Dr. Marceline Catlett Named Virginia Division III Superintendent of the Year
The Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Marceline “Marci” Catlett, Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools, has been selected as the 2027 Region III Superintendent of the Year.
Dr. Catlett has served as Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools since 2019. With more than four decades of service to the division, her leadership has been defined by a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and community partnership. Under her leadership, Fredericksburg City Public Schools has implemented strategic initiatives focused on closing achievement gaps, expanding Career & Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, strengthening school safety measures, and enhancing family engagement.
Her tenure has been marked by measurable academic growth, including gains achieved through the expansion of the James Farmer Scholars program, as well as innovative safety initiatives such as the early adoption of cellphone-free learning environments, robust mental health and wellness programs, and enhanced security technologies. Dr. Catlett has also championed transparent communication practices, leading to the development of a dedicated communications team and the expansion of division-wide engagement structures designed to strengthen connections among students, families, staff, and the Fredericksburg community.
Tracy Seitz of Middlesex County Schools, the 2026 Region III Superintendent of the Year and Region III Lead Superintendent stated, "Our Region III colleagues recognize Dr. Marci Catlett as a regional leader and appreciate her service. Personally, I have the utmost respect for Marci in how she conducts herself in small and large groups. She is humble and a person of faith. With that, Marci has helped me ground myself in becoming a better leader."
Chair Katie Pomeroy added, "On behalf of the Fredericksburg City School Board, it is with great pride that we congratulate Dr. Catlett on being named Region III Superintendent of the Year. As a graduate of Fredericksburg City Public Schools who began her career here as a sixth-grade teacher and has devoted her entire career to our division, Dr. Catlett leads with optimism, a growth-centered mindset, and a deep commitment to serving and supporting our students, staff, families, and the Fredericksburg community."
As the Region III Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Catlett will now compete with other division winners for the 2027 Virginia Superintendent of the Year Award. The statewide winner will be announced at the Annual VASS Conference this spring.
March 20, 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Preregistration preferred. Same-day walk-ins are welcomed.
This career fair is not only for licensed teachers but also for anyone interested in learning about pathways to a teaching career. Click on the link below to register.
🔗https://www.fxbgschools.us/page/human-resources
Ramadan runs from February 17 through March 19.
Join in welcoming Mr. Cannavo to the Patriots community as our newly appointed Assistant Principal.
Mr. Cannavo has over a decade of educational experience with some of that time spent as a literacy coach. He states that "As assistant principal, my goal is to be a supportive presence for staff, students, and families."
The HMES Patriots are proud to have you join us Mr. Cannavo.
Thank you to our School Resource Officers for helping create safe, supportive school environments while building strong connections with students and staff. Your dedication makes a difference every day!
The Fredericksburg City School Board unanimously approved the 2026–27 Instructional Calendar. The calendar reflects a thoughtful balance of instructional time, scheduled breaks, and professional learning days designed to support student success and family planning. We encourage families and staff to review the calendar as they begin looking ahead to the upcoming school year.
🔗 https://www.fxbgschools.us/page/division-cal
Thank you to our School Board for your leadership, service, and continued dedication to FCPS students and families.
Congratulations to our Division Spelling Bee champions:
🥇 Liam Clark, First Place
🥈 Matthew Palko, Second Place
A special thank-you to all of our participants who made this year’s Division Spelling Bee such a success. Best of luck to Liam Clark as he represents FCPS at the Regional Spelling Bee later this month!
We are excited to have our students back in our school buildings tomorrow, Monday, February 9, with schools opening on time.
As we return, we ask everyone to continue using caution while traveling. Road conditions may still vary, so please allow extra time in the morning, drive carefully, and remain attentive when gathering at bus stops.
The safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority. Thank you for your continued partnership as we resume our regular schedule on Monday, February 9.
She says, "This work is deeply personal to me. English is also my second language, and my own journey as a multilingual learner continues to shape how I view education, equity, and the importance of belonging in our schools."
In her role as District Coordinator for English Learner Programs, she partners closely with schools and departments to ensure strong, compliant, and student-centered English Learner programming. Her work focuses on instructional alignment, service delivery, monitoring, documentation, and professional collaboration so that multilingual learners have equitable access to high-quality instruction. She supports schools in navigating identification, services, assessment, and monitoring requirements while keeping students’ academic growth and language development at the center of every decision.
Through the Connection Resources Center, Mrs. Izquierdo works alongside a dedicated team that supports multilingual and newcomer families, where relationships and family engagement are at the heart of our efforts. Their goal is to support multilingual and newcomer students and families as they transition into our school community.
She says, "Together, we focus on building trust, strengthening communication, and helping families navigate school systems with confidence." The team also connects families to school and community resources so they feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to advocate for their children.
What Is the Connection Resource Center?
The Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) Connection Resources Center (CRC) serves as a centralized support hub for multilingual students and families transitioning into FCPS. Established in 2023 and housed at the Walker-Grant Center, the CRC operates under the Department of Teaching and Learning and is supervised by the Director of Student Programs.
The CRC’s mission is to strengthen family engagement, support student adjustment, and remove barriers to access by providing culturally and linguistically responsive support. The CRC team collaborates closely with schools, families, and community partners to assist with enrollment, communication, and connection to school and community resources, with a particular focus on supporting newcomer and multilingual families.
Families of students with disabilities, the latest bulletin from the Virginia Department of Education is now available. This edition includes important updates, resources, and information to support our students and families. View it here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VADOE/bulletins/407569b
As we return, we ask everyone to take extra care as weather conditions may still impact roads, sidewalks, and other areas. Please plan ahead and allow additional time for travel. Slow down while driving and remain cautious on sidewalks, parking lots, and other areas where ice may still be present. We also encourage heightened awareness of students and pedestrians who may be navigating icy streets and walkways.
At this time, there remain some locations where school buses may be unable to safely enter or maneuver single-lane roads. In these cases, buses may need to pick up students at a nearby safe location that may differ from the usual bus stop. Families are encouraged to identify safe areas near their regular bus stops and remain attentive to morning conditions. Transportation will be sending ParentSquare messages regarding known problems to impacted routes. Expect delays.
We will re-evaluate conditions in the morning, including any changes that may occur this evening, and adjust as needed.
The safety of our students, families, and staff remains our top priority. Thank you for your continued partnership and patience as we transition back to our regular schedule. We look forward to seeing our students soon and returning to learning together on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, on a 2-hour delay schedule.
Fredericksburg City Schools will operate on Code Blue, which is a REMOTE LEARNING DAY, Tuesday, February 3. While school parking lots look good right now, continued road and sidewalk conditions present challenges getting families and staff to and from schools.
All staff should plan to work remotely from home tomorrow. 12-month employees have the option of reporting to buildings or teleworking.
Essential employees should report according to supervisor’s guidance.
There will be meal distribution for students tomorrow, Tuesday, February 3, from noon until 2pm at James Monroe High School. Students do not need to be present - only a parent or adult relative needs to provide a student’s name for meal pick up.
Again, FCPS buildings will have limited availability to 12-month employees. Students are expected to learn from home and staff should work remotely tomorrow, Tuesday, February 3.
