Application