Tom Dannan, Fairfax County School Board Member

09/04/2026

I've received several inquiries from parents about recent changes to tech usage in schools and their impacts on students with disabilities, so I want to pass along some additional guidance.

For students who require a device (not currently indicated on their IEP/504 Plan), staff should document their technology needs through an IEP addendum and receive parent consent. This can be completed with or without a meeting. It should not be a lengthy process for schools. Fairfax County Public Schools is working to provide staff with templates to assist them with the addendum process.

In the meantime, I encourage parents and caregivers to continue to collaborate with their child's IEP team, but feel free to reach out to my office with additional questions or concerns.

09/03/2026

Do you want to work with us at the Fairfax County Public School Board? The School Board Office is looking for a full-time Administrative Assistant!

This position will provide wide-ranging office support and serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Board and School Board Clerk. We are looking for a proactive, friendly, organized, and adaptable individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment. The job position closes on Friday, September 4, 2026.

You can view the full posting for this position at this link:

Job Details: Serves as an administrative assistant to one or more school-based administrators or central office assistant d

09/02/2026

Loved getting to swing by Back to School Nights at Frost Middle School and Lake Braddock Secondary School tonight!

I'm always inspired and motivated talking with both teachers and students, and it's always fun seeing familiar faces. Looking forward to lots of good things to come this school year!

08/26/2026

Have you ever wondered, “Why should I join the PTA/PTO at my child’s school?” Here is your answer!

Joining and volunteering through the PTA/PTO at your school is a quick way to have a big impact on your school community. These organizations do so much for our schools! From fundraising for supplies, teacher appreciation events, funding and organizing afterschool programs and events, and everything in between, these organizations are the glue between students, teachers, administration, and parents.

Thanks to my colleague Sandy Anderson, Fairfax County School Board, Springfield for joining me in hosting this PTA/PTO roundtable. As former PTA/PTO leaders, we know first-hand how these organizations play a huge role in the school experience, and help drive student success.

If you haven't already, please take a minute and search for your PTA's website and sign up today!

08/24/2026

Happy first day of school, Fairfax County Public Schools!

Wishing you and your kiddos a day filled with optimism, happy reunions, and lots of hugs and smiles!

08/23/2026

Status update: FCPS staff have worked with VDOT to extend the pedestrian crossing time and signal timing at multiple high schools, including West Springfield, in advance of tomorrow.

I want to thank all the families in the Springfield District who have contacted me about the loss of crossing guards at our high schools this year. This decision was made during last year’s county budgeting process. Crossing guard funding is allocated through the county budget, which is set by the Board of Supervisors, not the School Board. Unfortunately, it wasn't included in this year's approved budget.

I know this is a real safety concern for families near our schools, particularly those that sit on extremely busy roads like Rolling Road. I will continue to work towards ways the School Board can uphold our pledge to provide safe routes to school. In the meantime, please consider having a quick conversation with your children as we kick off the new year. A few ideas to discuss below:

◉ Use the route with a signal or marked crosswalk, even if it's not the fastest one. A few extra minutes beats crossing at an unmarked spot where drivers aren't expecting pedestrians.

◉ Put your phone away at the crossing. AirPods out, head up — the two or three seconds it takes to check both ways matters more than finishing a text.

◉ Don't trust a stopped car to stay stopped. Make eye contact with the driver if you can before you step off the curb. A car slowing down isn't the same as a car that's actually stopped.

◉ Cross in groups when you can. More people crossing together are more visible to drivers than one person, especially in low light.

◉ If you bike or skateboard to school, walk it across the intersection instead of riding through — you're more visible and more in control.

◉ Know which intersections are the worst ones and give yourself extra time there instead of rushing.

◉ If you see something that an adult needs to know about, please tell someone — a parent, a teacher, your principal, or your Supervisor's office. You're often the first to notice a problem!

And, most importantly, as drivers, we all need to do our part to keep our community safe! School starts Monday, so please keep your eyes peeled and your speed down around our schools and students!

08/19/2026

Welcome back students, parents, teachers, and staff! Whether you have a kindergartner who is starting their FCPS journey, or a Senior who is ramping up for their final year in FCPS, I hope you all are just as excited as I am for another amazing school year filled with core memories and reaching new heights.

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo, estudiantes, padres, maestros y personal! Aunque tengan un nino de kinder que comienza su camino en FCPS o un estudiante de ultimo ano que se prepara para su curso final en el districto, espero que todos esten emocionados como yo por otro ano escolar increible, LLeno de recuerdos involvidables y de grandes metas!

08/19/2026

Did you know that FCPS has a Special Education PTA - SEPTA?

And, did you know that the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is a state-mandated advisory committee, and that our Braddock District representative on the Committee, Carolyn Haydon, is the Chair for the 2026-2027 school year?

It was great getting to connect with these folks at our recent PTA roundtable. As a member of SEPTA and liaison to ACSD this year, it’s very important to me that families know that these resources are available, so that we can make sure all students are supported and have equal opportunities for a great experience during their time in FCPS.

08/14/2026

We’ve got our first work session of the year coming up on Tuesday, and one of the topics we’ll be discussing is digital literacy.

Our kids are growing up in a vastly different world than we did, and we owe it to them to be thoughtful about how we can best prepare them for their futures.

I'd love to hear input from educators and Braddock residents. You can also email me at [email protected].

08/13/2026

Earlier this week, I hosted a PTA roundtable with my colleague Sandy Anderson, for local PTAs and PTOs to connect and share ideas before the start of the school year.

As former PTA/PTO leaders, we know how important and helpful it is to have these connections, and how collaborating can really help grow these organizations.

After some Q&A on FCPS updates for the coming school year, we all shared ideas and experiences about fundraising, growing membership and engagement, planning successful events, and managing internal operations.

Going forward, I’ll be hosting routine check-ins with PTA leaders across Braddock to keep you informed and get your inputs.

🍎✏️🏫