Fairfax County Public Schools

FCPD: Falls Church HS teacher and others charged in online child exploitation operation

Published February 11, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated February 11, 2025 at 1:31PM

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis announces arrests by child exploitation unit detectives on Feb. 11, 2025 (via FCPD/Facebook)

A recent online operation conducted by child exploitation detectives resulted in seven arrests, including that of a Falls Church High School teacher, the Fairfax County Police Department announced this morning (Tuesday).

Richard Berkowitz, a health and physical education teacher at the school in West Falls Church, was arrested on Jan. 29, two days into the operation, but Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid was asked to hold off on notifying the community so the operation could continue, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a press conference.

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JUST IN: Fairfax County schools to close early Tuesday for snow

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 10, 2025 at 7:05PM

A Fairfax County school bus in the snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools is joining the growing roster of D.C.-area school systems planning to close early tomorrow (Tuesday) in anticipation of a snowstorm.

All schools and offices will close three hours early tomorrow, and morning and afternoon classes for preschool special education students have been canceled, FCPS announced.

News

Local early childhood education center reels from federal funding uncertainty

By James Jarvis

Published February 10, 2025 at 3:45PM

Sen. Tim Kaine walks with High Horizons Executive Director Latisha Howze (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans has left early childhood education programs like Higher Horizons in Bailey’s Crossroads facing financial uncertainty, even after a court ruled the funding must resume.

On Friday (Feb. 7), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) met with staff and educators at the nonprofit Head Start provider to discuss the lingering effects of the freeze, which was triggered by a White House directive pausing federal aid while the administration reviewed how the funds align with its policy goals.

News

JUST IN: FCPS teacher charged with sexually assaulting students

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2025 at 2:20PM | Updated February 7, 2025 at 3:43PM

Fairview Elementary School teacher John Barger has been charged with sexual assault (via FCPD)

A local elementary school teacher is facing criminal charges for allegedly sexually assaulting two students.

Fairfax County’s Child Protective Services received a tip on Jan. 17 reporting that a student at Fairview Elementary School (5815 Ox Road) in Fairfax Station had been sexually assaulted by a teacher, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

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JUST IN: FCPS to open on two-hour delay Thursday due to icy weather

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 5, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated February 5, 2025 at 4:12PM

The surface of Wolftrap Creek turned to ice after snowstorms in January 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools will clear school grounds early tonight (Wednesday) and start classes late tomorrow (Thursday) in anticipation of some wintry weather.

FCPS announced that all activities on school grounds, including sports practices and extracurricular activities, must wrap up by 9 p.m. In addition, schools will start on a two-hour delay tomorrow with a mix of snow and sleet expected to freeze overnight.

News

FCPS gets go-ahead for new Dunn Loring Elementary School

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 5, 2025 at 10:00AM

Aerial view of the proposed Dunn Loring Elementary School (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

Fairfax County Public Schools has received the zoning changes necessary to build a future Dunn Loring Elementary School.

The unanimous vote yesterday (Tuesday) by the Board of Supervisors doesn’t mean a school will necessarily be built at the site of the current Dunn Loring Administrative Center, but a four-story building to serve nearly 1,000 students is now allowed, if the Fairfax County School Board ultimately opts to move forward.

News

Substitute teacher charged with assaulting student at Reston school

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 3, 2025 at 9:00AM

Dogwood Elementary School sign (via Google Maps)

A Fairfax County Public Schools substitute teacher has been arrested and dismissed from her job for allegedly assaulting a student at Dogwood Elementary School (12300 Glade Drive).

The county’s Child Protective Services received a referral on Sept. 25, 2024 indicating that a substitute teacher had assaulted a student at the Reston school, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a press release on Saturday (Feb. 1).

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BREAKING: FCPS students, parents among National Airport crash victims

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated January 30, 2025 at 7:33PM

A D.C. fire boat searches the Potomac River the morning after the mid-air airplane and helicopter crash outside Reagan National Airport (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The victims of last night’s deadly airplane and helicopter crash outside Reagan National Airport included multiple Fairfax County Public Schools students and their parents, Superintendent Michelle Reid says.

All 64 people on American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, and three soldiers on the military helicopter — a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk that was on a training mission from Fort Belvoir — are believed to have perished in the crash.

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Federal spending freeze could have jeopardized student meals, FCPS superintendent says

By James Jarvis

Published January 30, 2025 at 9:00AM

Justice High School cafeteria staff prepare meals for distribution to students during a snow day (courtesy Donnie Biggs/FCPS)

The Trump administration’s plan to freeze federal spending could’ve disrupted free and reduced-price meals for thousands of students if it had taken effect, according to Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid.

The directive, issued Monday (Jan. 27), ordered federal agencies to halt grants, loans, and other aid and review federal financial assistance programs to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, which has prioritized cutting government spending and scaling back diversity and equity efforts, among other goals.

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Fairfax officials scramble to assess impact of Trump’s federal funding freeze

By James Jarvis and Angela Woolsey

Published January 28, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated January 28, 2025 at 6:31PM

The White House (via René DeAnda on Unsplash)

Update: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s order freezing federal grants and loans minutes before it was set to take effect at 5 p.m.

Earlier: Fairfax County officials are scrambling to assess how a new federal directive halting financial aid programs might impact local services and capital projects.