Thursday, May 11, 2023

Previous editions of the BCPS Staff Bulletin are archived and available for viewing on the BCPS website.

Tina Wachter of Hereford High School named Maryland School Psychologist of the Year

Tina Wachter, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, has been named Maryland School Psychologist of the Year by the Maryland School Psychologists Association. She was named Baltimore County Public Schools’ 2023 School Psychologist of the Year earlier this year.

Wachter joined BCPS in 2018 after 16 years in a neighboring school district. With BCPS, Wachter primarily has served the students, staff, and families of Hereford High School, while also providing coverage for psychological services for students throughout the county. Through her advisory positions with Hereford High’s Active Minds chapter and Student Council, Wachter has helped plan spirit week and homecoming activities, field trips to county and state-level events, and a schoolwide wellness fair.

Throughout her 21 years in education, Wachter has participated in or led several committees at the school and district level related to schoolwide behavior, supports for students, procedure and document revision, communications, and technology management, including development of the BCPS Virtual Calming Room during the 2020-2021 school year. More information is available in a BCPS news release.

FEATURED VIDEO:

Let's Talk About It!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and BCPS has released “Let’s Talk About It,” a new 30-minute television special that explores mental health services and initiatives throughout the school system. More information about the special is available in a BCPS news release.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• We are Hiring! - Upcoming hiring events



Spread the word! BCPS is hiring for a variety of positions. Applications are available now online.

Summer Job Fairs

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Catonsville High School

Thursday, June 29, 2023

12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Dundalk High School

• New Educator Orientation - Registration

New Educator Orientation (NEO) will be held during the week of August 14, 2023 – August 18, 2023, and will include a combination of face-to-face and virtual synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. NEO will include three days of professional learning occurring over one week.

The Department of Organizational Development and Leadership will provide new educators with a stipend for participating in up to 20.25 hours of professional learning. Most new educators will report to their home schools on Monday, August 14, 2023, for school-based orientation.

New educators who were hired after NEO 2022 and who have not been oriented through year-round orientation are welcome to register and participate in August 2023. They should select and register for any modules still needed. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Golden Apple Educator Awards

Freedom Federal Credit Union is accepting entries for the 2023 Golden Apple Annual Educator Awards. Teachers can receive up to $2,000 for their schools. The deadline is May 31. More information is available on a digital flyer.

• Mindful Mondays

Kaiser Permanente presents Mindful Mondays – monthly classes designed to help you combat stress and build resilience. This series is open to both Kaiser Permanente members and non-members at no cost. If employees cannot attend the live presentation, all recordings are available on demand for up to three months from the presentation date.

All sessions are 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more and register in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Celebrating the Class of 2023: Graduating Senior Profiles

In honor of the Class of 2023, BCPS is profiling one senior from each high school. A new profile will be posted each school day until Friday, May 19, the last day for seniors. These profiles highlight the intellectual and personal strengths of our seniors and their diversity.

This week, the series continued with:

• Faith Wiggins, Perry Hall High School

• Kendall Allen, Carver Center

• Atena Nikbakht, Parkville High School

• Frank Jennings, Towson High School

• Upcoming Parent University Programs

In May, BCPS Parent University will present a variety of virtual programs. More information is available on the Parent University schedule.

Upcoming virtual programming includes:

"Understanding Dyslexia"

Presented by Special Education Resource Center

Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m.

"Lunch & Learn: Nutrition/Taking Charge of Your Health"

Presented by Priority Partners

Wednesday, May 17, at 12:30 p.m.

"Understanding Your Child's IEP"

Presented by Special Education Resource Center

Thursday, May 18, at 12:00 p.m.

"Bullying Harrassment & Intimidation of Students with Disabilities"

Presented by Special Education Resource Center

Wednesday, May 31, at 12:00 p.m.

• Technology Training Workshops



Staff members in the Office of Technology Training and Compliance Management focus on improving the technical skills of new and experienced employees from all employee groups to enhance their performance in achieving systemwide goals. Spring 2023 technology course workshop offerings are listed in the course catalog. Learn more in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Education Foundation Exchangeree shopping dates for May

The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., will host shopping days during May at the Exchangeree: Gizmos and Gadgets Galore centers at Rosedale/Golden Ring and Windsor Mill for all full-time BCPS educators and support staff.

During May, no registration or appointments are needed, but shoppers must bring their BCPS photo ID and shopping bags/boxes.

On the following shopping dates, educators can pick up both academic school/classroom supplies and educational resources and new and gently used books:

• Tuesday, May 23, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m., Rosedale/Golden Ring



• Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m., Windsor Mill

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

Per Superintendent’s Rule 4103 – Child Abuse and Neglect, all Baltimore County Public Schools employees are mandatory reporters of suspected/known child abuse or neglect.

Upon receipt of information regarding abuse or neglect, the employee must immediately contact the Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services at 410-887-TIME (8463), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or 410-583-9398 after hours/weekends, OR Baltimore County Police – 911.

After reporting the suspected abuse or neglect, the school administrator should be notified. The Report of Suspected Child Abuse Neglect form is located in BoardDocs.

• Repticon Baltimore May 13 & 14 - Teachers Get in FREE

Repticon Baltimore will take place at the Timonium Fairgrounds on May 13 & 14. Teachers get in FREE with a valid school ID or paystub at the door. No reservation needed.

Saturday, May 13, Showtime - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 14, Showtime - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Special Education Parent Involvement Survey



Special Education Teachers: Help spread the word! Each year the Maryland State Department of Education surveys parents of children receiving special education services. The purpose of The Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey is to hear from parents about how well they think their children’s school is partnering with them and promoting parent involvement in their children’s education. Surveys were mailed by February 10 and must be returned (by mail or online) by May 19. Parents can also complete the survey online.

Teacher Appreciation Week Message

Dear Team BCPS,

May 8-12 is Teacher Appreciation Week. Please join me in thanking and honoring our amazing Team BCPS teachers! Our educators do amazing things every day and profoundly impact the positive trajectory of our students’ lives. I deeply appreciate our phenomenal teachers, their commitment to our 111,000 students and unwavering belief that we can ensure every child has a bright future. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D Superintendent

Words of Gratitude for Our PPWs

Dear Team BCPS,

Please join me in celebrating our Pupil Personnel Workers! Our PPWs provide a bridge between home and school, serve as advocates for students and their families, and identify resources to help students succeed academically. To celebrate a few of our amazing PPWs, the blog conducted short interviews with five of them. Thanks to all our PPWs for their hard work and dedication!

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D Superintendent

Honoring BCPS Nurses and Health Assistants

Dear Team BCPS,

We celebrate our incredible Team BCPS nurses. Our school nurses and health assistants have a tremendous impact on the health and wellness of our students. They do this work every day with such compassion and care. When the pandemic hit, they were there on the front lines working to keep our communities safe. From promoting healthy learning environments and caring for the sick, to connecting families to health resources and immunizations—school nurses play such a vital role in our school system, and we are grateful for them.

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D Superintendent

Teacher Appreciation Week Discount at local Designer Shoe Warehouses for BCPS Teachers and Staff

Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) is offering a discount for BCPS teachers and staff. DSW says, “We appreciate you all weeks, not just one week of the year!"

BCPS one of 16 school districts selected to participate in a national learning collaborative to promote safe supportive schools

The National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS3), a Category II Center of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, launched its second learning collaborative to promote safe supportive schools.

The goal of the learning collaborative is to improve the integration of trauma-informed and healing-centered schools and Cultural Responsiveness, Anti-Racism, and Equity (CARE) efforts into comprehensive school mental health systems through their partnership with NCS3. This two-year learning collaborative intentionally integrates these essential components to better promote equity and well-being for all students and school staff.

2023 BCPS Film Expo Screening at the Senator Theatre

The BCPS Film Expo showcases amazing student films and animation submissions across a wide range of categories, from secondary students across the district. Please join us at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, for the 2023 BCPS Film Expo! Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

CAP Certification

Julie Leonard, administrative assistant in the Department of Teaching and Learning, has earned the prestigious Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) status from the International Association of Administrative Professionals. She is the seventh BCPS professional in the recent years to qualify for the certification.

The others are:

• Gepsie Cox, Executive Administrative Assistant

• Pierre Francois, Manager, Technology Training and Compliance Management

• Karen Horlacher, Administrative Assistant

• Winopa Mbakop, Administrative Assistant

• Tara D. Thompson, Administrative Assistant

• Princess Williams, Administrative Secretary

BCPL New Americans Community Survey

As the Baltimore County community grows in population, the Baltimore County Library realizes the demographics are also changing with an increase in diverse, multi-cultural families and multilingual households. Part of the BCPL strategic plan, "Building Community for a Better Tomorrow," recognizes Baltimore County residents come from different backgrounds and experiences. The BCPL goal of equitable access is to ensure every effort is made to provide resources and services for everyone in Baltimore County.

To help achieve this goal, BCPL created a survey for the new American community and members of affiliated organizations. The results of this survey will help BCPL make improvements to their existing services and create new programs to meet the needs of the new Americans community. The survey is available now through May 13 and is available in English, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Urdu. BCPL encourages everyone to participate and share the survey.

Join us this Saturday with the Education Foundation for Let's Play Ball!

Please join us at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (938 York Rd., Baltimore 21204) on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Let’s Play Ball! 2023! This event is free to the public. Learn more in a BCPS blog post.

TEAM BCPS SHOUTOUT

Jessica Miller, Grade 2 Teacher, Dogwood Elementary School

Submitted by Jennifer Kliewer, Grade 2 Teacher, Dogwood Elementary School

"Jessica Miller is a second grade teacher at Dogwood Elementary School and one of the hardest-working teachers I know. As a school with a lot of new staff, we are able to go to Ms. Miller with all of our questions and know we are getting good advice from her. Not only does Jessica do a great job in her classroom, but she is also very dedicated to Dogwood. She is very involved with the school as a whole. She is the head representative for TABCO and is one of the tech liaisons for the building. I am very grateful to have gotten to know Jess this year and to be able to continue to work with her next school year, and many more after."

You may submit a shoutout for a variety of reasons. For example, you may want to offer a pat on the back to a colleague for helping out, recognize a staff member or student achievement, or welcome a new employee. When your shoutout appears in The Staff Bulletin, your name and school/location will be included.

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Raising the bar, Closing Gaps, Preparing for our future

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org