‘Queen Reid’ Wants Personal Protection at Fairfax Taxpayers’ Expense

This op-ed was written by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is, the Fairfax chapter leader of the Independent Women’s Network. Originally appeared in WMAL.

In this week’s edition of poor leadership and fiscal irresponsibility, Fairfax County Public Schools posted a job advertisement for Superintendent Michelle Reid’s very own personal security detail.

This “executive protection agent,” to be hired on a 260-day contract, will enjoy a starting annual salary of at least $90,000. According to the job advertisement, this individual “is responsible for ensuring the personal safety, security, and operational continuity of the division superintendent across school campuses, public events, official travel, and private residences.”

What’s next for Reid – a cook and a driver?

Aside from the fact that issuing a personal security detail for a public school superintendent is excessive, incredibly rare, and likely hasn’t happened at all, our local community is in a budget crisis. In fiscal year 2026, the school district faces a $121 million shortfall, and is at risk of losing about another $168 million in federal funding for Title IX violations. Furthermore, with the ongoing downsizing of the federal government, the health of Fairfax County’s local budget isn’t likely to improve soon.

Fairfax County Public Schools, however, seem to exist in a bubble and refuse to trouble themselves with dirty pragmatic matters like budgetary problems. So, to be clear, while the district is eliminating teachers to address the budget crisis, in addition to her $424,146 annual salary and $12,000 car allowance, it’s looking as though Queen Reid will soon get her own personal security detail.