From its founding in 1870 until the 1960s, Fairfax County Public Schools was one school system with two sets of schools, one for white children and one for African American children. Featuring rarely seen archival photographs, video interviews, maps, and historical documents, this presentation explores the barriers created by this dual school system, the local reaction in Fairfax County to court-ordered school desegregation, and the social and educational challenges students and teachers encountered during racial integration. Whether you're drawn to local history, education, or African American heritage, this compelling visual journey brings to light a vital yet often overlooked chapter in Fairfax County’s past.

Biography

Jeff Clark is an award-winning author, public historian, and video producer with over two decades of experience at Fairfax County Public Schools. He has played a key role in bringing the history of Fairfax County’s public schools to light, including authoring the historic records and desegregation pages on the FCPS website. Through his video series What’s in a Name? and Schools of Yesteryear, Jeff has helped uncover and celebrate the rich history of our schools. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, a Distinguished Service Award from the Fairfax County History Commission, and a National Capital Chesapeake Bay Regional Emmy Award. Jeff currently serves as a Video Production Specialist in the FCPS Office of Communications.

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