Phyllis Pajardo will be the next superintendent of the City of Fairfax Schools. She’s been selected for the post by the City School Board and will be formally voted on during the Board’s special meeting, Aug. 7. She’ll begin her four-year term the next day.
“The City of Fairfax School Board is excited that Dr. Pajardo has accepted our offer to lead our schools,” said School Board Chairman Jon Buttram. “Dr. Pajardo’s intellect, creative spirit and vast knowledge of our schools will ensure continued excellence and success.”
“Her strong commitment to serving our students, our schools and our community is unquestionable,” he continued. “We look forward to working with Dr. Pajardo in her new role as superintendent as we continue the Board’s endeavors to expand advanced academics, STEM and innovative practices in our schools.”
She replaces former Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan, who left in May to become superintendent of the Falls Church City Public Schools. Since then, former City Schools Superintendent Ann Monday has filled in as interim superintendent.
Pajardo is currently Assistant Superintendent of City of Fairfax Schools. Before coming here in August 2015, she retired from Fairfax County Public Schools, where she held several leadership roles – including Cluster Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources – during her 34 years there.
In its search for a new leader, the City School Board sought input from residents, school staff, administrators, parents and City leadership. The Board conducted interviews in June and made its final decision in mid-July. It then offered the job to Pajardo, who accepted.
“I am very excited and deeply humbled,” she said. “I greatly respect and admire the leadership of recent past City Schools Superintendents [George] Stepp, Monday, and Noonan. I look forward to building upon the City Schools’ past work and partnering with the City of Fairfax School Board, Mayor and City Council, our principals and school staffs – as well as each school’s community and my colleagues in Fairfax County Public Schools – to develop new pathways to successfully serve our students and the City.”