ACPS | ALXnow

N. Va. public safety leaders reaffirm mutual aid in reducing crime at Alexandria summit

Published June 18, 2026 at 3:55PM | Updated June 18, 2026 at 11:13PM

(Left to right) Moderator Simone de Alba, Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire and Robin Engle at APD's Public Safety Summit at Virginia Theological Seminary on June 18, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Public safety leaders and their counterparts from around the region reaffirmed a commitment to mutual aid today (Thursday) at the Alexandria Police Department’s Public Safety Summit.

The three-hour event was held at Virginia Theological Seminary, and attended by Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Sheriff Sean Casey, Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter, City Manager Jim Parajon, Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez, Jr, as well as officials from Alexandria City Public Schools and other city departments. Speakers included Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn, Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham, and Stanley Meador, the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

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VEA sets timeline for new Alexandria teachers union elections after invalidating results

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated June 17, 2026 at 6:40PM

David Paladin-Fernandez speaks at a School Board meeting on June 11, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After invalidating the officer elections for the local Alexandria teachers union, the Virginia Education Association has set a timeline for new elections that it will oversee later this month.

VEA President Carol Bauer informed Education Association of Alexandria (EAA) members of the new election timeline in an email on June 12. VEA’s decision to reject EAA’s union officer elections came after the elections were postponed from May 18 to May 21, and candidate for EAA president David Paladin-Fernandez was disqualified less than 12 hours before the elections.

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11 students earn high school diplomas at Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2026 at 2:45PM

Graduation day at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, June 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Eleven residents at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center in Alexandria’s West End marked a significant milestone as they were presented with their high school diplomas today (Wednesday).

The graduation event was attended by family members, NVJDC residents and staff, as well as City Councilwoman Sandy Marks and Alexandria City School Board Chair Michelle Rief. The jail’s state-operated school is managed by Alexandria City Public Schools, which provides licensed staff to teach 10-to-18-year-old children brought in from across Alexandria, Arlington County and the city of Falls Church.

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ACPS offers free summer meals for kids 18 and younger across Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated June 16, 2026 at 4:51PM

Packed lunches at T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School), March 16, 2020. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools will continue providing free meals to students this summer.

The school system is giving away free breakfast and lunch for children and teens 18 and under as part of its 2026 Summer Food Service Program. The program runs Mondays through Thursdays, from June 22 to July 16, at six schools across the city. School-age kids can get free meals at any of the sites and do not need to register in advance.

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JUST IN: Michael Burch hired as principal of Alexandria City High School

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2026 at 9:35PM | Updated June 12, 2026 at 8:38AM

Michael Burch, the incoming principal of Alexandria City High School (via ACPS)

Michael Burch, the ACHS lead administrator for operations and student support, has been hired as the next principal of Alexandria City High School.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt made the announcement at tonight’s School Board meeting. With approximately 4,500 students and hundreds of staffers spread across four campuses, Burch will will lead the largest public high school in Virginia starting on July 1.

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PHOTOS: Nearly 1,000 Alexandria City High School seniors graduate at GMU’s EagleBank Arena

By James Cullum

Published June 8, 2026 at 12:15PM

The Alexandria City High School graduation at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena, June 6, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

One of Alexandria City High School’s largest graduating classes walked the stage at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena to get their diplomas on Saturday (June 6).

Outgoing Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said that the 962 graduates are walking into an increasingly complex world.

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VEA invalidates Alexandria teachers union officer elections, will oversee new elections

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2026 at 2:15PM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Virginia Education Association (VEA) has invalidated last month’s officer elections held by the local Alexandria teachers union and will oversee a new election.

In an email sent this week to members of the Education Association of Alexandria (EAA), VEA said that it conducted a review of its Alexandria affiliate to see “whether the recent EAA officer election complied with the legal requirements established under the federal Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.” The news comes after an EAA’s union officer election was postponed from May 18 to May 21, and EAA presidential candidate David Paladin-Fernandez was disqualified less than 12 hours before the election.

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JUST IN: ACPS launches superintendent search ahead of Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s resignation

By Emily Leayman

Published June 1, 2026 at 4:40PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Alexandria City High School's 25th anniversary celebration of the film Remember The Titans, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools is officially searching for a new superintendent ahead of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s resignation on Oct. 1.

The search process launched Monday (June 1), about two months after Kay-Wyatt submitted her resignation. The Alexandria City School Board has brought on executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to lead the recruitment effort.

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Hammond Middle School receives donation of 500 filled backpacks for families in need

By James Cullum

Published May 28, 2026 at 1:45PM

United Way National Capital Area and Enterprise Mobility donated the backpacks to Francis C. Hammond Middle School on May 28, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Francis C. Hammond Middle School received a donation of 500 new backpacks today, which will be stuffed with school supplies for when students return for the 2026-2027 school year.

United Way National Capital Area and Enterprise Mobility donated the backpacks to the Title I school. United Way’s global headquarters are located in Alexandria.

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City Council briefed on student questioning, privacy rules in new ACPS agreement with APD

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday (May 26), Alexandria City Council was briefed on changes to the recently approved memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria City Public Schools.

As no action was required from City Council Tuesday, City Council members did not formally endorse the updated MOU approved earlier this month by the School Board. ACPS previously extended the 2023–2025 agreement while the city’s School Law Enforcement Partnership subcommittee, which is made up of members of City Council, the School Board and APD staff, finalized the new language.

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Alexandria teachers union candidate disqualified less than 12 hours before officer elections

By James Cullum

Published May 22, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated May 22, 2026 at 5:31PM

A second grade classroom at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (staff photo by James Cullum)

A candidate for president of the Education Association of Alexandria was informed via Zoom that he was disqualified from the race less than 12 hours before the union’s officer elections, and that there was “not time” to go through a democratic process, according to audio obtained by ALXnow.

On Wednesday night (May 20), ACPS middle school teacher David Paladin-Fernandez was informed of his disqualification from the union president race. All candidates running in the election were on the call. Andrea Hill, chair of the EAA Credentials/Election Committee, told the candidates she had conducted an investigation and that the union’s executive committee had voted to disqualify Paladin-Fernandez.