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Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
 Dear Braddock Neighbors,
Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you and your families had an enjoyable week full of rest and relaxation, whether you journeyed to a beach far away or had a nice staycation at home. I enjoyed the time off and was impressed by the Artemis II launch! It was yet another reminder of what great achievements we can make when we work together, as well as the importance of a strong public education. All of those astronauts, physicists, rocket scientists, data scientists and many others involved in the launch were once elementary, middle and high school students studying math and science.
I hope you have all had a successful first week back at school. It was been a busy week on the school board, where we hosted a Forum Discussion and Work Session on Tuesday and a Regular Meeting on Thursday! You can read more about what we discussed there below, including changes to the calendar for next year.
I enjoyed getting to welcome Irving Middle School’s new principal, welcoming families of rising kindergarteners at Terra Centre, and hanging at their Fun Fair with Dr. Reid!
 Thank you all for putting your trust in me. I look forward to meeting you at our schools or in the community and advocating for the best for our students together. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at tfdannan@fcps.edu
Yours in Service,
Tom Dannan
Tuesday, April 7 Work Session
 At the April 7 School Board Work Session (agenda and video available online) I joined my colleagues to discuss Goal 4 - Equitable Access and Opportunity - with academic preparedness for FCPS students for postsecondary success. After that we discussed the Middle School Advanced Academic Programs Center Expansion Plan (documents for that are also available online).
Thursday, April 9 Regular Meeting
 This past Thursday, we had a Regular Meeting; the full agenda is available online along with a video recording. First, we passed the following proclamations and resolution:
We then heard from community members and our Student Representative. I sincerely appreciate their perspective, having spoken in front of the school board myself, and I’m grateful that our Student Representative speaks first—helping center us and set the tone for our meeting.
Next, we discussed the school year calendar. My general view of the calendar is that it is a complex puzzle, with no perfect solution, and we need to take a comprehensive look at it going forward. Having spoken with a number of constituents and teachers, I’m against making dramatic changes this year, without looking broadly.
I also recognize that this current year was unique—we’ve had a number of religious holidays falling in the middle of the week and severe weathers days, along with required teacher planning and development days, which are critical to improving the learning environment for our kids. All this has meant families were more pressed to find child care when school was off than they were used to.
Given all this, I supported capping the number of Early Release days at the Elementary level, and I’m grateful for my colleague Mr. Moon for seconding my compromise amendment of 8 early release days per year for elementary schools. In that same vein, I voted against changing Indigenous People’s Day to an instructional day this year, and abstained on doing so for Veterans’ Day, though I’m open to changes as part of a broader discussion that is informed by data and community conversation.
After discussing the school year calendar, we moved on to the Consent Agenda which included Asset Management discussion. Other items on the Concent Agenda included factual errors and typo corrections in the Governance Manual; Policy 8320 - Site and Building Acquisition; Policy 8275 - Value Engineering; Policy 8560 - Maintenance of Public School Facility Assets; HR Policies 4425, 4520, and 4950; and Policy 5210 - Petty Cash Funds.
On our New Business agenda we heard presentations on the Strategic Plan Update - highlighting great work in excellence, equity and opportunity for multilingual learners as well as and update on Goal 4, IDEA Annual Plan, and awards for new contracts.
National Merit Semifinalists
 Congratulations to the 241 students across Fairfax county who were named 2026 National Merit Award Finalists! Among them were the following 21 Braddock District students from Lake Braddock Secondary School, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and Woodson High School.
- Lake Braddock Secondary School - Manas Puri and Ronald Zhang
- TJHSST - Grace Amartuvshin, Moira Clark, Eric Guo, Ibrahim Harchich, Kashi Kamat, Petr Kisselev, NIkita Lugovoy, Payton Morris, Elijah O'Donohue, Ethan O'Hara, Hannah Ryu, Julia Showers, Rachel Truong, Aidan Wright, and Max Zhao
- Woodson HS - Kavya Balachandar, Ethan Lee, James Ngo, and James Stansbery
Region 4 Award - Megan Haile at White Oaks Elementary School
 I want to share my heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Haile at White Oaks Elementary School for being named the Region 4 Outstanding New Elementary Teacher! Ms. Haile is very well loved and appreciated by all of her students and the excitement from her students for her winning the award was obvious to anyone within earshot of the library when she was given the award. As one student said, "Ms. Haile is actually the reason I actually like going to school." As a member of a military family and having joined the White Oaks ES team in the last few years, Ms. Haile has had an incredible impact already. Thank you so much for your dedication to our students and congratulations again!
Region 5 Award - Joaquin Perez at Fairfax High School
 I also want to share my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Joaquin Perez at Fairfax High School for being named the Region 5 Outstanding New Secondary Teacher! Mr. Perez's students were so excited for him and so appreciative that they made 'Joaquinis' for the party celebrating him.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Elementary Early Release Wednesday Update for April
Tuesday, April 21, is now a teacher workday and staff development day because of a recently announced special election that will impact all FCPS schools.
Students will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.Read Dr. Reid’s letter to elementary parents for more details.
Irving Middle School's New Principal - Ms. CIncinnati!
 The Region 4 Leadership Team is pleased to announce that Emily Cincinnati has been named the new principal of Irving Middle School. I was excited to join them and Irving MS on Wednesday, April 8 to celebrate Ms. Cincinatti's promotion to this important role. I know the Braddock district will be much better off with her joining us!
With over a decade of experience in Fairfax County Public Schools, Ms. Cincinnati brings a distinguished record of instructional leadership and community-centered practice to Irving Middle School. During her recent tenure as assistant principal at John R. Lewis High School, she successfully drove academic achievement and built a culture of inclusivity and support.
At Lewis High School, Ms. Cincinnati’s leadership has produced measurable results, including a 20% increase in science SOL performance across all student groups over two years, a 49% reduction in out-of-school suspensions, and a 5% reduction in chronic absenteeism. She also led the revitalization of the International Baccalaureate Programme, expanding both access and opportunities for all learners.
Ms. Cincinnati is known for building coherent systems that support students and staff. She has led the development of collaborative team structures, data-driven instructional practices, and professional learning that promotes high-quality instruction and the success of every learner. Her work includes innovative interventions for multilingual learners, large-scale student mentoring systems, and credit recovery efforts that have helped hundreds of students stay on track for on-time graduation.
Ms. Cincinnati began her career as a social studies teacher in Fairfax County at Lake Braddock Secondary School and South Lakes High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College and a Master of Arts in Education from Johns Hopkins University. She also completed the Accelerated Administration Certification through the University of Virginia.
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Cincinnati as the new principal of Irving Middle School, effective July 1, 2026.
Provide the County Government With Feedback on its Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May.
You can provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak.
Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn more about the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
Discover What’s New on the Menu
FCPS is excited to bring new and flavorful menu items to students while continuing to meet the high nutrition standards you trust. The school division’s registered dietitian team has developed standards to make school meals healthier while still tasting great.
Here’s what students can look forward to:
- New globally inspired dishes that offer exciting flavors from around the world.
- Fresh ingredients like whole grains, lean proteins, and plant-based options.
- Scratch-made items like homemade granola.
- Vegetarian options like the meatless Philly melt are available alongside classic favorites.
Our goal is to provide balanced, safe, and flavorful meals that support students’ learning, growth, and overall health.
Want to know what’s on the menu? View menus on Food and Nutrition Services’ webpage.
National Arab American Heritage Month
 FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
School Library Month
 In FCPS libraries, students develop knowledge and skills, experience a sense of belonging, find inspiration and support, and have the ability to freely pursue their personal interests and academic growth.
Autism Acceptance Month
 April is Autism Acceptance Month. One in 31 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students.
April is the Month of the Military Child!
 Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. | 