Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam visited Fitzgerald Elementary School and Washington-Reid on Sept. 4, as part of her Back-to-School tour and her efforts to advocate for early education.

"This is an exciting time of year for parents, teachers, and students, but school readiness actually starts in those critical five years before kindergarten, when about 90 percent of a child's brain development occurs," said First Lady Northam. "All Virginia children are capable of, and deserve to be, entering kindergarten with the tools they need to succeed. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality care and education for children and families, no matter who they are or where they live."

While at Fitzgerald Elementary School, students taught Northam how to fly drones. Each classroom at Fitzgerald Elementary has a drone thanks to a classroom grant provided by SPARK, the education foundation for Prince William County Schools. She also visited the kindergarten classroom of Ms. Lennon, who is the daughter of Fanny Fitzgerald, the namesake of the school.

First Lady Northam concluded her time in PWCS with a visit to Washington-Reid, which houses about 100 preschool students. While there, she read a book about a "good bee" to students in the classroom of Ms. Schweitzer and Ms. Philpott. Schweitzer attended Washington-Reid as a student.

Other visitors included Del. Luke Torian, 52nd District; Diane Raulston, School Board member, Neabsco District; Superintendent Dr. Steve Walts, and members of the SMART Beginnings Board of Directors, including Executive Director Tawyna Soltis, Kathy Channell and Dawn Davis.