Fairfax County Public School phishing test disguised as teacher appreciation email: officials

Teachers upset by cybersecurity test offering fake gift cards

Teachers in one Virginia school district are angry after leaders sent an email rewarding their hard work only to find out it was spam. FOX 5's Nana-Sentuo Bonsu has the story.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - An email offering some Fairfax County educators gift cards in appreciation of their work during the school year was a phishing test, school officials confirm.

Fairfax County Public Schools sent teachers the appreciation email on Friday, the last day of school.

The email featured the Fairfax County Public Schools logo and thanked employees for their work. Teachers who clicked on the link were directed to a cybersecurity page with information about phishing.

Superintendent Michelle Reid issued an apology for the email.

She also released a statement to the FCPS community:

"Let me begin by sharing my grateful thanks for an incredible year in our FCPS schools," the statement reads. "Your passion, dedication, and commitment to a world class education for each and every one of our students is deeply appreciated. Next, let me offer my deepest apologies for the phishing email that went out earlier today. While I understand the need for heightened cybersecurity."

Reid called the email "unacceptable for a variety of reasons and on a number of levels," and said it should not have been sent.