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May 2021, Volume 13, Number 2
Catoctin High's Lori Zentz is celebrated as the 2021 School-based Secretary of the Year.
Eight Frederick County Public Schools employees have been recognized in the 2021 Support Employees of the Year Award program.
Congrats to: Michael Bowles, Linganore High, School-based Custodian of the Year Jeremy Eccard, Public Affairs, Central Office Business Support Employee of the Year Barbara Hoy, Rock Screek School, School-based Food Service Employee of the Year Orissa Linker, Central Office, Central Office Secretary of the Year Crystal McKenzie, Thurmont Middle, School-based Special Education Instructional Assistant of the Year Aaron Shorb, Maintenance & Operations, Central Office Maintenance Employee of the Year Carolyn Shultz, Oakdale feeder, Bus Driver of the Year Lori Zentz, Catoctin High, School-based Secretary of the Year
From this list of eight, one school-based and one central office Support Employee of the Year will be announced at the June 9 Board of Education of Frederick County meeting when the entire group is honored.
The two overall winners will receive a cash award, a personal day off, a special trophy and Board of Education pin.
All of the 2021 Support Employee of the Year nominees can be found here.
FCPS All-Star Achieving the Promise of Public Education
This month’s FCPS All-Star is Erica Cummins, an assistant principal at Centerville Elementary. In addition to serving in her leadership, school-based role, Cummins collaborated with multiple departments to create an organized visitor management system.
She streamlined visitor training, volunteer application procedures and administrator approval procedures.
"Erica volunteered her time because she believes in protecting the safety and welfare of all FCPS students," said Scott Blundell, the FCPS Supervisor of Security and Emergency Management. "This form and procedure will make every FCPS administrator who works with the volunteer approval process more efficient, and they can have confidence their buildings are safer thanks to Erica's hard work."
Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition!
Recent FCPS All-Star Award Recipients
Mayellen Taylor, Teacher, Catoctin High Steve Strunk, Network Engineer, Central Office Jessica McClain, Teacher, Tuscarora High
Accolades
FCPS LEADERS COMPLETE DOCTORAL PROGRAM AT HOOD COLLEGE We are so proud of the FCPS graduates of the inaugural doctoral program at Hood College. These FCPS leaders completed their course work in 2019 and dissertations in 2019-20. Hood College held a commencement ceremony for them all last week since it could not be done in person last year.
Congratulations to ... Dr. Michele Baisey, Principal, Thurmont Primary Dr. Linda Chambers, Director of Special Education Dr. DeVeda Coley, Principal, Spring Ridge Elementary Dr. Eric Louers-Phillips, Supervisor of Accelerating Achievement and Equity Dr. Danny Rumpf, Assistant Principal, Frederick High Dr. Kathy Swire, Assistant Principal, Yellow Springs Elementary Dr. Joshua Work, Principal, Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle
SCHOOL COUNSELORS OF THE YEAR Glade Elementary's Nikki Ramsay, Thurmont Middle's Rebecca Krauss, and SUCCESS Program's Rachel Sessions were named the 2021 Frederick County School Counselor Association's 2021 School Counselors of the Year.
Ramsay has served as a FCPS school counselor for 16 years. At Glade, she has implemented Wellness Wednesdays and Midweek Mindfulness activities.
Krauss has served as a FCPS school counselor for 19 years. She created a peer ambassador program at Thurmont Middle.
Sessions has served as a FCPS school counselor for five years. She has facilitated many successful programs, including missions, which are community outings that provide students with opportunities to engage in functional life skills.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER NAMED CHESPRA PRESIDENT-ELECT FCPS Communications Manager Brandon Oland was named President-Elect of the Chesapeake Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (CHESPRA), which includes more than 150 school public relations professionals from throughout the region. He will serve as CHESPRA president in 2022.
News to Use
FCPS PLANS FOR 2021-22 Good news! FCPS is planning to return all students for face-to-face learning in the 2021-22 school year. Families can also elect an all-virtual option. More details about the upcoming 2021-22 school year are posted online.
VIRTUAL TEACHER VACANCIES FCPS will be implementing a K-12 Virtual Program for the 2021-22 school year. Vacancies are currently open. The total number of teaching positions will be determined using the results of the Student/Parent Decision Form released May 21 for families.
Certificated employees who are interested in a virtual teaching position must inform the Human Resources Department by completing a transfer request form. More information about the job vacancies is available online.
FCPS SUMMER WORK SCHEDULE Once again, FCPS will observe four-day workweeks for Summer 2021. The four-day workweek schedule takes effect Monday, June 21. FCPS will resume the five-day workweek schedule Monday, August 9. More details are available online.
CHANGES TO FIRST PAY DATE FOR FY2022 Due to the earlier start dates for 10-month staff, the first pay for 10 month employees (except bus drivers and bus assistants) has been moved forward one pay date to August 31, 2021. The last pay date for 10-month employees will be June 15, 2022.
First pay for bus drivers and bus assistants has also been moved forward one pay date. Their first pay will be on September 15, 2021. As their pay is distributed over 19 pays, the last pay for bus drivers and bus assistants will also be June 15, 2022.
Eleven-month employee pay dates are unchanged with the first pay on August 15, 2021, and the last pay on June 30, 2022.
FCPS Fast Fact
71 percent
The percentage of elementary school students throughout FCPS who were taking advantage of in-person instruction as of May 17. We have made great progress during this global health crisis, and we cannot thank our staff enough for doing all they can for students, regardless of where they are learning.
The FCPS Insider is published monthly August-May by the 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 Brandon.Oland@fcps.org by the 15th of the month. For more information: 301-696-6905. See past editions.