Phyllis Pajardo presents nationally on topics such as leadership and instructional best practices. She is superintendent for City of Fairfax Schools (FCPS) in Virginia, one of the nation's largest school districts. While at FCPS, Pajardo has held a variety of positions including teacher, assistant principal, principal, staff developer, and cluster assistant superintendent. As cluster assistant superintendent, she was responsible for the instructional, management, and administrative oversight of 28 schools. Her major responsibilities included monitoring school improvement and student achievement, mentoring principals and school-based administrators, brokering and advocating services and resources within the district for the Cluster II schools, and acting as a liaison to parents and parent groups.