Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024-25 FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! Every year, Fairfax County Public Schools celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of exceptional school-based and non-school-based employees from throughout the district. The process starts at the school level, proceeds to the pyramid, and then to the region where one individual from each category is awarded an outstanding employee award.

All that is required for a preliminary nomination are a few paragraphs about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The Google Nomination Form has more information regarding the criteria for each award, and the eligibility requirements are below.

Please note that if your nominee is awarded school winner in their category and moves on for pyramid consideration, you will be asked to complete a Nominator’s Form and help arrange for two other individuals to complete Letters of Support.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Outstanding Teacher - Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district).
• Outstanding New Teacher - Eligibility: Within their first three years as a teacher (in any school/school district).
• Outstanding New Principal - Eligibility: Within their first three years as a building principal (in any school/school district).
• Outstanding Leader - Eligibility: Has at least one year of experience in current position as an employee on the pay scale for School-Based Administrators (who is not a building principal) or other Schedule-C employees. Assistant Principals are included in this category.
• Outstanding Professional Employee - Eligibility: Has at least one year of experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school who supports school leadership at their current location. Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, and Resources Teachers who serve in an administrative role in the school, Special Education Department Chairs who teach less than 50% of their time, and Reading Specialists who do not have a regular course load/do not give grades.
• Outstanding Operational Employee - Eligibility: Has at least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A, Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee or hourly employee. Common positions in this category: Administrative & Office Staff, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaisons, and hourly employees (including Monitors).

The deadline to submit nominations is Thursday, October 31, 2024.

More information concerning the FCPS Outstanding Employee Recognition Program can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/careers/employee-recognition-programs. 

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Cathy Durfey, Laurel Ridge Awards Liaison, at @email. Thank you for supporting our phenomenal Laurel Ridge staff!