Membership Approved
<bt>The Fairfax County School Board, on Thursday, June 20, voted 9-0, with two abstentions, to rejoin the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) effective July 1.
Last year, the county board discontinued its membership due to philosophical differences and financial questions. Recently, Stuart Gibson, the chairman of the county board, had been in discussion with the VSBA's leadership and many of the concerns were addressed, he said.
"I'm pleased to see the lines of communication have been opened," said Jane Strauss (Dranesville). "The children of Virginia are better served when we come together …."
Christian Braunlich (Lee) and Mychele Brickner (At large) abstained from the vote and Catherine Belter (Springfield), who will be the county board's appointee to the VSBA's legislative committee, was absent from the vote.
<sh>Jones Presents Project at National Convention
<bt>Fairfax County Public Schools preschool special education teacher Laura Reasoner Jones presented the Digital Edge Project at the National Educational Computing Conference in San Antonio, Texas, June 18. Jones, on loan from FCPS, is currently a teacher in residence at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
The project documents how teachers are integrating technology into their daily practice. She has also helped create a digital library of video, text and accompanying documentation showing accomplished teaching with technology.
In addition, Jones published an article, "A Look at Girls' Attitudes Toward Math, Science, and Technology: Are We Really Making a Difference?" in the spring 2002 edition of the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) Journal. The article chronicled a seven-year relationship with her Girls Excelling in Math and Science club and examined whether the intervention made a difference in club members enrolling in advanced classes.
The Digital Edge project is hosted on the Apple Web site, which along with the AT&T Foundation sponsored the project, at www.ali.apple.com. Jones' article on girls excelling at math and science can be accessed on the VSTE Web site at www.vste.org/communication/journal.html.
<sh>Schools Events Calendar
<bt>Thursday, June 27, 8 a.m.
Fairfax County School Board work session, student services; human resources; instruction. Lanier Middle School, 3710 Bevan Drive, Fairfax.
Thursday, June 27, 8:30 a.m.
Professional Technical Studies Advisory Committee meeting. Walnut Hill Center, 7423 Camp Alger Ave., Falls Church.
Thursday, June 27, 1 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board work session, facilities; finance & budget. Lanier Middle School, 3710 Bevan Drive, Fairfax.
Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m.
Annual School Board Conference. Challenger Learning Center of Northern Virginia.
Saturday, June 29
Lake Braddock Secondary School, Class of 1982, 20-year reunion. For more information, call First-Class Reunions at 888-327-1984 or on the Web at www.fcreunions.com. Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner.
Thursday, July 4-Friday, July 5
Fairfax County Public Schools Independence Day holidays.