Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) is a true gem! What makes this school division sparkle? It reminds me of a family recipe with special ingredients, traditions, personal connections, and shared memories. The FCCPS system shines well above other school divisions nationwide in many aspects.
I have worked for FCCPS for over six years and am currently the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. During this time, it has become evident how important relationships are within the school division. By nature, people know each other well, having only 2,700 students and over 500 staff. There is a phrase and belief in education, “it is critical to know students by name and by need.” FCCPS truly lives and implements this belief. I am constantly amazed and humbled by the outpouring of support to students and staff. Students’ interest in curriculum content, clubs, sports, community service, and activities makes FCCPS special.
The staff listens to students and takes the time to build lasting relationships with them to ensure their needs are met. Equally, the staff is supported through the Education Foundation’s generous donations to provide professional development and innovative learning experiences. Throughout my time in FCCPS, I have seen how we have grown into a full International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum school division. Through the IB framework, students focus on cultural awareness, research, and inquiry and have access to a rigorous curriculum. I am grateful that we can offer an IB education to ALL students PK-12.
A family recipe often includes memories made through traditions and connections. There is a deep-rooted local history that is woven throughout FCCPS. This is exhibited through the developed local history curriculum, the naming of the middle school Mary Ellen Henderson, and, more recently, the Marian Costner Selby Peace Garden, being created at Meridian High School. Staff also have traditions at the yearly convocation, where all 500 staff members come together to kick off the school year. The staff is given a special FCCPS t-shirt with the school year’s theme and logo. There are also other traditions: the 5K Run for the schools, the Education Foundation Gala, and Tiger/Hippo Games, to name a few.
Dr. Peter Noonan, the Superintendent, has set the tone and example for building connections and developing relationships with students, staff, and the community. Through his leadership, FCCPS has won numerous awards throughout the state and, more importantly, grown together as a school division. Dr. Noonan models the behaviors he values. He is often heard thanking the staff for their hard work, attending multiple school events, and representing the division throughout Virginia. He has built a strong leadership team in FCCPS to support the schools and encourages the team to build relationships with staff, students, and the community.
Since FCCPS is such a small school division, each position holds several responsibilities. To some, this might feel overwhelming, but this makes FCCPS stronger. Having a staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences enables us to learn from each other, and we come together as one family to support students. The connections made between staff are deep-rooted and long-lasting, similar to a recipe that is passed down through generations. We continue to learn about the importance of relationships and build an understanding of hope for all to be successful. We share a common belief in supporting students. I believe that the time spent developing relationships with staff and students in FCCPS is part of what makes everything come together to create the perfect recipe for success.
“People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
About Julie Macrina: Julie joined FCCPS in August 2018 as the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Coordinator. Prior to joining the FCCPS team, she served as a school-based administrator, instructional coach, and classroom teacher. Julie has also served as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for five years in FCCPS.