FCPS Hires New Facilities and Services Head

The Fairfax County Public School system has hired Jeffrey Platenberg to replace retiring assistant superintendent for facilities and services Dean Tistadt.

Platenberg began his career with FCPS, but is currently the assistant superintendent for support services with Loudoun County Public Schools. He takes over the FCPS job on Jan. 3.

“Jeffrey Platenberg is an experienced assistant superintendent for facilities, having worked in that capacity for Loudoun County schools since 2007,” FCPS Superintendent Jack Dale said in a statement. “His professional expertise will transfer easily to FCPS. And we are happy to welcome him back to Fairfax, where he began his career in 1985.”

In Loudoun, Platenberg "oversees the operations of safety and security, food service, facilities services, transportation, the warehouse, surplus equipment, photocopying, energy and environment, and telecommunications and instruction," according to a news release from the county.

"He manages new school construction and renovation projects, including construction of 13 new schools; oversees the improvement of energy efficiency for school facilities and expanded sustainable initiatives; and is responsible for enhancing the security systems of schools and facilities by installing camera-phone and card access readers at entrances," the release says.

Before he was in Loudoun, Platenberg served as an assistant superintendent for accountability and information-communication technologies at the Lexington County (S.C.) School District One.

But he began his career here in Fairfax as a senior budget analyst in the 1980s and moved up the ranks until he became responsible for the FCPS design and construction program. He left in 1996. 

Platenberg has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from George Mason University and a master’s degree from Webster University.