Subschool 1 is home to many longtime staff members of FCPS, but a former student now sits at its front desk.

SS1 Administrative Assistant Jennifer Kudlacik has been in FCPS for around 40 years. Born in the UK, as her father was in the Air Force and stationed near London, she moved to Fairfax County when she was in middle school.

“When I was 13 years old, my father was working in the private sector and had the opportunity to come here,” Kudlacik said. “This is where [my family] wanted to be.”

When Kudlacik was an FCPS student in the 1980s, the district was run differently than it is today. Some differences include a distinct bell schedule and fewer course offerings.

“It was traditional scheduling, so it was classes one to seven every day in middle and high school,” Kudlacik said. “There was nowhere near the range of electives offered today.”

A major contrast between school then and now is the difference in technology; today, this is visible everywhere from students owning phones to schools distributing computers. Kudlacik believes this has a large impact on students.

“They have so much more available for students now than they did in the past,” Kudlacik said. “They definitely have a lot more information, but not necessarily more knowledge.”

Kudlacik advises students to take advantage of the increase in course offerings and new technology to try different things while in high school.

“It’s the beginning of a journey of learning who you are as a person and there’s just so many opportunities,” Kudlacik said. “You might discover something about yourself that you didn’t know before.”

Before coming to FCPS as an administrative assistant, Kudlacik worked as a financial analyst at INOVA. Following her career change, she enjoys being part of the Chantilly community.

“I decided [to come to CHS] to stay at home with my sons,” Kudlacik said. “I really enjoy being a Charger.”