Superintendent’s Superintendent’s Corner Corner
Superintendent’s Update Superintendent’s Update
Dear MCPS Community,
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a restful winter break filled with joy As we return to our classrooms this January, there is a sense of renewed energy and purpose within our schools.
January is more than just the start of a new calendar year; it also marks the start of our second semester It’s an opportunity for our students to set new academic goals and for all of us to strengthen the partnerships that make our district a wonderful place to learn.
The turn of the semester is a pivotal time. Over the coming weeks, our focus remains on academic growth, wellness, and community engagement We strive for student success in the classroom and beyond. The winter months can be long and dreary. Please prioritize your students’ mental health and well-being.
As we embrace the peak of winter, please ensure your contact information is up to date in our primary notification system. While we always aim to keep schools open, the safety of our students and staff during inclement weather is our top priority Any delays or closures will be communicated via email, phone, local news, and our official social media channels.
You can register for weather alerts here: https://www.mcps org/page/emergencycommunication
Thank you for your continued trust and for being such an integral part of our district family. Let’s make this second half of the school year our best one yet!
Sincerely,
Lois T. Graham, Ed.D Acting Superintendent
‘Partying Parulidae’
Blacksburg High School’s Xavier Gitre was recently announced as a semifinalist for the Regeneron Science Talent Search. His project examines interactions and migration patterns of birds. His project is one of the top 300 in the entire country. Soon, he’ll find out if his project advances to the top 40.
Check out WDBJ7's and The Roanoke Times’ coverage of his project.
https://www wdbj7 com/2026/01/08/blacksburg-high-schoolstudents-bird-research-ranks-him-semifinalist-prestigious-sciencecontest/
https://roanoke com/news/local/education/k-12/article
6e0b8e5fbe21-410d-9f9f-38a5e44a2db4.html#tracking-source=home-topstory
Keeping Students Safe
The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. Parents and guardians play a major role in partnering to keep everyone safe. Below are some reminders to help create a safe environment.
Lock away all firearms
Check your student’s book bags
Monitor behavior online and on cellphones.
Teach your children “See Something. Say Something.”
https://youtube com/shorts/effgmrzGZ k
Distinguished Schools
Equity Update Equity Update
Happy New Year!
As we embark on 2026, we enter a season of fresh beginnings-a new year of reflection, resolution, and remembrance. In our school division, the start of a new year is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to growth, compassion, and excellence. Let us resolve to be better: better learners, better educators, better leaders, and better neighbors to one another.
January also invites us to pause and reflect on pivotal moments and figures in history that continue to shape our shared journey toward access, opportunity, and equity for all.
This Month in History
January 1, 1863 – The Emancipation Proclamation
On this date, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all people held as slaves within the rebelling Confederate states “are, and henceforth shall be, free.” This historic act marked a turning point in American history and laid critical groundwork for the ongoing pursuit of freedom and civil rights.
January 1907 – A Historic First in the U.S. Senate
In January 1907, Charles Curtis of Kansas became the first Native American to serve as a United States Senator. His achievement remains a significant milestone in the representation of Indigenous peoples in federal leadership.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader, minister, and recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. His life and legacy remind us of the power of service, nonviolence, and moral courage. Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, and his legacy is honored each year with a federal holiday on the third Monday in January.
Equity Update Equity Update
As we honor the past, may we move forward together. Allowing the lessons of history inspire our classrooms, guide our conversations, and strengthen our commitment to inclusion, understanding, and academic success for every student.
Let us commit to making 2026 a year of reflection and positive action, creating a legacy our children will be proud to inherit.
Stacie H. Wright Director of Equity and Diversity
MCPS Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Mr. Jonathan Marye for being named the MCPS Teacher of the Year. Mr. Marye teaches French at Blacksburg High School!
Student Services Update Student Services Update
More Than a Roof: Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
Imagine trying to finish homework in your car with your mom, little brother, dog, and all your belongings sharing the car with you. Or, imagine that school project that needs to be finished, and you are living on a friend’s couch in their living room. For more students than we realize, this is everyday life. When we think of homelessness, we think of the person holding the sign at the corner of the road, or the person living under the bridge we drive over, but this is not what homelessness looks like in our schools. It’s the person sitting at the desk next to you in class, or the next table over during lunch. It’s in every school and does not discriminate. Homelessness can include staying with friends or relatives (called “doubled up”), living in hotels, cars or campers, and staying in shelters.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures students experiencing homelessness have access to school stability, support, and opportunity. The goal is simple, but powerful; remove barriers so students can stay connected to school, no matter what is happening outside the classroom.
These supports might include:
Staying in the same school, even if housing changes
Providing transportation to students to get to and from school
Immediate enrollment, even without paperwork
Connection to school-based and community-based resources
Equal access to classes, activities, and services
Last year, MCPS identified 188 students experiencing homelessness and we did not reach all of them. These students represented every school and every grade level. About 72% were doubled up with someone else, 22% were living in hotels, 5% in shelters, and 1% unsheltered.
ne of the most important things to know is that families and students may not know they qualify for support. Housing instability can happen to anyone, and it doesn’t always look the same. If you know a student or family who may be experiencing temporary housing insecurity, help is available Each division is required by law to have a McKinney-Vento Liaison who can provide confidential support and guidance
When home changes, school can remain a place of consistency, care, and opportunity With understanding and support, school can be more than a building - it can be a refuge.
Paige Walters
McKinney-Vento Liaison pwalters@mcps org 540-382-5100 x1026
More information about McKinney-Vento
Seniors of the Month
