Two-day event celebrates achievements, honors dedicated staff, and sets collaborative tone for 2025-26
Falls Church City Public Schools officially launched the 2025-26 school year with a dynamic two-day convocation that welcomed new Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade, celebrated exceptional student achievements, and honored the dedication of long-serving staff members.
The annual gathering, held August 11-12 at Meridian High School, brought together the entire FCCPS community to mark the beginning of what promises to be another year of collaborative excellence in education.
A New Leader with Deep Local Roots
Dr. Dade, who began his tenure July 1, used his first convocation to share his Northern Virginia connections and educational philosophy with staff. A former teacher at Franconia Elementary and principal at Graham Road Elementary in Falls Church, Dr. Dade emphasized two simple but powerful requests for the year ahead: "Be curious, not judgmental" and "Love what you do and love kids – on your best days and your worst days."
The new superintendent captivated the audience with the story of Mrs. Thompson and Teddy Stoddard, a tale that illustrates how educators can transform lives through understanding and compassion. "Every child is carrying something we can't always see," Dr. Dade reminded staff. "Sometimes even the smallest act of kindness becomes a moment that changes everything."
Academic Excellence Continues
Director of Assessment and Accountability Kim Heddings delivered outstanding news about student achievement, announcing that FCCPS has been named the #1 school district in Virginia for the sixth consecutive year and #1 in the DC metro area according to 2025 Niche rankings.
Despite the challenge of implementing new state testing standards, FCCPS students excelled across all measures. Highlights include:
Nearly 1,000 International Baccalaureate exams administered with a 97% pass rate
64 IB diplomas awarded to graduating seniors
99% pass rate in Algebra I at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
95% pass rate on the Work Keys business writing assessment
Significant gains for economically disadvantaged students and English learners
"While nothing is official yet, when the statewide data is released this fall, we expect to be at the top once again," Headings noted.
Recognizing Years of Dedication
A highlight of the second day was the recognition of staff members celebrating milestone anniversaries, including those reaching 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service. Special recognition went to Nan Hoff, who after "retiring" from her kindergarten teaching position, returned this year as a paraprofessional – demonstrating the deep commitment that characterizes the FCCPS family.
"To have that many staff members celebrating 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service to the same school district is absolutely special and phenomenal," Dr. Dade observed. "It's something that we are extremely blessed to have."
Celebrating Community History
The convocation also highlighted the recent unveiling of the Marion Costner Selby Peace Garden on Meridian's fifth floor, honoring the first African American student to attend George Mason High School in 1961. Director of Strategic Planning and Community Engagement Mary Beth Connelly shared how this meaningful space came to life through extensive community collaboration, featuring historical panels, student artwork, and a peaceful environment for reflection.
Music, Laughter, and Inspiration
Convocation featured memorable performances, from Meridian High School's Chamber Singers delivering moving renditions of "Secret for the Mad" and "We Are," to the return of the popular "Hard Knocks FCCPS" video series featuring Coach Carey's humorous mascot security interviews.
The celebration concluded with Teacher of the Year Miriam Schimmoller's inspiring speech on "The Love of Learning," reminding educators of their profound impact. "We're not just teaching skills, we're building identities," Scheller noted. "We're creating spaces where kids feel safe enough to take a risk, to ask a question, to try again, to be themselves."
Looking Ahead
As FCCPS enters Year 4 of its strategic plan, focusing on resource management and continuous improvement, Dr. Dade emphasized the collaborative approach that will guide the district forward. Drawing from leadership frameworks including those from Mayo Clinic and research by Kouzes & Posner, his philosophy centers on four principles: students' needs come first, meeting needs through collaboration, working together rather than independently, and recognizing that collective wisdom exceeds individual knowledge.
"We're all in this together," Dr. Dade concluded, setting the tone for a school year built on trust, transparency, and shared commitment to student success.
The 2025-26 school year officially begins with students returning to classrooms across all five FCCPS schools, ready to continue the tradition of educational excellence that has made Falls Church City Public Schools a destination district for families seeking the very best in public education.