Congratulations to Instructional Assistant Maureen Small on her recognition as the FCPS 2023 Region 2 Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee at this year's FCPS Honors event, held at George Mason University Center for the Arts on June 14th.

Maureen calls herself the “World’s Happiest IA!” As a special education instruction assistant, Maureen can be found either in Woodburn Elementary’s Lower Resource Room or in the general education classrooms of her students, working with them on reading, writing, math, and other curricular areas. She finds joy in supporting children with their academic and emotional needs and strives to instill a strong sense of resilience, perseverance, motivation, and thirst for knowledge. Maureen is also the team leader for the other instructional assistants at Woodburn. She enjoys planning monthly breakfasts for the instructional assistants to show her appreciation for all they do and reinforce their connection as a team.

• View Ms. Small's recognition on the FCPS website.

Congratulations to the following Woodburn Elementary School staff members who were also recognized at this year's FCPS Honors Ceremony!

Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee School-Level Recipient

• Sara Kugler, Literacy Coach

Outstanding School-Based Leader School-Level Recipient

• Elizabeth Watson, Assistant Principal

Outstanding Elementary School Teacher School and Pyramid-Level Recipient

• Victoria Meshanko, Third Grade Teacher

Thank you to Kathleen Gannon and Sage Coury for all of their hard work with the nomination process by serving as this year's awards liaisons.