February 2020, Volume 11, Number 7
Impressive Achievement 2019 Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Results
FCPS continues to achieve impressive results on Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment course completion. The following Dual Enrollment data reflects only courses deemed to have AP-equivalent rigor. From 2018-2019, while the number of FCPS students taking AP exams declined from 2,789 to 2,546, the number of completed AP-equivalent Dual Enrollment courses rose from 1,531 to 1,883.
View FCPS results: 2019 AP Achievement 2019 Dual Enrollment Participation
Changes in the way the College Board shares AP data have resulted in adjustments to FCPS reporting. With comparisons valid only at the individual AP course/exam level, school and district overall scores are no longer compared to state, national or global scores.
FCPS All-Stars
Tuscarora HS special education instructional assistant Kevin Smith enriches the American Studies class in which the teacher designated him an All Star.
Mr. Smith provides excellent assistance to the student with whom he is paired, says teacher Charles Zitrick. His intellectual curiosity, content knowledge, life experiences and humor add to instruction for all students in the class. It's exciting to see the ways we are able to empower learners, as students are able to share ideas with two adults in the room. Everyone in the class benefits from Mr. Smith's exceptional work.
Principal Chris Berry says that Mr. Smith is a wonderful IA and is working on his degree to become an English teacher. He adds, "This is a "great example of how we can 'grow our own' teachers."
Congratulations to Kevin Smith and other staff earning FCPS All-Star Awards since our January newsletter: Patricia Crowell, Aimee Keeney Fisher and Jessica Romanowski.
Know an amazing employee? Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition!
Accolades
NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Three teachers recently achieved National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification, bringing the FCPS total to 70. Congratulations to Patricia Crowell and Kevin Hall at Tuscarora HS and Michele De La Rosa at Ballenger Creek ES. During the 5-year span of each national certificate, FCPS teachers earn $2,000 more per year than their non-NBPTS-certified peers. See who's who in the caption and more.
FCPS FINALIST Tuscarora HS literacy specialist Lydia Kowalski represents FCPS in the Washington Post Teacher of the Year contest. The Washington Post will name the winner in April. More (including who's who in the photo)
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR See photos and names of the 68 teachers selected to represent their schools as Teacher of the Year. From these school-level winners, FCPS will name finalists and then announce the countywide teacher to represent FCPS in the Maryland State Department of Education's Teacher of the Year program.
ACADEMIC TOURNAMENT ACHIEVEMENTS The Walkersville HS team, with coaches Darrin Drum, Bryan Stillman, Colin Williams and John Van Bloem, won this year's Academic Tournament. The Curriculum Specialists' Award went to Athletics and Extracurricular Activities Supervisor Kevin Kendro. Tournament coordinators launched a new SPIRIT (Sportsmanship, Positivity, Inspiration, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork) Award this year; it went to Frederick HS. Media Specialist Marsha Thompson coordinated this year's tournament. See Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban's blog about Being a Champion.
APPRENTICESHIP MARYLAND Career and Technology Education Supervisor Dr. Kristine Pearl, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator Jeremy Brown and a Brunswick HS graduate are featured in a Maryland State Department of Education video about Apprenticeship Maryland. More
"KIRWAN" COMMISSION ON INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION William "Brit" Kirwan spoke about the Blueprint for Maryland's Future at the Superintendent's February 21 Business Breakfast, hosted at the FCPS Earth and Space Science Lab. Shown, left to right: FCPS Public Affairs Executive Director Daryl Boffman, FCPS Chief Financial Officer Leslie Pellegrino*, Dr. Kirwan, Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban and former BOE member Joy Schaefer*. *Served on the Commission
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FCPS observes Maryland's designation of Black History Month across the system in February. As usual, schools are sponsoring related events and sharing countless lessons. New this year, our Public Affairs Department sponsored a writing contest with prompts focused on Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman and varying by primary, intermediate, middle and high school levels. The department is featuring the two winners from each level on FCPS TV, YouTube and social media the last week of February. See the video. More #FCPSbhm
$$$ PRIORITIES In a special video message, BOE President Brad W. Young and Vice President Jay Mason support the priorities identified in the Superintendent's Recommended Budget and share an important reminder of the County Executive's Public Hearing on the budget Monday, March 23, 7 PM, at Winchester Hall, 12 E. Church Street, Frederick. More
RETIRING? FCPS offers incentives to staff who provide early notice of July 1, 2020 retirement, as follows: $500 to those who submit a completed Status Change Form to benefits.office@fcps.org by Sunday, March 1 and $200 by Wednesday, April 1. More
HONOR A SUPPORT EMPLOYEE Nominations are due by Thursday, March 26 for Support Employee of the Year. See details
PREPAREDNESS FCPS shares information about Coronavirus COVID-19.
Brunswick HS junior Mia Martinez (see photo) was elected the 2020-2021 Student Member to the BOE. Mia will shadow the Board's current student member, Malachi Macon, until she begins her term July 1. In her platform, Mia wrote that she believes it’s important for the BOE to consider policies regarding educational equity and to promote student health and wellness. More about Mia
Kathryn Fostik, formerly Food and Nutrition Services administrative secretary, is the new executive assistant to the BOE.
Lisa Fowler, formerly BOE executive assistant, is senior executive secretary to the Deputy Superintendent.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS Staff seeking assistance sharing news and events of systemwide significance are encouraged to complete a Public Affairs Department Services Requisition. Requests for FindOutFirst messaging and TV bulletin board notices do not require completion of the form and may be emailed.
SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES FAIRS Please encourage students to register for (and families to attend) the 39th annual countywide Science and Engineering Fair and 7th annual Elementary Social Studies Fair. Secondary students must register projects by Sunday, March 8. Elementary students must register projects by Monday, March 23. See details.
ACKNOWLEDGE A GREAT TEACHER Nominations for the 2020 Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award are due by Friday, March 20. Please see details.
OFF THE CUFF
Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban and guests recently blogged about the following topics:
See them here. VIDEOS Released since our January issue: Black History Month Writing Contest Winners FCPS In a Minute - January 31 February 7 February 21 February 28 Tweet of the Week - Catoctin HS Football Coach Paul Dumars Hillcrest ES Principal Karl Williams and Literacy Specialist Amy Tucker Carroll Manor ES Special Education Teacher Amanda Murphy Vision 2020 - New Evidence-Based Reading Initiative features Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation Executive Director Dr. Kevin Cuppett, Elementary Language Arts Curriculum Specialist Jennifer Ralston, Waverley ES Assistant Principal Julie Ivins, Spring Ridge ES Teacher Tracy Spingola. BOE Budget Message with Brad W. Young and Jay Mason Academic Tournament BOE Meetings - Watch any meeting or select a portion by topic here
NEWS RELEASES Issued after our January newsletter: BOE Seeks Feedback on FY21 Budget Registration Opens for Countywide Science and Social Studies Fairs Teacher to Represent FCPS in Washington Post Contest FCPS Sponsors Writing Contest for Black History Month Apprenticeship Maryland Video Features FCPS FCPS Seeks Nominations for Teacher Award Nominate an Outstanding FCPS Support Employee FCPS' Response to Nazi Flag Incident Important Meetings Regarding Sabillasville Elementary FCPS Supports World Down Syndrome Day March Is Youth Art Month Kindergarten and Pre-K Registration Open Monday, March 16 Teachers Achieve Prestigious National Certification Students Elect Martinez to BOE FCPS Launches Vision 2020 Broadcast FCPS Video Features Black History Month Writing Contest Winners Walkersville Students Win Academic Tournament
FCPS Fast Fact
12
The following 12 elementary schools will offer full-day pre-kindergarten classes in the coming school year: Butterfly Ridge*, Emmitsburg, Hillcrest*, Lincoln*, Monocacy*, North Frederick*, Thurmont Primary, Tuscarora, Valley, Waverley*, Whittier* and Woodsboro.
*Six will offer both half- and full-day pre-k programs This school year, the following 8 elementary schools provide full-day pre-k: Butterfly Ridge, Emmitsburg, Hillcrest, Lincoln, Monocacy, North Frederick, Tuscarora and Waverley
The FCPS Insider is published monthly August-May by FCPS Public Affairs Department, 191 S. East St., Frederick, MD 21701. It features employee news and accolades.
Brief information, subject to edits, and captioned photos for possible inclusion are due to Dian.Nelson@fcps.org by the 15th of the month. For more information: 301-696-6911.