MICHAEL SALAITA

• Oversee strategic and operational functions for 20+ alternative education sites across Fairfax County, managing programs such as Montrose ALC, TSRC Graham Road, and partnerships with JDRDC (Shelter Care, Stepping Stones, Foundations), CSB (e.g., Leland House), and the Adult Detention Center (ADC).
• Supervise 80+ staff across instructional, operational, and support roles; manage hiring, onboarding, staffing allocations, and evaluations to ensure effective coverage and alignment to program goals.
• Lead the design and monitoring of the School Innovation & Improvement Plan (SIIP) with targeted goals around senior graduation, credit accrual, honors-level enrollment, and attendance interventions, aligned to FCPS Strategic Plan Goals 3 (Academic Growth & Excellence), 4 (Equitable Access & Opportunity), and 5 (Graduation & Readiness).
• Administer program budgets using FOCUS, aligning resources to instructional priorities and operational needs across multiple locations; apply for and manage grants supporting equity and recovery initiatives.
• Oversee diploma-seeking programs at the ADC, ensuring access to FCPS-aligned instruction and credit-bearing coursework for incarcerated students working toward graduation.
• Coordinate the Credit Recovery and Completion Program (CCR), utilizing Edmentum to deliver tailored, flexible learning pathways. Achieved 90% credit completion rates in both 2023–24 and 2024–25 despite rolling admissions and high-risk profiles.
• Develop and implement instructional frameworks, including the distinction between credit recovery and credit accrual, training staff to use mastery charts and align content with FCPS standards of learning.
• Support base school partners by aligning IAS efforts to accreditation requirements, graduation plans, and individual student success metrics.
• Supervise site operations at Montrose ALC, FCPS’s sole middle school program for Hearings Office and electively placed students, overseeing curriculum, staffing, and behavioral systems.
• Directed implementation of Montrose’s MTSS, PBIS, and Learning Seminar systems, contributing to a 75%+ reduction in discipline referrals and maintaining a 99% return-to-class rate through the Re-entry Opportunity Room.
• Provide instructional leadership through division-aligned PD focused on trauma-informed practices and Tier 1 interventions, tailored to alternative and court-involved student populations.
• Analyze schoolwide data, lead empathy interviews, and guide collaborative planning to inform PD cycles and continuous improvement efforts.
• Represent IAS during leadership walkthroughs and central office visits, articulating program design, impact, and innovation to stakeholders.

• Designed and launched a summer credit recovery and completion program to support students behind in credits, improve on-time graduation outcomes, and expand post-year instructional access; led staffing, budgeting, and program design.
• Directed the referral and transition process for students placed by the Hearings Office or electively enrolled, ensuring seamless entry and individualized support through cross-functional coordination.
• Led cross-agency collaboration with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court (JDRC) and Community Services Board (CSB) to support students in court-involved and therapeutic placements.
• Chaired Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs) to develop personalized support plans, monitor student progress, and implement targeted academic and behavioral interventions.
• Developed and implemented the Aspire program, an intervention for students experiencing school-related anxiety, using Edmentum to provide individualized, trauma-informed credit recovery support in a flexible setting.
• Advanced a restorative school culture through community-building practices, conflict mediation, and embedded reflection strategies to strengthen engagement and student voice.
• Facilitated trauma-informed professional development, coaching staff to embed emotional safety, de-escalation strategies, and instructional practices grounded in brain-based learning.
• Co-led development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP), aligning MTSS, SEL, and academic supports to drive on-time graduation and improve student achievement.
• Implemented Tier 2 and 3 supports through the Student Intervention Team (SIT), using data to guide interventions for attendance, discipline, and academic challenges.
• Facilitated Kid Talk sessions to support team-based problem solving and design holistic intervention plans for students.

Analyzed academic and behavioral data to shape schoolwide PD priorities and coach instructional teams in data-driven decision making.

Leadership & Program Development

• Collaborated on the Program Innovation and Improvement Plan (PIIP) through data analysis, progress monitoring, and strategic goal setting.
• Led summer instructional projects focused on Edmentum evaluation, mastery alignment, Collaborative Teams, and equity in digital curriculum access.
• Redesigned Edmentum courses to align with FCPS Program of Studies (POS) and pacing guides, improving instructional coherence and standards alignment across IAS.
• Designed teacher hiring tools incorporating emotional intelligence indicators to build culturally responsive instructional teams.
• Served on the VDOE-aligned alternative accreditation review team for Bryant and FCPS Adult High School.
• Partnered with SBTS to support FCPSon and Schoology implementation.

Instructional Coaching & Support

• Coached teachers through instructional planning, walkthrough feedback, and implementation of math interventions for seniors at risk of not graduating.
• Developed and curated digital instructional materials to support blended math instruction across IAS sites.
• Facilitated department chair meetings and schoolwide PD focused on data-driven instruction and lesson design.

Analyzed student performance data and coached teachers to refine classroom strategies and improve assessment outcomes.