The City of Fairfax School Board announced Monday they have offered the position of superintendent of the City of Fairfax Schools to Jeff Platenberg and Mr. Platenberg has accepted. The Board will vote on the appointment when contract negotiations are completed. Platenberg is scheduled to begin in July after Dr. Phyllis Pajardo retires on June 30.
Jeff Platenberg is currently the assistant superintendent for facilities and transportation services for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). He will be inducted into the FCPS Hall of Fame this month for his longtime service to the district. Prior to joining FCPS, he was the assistant superintendent for support services with Loudoun County Public Schools, assistant superintendent for accountability and information communication technologies for Lexington County School District One in Lexington, S.C., and deputy superintendent of support services for Savannah-Chatham County (Ga.) Public Schools. Platenberg has also provided services to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Schools.
Platenberg is a licensed general contractor, certified educational facility planner by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International, registered school business official by the Virginia Association of School Business Officials, and registered school business administrator by the Association of School Business Officials International.
“Jeff Platenberg brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge of facilities, school renovations and budget leadership to the City of Fairfax Schools,” said Carolyn Pitches, City of Fairfax School Board Chair. “I look forward to working with him as we seek to modernize our facilities and increase opportunities for all of our city school students.”
Platenberg was a fellow in the Institute for Educational Leadership, (IEL) Education Policy Fellowship and completed the School Leader Executive Institute, Center for Creative Leadership program. He has served on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC), and currently serves on the Fairfax County Economic Advisory Commission, the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team (SCYPT), and the Fairfax County Revitalization Committee Building Repositioning work group.
Platenberg received the Outstanding Performance Awards from the Richland County School District One Chairman and Fairfax County Public Schools. He was also selected as the 2012 Association of School Business Officials International Eagle award recipient, the 2013 Education Week Leader to Learn From, and the 2015 Bammy Award Recipient for 'What is Right in Education.”
Platenberg earned an academic certification in educational facility planning from San Diego State University, a master's of human resource development from Webster University, and a bachelor of public administration from George Mason University. He has been a presenter at state, national, and international conferences, and has also presented at TED Talks.