Highest praise has come flowing into our inbox following the surprise announcement this week from Dr. Peter Noonan, superintendent of the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) that he intends to retire at the end of the current new school year. First of all, he is owed thanks for providing such a long lead time to find a replacement, resulting from knowing, we suspect, that he is aware that finding someone of his talents will be far from easy.

There is no doubt that his eight years running the school system here has been the most explosive, in a positive way, in its overall three-quarter-century history. While the shiny $120 million brand new Meridian high school campus, accomplished seamlessly with no real estate tax rate increase for City residents in the past decade, has been the most visible tribute to Dr. Noonan’s skill and commitment to the education of our young, it has been his classroom-centric achievements that mark his work in more universal and ultimate terms. That includes being one of the few systems in the nation that operates top to bottom — preschool through 12th grade — as thoroughly International Baccalaureate curriculum and value infused.

In terms of his impact on the wider community, it has been his excellent communication and leadership skills that has won for his school system the level of support and funding each year from the City Council which stands as another mark of the unique skill set he brought to Falls Church, to the benefit of us all.

Among those who have submitted comments to us about Dr. Noonan are ones from former School Board member and City Council vice mayor Hal Lippman, currently the head of the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) venerated civil activist organization. Lippman wrote the following:

“WOW!! And, again WOW!!!! But, after this initial reaction, there’s been lots of thought and reflection. Looking back on Peter’s six predecessors during my time in our Little City — all of whom helped grow and sustain our beloved Public Schools’ excellence — he is clearly in a class by himself. Others will surely celebrate his exceptional accomplishments and contributions. But, for me at this moment of his just announced resignation, I come back to all he’s done as our Superintendent and showed himself to be as a person with deepest admiration, respect, affection, and perhaps above all, my abiding appreciation and gratitude.”

Then there is Mary Asel, president of the Falls Church Education Foundation, who wrote: “From the earliest days of his arrival as Superintendent, Dr. Noonan has been an engaged and enthusiastic partner with the Falls Church Education Foundation. This partnership has flourished over the last eight years, a great example of the ‘Better Together’ ethos at the heart of Falls Church City.”

“Peter’s involvement has extended into loyal participation in FCEF events, from hitting the roads in Run for the Schools to annually hosting a student as Superintendent for the Day as a Gala auction item.”