Dr. Toni Jones, the newly-selected Superintendent of the Falls Church City Public Schools, visited the City of Falls Church and its schools last weekend and today, and will culminate a brief trip from her current Oklahoma home with a formal signing of her contract at tomorrow’s School Board business meeting. Jones’ whirlwind tour, which is taking her to all four City schools between today and tomorrow, and a series of meetings with school and City offices, paused briefly for a press availability in the School Board offices this afternoon.
Jones said the standout Falls Church system is “very similar” to the one in a northern suburb of Oklahoma City where she currently serves as chief academic officer. The common features, she said, include “a highly motivated community, outstanding student achievement and teaching staff, a community-oriented system and high expectations.”
Interviewed by student journalists at George Mason High School earlier in the day, Dr. Jones said she was surprised to learn from the students that they consider the strength of their school to be its “warm and welcoming atmosphere,” that students “care for each other” and consider themselves “family.”
“It is great to hear that,” she said. “I truly believe in the development of the whole student.” She said that she hopes to steep herself in getting to know the people of the Falls Church system when she arrives to begin work on June 13, two weeks prior to officially succeeding Dr. Berlin as superintendent.