HCPS has established a Customer Service Task Force to take an in-depth look at ways to continue to enhance both the internal and external customer service our school system provides. The task force is comprised of representatives from HCPS and the business community who will come together monthly to generate creative ideas to move our customer service efforts forward. The team that is working to ensure we provide the ultimate welcoming environment for staff, students, parents/guardians, and community members includes:

• Tammy Bosley, principal of William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School
• Paige Boyle, marketing director and customer relations manager for Boyle Buick GMC
• Peter Carpenter, HCPS supervisor of personalized learning
• Joe Collins, principal of Harford Technical High School
• Chrystie Crawford-Smick, president of HCEA Union
• Renee DiBiase, president of the Harford County Council of PTAs
• Susan DiMaggio, manager of accounting and human resources for Water’s Edge Events Center
• Warren Hamilton, director of business development for Oak Contracting LLC and chair of the Harford County Education Foundation
• Mary Hastler, chief executive officer of Harford County Public Library
• Sarah Klein, director of front end operations, Klein’s/Shoprite
• Jaime Lutz, marketing director and Core 4 leader, executive leadership team, Chick-fil-A
• Deb Merlock, founder and president of the Harford County Education Foundation
• Paige Milanoski, English teacher at Havre de Grace High School and HCPS 2019 Teacher of the Year
• Len Parrish, director of Harford County Community and Economic Development
• Jansen Robinson, president of the Board of Education of Harford County and security specialist/antiterrorism officer with the Department of Defense
• Adam Shellenbarger, preacher at Joppatowne Christian Church
• Mary Beth Stapleton, HCPS manager of family and community partnerships
• Stephanie Wall, HCPS graphic designer and technical specialist
• Kevin Webster, founder and senior pastor of Rooted Bible Fellowship Church
• Ronald Wooden, principal of Havre de Grace Elementary School
• Stacey Zengel, assistant principal of Patterson Mill High School

The September 2019 KEPRO Employee Assistance Program (EAP) communication resources are here! Where does the time go? Achieve a better understanding of basic time management principles and what characteristics make effective time managers. Please see the linked tip sheet and webinar information entitled, Maximizing Your Day: Effective Time Management.

Monthly Online Seminar Title: Maximizing Your Day: Effective Time Management

Description: Achieve a better understanding of basic time management principles and what characteristics make effective time managers.

Date: Available on demand now

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes

How to Access: Go to your EAP website, www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter code: HCPS, and look for 'Online Seminars' in the lower right-hand corner of the page, or you can search for them by title.

Available anytime, any day, the EAP is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Call EAP toll-free at 1-866-795-5701 or visit us online at www.EAPHelpLink.com.

The teacher Sick Leave Bank (SLB) is now available in electronic, fillable PDF format.

The new SLB form can be accessed from SharePoint > Human Resources > Benefits Page > HCEA Sick Bank Information folder. Requests for technical assistance should be directed to BangTam Miller, in Human Resources, at BangTam.Miller@hcps.org or x5311.

AFSCME employees are invited to attend an information and feedback session regarding recommendations made to improve the efficiency of custodial services in HCPS. Topics to be discussed include our proposal to:

• Develop Regionalized Custodial Management Model
• Centralize grounds maintenance
• Provide support through contracted services

AFSCME employees will have the option to attend one of the two scheduled sessions outside of their regular workday. Information sessions will be held Friday, October 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 8, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Both sessions will take place in the Amoss Center at Harford Technical High School.

Please note, registration is not required, and attendance is optional. Overflow parking is available across the street in the Harford Community College parking lot. Questions regarding this information should be directed to the Office of Operations at x5256.

As part of our #HCPSGetFit campaign, we will feature one video a month in the HCPS 411 Update from our partner Dr. Rob Reier, who has been serving our greater Harford County community since 1999. Dr. Reier is an active board member of Healthy Harford and also serves on the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake’s Board of Integrative Medicine at the Kaufman Cancer Center. The short videos he produces will serve as a way to provide more information, insight, and resources on health and wellness topics of most interest to you. Please let us know what type of videos you would like to see by completing a three-question, anonymous survey.

The deadline to complete this survey is Thursday, October 3. Please click the link below to get started. Thank you!

North Harford Elementary School was the first school this year to have 100% of its staff complete the annual Responsible Use Procedure (RUP). Way to go!

As a reminder, the RUP training must be completed by September 30, 2019. If the training is not completed by this date, an employee’s Internet access will be limited to HCPS online resources ONLY. To begin your training, click here, or open an Internet browser, and from the HCPS home screen, click the RUP Training tile. If you access the training module from a non-HCPS networked computer, you will be prompted to log in to Office 365.

We have exciting news to share! Grace Callwood, founder of The We Cancerve Movement and a freshman at Edgewood High School, is the recipient of the 2019 World of Children Youth Award. Grace will receive a $50,000 cash grant to support We Cancerve’s programs that bring happiness and hope to sick, homeless, and foster children.

World of Children is a global recognition and funding organization for individuals exclusively serving the needs of vulnerable children. The Youth Award recognizes individuals 21 years old or younger who have founded or co-founded their own nonprofit organization to advocate for important causes, create innovative models of service and inspire their peers and community to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

Grace is one of five 2019 Honorees to be celebrated at World of children’s annual Awards Ceremony & Benefit will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 in New York City. For the first time in our organization’s 22-year history, top honors in all five award categories will be awarded to female humanitarian leaders.

Here is the link to Grace’s bio and photos, as well as the official press release from World of Children.

• Loyola University Maryland is offering a course for school counselors in fall 2019 called School Counselor Response to Indicators of Mental Illness and Behavioral Distress. This course meets the requirements for Lauryn's Law for school counselor MSDE certification renewal. For more details and how to enroll, click here. Questions regarding this information may be directed to Kay Malone, in School Counseling, at 410-588-5251.

• "Overheard: An Aberdeen Middle School eagle saying, “Do you think Ms. Lawhon has a soothing and calming voice?” The response: a resounding “yes!” Our HCPS librarians provide outstanding #hcpscustomerservice by meeting the needs of all readers and thinkers." -Peter Carpenter, coordinator of Accelerated Learning and Intervention

• "A big ‘Thank You’ to Dotty Janowitz, substitute switchboard secretary, for demonstrating outstanding customer service to everyone who enters our Central Office." -Eric Davis, chief of administration

• "Brad Stinar demonstrates excellence in leadership and customer service at Hickory Elementary School! Great things are happening there!" -Eric Davis, chief of administration

#HCPScustomerservice

HCPS will host its annual College and Career Fair on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Harford Community College APGFCU Arena. With more than 130 colleges and universities exhibiting, the fair modernizes college admissions and makes the process easier and more cost-effective by bringing students, parents/guardians, counselors, and higher education together at one location. In addition, there will be a Financial Aid Seminar (6:30 p.m.) and a Student-Athlete Eligibility Seminar (7:15 p.m.) held during the event. Local businesses representing a variety of technical, business, and STEM occupations will also participate. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, communications 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