HCPS 411 Update

Series 1: Planning Time

The results of the first focus group series on planning time have been released on hcps.org through the Office of Strategic Initiatives. The focus group series asked the question, “How do we add five hours of planning time each week for elementary school teachers?” The Elementary Teacher Planning Time Strategic Focus Group Report includes collected data from the process, the various recommendations by participants, gathered feedback from teachers, and action items from the exercise. The full report can be viewed HERE. Thank you to all who participated (named acknowledgements start on page 29), and to the various leaders involved in the action items and next steps.

Series 2: Measuring Reading

A multi-talented group has just finished a series of sessions led by the Office of Strategic Initiatives to unpack and explore ideas for how to effectively measure reading. The group comprised of teachers, teacher specialists, reading specialists, English learner specialists, special education professionals, principals, accountability experts, central office leaders, and a partner from Harford Community College. The focus group series connected different perspectives to create recommendations to the Superintendent about measuring reading. Thank you to all the voices in this work, as “parties who see different perspectives of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible.” (Thomas & Perry, “Collaboration Processes: Inside the Black Box,” 2006)

Open Enrollment for the 2023-2024 plan year will begin on Monday, May 1, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023. All requested changes will become effective on July 1, 2023.

The 2023-2024 Benefit Reference Guide will be posted to the website in early May to review to be ready to make changes to your elections beginning Monday, May 1. This year we will host two virtual Open Enrollment meetings on May 4 at 4:30 p.m. and May 17 at 4:30 p.m. and one in-person Open Enrollment meeting on May 9 at 4:30 p.m. at Central Office.

NEW THIS YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023! HCPS will begin offering employees a voluntary stand-alone vision plan providing vision benefits in addition to coverage already included in the BlueChoice HMO and Triple Option medical plans. In addition, HCPS will be transitioning dental insurance carriers from Delta Dental to CareFirst. More benefit details will be available in future HCPS 411 Update newsletters and during the Open Enrollment meetings.

More information about the Open Enrollment, benefit details, insurance premiums, and the virtual meeting links will be posted closer to the start of Open Enrollment. If you have any questions, contact the Benefits Office by email at benefits@hcps.org.

In honor of National Assistant Principal Appreciation Week (April 3-7, 2023), the National Association of Secondary School Principals spoke with Lamark Holley, assistant principal of Southampton Middle School, about his longtime career in education and the difference he makes in his school community. Read his interview here: https://www.nassp.org/2023/04/07/an-assistant-principal-reflects-on-his-role/.

HCPS strives to ensure accessibility in our classrooms as well as within our community. After a recent review of the HCPS website and social media platforms, some changes are coming to our branding, website, and social media platforms to ensure our public-facing pages are accessible to all. The most noticeable change will be to one of our branded colors. The green color in the largest leaf of our logo is not accessible to those utilizing screen readers and will need to be limited in its use, specifically as a font color. New color palette information and branding materials are available and accessible by utilizing the Branding Toolkit on the Communications page on SharePoint. Please discard any saved logos you may have and begin using the new material immediately.

Human Resources will be opening an application for current Harford County Public School teachers who hold a Special Education endorsement, but are not currently in a Special Education teacher position.

This application will allow those that apply to be considered for FY24 Special Education vacancies within the system. Tenured and Non-Tenured teachers are welcome to apply. Applicants will be able to identify their program and age level preference.

Applications can be found on the HCPS website by clicking on the Employment Opportunities icon. The posting window will open Monday, April 17, and close at midnight on Friday, April 28, 2023.

For additional information or questions, please contact Shannon Hagan, Supervisor of Talent Management at Shannon.Hagan@hcps.org or by calling 410-588-5238.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) seeks to elevate the status, voice, and role of accomplished teachers in shaping a true profession. The National Board scholarship application window will be closing this Sunday, April 16, 2023. The scholarship funds will cover most of the cost of the certification process. The only cost to teachers will be a $75 processing fee for each year they attempt to certify. If you miss the window, you will need to wait until the following year or pursue on your own.

Want to learn more?

• Visit our National Board SharePoint Site.

Ready to apply?

• Log into the National Board Canvas Site: HCPS 2023-2024 NB Canvas Course.
• Follow all the steps in the registration module. Requires the following activities:
• Complete a demographic survey.
• Upload resume.
• Upload essay.
• Submit three references.
• Upload Maryland Educator Certificate.
• Upload National Board Eligibility verification form.
• All applications are due by April 16, 2023.

Additional questions should be directed to HCPS.NationalBoard@hcps.org.

For those who have a Maryland teaching certificate that is expiring JUNE 30, 2023, if you have not done so already, please log onto TEACH and request a renewal of your certificate: https://certificationhub.msde.maryland.gov/#/. More information regarding this process can be found in the MSDE TEACH INFORMATION 9-2022 document on SharePoint, Human Resources, Certification, under Certification Forms & Information.

In order to renew certificates in a timely manner, please complete requests for renewal by May 1, 2023.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to CJ Harbach, Certification Assistant, or Aretha Young, Certification Coordinator, at Certification@hcps.org or 410-588-5258

Tuition reimbursement requests, including the Partial Reimbursement Request form corresponding to your union and an itemized receipt showing payment method(s) and amount(s), and an official transcript, sent separately and electronically from your university, must be submitted to transcripts@hcps.org within 90 days of the course completion date. Please visit the Tuition Reimbursement SharePoint Page for additional tuition reimbursement information, including reimbursement request forms, sample receipts, eligibility, and more details about the reimbursement submission process.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SPRING 2023 SEMESTER REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS: Spring 2023 semester reimbursement requests received on and after May 1, 2023, will be reimbursed after July 15, 2023, leading up to and including the 2023-24 school year's first and second pay dates. Employees will receive an email confirming the reimbursement date of their request once it is processed over the summer. This processing timeline will apply to all staff, including those not scheduled to work during the summer break. Employees taking coursework through a direct bill partner will have their coursework billed directly to HCPS. Therefore, no paperwork is needed from the employee for the reimbursement as the partner University/College will provide the required official transcript/grade report.

Courses completed before July 1, 2023, will count towards the July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 fiscal year, while courses completed on or after July 1, 2023, will count towards the July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 fiscal year. Questions concerning reimbursement should be directed to the benefits office at benefits@hcps.org. Questions concerning certification should be directed to certification@hcps.org.

For their fourth stop, 5xStronger is looking to highlight and recognize one unified arts teacher! These teachers connect with students at all grade levels and play an integral part in each student's educational journey. Do you know a music, physical education, school librarian, or arts teacher who is exceptional in professional growth, classroom management, technology, positive relationships, and/or student engagement? We would love to hear about them and share some of the wonderful things they are doing in their classrooms to promote student learning at all grade levels!

Please use this link to nominate a unified arts teacher on or before April 15, 2023. They may be the next stop on our teacher tour!

Women’s History Month/Irish American Heritage History Month (March)

C. Milton Wright High School

Erica Harris, Principal

Students in C. Milton Wright’s Daily Skills class learned about Ireland's flag, the Claddagh and its meaning, as well as how to draw shamrocks. Students then designed their own Claddagh and created a mixed-media shamrock collage. Special thanks to Ms. Keri Freburger for sharing the wonderful accomplishments of these magnificent C. Milton Mustangs.

Fountain Green Elementary School

Mary Ann Clinton, Principal

FGES artists were inspired by Laurel Burch, Bridget Riley, and Mary Blaire. First-grade students read about inspiring women who overcame challenges like Wilma Rudolph, Jane Goodall, Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, etc.

Students also made connections to science by creating translucent, wax paper shamrocks that resemble stained glass. Additionally, our amazing 4th grade musicians learned an Irish ballad and a traditional folk dance. Primary grades explored movement and instruments with Irish jigs. Special thanks to Ms. Luzmaria Vignola for showcasing the exceptional FGES Eagles.

Join us as we continue to shine the light on how HCPS celebrates Diversity all year long. Each month, we will highlight a cultural/organizational holiday. All you have to do is take a picture or two and share the wonderful things your school or office is doing to celebrate the contributions we all make to HCPS.

This month, we are celebrating:

Autism Acceptance

Scottish-American Heritage

Please email your celebration pictures and a brief write-up regarding the event to Sherron Foster-Moore, Diversity Retention & Recruitment Specialist, at Sherron.FosterMoore@hcps.org by Friday, April 28, 2023. This month’s celebrations will be shared in the May 4th issue of the HCPS 411 Update.

Many of our positions are filled by word of mouth by our employees. Help us share our employment needs!

• Administrative Support Coordinator – Grants Medical Assistance – Business Services

• Athletic Trainer - North Harford High School
• School Safety Liaison - Magnolia Elementary School

Follow us on social media @hcpsrecruiter and share our employment posts. To find a full list of our available positions, visit hcps.org and click on the sun!

The Academic Tutoring Program will be run July 9 – August 5, 2023. Tutors will provide students with instructional support and remediation.

Tutors are needed in the areas of:

• Elementary School: Reading and Mathematics for students in a virtual, one-on-one setting.
• Middle School: Reading and Mathematics in a virtual, small group setting with 2 or 3 students.
• High School: English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies in a virtual, small group setting with 2 or 3 students for graduation required courses.

Teachers and paraeducators in any content area may serve as tutors and will be able to identify their desired content(s) and grade level(s). Tutors will also be able to determine the number of tutoring sessions that they would like to conduct each week, with a maximum of 10 hours of tutoring per week. Tutors will be compensated at their true hourly rate when working with students and the negotiated rate for planning. Caseload assignments will be determined by student availability, certification, and need.

Tutors are REQUIRED to attend ONE informational session and will know their employment status by June 16, 2023. Required Informational Sessions will be offered on May 18, May 23, May 24, and May 25. Additional make-up sessions will not be available.

If you are interested in serving as a tutor, please complete this survey form to select which Required Informational Session you plan to attend:

HCPS Summer Academic Tutoring Informational Sessions

Filling out this form does not guarantee you employment this summer. For any questions, please contact Academic.Tutoring@hcps.org.

Applications are now being accepted for Summer Programs. Apply now for immediate consideration. Please note that current employees should use the designated internal application. We anticipate initial offers to occur after April 1st and additional offers will be made until all vacant positions are filled.

To access an employment application, please visit the “Employment Opportunities” section of the HCPS website at www.hcps.org, or click here. Summer Program Employment Information can also be accessed on the HCPS website under the About Us banner. Select Current Vacancies/Summer Program.

Positions:

• Audiologist
• Braille Transcriber
• Inclusion Helper
• Interpreter for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
• Paraeducator
• School Counselor
• School Nurse
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Teacher

Programs:

• Special Education Infants & Toddlers
• Special Education ESY Elementary & Early Interventions Programs
• Special Education ESY Secondary
• Special Education ESY Harford Academy
• Special Education Child Find Test Center
• Elementary Summer School Learning Program for Mathematics and Reading – Pre-K through Grade 5
• Middle School Summer Learning Program for Mathematics and Language Arts
• Middle School Summer Learning Program for Unified Arts (NEW)
• High School Summer Learning Program for Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies
• High School Physical Education Summer Learning Program

Harford County Public Schools Facilities Management Department has an eight-week Summer Maintenance Program (June 20, 2023 – August 10, 2023) open to anyone who enjoys varying jobs such as painting and striping parking lots at various locations. Those selected will be working at school buildings and annexes throughout the Harford County Public School System. Target locations for this year include: Fallston High, Magnolia Middle, Abingdon Elementary, Darlington Elementary, Dublin Elementary, and Emmorton Elementary. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and able to provide their own transportation to the various job sites.

The hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. There are two (2) 15-minute breaks plus a half-hour lunch. Starting pay for painting is $13.25.

Applications are located on the Harford County Public Schools website (hcps.org) under About Us > Current Vacancies > Other Career Opportunities/Substitutes. Only online applications will be accepted until positions have been filled. If you have any questions regarding the program, please call the Hickory Annex at 410-638-4088.

Presented by the Wellness Committee and CareFirst

April is Financial Literacy Month! Join CareFirst and the Wellness Committee on Thursday, April 20, 2023, 4:30-5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 25, 12:30-1:30 p.m. for live webinars featuring topics on financial wellness. These interactive sessions will offer participants a better understanding of money's emotional side, explore beliefs and misperceptions, and find ways to manage and improve cash on hand. You can attend one session or both! And if these times do not work for your schedule, these sessions will be recorded for you to view at a time convenient to you!

Thursday, April 20, at 4:30 p.m.: In this session titled Household and Individual Budgeting, participants will explore beliefs and misperceptions, the simple money principle, and ways to manage and improve cash on hand. To join this session, save the following link to your calendar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9130054716093479516

Tuesday, April 25, at 12:30 p.m.: In this session titled Master Your Spending, participants will learn techniques to master the emotional side of money and regain their financial dignity. To join this session, save the following link to your calendar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2050788627518222686

Kepro understands that financial wellness plays a significant role in our overall well-being. Financial concerns can be a stressor for many, especially now in these challenging financial times where inflation is the highest in a long time. Kepro proudly shares their Smart Money Moves in Tough Financial Times podcast. Click here to listen!

Have you heard about Noom? Noom is an app that takes a psychology-based approach to help individuals lose weight and keep it off. And now, we're pleased to have this available to all employees at no cost through the CareFirst Wellbeing Wellness program - even those employees who do not carry the CareFirst medical insurance through HCPS. Spouses and dependent children over 18 on the HCPS CareFirst medical plan can also access this new benefit at no cost. To learn more about Noom and how to create your free account, click here.

Already have a Noom account? Follow the direction in the link above to create your CareFirst-sponsored Noom account using the same email address as your individual/consumer account. Noom's registration flow will be able to identify you, prompting additional screens to confirm you wish to transfer from your consumer account to a CareFirst-sponsored account. If you agree, your account will transition to the free CareFirst-sponsored benefit.

Take control of your medical health this April.

Click the image below to view the April Playlist: Take Control of Your Health

Coming to You Live in April!

This month, BurnAlong is focusing on taking control of your health. With ways to help your heart pump, increase your mobility, and take preventative measures, your future health will thank you! Ready to join? Check out some of the live events below:

• April 6 at 12:00 p.m. – Ways to Keep Your Heart Pumping
• April 12 at 12:00 p.m – Take Control of Your Future Health, Today
• April 17 at 12:00 p.m – Increase your Mobility

Want to Learn More About Healthy Aging? BurnAlong has handpicked a variety of classes for you that help keep you, and your loved ones, living life to the fullest.

Looking for More Class Recommendations? Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes throughout April:

Did you know BurnAlong is free for you and your friends? You have access to four (4) free family subaccounts, so you can start sharing today! It takes just a minute to send one, and they'll get free, unlimited access to BurnAlong all year long. Help someone start their 2023 off on the right foot. Click here to invite a subaccount.

Take BurnAlong with You! Join thousands of others on their health and wellness journey by downloading the Mobile App. Available in iOS and Android, take BurnAlong with you by downloading the app today!

What is BurnAlong? As a reminder, BurnAlong is our health and wellness partner who provides you and your family with more than 23,000 live and on-demand online classes from 5,000+ credentialed instructors at no cost to you.

To activate your complimentary account, get started by visiting https://fit.burnalong.com/hcps. If you have any trouble accessing your account, contact customercare@burnalong.com. Find out more about BurnAlong in this brief video.

April is Stress Awareness Month

Though it is a normal part of life, stress can be debilitating and cause and/or aggravate health problems. In fact, one of the most common signs of stress is poor quality sleep which directly affects our mental and physical health. The good news is there is are plenty of healthy coping mechanisms we can use to combat stress that will not only help ourselves, but those around us to become more resilient and ultimately help us to live healthier and more positive lives. To learn more about stress, sleep, and their connection, click here.

April CareFirst WellBeing Challenge – Count Your ZZZs Sleep Challenge

Commit to getting more sleep this month! If you rarely get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night for adults, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans struggle to get enough sleep, which can affect your well-being in several ways. Click here to learn more about the CareFirst WellBeing challenge and how to join.

Employees who have received the primary vaccine series and at least one (1) booster can submit verification of their vaccination status through an online employee survey to be eligible for COVID Breakthrough Leave for the 2022-2023 school year. Individuals who already submitted both their primary vaccine series and booster information during the 2021-2022 school year will not need to complete this survey again. Information collected from the COVID Breakthrough Leave survey will be utilized for the 2022-2023 school year to determine COVID Breakthrough Leave eligibility. The survey can be accessed by clicking here.

The complete MOU specific to your bargaining unit can be found on the Staff Relations SharePoint page. Questions about COVID Breakthrough Leave can be directed to Staff and Labor Relations Office at (410) 588-5311.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System and the Community College of Baltimore County will provide State Pension members the opportunity to participate in pre-retirement webinars and seminars. These sessions provide vital retirement information to pension system members, including the Maryland State Pension, Legal Issues, Social Security Benefits, and Financial Planning. The webinars will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Webinars:

• April 19 (CRN 37255)
  
• May 24 (CRN 37264)
• June 28 (CRN 37262)

To register, please visit https://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed-preretirement-county. For those participating in the online events, you will receive a separate link to join the date-specific event. For those participating in-person, you will receive an email with site-specific information.

Please Note: These sessions are not affiliated with HCPS and will not include HCPS-specific information, such as retiree healthcare. HCPS will be hosting a condensed pre-retirement seminar in February. More information about this seminar will be announced in future HCPS 411 Update newsletters.

Employees who wish to provide feedback on their experience(s) obtaining medications through CVS retail pharmacies are advised to complete the CVS/Caremark Service Reporting Tool, available on SharePoint. This report is monitored bi-weekly by a member of the Benefits Office for further assistance and tracking of member service feedback. To access this form, visit the Harford County Public Schools – SharePoint Home Page.

As always, if there is an immediate need or concern when obtaining medication, please email benefits@hcps.org so that a member of the Benefits Office can assist you more quickly.

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

Establishing healthy boundaries regarding time and energy helps us to remain true to our values and priorities. If someone is too loose with their boundaries, they may find themselves at the will of everyone else's demands. In this session, participants will look at the benefits of having healthy boundaries and how we can practice setting boundaries in everyday life. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning March 21, 2023

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes
How to Access: Go to your EAP website: www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code: HCPS and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage, or you can search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day, and is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call KEPRO 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

Unsure with how to start going green? This session, participants will explore the steps towards greener living and how to guide your family to living more sustainable. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning April 18, 2023

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes
How to Access: Go to your EAP website: www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code: HCPS and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage, or you can search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day, and is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call KEPRO 24 hours per day, seven days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

"The HCPS Teacher Academy of Maryland magnet program would like to thank Ms. Minutoli, Ms. Townsend, and Ms. Yancone at Churchville Elementary School for partnering with our Teacher Academy Interns for the 2022-2023 school year. The experiences and opportunities our 12th grade TAM Interns are receiving in your classrooms each week are priceless!"

-Alissa Thomas, Teacher Academy of Maryland Program Coordinator

"The HCPS Teacher Academy of Maryland magnet program would like to thank Ms. Jankowiak, Ms. Kuchta and Ms. Ravadge at Prospect Mill Elementary School for partnering with our Teacher Academy Interns for the 2022-2023 school year. The experiences and opportunities our 12th grade TAM Interns are receiving in your classrooms each week are priceless!"

-Alissa Thomas, Teacher Academy of Maryland Program Coordinator

"Thanks to Molly Brogan and Garrison Souder, Project Lead the Way teachers at Southampton Middle School, for researching options and opportunities for students and PLTW teachers to enhance their robotics knowledge and skills--and for volunteering to build kits and provide professional development for their colleagues across the county."

-Katie Eckstein, Curriculum Specialist, Career & Technology Education

"Thank you to Patty Billings for stepping in to help problem-solve at the last minute before spring break! She is always gracious and pleasant! Even at the last minute!"

-Melissa Williams, Principal, Joppatowne High School

"THANK YOU to all our PARTICIPANTS and PRESENTERS/FACILITATORS at our systemwide Professional Learning Conference, Cruise into Learning: Learn. Connect. Reflect. We appreciate the level of engagement as well as all the feedback we received regarding your experience. This will aid us greatly in designing future professional learning experiences!"

-Rebecca Spencer, Supervisor of Teacher Preparation & Professional Development

"Shout out to the 26 HCPS employees who are newly CPR certified at Bel Air Middle School!! Special thank you to Dr. Wickman who generously paid for the cost of their class, the HCPS nurse CPR Instructors who gave their time to teach these classes, and BAMS administrative and custodial staff for helping set up!"

-Michelle Taylor, School Nurse, Bel Air Middle School

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires to our HCPS family:

• Rita Szopinski, Grade 4 Teacher, Magnolia Elementary School
• Fabiana Padilla, Paraeducator, Edgewood Elementary School
• Christine Clafferty, Administrative Support Assistant, Aberdeen Middle School
• Isabella Silvestri, Custodian I - Shift 2, North Harford Middle School
• Kasey Koeniger, Administrative Support Specialist, Abingdon Elementary School
• Eileen Parshley, Inclusion Helper, Hickory Elementary School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

To submit an HCPS Shout Out or recognize a colleague in the Spotlight on Customer Service, please email the information and photo (if available) to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5213