HCPS 411 Update

To register to provide input during the Board of Education's Budget Session, click here.

Join Dr. Bulson next Thursday, January 28, at 12:15 p.m. by clicking here.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER.

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has approved a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) experience to award educators credits for implementing the Local School System (LSS) Continuity of Learning Plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

This opportunity is available only to educators required to hold a certificate per COMAR 13A.12.01.03B for renewal of a certificate. The identified staff include classroom and special area teachers, specialists, administrators, and supervisors currently employed in a position in which they are required to hold a MSDE certificate. There is no additional work to complete – this is not a course. Principals and assistant principals are eligible for the credit. Once the registration window closes, the Professional Development Office will reach out to the principal to verify the list of names on the registration, similar to SPA credit.

Please register through HECTOR by Saturday, January 30, 2021. There will be no registration extensions. Registration does not guarantee credit. Please click here for registration instructions. Please use the Register Now button below your assigned school/location. This will ensure that you are on the correct list for verification proposes.

Participants will receive confirmation of credit(s) approved once course requirements have been reviewed and confirmed for approval.

Question or concerns? Please email HCPSProfessionallearning@hcps.org.

Extended School Program (ESY) - Site Coordinator I - Internal Candidates Only

Applications are now being accepted for the Extended School Program (ESY) Site Coordinator I positions. Interested candidates should submit an online application. To access the application, visit the Current Vacancies section of the HCPS website at www.hcps.org, found under the About Us banner, or contact Kim Manzo, Coordinator of Special Education, at 410-588-5359 or Kim.Manzo@hcps.org for additional information.

High School Virtual Summer Learning Program - Site Coordinator I & II - Internal Candidates Only

Applications are now being accepted for the High School Virtual Summer Learning Program Site Coordinator I & II positions. Interested candidates should submit an online application. To access the application, visit the Current Vacancies section of the HCPS website at www.hcps.org, found under the About Us banner, or contact Becky Pensero, Coordinator of eLearning, at Rebecca.Pensero@hcps.org for additional information.

The January edition of “Get Psyched” is now available. The topic is, “Microaggressions: Hidden Harm.” To access, click here.

Because your money matters – three steps to take right now.

Hosted by MetLife

It is incredible how quickly our lives change. The global pandemic has altered our economy, lifestyle, the way we use technology, and how we interact with one another. Another different thing may be the way we may think about our finances.

By attending Money Matters: Moving Forward in a Changing World you will learn the three steps to take right now to help you deal with today's uncertainty and future unexpected events. From creating an emergency fund to evaluating your risk tolerance and maximizing your employee benefits – develop a plan that works for you.

Join your colleagues for the complimentary workshop. Spouses and partners are welcome!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Workshop begins:

Thursday, February 11, 2021

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

If asked for company name, enter “Harford County Public Schools.”

Can't attend but still need help with financial questions? You can still sign up for a free, no pressure, no obligation personal consultation. For more information, click here.

World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) provides language development resources to those who support the academic success of multilingual learners. The organization offers a comprehensive, research-based system of language standards, assessments, professional learning and educator assistance. WIDA’s trusted resources are used by 42 domestic states and territories and approximately 500 international schools throughout the world.

Every year, the WIDA community is asked to participate in events and activities that help them review and refresh their assessment tools.

WIDA is currently recruiting educators, from a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise, to participate in upcoming WIDA assessment events. All events will be virtual, so no travel is necessary for participants.

WIDA deeply values the insight and knowledge that HCPS educators bring to the test development process, and at the same time they know that educators are dealing with a lot—especially a lot of uncertainty. With that in mind, WIDA will be offering an honorarium to compensate participants for their time and feedback.

Who is WIDA looking for?

They don't have a set number per state, but they are seeking an overall total of 150 K-12 educators from across the Consortium. Some specialized events require participants to have content-area expertise as indicated in the event description.

How do educators apply?

To be considered for spring events, educators should complete this brief Interest Survey by Thursday, January 28, 2021. Participants will be selected based on experience, expertise, and representation of regions. If selected, WIDA will reach out with additional event details and next steps.

It takes all of us to create the kind of change we want to see. United, we can do more in the community, help more families, create more long-term change. Your gift to United Way could:

• Move families from a homeless shelter into permanent housing.
• Provide nutritious meals for hungry individuals, children and families in our county.
• Support students in need to keep them on the path to high school graduation and a bright future.
• Answer more than 160,000 calls for help through the 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline.

It’s not too late to contribute to this year’s United Way collection. Please contact Christina Paquette in the Office of Communications and Family Outreach (Christina.Paquette@hcps.org or 410-588-5214) with any questions.

Remember, United Way provides what’s needed, where it’s needed.

With principal approval, the ParaPro Assessment will be available to all HCPS employees seeking to meet the highly qualified requirements of paraeducator positions in Harford County, which permits an individual to work with students in the classrooms under the direction of the teacher.

The test measures skills and knowledge in reading, math, and writing, as well as the ability to apply those skills and knowledge to assist in classroom instruction. Test administration is scheduled for February 12, 2021. The test will be from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at C. Milton Wright High School located at 1301 North Fountain Green Road, Bel Air, MD 21015. Please sign-up and pay for the assessment on HECTOR.

Additional information related to the test, procedures for reimbursement, test prep/review and the MD passing score requirements are also available on the HR site: HERE.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Pauline Timmons, in Special Education, at Pauline.Timmons@hcps.org or 410-588-5246.

The Academic Tutoring program will continue to provide students with academic and instructional supports throughout the third quarter. The Academic Tutoring Coordinators, Catherine Jones and Kelly Mattingly, are working with the Office of Accountability to target our students most in need, using an equity lens. Students will receive tutoring services in a virtual, small group setting with HCPS teachers and paraeducators. If you are interested in employment as a tutor, please email academic.tutoring@hcps.org to register for orientation. Teachers will be compensated for tutoring at the 75% rate for time worked outside of the duty day. Paraeducators will be compensated at their hourly rate. With questions or concerns, please contact Academic.Tutoring@hcps.org.

While our entire nation works to address the COVID-19 health crisis, there is no immediate resolution in sight. Therefore, CareFirst will continue to minimize potential barriers to care for members by extending COVID-19-related benefit enhancements for the foreseeable future. Those who are enrolled in a medical plan through Harford County Public Schools can receive this test at no cost, whether the need is due to exposure or due to an onset of symptoms.

Be sure to present your medical ID card at the time of service to have your test paid for 100% by your HCPS medical insurance plan.

W-2 forms will be mailed via USPS to your current mailing address in Lawson on or before January 31, 2021, for calendar year 2020 wages.

Annually, the Finance Office provides an explanatory memo assisting employees to reconcile their final pay stubs for the year to the W-2 form and to answer frequently asked questions over the years. Please click here to view the memo online or to print a hard copy of the memo if desired. Please print and share the memo with non-networked colleagues at your location.

W-2 forms will also be posted on Employee Self Service (ESS) on or before January 31, 2021. For detailed instructions on using ESS, please click here.

Any questions should be directed to Jay Staab, Director of Finance, at jay.staab@hcps.org or at ext. 5237.

The Retirement Coordinators of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) will host a free pre-retirement webinar for HCPS employees with assistance from the Maryland State Retirement Agency. This webinar is a condensed version of our fall pre-retirement informational session and will occur at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

Please complete the registration form to register, which can be accessed by clicking here. The deadline to register is Friday, February 12, 2021.

This webinar will provide vital information to all members approaching retirement, whether it is normal service or early retirement. Discussion topics include:

• Planning for Retirement
• State Retirement Pension Benefits
• HCPS Retiree Healthcare

If you are within two years of being eligible to retire, this seminar is for you! As this year’s event will be hosted virtually, your spouses and or pertinent beneficiaries may sit with you to listen. We will host a Q&A session following the presentations. If you attended this year’s event recently, you may still attend due to the virtual format.

Date: February 17, 2021

Time: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Event Link: Will be emailed to those who complete and submit the registration form closer to the event date.

If you have any questions, please email benefits@hcps.org.

Please help us welcome the following new employees to our HCPS family:

• Daniel Curry, Physical Education Teacher, Forest Lakes Elementary School
• Joseph DeGraff, Paraeducator, Magnolia Elementary School
• Brittany Ledergerber, Paraeducator, Abingdon Elementary School

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