When I came to FCCPS in March 2024 as the Director of Assessment and Accountability, I had a LOT of questions. I had been in my previous school division for over 15 years, so I knew how things worked and who to go to when they didn’t. I knew I’d have a lot to learn here. I wondered what my first priorities should be, how long it would take me to remember everyone’s name, and who to go to when I needed help.

I knew my new colleagues would have questions for me, too, but never in a million years could I have predicted the question posed by Brian Fowler, Director of Facilities and Security, on my first day: “Is Bigfoot real?” I wasn’t sure how to respond. I wondered if he was playing a joke on the new person or if this was some sort of test. My bewilderment was obvious, and he must have known what I was thinking because he said, “No, really. It’s a serious question. Is Bigfoot real?” I blinked a few times, snapped out of my confusion, and confidently said, “No, of course not.” I was told my response would be noted and added to the office tally. 

After leaving my office, Brian walked down the hallway as if this was the most commonplace discussion we could possibly have had, and I found myself thinking, “What kind of place is this?” Surely there were more important things to do and my new bosses wouldn’t want us spending time debating the existence of Bigfoot.

Later that day, I got a pretty clear indicator of what sort of place FCCPS is when the calendar invitation for Friday lunch popped up in my inbox. It was from Peter Noonan, Superintendent, with the subject line: “Is it true?” That’s right. Our superintendent scheduled an office potluck, inviting everyone to bring food inspired by a creature that may or may not be real. The Loch Ness Monster, ghosts, zombies, and UFOs were all represented on the table, and our superintendent baked and decorated a cake that looked like Bigfoot’s footprint. (Clearly, he’s a believer.)

And that’s when I figured out what kind of place this truly was. Yes, there is always work to be done and we need to model a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence for our students. It’s equally important for us to create opportunities to connect with the people around us and enjoy spending time with each other. We need to model those things for our students, too. Whenever I’m conflicted about visiting a school or joining a staff lunch versus staying in my office to get more work done, I hear everyone around me reminding me that the work will always be there. Sure, I’ve worked in other offices where leaders said it was important to stay connected to our kids, to know what’s happening in our schools, and to care about our colleagues, but I’ve never felt like it was a part of the culture nor seen it modeled to the extent I do in FCCPS. 

Most job descriptions contain a vague statement about “performing other duties as assigned.” Typically, those are some of the least desirable parts of the job, but they’ve come to be some of my favorites in Falls Church City. When we needed extra staff to help with a kindergarten assessment, nobody was assigned because we had more than enough volunteers. When we needed to send letters to every family in our division, the entire central office team gathered in the conference room after lunch, put on some music, and stuffed nearly 2,000 envelopes in assembly-line fashion. 

No matter the task, the work is what brings us together, but the sense of community and camaraderie is what keeps us coming back. That’s the FCCPS way.

About Kim Heddings: Kim is a Pennsylvania native with nearly 20 years of experience in Virginia public schools. She taught chemistry for more than a decade before leaving the classroom to become an assessment coach, followed by several years as a data analyst and accountability specialist. Kim joined the FCCPS team in March 2024 as the Director of Assessment and Accountability. Outside work, Kim enjoys cooking, running (with and without her dog, Larry), and cheering on the Penn State Nittany Lions.