It was the repeat of yet another all-day Monday School Board work session. As the Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services, I worked with my great team to ensure that we were prepared and that the School Board budget discussion would be beneficial.  Despite our planning and efforts, we all were disappointed with the outcome. 

As I left the table, I checked my messages, and there was a message about a Chief Operating Officer position opening at Falls Church City Public Schools. Even though I hadn’t considered any other positions, something told me to consider Falls Church City Public Schools. I reached out to multiple people to ask about Falls Church City Public Schools, and everyone I spoke with said that FCCPS was so different than other school divisions and that they knew I would find FCCPS to be an amazing place.  

I had spent my entire career working for not-for-profits, local governments, and public school divisions, so I doubted that FCCPS could be so different. I met with someone I admire greatly, working at FCCPS as the interim COO while the position was being filled. She echoed all of the sentiments that had been shared. Still, she asked me if I wanted to finish my career making a difference with students, staff, and a community that truly supports and values education. I was hooked!

When I arrived at FCCPS, I felt so fortunate to work for a Superintendent who was focused, driven, and cared deeply about students, staff, and the community. With investments in facilities, including the addition and renovation of Mt. Daniel, and the opportunity to build a new high school, the future of FCCPS was bright.  What I didn’t know when I joined FCCPS was how truly special the students, staff, and community are and how much they collectively make a difference each and every day.

In my former school division, the leadership team toured schools each month. I use the word tour intentionally because that’s what our school visits were.  The principal greeted us at the door and took our large group to visit classrooms and walk through the school. I now realize that after all those visits, I didn’t get to know any students or staff. I indeed saw how our staffing formulas and budget allocations translated into rooms of students and their teachers. Still, confirming that the allocation formulas worked as designed was an exercise.

When I came to FCCPS and we started designing and building a new high school, I saw how much the students, staff, and learning were at the center of everything at FCCPS. I quickly realized how engaged everyone was in developing a building that supported learning. Everything we were doing was directly driven by the feedback and input we received.  Instead of just soliciting input via a survey, FCCPS engages with students and staff to determine what they believe would improve their teaching and learning.  It was a humbling experience to realize how much I had missed and had to learn.

FCCPS students are inspiring, and their efforts to help each other are amazing. So many students and staff make a difference through their collective efforts.  FCCPS’ Facilities Director and I met with a high school student who was advocating to have free personal care products in restrooms throughout FCCPS. She didn’t just send an email with her ideas; instead, she asked to engage with us to find solutions that worked for students of all ages across different types of restrooms. We held multiple meetings as she engaged with us and other students to ensure we developed a solution that addressed student needs. Her vision, determination, and candor continue to benefit students and visitors in all schools.

Another student developed a presentation on how FCCPS could improve access to students with mobility challenges on the playground at Oak Street. Facing multiple FCCPS leaders, this student shared his story as a student at Oak Street.  Even though he’s now a student at Mary Ellen Henderson, his commitment to other students and his desire to make the world a better place started with his advocacy at FCCPS.  His personal story was the catalyst for improvements at both Oak Street and Mt. Daniel.

In each of these examples, collaboration and shared values turned advocacy into action. At FCCPS, students are at the center of everything that we do.  Students are supported by teachers and staff, who have unwavering champions in the parents and the Falls Church community.  It takes everyone rowing together for FCCPS to consistently achieve, and I have been so blessed to be part of this amazing community.

About Kristen Michael: As the Chief Operating Officer for Falls Church City Public Schools since 2018, Ms. Michael has overseen FCCPS operations, including Budget and Finance, Extended Day Care, Facilities, Food Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Transportation. Before joining FCCPS, she worked for Fairfax County Public Schools, where she last served as Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services. Ms. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree Cum Laude from Loyola University and a Master of Public Administration degree from George Mason University.