HCPS 411 Update

Were you unable to join the Monthly Minute on Tuesday? No worries - we have you covered! Click below to watch Dr. Bulson's message. To view a complete archive of all past Monthly Minute videos, visit the Monthly Minute page on our website by clicking here.

Please note: The May Monthly Minute will remain as scheduled for May 25, 2023.

The Harford County Council has two upcoming budget public hearings scheduled for the FY24 County Budget: TONIGHT, Thursday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 10, 2023, starting at 7:00 p.m.

If you are planning to attend and provide comments at these public hearings, the Council has noted they highly recommend signing up in advance by calling the Council Office at 410-638-3343 or emailing council@harfordcountycouncil.com.

“I want to thank you for your engagement and participation in the budget process this year. I have had a conversation with Council President Vincenti and want to share that he has assured me that personal attacks and inappropriate language will not be tolerated at the Council’s public input sessions on May 4 and May 10, 2023. Over the years, the Harford County Council has recognized the need to fund HCPS. We are relying on our Council members to see the importance of a fully funded budget as a necessity to support the students and staff of HCPS. We are so appreciative of your continued support of our students and staff. I want to thank you in advance for your thoughtful dialogue and advocacy throughout this entire process.” -Sean Bulson, Ed. D.

To learn more about the FY24 Budget, please visit the HCPS budget page for information, including graphs, videos, and the Board of Education’s budget proposal.

As noted in the HCPS calendar, one inclement weather make up day was utilized this year. As a result, the last day of school for students in Kindergarten through 11th grade will be Thursday, June 15, 2023. The last day of school for Prekindergarten students will be on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. All instructional staff that follow the 10-month teacher schedule will participate in professional development on Friday, June 16, at their school-based location.

Please note that should any additional inclement weather days be necessary, this calendar will be updated. You can view all inclement weather make up day information in the Parent-Student handbook available on the Calendar page on hcps.org.

Open Enrollment for the 2023 – 2024 plan year began on Monday, May 1, and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023. During this period, eligible employees can enroll in benefits or change their current benefits selections. All requested changes will become effective on July 1, 2023. All enrollments can be completed online at https://hcps.benelogic.com. The 2023 - 2024 Benefit Reference Guide is now available for review on the HCPS website and SharePoint for you to review.

Our first live virtual open enrollment meeting will be this evening, Thursday, May 4, at 4:30 p.m. To participate in the meeting: Click here to join the meeting.

The first in-person open enrollment meeting will be on Tuesday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Central Office.

To access the next virtual meeting on Wednesday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m., save the following link to your calendar: Click here to join the meeting.

NEW THIS YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023! HCPS will begin offering employees a voluntary stand-alone vision plan providing vision benefits, separate and 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. Members enrolled in the Delta Dental PPO Comprehensive plan will transition to the CareFirst Dental PPO Comprehensive plan. Likewise, members currently enrolled in the Delta Dental Premier Standard plan will transition to the CareFirst PPO Standard plan if an active change election is not submitted during the open enrollment period. To view the benefit plan highlight sheets, please click on the corresponding links below:

• CareFirst Dental PPO – Comprehensive Plan Highlight Summary
• CareFirst Dental PPO – Standard Plan Highlight Summary
• CareFirst BlueVision Plus Plan Highlight Summary

2023-2024 INSURANCE PREMIUMS: The 2023-2024 benefit plan year’s new premiums can be found here: FY24 Insurance Rates_Active Employees.pdf.

If you wish to enroll in or change your benefit elections, a flexible spending account, or the new vision benefit offered to eligible employees, you must complete an active enrollment before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023. If you elect not to change your current enrollments, you do not have to take action; your current elections will automatically continue into the new plan year, with your dental benefits transitioning to the CareFirst PPO Network beginning on July 1, 2023. The only exception to this is if you are enrolling in a flexible spending account; that must be updated each year. If you have any questions, contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org.

The open enrollment period for the Harford County Education Association (HCEA) Certificated Instructional Support Personnel Sick Leave Bank (SLB) will be from May 1-31. Certificated employees represented by the HCEA who wish to enroll in the Sick Leave Bank or those who wish to cancel their membership in the Sick Leave Bank may access the linked Enrollment/Cancellation form. Please see the form for specific details and timelines regarding the application/cancellation process. Note: Current members will be AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED.

The open enrollment period for the Harford County Education Association (HCEA) Education Support Personnel Sick Leave Bank (SLB) will be from May 1-31. Non-certificated employees represented by the HCEA who wish to enroll in the Sick Leave Bank or those who wish to cancel their membership in the Sick Leave Bank may access the linked Enrollment/Cancellation form. Please see the form for specific details and timelines regarding the application/cancellation process. Note: Current members will be AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED.

Questions regarding the SLB should be directed to HCEA at 410-838-0800 or HarfordSLB@mseanea.org.

Lincoln Financial, our retirement plan vendor, has initiated an effort to reach any participants in the 403(b) and 457(b) plans that do not have beneficiaries on file. You may have received an email already, and some employees questioned its legitimacy. If you receive an email from Madi Ewing (Madison.Ewing@lfg.com), it is a legitimate email. It is very important that all employees designate beneficiaries, so if you receive an email from Madi, please take action!

In this Real Talk, Mary Beth Stapleton talks with Becky Pensero, HCPS Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring, about summer learning and enrichment opportunities for Harford County students at every level. Hear information about the sites and times for programs, what students will participate in, transportation, and meals provided. General registration begins at 7:00 a.m. on May 15, 2023. Learn more at www.hcps.org/students/summerschool.aspx.

Consider being a mentor teacher for a college/university student intern. We are creating a pool of qualified mentors and encourage you to share your passion and expertise as you help grow future educators. Those accepted into the Mentor Pool may be offered mentoring opportunities as they become available. Click here to learn more about options, qualifications, and/or to apply. Deadline to apply for fall opportunities is Monday, May 22.

Note Exceptions:

• Professional Development School (PDS) classroom teachers do not need to apply. PDS staff are identified and matched with interns through a separate PDS partnership process. Unified Arts/PE/Health may apply for the pool.
• Student Support & Related Service Providers (i.e., counselors, psychologists, SLP/OT/PT, etc) will continue to express interest through their content supervisor.

Questions? Please email HCPSProfessionalLearning@hcps.org.

On May 24, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Department of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development (ILPD) at Towson will be hosting its first Awards Ceremony and Alumni Celebration. Nine cohorts are graduating this spring. If you have graduated from the Towson University ILPD Leadership program since 2017, you are invited to attend. Click here for more information.

Moreland University can assist you with a very cost-effective 9-month Teacher Certification Program or their 12-month Masters in Education Programs.

• Teacher Preparation Certification Program = $6,000
• Master’s in Education Degrees = $13,000

Join an information session from Moreland to learn more:

• Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

During the session….

• Learn about the program – Schedule, Learning Goals, and Requirements
• Moreland’s cohorts start monthly, so you can start right away
• Take the Steps to Complete the Application – www.Moreland.edu
• Learn about the License Process and Praxis Test Help
• Meet the Moreland Team AND our HCPS staff will be here for you, too!

Please see the linked flyer for with details and Teams Meetings Links.

For questions, please email maranda.scott@hcps.org.

Student Support Services is committed to addressing the wellness of its students and has collaborated with the Department of Research and Program Evaluation to conduct a Wellness Needs Assessment for Grades 1-12 during fall 2022-2023. Please take the time to read and review the Executive Summary of the 2022-2023 HCPS Wellness Needs Assessment Report. The purpose of this report is to help school and district leaders develop interventions that support the specific and presenting needs of students and to effectively allocate mental health resources to schools based on their data.

The 2022-2023 Wellness Needs Assessment received a total of 26,839 responses, which represents a significant response rate of 78%. Included in those responses were 2,710 open-ended comments from students in Grades 1-12. The assessment results will aid in planning support for students, families, and instructional staff at the school and district levels. The Department of Research and Program Evaluation has provided real-time responses and analysis of the closed-ended responses through the 2022-2023 Wellness Needs Assessment Data Dashboard.

For more details on any of these topics, including sample responses of open-ended comments received directly from secondary students about their wellness needs, please click here. A comprehensive report with additional details will be forthcoming on the HCPS website on the Research and Program Evaluation page.

If you have any questions, please email northstarresearch@hcps.org with the subject Wellness Needs Assessment Report.

Registration opens for Prekindergarten and Kindergarten tomorrow, Friday, May 5. If you have a child ready to begin attending an HCPS school this year, make sure to visit our website tomorrow for more information on how to register! Please share this information with others in the community who may need to know.

Congratulations once again to our 2023 HCPS Bus Drivers and Bus Attendant of the Year! We are happy to share a few photo highlights from the event.

Congratulations to all April Communi-Team Adventure nominees! The April adventure focused on school-based staff members who demonstrate leadership in their day-to-day actions to MULTIPLY and elevate others! Nominees were recognized for their dedication and generosity, ability to see value and strength in their peers, risk taking, leading by example, conflict resolution, and so much more.

Five randomly selected honorees were invited to Harford Glen Environmental Center on Friday, April 28, 2023, with two members of the Communi-Team, to participate in a hike and leadership activities led by our community partners at Outward Bound! Honorees were able to share stories of success, learning experiences, and times of growth. Together they inspire others in their buildings and larger community to spread the values of leadership, support one another through good times and bad, and demonstrate leadership attributes.

The selected nominees invited to Harford Glen included:

• Kevin Brown, Technology Education, Aberdeen Middle School
• Jessica Hammel, Reading Specialist, Old Post Road Elementary School
• Caitlin Leonard, EL Teacher, Aberdeen High School
• Sara Markie, School Counselor, Edgewood Middle School
• Jacob Weller, Vocal Music Teacher, Joppatowne Elementary School

Thank you to our wonderful partner Bravura Inc. for their sponsorship of this adventure! We sincerely appreciate their unwavering support of HCPS staff.

Congratulations to all of our April nominees! You are all an integral part of our schools’ success. We sincerely appreciate all of the work you do each day to support our students and each other.

• Kevin Brown, Technology Education, Aberdeen Middle School
• Lindsey Ferrari-Puopolo, Mathematics Teacher, Bel Air Middle School
• Jessica Hammel, Reading Specialist, Old Post Road Elementary School
• Caitlin Leonard, EL Teacher, Aberdeen High School
• Sara Markie, School Counselor, Edgewood Middle School
• Susan Mayes, Administrative Support Assistant, Homestead/Wakefield Elementary School
• Tracy Morehouse, Fourth Grade Teacher, Fountain Green Elementary School
• Katelynn Ruby-Leftridge, Social Studies, Havre de Grace Middle School
• Jacob Weller, Vocal Music Teacher, Joppatowne Elementary School

Calling all Central Office Employees: Is there a school-based staff member that you would like to recognize through the Communi-Team Adventure? The May nomination window is now open! In May we are recognizing school-based staff members who celebrate equity in their day-to-day actions by creating inclusive spaces for all students and staff to feel supported and able to thrive.

Do you know a leader like this? Nominate them for the May Communi-Team Adventure and they may be selected to join the Communi-Team in Havre de Grace on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, to learn about the history, diversity, and future of Havre de Grace. Attendees will also have breakfast and lunch at local restaurants!

The nomination window for the May Family Friendly School is NOW OPEN!

The May winner will be the LAST one for the 2022-23 school year, so don't miss this opportunity for your school!

Nominate your school now here: https://www.hcps.org/.../paren.../familyfriendlyschools.aspx.

Nominations will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 8, 2023. Only schools nominated during that time will be eligible for this month's award.

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:

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage

Jewish 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, May 26th. This month’s celebrations will be shared in the June 1st issue of the HCPS 411 Update.

Take care of yourself, as well as your future! Click here to see how Lincoln Financial can help.

For their fifth and final stop, 5xStronger is looking to highlight and recognize one Special Education teacher! These teachers work tirelessly to decipher what each student needs to be able to learn effectively. They work with general education teachers to create healthy, happy, and inspiring learning environments to help all students reach their full learning potential. Do you know a Special Education 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 Special Education teacher on or before May 15, 2023. They may be the LAST stop on our teacher tour!

On Friday, April 21, North Harford Middle School 8th grade students, along with Mr. Manzo and his staff, attended a field trip to Harford Community College (HCC). Students had the opportunity to take a campus tour, visit classrooms, and learn more about the programs of study offered, including the Career and Workforce programs and Dual Enrollment opportunities. We want to thank Mr. Manzo for the vision and HCC for providing an amazing day for the students. We are hopeful we can continue partnering with HCC and have all middle schools participate next year.

Harford Academy was recently blessed with an author visit from Dan Gemeinhart. Mr. Gemeinhart traveled from Washington state to join the school’s FABULOUSLY FUN Reading Carnival! He also spent time visiting with the Book Club students and read them the last chapter of his book, The Midnight Children. Harford Academy is so proud of their students who read so much this quarter to get ready for Mr. Gemeinhart’s visit and guest reader spot. The Reading Carnival and Author Visit was the best of times! Harford Academy thanks Mr. Dan Gemeinhart for inspiring them to read and for loving their students!

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

• Admin Support Assistant – School Based 10 month - Prospect Mill Elementary School (2023-24 school year)
• Administrative Support Technician - Student Services - 12 Month- Edgewood Middle School (Vacancy for 7/1/2023)
• Admin Support Assistant – School Based 10 month - Havre de Grace Elementary School (2023-24 School Year)
• Admin Support Assistant – School Based 10 month - Bel Air Elementary School (2023-24 School Year)
• Admin Support Assistant – School Based 10 month - Hall's Cross Roads Elementary School (2023-24 School Year)
• Admin Support Assistant – School Based 10 month - Riverside Elementary School (2023-24 School Year)
• Administrative Support Technician – School Counseling - 12 Month - Harford Technical High 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.

We invite you to join us at the second annual Your Mind Matters: A Family Wellness Night event hosted by the Office of Mental Health, The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center, Harford County Public Schools, and the Harford County Health Department on Friday, May 19, 2023! This FREE event will be held at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Family-friendly activities include a petting zoo, crafts, axe throwing, pony rides, a bounce house, rock climbing wall, photo booth, family resource vendors, refreshments, and more! Click here to learn more about this exciting event, including information about free transportation to and from the stadium.

Click here to register to attend. We hope to see you there!

Focus on your Mental Health this month and beyond.

Click the image below to view the May Playlist: Take Time for Your Mind and Mental Health.

Coming to You Live in May!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, raising awareness about the importance of mental health and well-being. Check out the BurnAlong live event this month:

• May 17 at 12:00 p.m. – Managing Stress
  
• May 25 at 12:00 p.m. – Brain Health

Want to Learn More Tips to Take Control of Your Mental Health? Take steps this month to improve your brain and mental health by completing a mental health-focused program before May 31. Schedule and complete at least one mental health-focused program on the BurnAlong platform (maternal mental health, meditation, mindfulness, etc.) and celebrate your commitment to mental wellness at the Winner’s Circle live event!

Have You Taken Your BurnAlong Mental Health Break Today?

All you need is a few minutes. BurnAlong has created a playlist of 15 classes; all focused on mental health. Take time for your mind and click the links below to view the classes on the playlist. Scan the QR Code to view the classes on the playlist. Recommended classes on the playlist include:

• Getting Grounded under 30 seconds
• Self Acceptance Meditation
• Body Scan Medication

Looking for More Class Recommendations? Click on the calendar to access suggested classes throughout May.

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.

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.

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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Did you know 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental illness each year? Now more than ever, we recognize the role that mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and the value of raising awareness and helping those in need receive treatment. This month's wellness newsletter features practices to help enhance your mental health and support methods and member resources. To learn more, click here.

May CareFirst WellBeing Challenge – Meditation Challange

Time to focus on your emotional well-being. With a busy lifestyle, it can be challenging to take the time to relax and practice self-care. Adding meditation to your daily routine can help relax your body and mind and improve your overall well-being. 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:

• 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

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.

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

Conversation is a two-way activity, and listening is essential to ensuring effective communication. This session will offer practical tips and discuss the benefits of being a good listener. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning May 16, 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.

"I want to give a BIG Shout Out to Lauren Cody who is doing our MCAP Testing for the first time and rockin’ it! She has taken so much time, energy, and effort to coordinate what has been smooth testing here at CMW. You would never know this was her first year; her planning and attention to detail, as well as the ever present interest in our students, has shown in the way testing has run for us. Thank you so much for your incredible effort!"

-Marcia Buckley, Librarian, C. Milton Wright High School

"Thank you to Dr. Miller for her generous donation of 100 hosta plants to Aberdeen Middle School. Dr. Miller propagated these plants for our staff, and we are so appreciative of her generosity and green thumb!"

-Laura Knapp, Teacher Specialist-Instructional Coach, Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

"Karen Cunningham at Edgewood Elementary is truly amazing. She supports every staff member and student as much as she can. She is a hard worker and always willing to help. She has a positive attitude and brightens up every room she walks into. She is a great asset to Edgewood Elementary. The students, staff, and guardians absolutely love her. Thank you for everything you do and for being amazing."

-Karlye Kolb, LMSW, School Social Worker, Edgewood Elementary School

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

• Jessica Temple, Custodian I - Shift 2, Havre de Grace High School
• Kristine King, Paraeducator, Magnolia Middle School
• Justin Bock, EndPoint Technician, Technology Office
• Terner Whitehead, Inclusion Helper, Aberdeen Middle School
• Megan Sword, Administrative Support Specialist, William S. James 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