Prince William County Public Schools

Office of the Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman provides parents, students, and members of the school community confidential, impartial, and informal assistance in resolving school-related concerns, conflicts, and issues.

The people who visit the Ombudsman's office may do so for many reasons. The office seeks to empower these individuals to overcome their disputes, conflicts, and barriers by helping them to find options for the best possible resolutions.

The Ombudsman's role is two-fold, first to help the individual and second to help the organization.

For the individual the Ombudsman will:

• Listen to concerns and clarify options;
• Identify the underlying cause of the conflict;
• Provide information; and
• Explore options as appropriate

For the organization, the Ombudsman will:

• Provide feedback;
• Serve as an early warning system;
• Collect data on emerging trends and patters; and
• Utilize this data to identify systemic concerns.

What is an Ombudsman?