HCPS 411 Update

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Jean Mantegna announced her intention to retire effective December 31, 2020.

Jean joined HCPS in December 2010 with vast Human Resources experiences, including both the public and private sectors. She received her Bachelor of Science in Personnel and Labor Relations from University of Maryland, College Park, and her Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in Human Resources Management, from University of Baltimore. She also possesses numerous professional certifications. Career highlights include presenting at local and national levels, contributions to a publication on succession planning, and receipt of James W. Rouse Diversity Award presented by Chesapeake Human Resources Association. Jean has been instrumental in providing leadership to the HCPS Office of Human Resources as they work with employees through their entire HCPS work life.

Jean has been an important member of the HCPS Senior Leadership Team, and Dr. Bulson offered her congratulations on her decision. We wish her well in retirement!

*Click here to open the image above for ease of reading and for printing.

To access the link referenced in Lesson 3 in the image, click here: Laboratory Confirmed Case of COVID-19 and Persons with COVID-19-like Illness in Schools.

Sept. 14-18 is National PTA Back-to-School Week, and we want to make sure you get a great start to the new school year!

Harford County Council of PTA (HCCPTA) is partnering with the HCPS Parent Academy to host a Town Hall Live Event for parents/guardians. HCCPTA, local PTA, and HCPS leaders will share their ideas on how families can stay engaged with their school communities during this time of virtual learning.

Join us online Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00 p.m. by clicking here.

As we begin the 2020-2021 school year with virtual instruction for our children, Harford County Public Schools will continue to host Parent Academy events and opportunities to support learning. A collaboration between educators and community partners, the HCPS Parent Academy provides workshops, parenting courses, and activities designed to empower parents with the resources needed to prepare all students for success.

In order to design workshops that meet the needs of parents and caregivers, please take a moment to complete this survey to indicate which topics you are most interested in learning more about.

Thank you for your time!

Assistant Principal Brad Spence, at Havre de Grace High School, takes us back in time to find all of our Itslearning assignments from the past!

A reminder that HCPS will continue to require that worksites maintain biweekly time records for all non-exempt employees as specified by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In order to account for staff reporting to physical locations or working remotely, each individual is asked to download a copy and complete the electronic Non-Exempt Time Record Spreadsheet to record actual hours worked, leave hours utilized, and total hours worked each week for the pay period. The completed sheet should be emailed to the designated individual at each work site for supervisor review/signature. Please note that these records are subject to Annual Compliance Audits. Questions regarding Non-Exempt Employee Time Records should be directed to BangTam Miller, in Human Resources, at BangTam.Miller@hcps.org or x5226.

The first edition for the 2020-2021 school year of the Get Psyched! newsletter is now available. Click here to access it and read about Returning to School: Impact and Recovery and more.

HCPS offers many employee incentives from area businesses. These businesses have stated to the school district that they will offer HCPS employees a discount over their regular rates or other financial incentives. HCPS does not endorse or recommend those vendors. HCPS does not guarantee any discounts or the services or products offered. Please visit the Employee Incentives page on SharePoint at Employee Incentives to see the most up-to-date list. Questions regarding this information should be directed to Donna L. Dean, in Human Resources, at Donna.Dean2@hcps.org.

The latest issue of the Digital Teaching and Learning Newsletter was sent on September 16. If you missed the email, click here to access it.

Professional Development Outcomes:

• Examine Spring 2020 student survey data on racism, implicit biases and student discrimination
• Reflect on the history of desegregation in Harford County Public Schools
• Read and explore microaggressions and implicit biases
• Engage in discussions and problem-solving scenarios related to biases, racism, and discrimination

PD course available: Friday, September 25, 2020.

itslearning course enrollment information will be provided in next week’s 411.

PD course completion date: Friday, October 30, 2020.

(Your school administrator will provide a specific due date for Part I, in order for you to be prepared for Part II.)

PD Part I: Asynchronous in itslearning (Available beginning Friday, 9/25/2020)

• School administrators will identify 1-hour of time designated to complete Part 1 of the Equity and Cultural Proficiency PD.
• Your school administrator will align this time so that participants are prepared for the synchronous Part II portion.

PD Part II: Synchronous on Microsoft Teams

• Teachers and staff will be participating in small group discussion and problem-solving scenarios with your school’s staff. (This should be scheduled after all have completed Part I.) Both parts I and II are due to be completed by October 30, 2020.
• The school based small group discussions on Microsoft Teams will be 30-45 minutes.
• School building administrators will be creating Microsoft Teams groups for the small group discussion in the asynchronous Part II PD.

Looking Forward: The PD provides a resource to look into fostering civil discourse. https://www.facinghistory.org/sites/default/files/publications/Fostering_Civil_Discourse_2020_0.pdf

In addition to this session’s PD, you will be given additional resources related to implicit bias, racism, and discrimination.

Lauryn’s Law Course

EDGC 822 Lauryn’s Law: School Counselor Response to Indicators of Mental Illness and Behavioral Distress

This course meets the educational requirements outlined in Lauryn’s Law. Specifically this course enhances the school counseling practitioners’ knowledge and skills to understand and respond to the social, emotional, and personal development of students, including knowledge and skills relating to: (1) the recognition of indicators of mental illness and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse; and (2) the identification of professional resources to help students in crisis. This course for school counselors provides a current, interactive overview of these skills and supports participants’ development/acquisition of a resource bank for distribution to parents or guardians, school staff, and students, as appropriate.

Cost:

$350; Tuition must be paid in full at the time of registration.

Fall 2020 Session:

Fully Online; October 1 - October 29, 2020.

To learn more and register:

loyola.edu/laurynslaw

For more info contact:

educationdean1@loyola.edu

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A Message From American College of Education:

“No matter what your classroom looks like this school year – fully remote, in-person, a blended model or something else – one thing is for sure: Your job is harder than it’s ever been.

Everyone at American College of Education is in awe of how educators are responding to the new demands being placed upon you. While we can’t make your classroom the way it used to be, we would like to offer educators at ACE partner schools a chance to win a gift card to help make your space a little nicer, whether it’s in a school building or in your home.

From September 11 through 26, educators are invited to fill out this short entry form for your chance to win one of FIVE $500 Amazon gift cards and FIVE $250 Amazon gift cards. One entry per person; no purchase necessary. Winners will be notified September 28.

We wish everyone in your school a safe, healthy and successful 2020-2021 school year!”

Through the Maryland State Retirement Agency and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), Harford County Public Schools announce a pre-retirement webinar for HCPS employees and their spouses. This webinar provides vital retirement information to all members who are within eight (8) years of retirement, whether it is normal service or early retirement. Discussion topics include:

• HCPS Retiree Benefits
• State Retirement Pension Benefits
• Legal Consideration
• Social Security Benefits
• Financial Planning

This webinar is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

TO REGISTER:

1. Click to visit the website for Pre-Retirement Planning Registration.

2. Click the Select button next to the course titled Pre-Retirement Webinar, towards the bottom of the screen, and you will advance to the next screen.

3. Click Register for Selected Courses towards the top of the screen.

4. Scroll back to the top of the screen to click on the button, Register for Selected Courses.

5. You will be redirected to the login page.

a. If you have previously attended a Pre-Retirement Seminar or other class at CCBC, log in using your current username and password. Not sure what your username and password are? You can call CCBC at (443) 840-5059 and let the call center register you for course number CRN33758.

b. If this is your first Pre-Retirement Seminar, choose New Account on the right-hand side of the screen. Fill out your information (anything in red is required information) and choose Submit.

6. After you have registered for your seminar, choose "Finalize Selection" and print your confirmation. You should receive an email confirmation of your registration within three (3) business days. You will receive instructions on how to join the webinar two days before the event.

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Miller, Coordinator of Benefits, at elizabeth.miller@hcps.org.

Get Your Flu Shot Without Leaving Your Car!

HCPS, in partnership with CVS, will be hosting a drive-thru flu shot clinic. Events will be held on various days in school parking lots throughout the county. Employees and their families (ages 9+) are welcome to attend an event to receive their flu shot.

Pre-registration is preferred, but not required. To register, click on the school location and date you wish to attend.

• Aberdeen High School+: Friday, September 25, 2020, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
• C. Milton Wright High School+: Thursday, October 1, 2020, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Bel Air High School: Tuesday, October 6, 2020, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Youth’s Benefit Elementary School+: Saturday, October 17, 2020, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

CVS representatives will be wearing masks and proper PPE. Please be sure to bring your insurance card and identification with you. Flu shots will be billed to your insurance*.

Questions? Email the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org.

*HCPS medical plans cover flu shots at 100% with no member liability.

+Events will be held at the school location listed per the selected link although the provided address is for Central Office.

"We are writing today to commend the work of Harford County Public Schools Food and Nutrition staff (FNS), under the direction of Gary Childress. Because of the work of this dedicated staff, more than 870,000 meals were served to kids in Harford County since

COVID-19 closures began. It is not an easy task to quickly develop a way to serve kids under a new program in a brand new situation in just a few days, but they did it and did it tremendously! In addition, the FNS team jumped to action with continuing summer meals in September. It has been a challenging time with a lot of uncertainty, and the FNS team has been inspiring. Thank you for your support of these efforts."

Please take a moment to read the full letter (on the right) from Maryland No Kid Hungry.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our Food and Nutrition staff!!

"I would like to thank the custodians at DFES that always pitch in and help get jobs done, even when it is not under their job description. Thank you to Mike and Christine who helped me get my isolation curtains up."

-Terry Johnson, School Nurse, Deerfield Elementary School

"There is not a thank you big enough for the instructional technology team and the endless support provided to curriculum writers this summer and teachers preparing for a new adventure. I wanted to send a special shoutout to Martha Barwick for working the Middle School World Language team through a glitch that impacted teachers right as school was starting. She did not hesitate to meet, explain the issue, and troubleshoot a solution (at some very off hours nonetheless) to ensure that we were ready to go! The kindness and grace she displayed was so very much appreciated!"

-Amber Wilson, Foreign Language Teacher, Bel Air Middle School

“I’d like to Shout Out to Renee Mozingo! I work next to Renee and she is the type of worker who just keeps going and going like the Energizer Bunny! Renee has such a good work ethic, is dedicated, and always has a pleasant attitude along with a great smile. There is no task she will not undertake and will find the most efficient, cost-effective way to complete it. She is a huge asset to the Science Department. I am so fortunate to have someone like her as my work neighbor!”

-Lucy Brandt, Administrative Support Technician, Office of Social Studies

"I would like to give a shout out to Stephanie Wall and Jason Berends. I have had a multitude of technical issues in creating videos. I emailed Stephanie to ask for direction in who to speak with about the issues. I also stated that I understood that they are dealing with a myriad of issues, and I knew they might not be able to help right away. Stephanie got back to me within an hour and referred me to Jason. Jason got back to me within an hour and was happy to help. He has been very helpful through this whole process. Thank you to all of the technology staff who are working endless hours to make this all come together. We appreciate you!"

-Melanie Kane, Outdoor Education Teacher, Harford Glen Environmental Education Center

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