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Hello Braddock Community!
First, I often get asked about how to get more involved with the Fairfax County School Board so I wanted to share this opportunity with you all!
My office is seeking applications from Braddock District residents interested in serving a one-year appointment to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Board citizen advisory committees.
Some residents may not know that the School Board has volunteer citizen advisory committees that focus on specific issues affecting FCPS students. These committees make annual recommendations to the School Board. Most of the committee terms run one year, from July-June, and most boards meet once a month, usually in the evenings.
Before I was elected to the school board, I served on one of these committees for eight years. I found it an invaluable experience both in learning more about FCPS from a systemic perspective and sharing my own experiences and expertise.
To learn more about each committee, please visit the links below.
The Braddock District is flush with experts on these topics! I have learned much from my meetings in the community. We have openings on the Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACE), Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC), School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), and Title I Parent Advisory Committee (TPAC). If you have expertise or experience that matches those committees and are interested in serving, please fill out this form.
I look forward to hearing from those interested and in developing strong working relationships with selected appointees.
The Cappies!
Last Monday I was able to attend the Cappies Awards- an amazing celebration of local high school theater - truly like the Oscars or Tonys for high school theater. I wanted to take a minute to say congratulations to all the Cappies nominees and recipients - I am so proud of you! We are lucky to have such incredible high school theater here in Fairfax County - the talent is amazing and the productions are professional and riveting. I love that not only do the Cappies support high school theater but also high school journalism through the Cappies critics program!
Congratulations especially to the Braddock district nominees and winners from Robinson, Lake Braddock, Woodson, West Springfield, Annandale, and Fairfax High schools! Your shows were fantastic this year and I cannot wait to be entertained and amazed by your productions next year.
On the 25th anniversary of the Cappies, I want to take a moment to remember and thank Bill and Janie Strauss for creating such an inimitable and much needed celebration of high school theater. Their legacy lives on through the hard work and dedication of our theater teachers, the administrators who support them, and especially the students who pour their hearts and talents into their shows and the parents and families standing behind their students, driving, volunteering, running lines, and cheering them to do the hard work of bringing characters to life and creating the magic worlds that transport us as they work to bring the written word alive.
I’ve always said the high school classes that were most impactful to my success in life were my theater classes. I learned history, critical thinking and analysis, listening skills, communication, teamwork, grit, how to fail and pick myself back up, public speaking, psychology, and most of all how to believe in myself.
Congratulations all! Keep believing in your ability to dig deep, find that you can do the hard things you didn’t think you could do, to fall down and get back up, to listen, learn, and communicate in words and in actions, to create new worlds while finding yourself in the process, and most importantly, reach for the stars!
 Congressman Connolly
In the midst of all these celebrations, I wanted to take a few minutes to honor Congressman Connolly and his long legacy of service to Northern Virginia, first as a Supervisor, then as the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, and finally as our Congressman. His impact is felt across the county from the Oakton Library, Mosaic District, and Silver line metro expansion, to the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail.
I had heard of Congressman Gerry Connolly well before I met him. I met him for the first time when I hosted a meet and greet for him with the disability community. I wasn’t involved in politics, then, I was focused on advocacy. So I didn’t know the protocols of any of this. I had no idea a meet and greet meant that he was supposed to just chat with people for a bit and leave. I remember asking him to answer questions from the community and he sat on a stool in my living room for well over an hour, knowledgeably, honestly, authentically and with his trademark Gerry wit and charisma, answering every question.
I learned what a force he was in our county, and truly one of a kind. I’ve never met a Congressperson who is as accessible to his constituents and his community, as supportive of everyone who put themselves out there to run or advocate to make their world a better place, as knowledgeable about everything and everyone in his district, as connected to local government as he was to NATO and international affairs. The mark he has left on our county - from Mosaic, to Tysons, to the trails and parks, to the Silver Line is undeniable and inimitable.
When I decided to run for office, I remember my interview with Gerry. As confident as I was in my reason for running and my knowledge and capability for the role, I was so nervous. But it was and remains one of my favorite conversations and his depth of knowledge was impressive. And his advice and wisdom were invaluable. I like to think I impressed him also; at least it felt that way every time I saw him or talked to him. I’ll never forget the letter of support he wrote for me just before my endorsement vote (my primary) in my first school board campaign.
In the years that followed, I appreciated that Gerry always came to my events, as he did for so many across his district, always speaking knowledgeably and personally about each person and organization he was there to support. I don’t know how he remembered all of it and all of us. But he did. He was a great and powerful man who treated everyone like they were his next door neighbor.
I could have listened to his stories forever. He was as funny as he was intelligent, and the twinkle in his eye when he heard something that humored him was a joy to witness. In this way he reminded me of my Dad (also because they both sported pretty awesome mustaches regardless of whether that was the thing to do or not.) Congressman Connolly also had such an infectious way of laughing at his own jokes that made you laugh along regardless of how funny the joke actually was. He and my Dad were also alike in this way.
We lost a great man when Congressman Connolly passed away. The loss is most for his family and those who knew him well for decades but it is a huge loss for the community he served tirelessly for 40 years and the many many people whose lives he touched. I am deeply honored to be a person whose life he touched.
Rest in Peace, Congressman Connolly. May we all be half the person and public servant you were.
Voting Information
There are elections every year in Virginia, and 2025 is no different. Due to Congressman Connolly's passing, there will be a special election to replace him in the 11th Congressional District. Governor Youngkin filed a writ of election for the special election to be held on September 9th, 2025. Parties will need to have their candidates nominated by July 11th.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of service to you.
In gratitude
Rachna
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