top of page

January 9, 2026

Jan 12
8 min read

Updated: Jan 16

Happy Friday, and Happy New Year! I hope your break was restful, and full of happy moments. The next few weeks will bring a lot of announcements from the AEA office regarding Elections.  If you are interested in running for any of the officer or board positions, please be on the lookout for an email from the Elections Committee.  

On a somber note, we found out over break that one of our colleagues passed away in November. Please take a moment to honor Laura Laforest and her contributions to APS.  Laura was generous and kind, and no doubt had an impact on many of her colleagues and students.

Congratulations!

Charles Randolph (Arlington Career Center) has been selected as an Apple Distinguished Educator, an international honor recognizing innovative educators who transform teaching and learning through creativity, leadership and the effective use of technology.

  • The Apple Distinguished Educator program celebrates a global community of education leaders who use Apple tools to empower learners, support educators and create inclusive, future-ready learning environments.

  • Mr. Randolph brings more than 19 years of experience supporting classroom instruction, districtwide technology initiatives and professional learning focused on instructional technology, STEAM and career and technical education.

Collective Bargaining Update--Support Staff

Collective bargaining is on-going, but we can share that APS has agreed to a salary increase of 2.8%, which is equal to the increase in the cost of living.    APS now has a living wage equal to that of the county, and all salaries below the living wage have been adjusted to meet the new standard. We are able to share this now, as it will be presented in the Superintendent's proposed budget.  

*All changes to the support staff CBA will still need to be ratified by membership and approved by the School Board once negotiations conclude.

Support Staff Event

The Education Support Professionals (ESP) Bill of Rights Planning & Action Team is hosting a roundtable / listening session on January 13, 2026 from 5:30 to 6:30. Members are invited and are welcome to extend the invitation to non-members. Anyone who would like to attend will need to register to get an individual registration link. You will not be able to share your zoom link with others as we want to keep up with who is attending so we can send them other information and extend additional opportunities. However, the registration link can be shared widely with ESPs and allies.

The registration link for this important opportunity is: https://veanea.zoom.us/meeting/register/vF_2YwbCQ9K-6ZyMwTp4sw


Take action

Tue, Jan 27 @ 7:30pm · Fairfax County Democratic Committee


Are you new to Franconia and interested in getting involved Democratically? Have you volunteered with campaigns but want to learn more about party po...

Thu, Feb 5 @ 7pm · Fairfax County Democratic Committee


Franconia Dems welcomes our voters, volunteers, and all Democratic visitors to our HOW WE WIN monthly Zooms. Join the 15 minute informal Pre-Chat at ...


Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:

Tue, Jan. 20   School Board Work Session #1 with the Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning (ACTL). Agendas, background information, and minutes are posted, when available, on BoardDocs.6:30 pm      Watch Work Sessions Live  or at Syphax Education Center, School Board Room, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204


Thu, Jan. 22   School Board Meeting: New Board Member Welcome and National Board Certified Teachers (NCBT); Strategic Plan Priority - Student-Centered Workforce (Focus on Human Resources and Audit Update)7:00 pm               Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2nd FL, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204


Fri, Jan. 30    2026 Teen Health Fair hosted by APS


1 - 4:00 pm    Register here. Wakefield High School, 1325 S Dinwiddie St. 22206


Explore School Options for the 2026-27 School Year

Learn about APS Neighborhood Schools, Option Schools and Programs. Information Video About the Application Process is available online and especially helpful for families with rising Kindergarten, 6th, or 9th graders.


Key dates:

Arlington Community Opportunities and Events:

Resources for local food assistance from the Arlington County Department of Human Services.

Dream Project scholarships for 2/4 year College/University & Technical Education (CTE) are open. Details on eligibility criteria for each scholarship are listed here. Due Feb. 2 at 5pm!

Arlington County’s Child and Family Services Division of DHS is excited to announce the launch of Parent Coaching Services. Email lespina@arlingtonva.us or call 571-400-8855.

Wed, Jan. 14   Right to Work: What it Means for Workers, Business and Our Economy

6:45 pm       Bean Kinney & Korman, 2311 Wilson Blvd, Suite 500, 22201 or Virtual via Zoom


Sun, Jan. 18    2026 Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. hosted by Arlington Parks and Recreation

5-6:30 pm     Wakefield High School , 1325 S Dinwiddie St. 22206

Mon, Jan. 19    Annual MLK Day of Service honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. connecting individuals of all ages across Arlington in meaningful service.

Sign up here    Washington-Liberty High School, 1301 N Stafford St. 22201

Tue, Jan. 20       Child and Youth Well-Being Network Meeting. We welcome ideas and thoughts and are also looking for groups to host conversations.

Scholarship opportunity for Spanish students 12-18 years of age

The 1st Carlos V Education Spanish Contest encourages language learners to submit their creative works, including short stories, short essays, posters, and podcasts. Winners attend a summer session in Spain, as well as a week of professional development for their teachers. Click here for details. Apply by Jan. 31, 2026

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS FROM VEA



2026: A Year of Promise

I hope you had some much-deserved down time over the holiday break and that you’re back at work with both a sense of accomplishment for what you’ve done this school year so far and a sense of confidence about what will happen through the spring. I’m excited about the next few months for a bunch of reasons: The days are slowly getting longer and maybe warmer; our students need us more than ever; and there’s always a feeling of newness to a change of the calendar.

Our General Assembly will convene next week, too, and features a lineup heavier with friends of public education than we’ve seen in several years. Great and meaningful progress can be made if we present a united front for our students and colleagues, and I’m very much looking forward to this year’s session. We’ll be keeping you informed as the session progresses and about how you can help lobby for the success of important bills, even from afar. And don’t forget to register for VEA Lobby Day on February 16!

And with the increased pressure being placed on our immigrant communities as a result of federal ICE raids, VEA has joined a coalition working to support Dreamers and new immigrants to our communities. More to come on this in future weeks.

Congrats to Jon Pepper of Falls Church!

FCCEA member Jon Pepper was just sworn in as a member of the school board in Loudoun County! It’s always great to have educators in policymaking positions, so congratulations, Jon! He joins other VEA members who have been elected this year. Here’s a publicly available Facebook post with some details.

And if you’re interested in running for any elected office, check out NEA’s See Educators Run program for assistance and training to help NEA members learn how to build winning campaigns.

Fitz Turner Commission Awards Deadline this Friday

Applications are now open for the three awards given by the Fitz Turner Commission for Human Relations & Civil Rights (FTC). These award recognizes word in the racial and social justice and can be given to an individual or a group. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 16, 2026 by 4:30pm.

The Fitz Turner Commission also makes recommendations to the VEA President and VEA Board of Directors to help identify and address disparities in schools and communities, and develop programs, build awareness, engage the community, and take action to address injustices and to ensure equity for all students and educators.

Click here to learn more about the Fitz Turner Commission.

ESP Bill of Rights Roundtable

VEA’s ESP Bill of Rights Planning & Action Team is hosting an ESP Bill of Rights Round Table on January 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 via zoom. Members are invited and are asked to extend the invitation to potential members to be part of this important listening session and informational update as we make progress on an ESP Bill of Rights to benefit all ESPs across the Commonwealth.

Register Here

More Opportunities to Speak Out for Immigrant Students

With the federal government pushing an overtly harmful anti-immigrant agenda, much of the recent public discourse about immigrants has been negative—and false. But teachers have the power to change the narrative. The National Newcomer Network is providing an opportunity for you to take part in changing the narrative! The EVEN Fellowship is a paid fellowship for teachers who work directly with newcomers, children of immigrants, and/or English learners, and who want to share with the world the truth about immigrant students.  

Find More Details Here

Help Protect the U.S. Department of Education

NEA, VEA, and many other state affiliates have signed onto a joint letter urging Congress to block the Trump administration’s attempts to unlawfully transfer U.S. Department of Education roles and responsibilities to other federal agencies. If you would like to sign the letter, you may do so here.

Do You Know a High School Senior Who Plans to Pursue a Career in Education?

The Beblon G. Parks Scholarship Fund, given in honor of Beblon G. Parks, a retired VEA UniServ Manager & Department Director, awards either two $1,000 scholarships to two high school seniors or one $2,000 scholarship to a single high school senior, depending on the pool of qualified applicants. The applicant(s) must plan to pursue a career in the field of Education. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, January 16, 2026.

Submit Your Application Here

You Could Win Big in Crayola Creativity Week (and There are Freebies, Too)!

Our insurance partner, Horace Mann, is a proud sponsor of Crayola Creativity Week, where imagination takes center stage! Sign up for free and get:

• 7 days of ready-to-use resources you can download immediately.

• Celebrity-led activity videos to inspire your students.

• Virtual classroom visits and giveaways to make learning even more exciting.

• Access to resources that support literacy, STEAM and social-emotional learning all year long.

• The chance to win a four-day, all-expense paid vacation to focus on your creativity, confidence and leadership or $500 in Crayola art supplies.



VEA Vibe Check on January 21!

VEA’s Vibe Check is sponsored by the Minority and Women's Concerns Committee and VEA's Department of Equity, Justice, and Learning, and the next one will be on January 21st at 7-8pm! January’s topic is Let’s Chat About ChatGPT. This platform offers an opportunity for member educators to gather in a safe space to have a well-deserved break, allowing members to prioritize joy, wellness, gratitude, and solace in a supportive community. The vibe check will be held virtually, so register by clicking the button below to join! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

RSVP Here

NEA Grant Opportunities

NEA is accepting applications for Envision Equity, Learning & Leadership, and Student Success grants until Monday, March 2. This round of grants will support projects taking place between June 2026 and June 2027. NEA staff will host two virtual information sessions to provide application guidance and highlight project examples.


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page