Fairfax County Public Schools

Fairfax County special education teacher charged with assaulting elementary students

Published June 24, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated November 5, 2024 at 5:15PM

White Oak Elementary School in Burke (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County police have arrested a special education teacher at White Oak Elementary School in Burke for assaulting multiple students.

On April 12, Child Protective Services received a referral that a teacher was seen assaulting a student at school, police said in a Saturday news release.

Detectives took on the case and determined that between September 2023 and this April, Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, 62, of Fairfax allegedly assaulted three students on separate occasions, the release said.

On Friday, Nagagata was arrested and charged with seven counts of simple assault. Nagagata was held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Detectives would like to speak with anyone who may have information about this case or others possibly related. Those with information are asked to please call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 4.

Screenshot via Google Maps. This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.

Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools workers vote to officially unionize

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 11, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated June 11, 2024 at 9:58AM

Fairfax County Public Schools workers wear Fairfax Education Unions T-shirts after electing FEU as their collective bargaining representative (courtesy Fairfax County Federation of Teachers)

Fairfax County Public Schools teachers and other workers have elected a union to represent them in forthcoming labor contract negotiations.

The Fairfax Education Unions (FEU), a team-up of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT) and the Fairfax Education Association (FEA), announced yesterday (Monday) that it will represent over 27,500 FCPS employees in their first collective bargaining effort since they secured that right in March 2023.

Around Town

Tephra ICA to display student art in new ‘Emerging Visions’ exhibit

By Jamie Rogers

Published June 10, 2024 at 1:30PM

Some of the student artwork chosen for the 2024 "Emerging Visions" exhibit in Reston (courtesy Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art)

The creative works of Fairfax County students will be on display as part of a special exhibition opening this weekend at the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art in Reston.

“Emerging Visions” opens Saturday (June 15) with a public reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at the institute’s main gallery (12001 Market Street, Suite 103) and will feature artworks hand selected by Tephra’s staff.

Countywide

Civil rights activist who fought to desegregate Fairfax County gets historical marker

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 3, 2024 at 3:30PM

A historical marker honoring civil rights activist Lillian Blackwell is unveiled in front of Oakton High School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

When students arrive at Oakton High School, they will now encounter a historical marker honoring civil rights activist Lillian Blackwell, whose own children might not have been allowed inside when the school opened in 1967 if not for her advocacy.

Fairfax County officials unveiled the plaque detailing Blackwell’s legacy, including her fight against the segregation of local public schools and movie theaters, at a ceremony on Saturday (June 1) attended by some of her family members and the students who suggested her for the recognition.

Countywide

FCPS to tighten enforcement of student cell phone use restrictions

By James Jarvis

Published May 30, 2024 at 11:45AM

Cell phone on top of Dr. Seuss book (via Tamarcus Brown/Unsplash)

Fairfax County Public Schools is considering a pilot program this fall that would require students to hand over their cell phones during class.

Earlier this month, the Fairfax County School Board directed Superintendent Michelle Reid to develop a plan for students to secure their phones in lockers, magnetic pouches or similar central storage areas — as opposed to their pocket or backpack — with the goal of reducing distractions and improving student focus.

Countywide

School board approves budget with pay raises for all FCPS workers

By James Jarvis

Published May 29, 2024 at 9:30AM

FCPS Central Office in Merrifield (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Despite calls for targeted raises for teachers and support staff, the Fairfax County School Board has approved 4% pay raises for all school employees as part of its adopted fiscal year 2025 budget.

The decision, voted on last Thursday (May 23), came after the Virginia General Assembly allocated an additional $35.5 million to Fairfax County Public Schools, allowing Superintendent Michelle Reid to increase employee pay raises from 3% to 4%.

Countywide

FCPS to raise pay with additional state funding, but school board divided on approach

By James Jarvis

Published May 23, 2024 at 11:30AM

FCPS Central Office in Merrifield (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Following a budget compromise between Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia General Assembly, Fairfax County Public Schools is set to receive an additional $35.5 million for fiscal year 2025.

Superintendent Michelle Reid has proposed using most of the extra funds to boost school employee pay raises from 3% to 4% in the budget that the school board is set to adopt tonight (Thursday).

News

Fairfax County student wins spot in next week’s Scripps National Spelling Bee

By Acacia James

Published May 23, 2024 at 10:30AM

Fairfax County Spelling Bee 2024 winner Ankita Balaji with her parents and trophy in the Rachel Carson Middle School library (photo by Karen Bolt/FCPS)

Ankita Balaji, a seventh-grader at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon, will represent Fairfax County Public Schools in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, starting next Tuesday, May 28.

Balaji still remembers the moment she spelled the winning word correctly and won the 2024 Fairfax County spelling bee in March.

News

Fairfax elementary student named finalist in national Google Doodle contest

By James Jarvis

Published May 22, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated May 23, 2024 at 12:48AM

Arya Pribadi's 2024 Doodle for Google submission (via Arya Pribadi)

A Fairfax elementary student might soon see her artwork on Google’s homepage.

Google announced today (Wednesday) that Arya Pribadi, a student at Greenbriar West Elementary School in Chantilly, has been named a finalist in its “Doodle for Google” contest. Her drawing, which depicts a family of four celebrating the COVID-19 vaccine, was selected from tens of thousands of K-12 student submissions nationwide.

Countywide

Fairfax County teachers voice frustration over reduced pay raises in new budget

By James Jarvis

Published May 16, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Fairfax County School Board holds a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget (via FCPS/Youtube)

With just days to go before Fairfax County Public Schools finalizes its fiscal year 2025 budget, teachers voiced frustration this week with the news that school employees will get lower-than-expected pay raises.

As it stands, the Fairfax County School Board is on track to adopt a revised budget that includes a 3% pay increase for all school employees, down from the initially proposed 6%, starting July 1.