February 2019, Volume 10, Number 7
Social Media Success Who Represents FCPS?
As an employee, you are viewed as a public ambassador for education and a community role model. FCPS recommends that you lock down your social media privacy settings and avoid "friending" students. Carefully monitor your social media accounts and remove anything that's inappropriate. Do not use FCPS devices or, with the exception of duty-free lunch periods, engage in personal social media activity during work hours.
You are 100% responsible for everything that appears on your social media accounts, from your status updates and comments to pictures, videos and links you share. Remember to post carefully, always prioritizing safety to protect yourself.
Employees authorized to post to FCPS sites as part of their job descriptions are the only staff who should post there about FCPS matters. A good guideline for staff is to keep organizational and private roles and accounts separate.
The BOE social media policy and FCPS social media regulation provide guidance to employees and help keep organizational social media safe and productive for everyone.
See the FCPS Social Media for Staff video on YouTube. Direct questions to Communication Services Social Media Coordinator Tonya.Street@fcps.org.
FCPS All-Stars
Oakdale ES Lead Custodian Louann Delphey (in photo) and her team "do an amazing job of keeping their campus ready to safely accept students and staff during inclement weather," says Custodial Services Manager John Carnahan.
Principal Leigh Warren agrees, commending Louann and Custodian Bob Huffman for their work managing snow removal. FCPS thanks all Operations Department employees, central office and school-based, whose dedicated work clearing snow and ice allows FCPS to open.
Congratulations to employees earning FCPS All-Star Awards since our January newsletter: Ruth Allwardt, Alexsandra Arianna, Carol Chucoski, Latonya Disney, Stephanie Lichtenberger, James McKeever, Emily Maggie Meinecke, Bruce Poole, Heather Quill, Albert Remsburg, Aaron Shorb, and Gary Smith. Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition.
Accolades
SUPER COOL The FCPS Career and Technology Center participated in downtown Frederick's February First Saturday Fire in Ice event! Their prime spot on Carroll Creek drew visitors with questions about the award-winning programs CTC offers. Kudos to Guidance secretary Michele Perry, who was instrumental in arranging this opportunity.
EXCELLENCE At the Maryland Advisory Council on Gifted & Talented Education's annual Celebration of Excellence this month, the following FCPS staff were celebrated: Outstanding Educator/School System Administrators Dr. Jamie Aliveto and Dr. Keith Harris, Outstanding Educators/Teacher Leaders Brenda Bishop and Laura Pruett, and Outstanding School Administrator Jay Corrigan.
LEADERSHIP The Daily Record selected Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban as a 2019 Influential Marylander. See the news release.
VANGUARD FCPS partners with Hood College in offering leadership-development opportunities for teachers. Congratulations to our 3rd class of Vanguard teachers: See their names!
MONTESSORI Sixth graders from the FCPS Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School (CCM) were honored to represent Paraguay in the Montessori Model United Nations in New York City. Kudos to teacher Michael Beth Edwards and instructional assistant Adam Kramer for their work making this opportunity possible. CCM is also proud that the American Montessori Society's national conference will include them in its Tour of Schools.
NATION'S BEST Nine teachers recently achieved National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification, bringing the FCPS total to 65. Congratulations to Jessica Kachur, Ashley Lancaster, Tom Mitchell, Maria O’Toole, Kristen Rowe, Mark Trice, Anita Waravdekar, Melissa Watson and Sarah Yoder. See the news release and photo.
CCR WITH CTE Check out what an FCPS Career and Technology Center graduate from teacher Adam Frank's TV/Multimedia Production program has to say: My CTE Program Did Get Me "College and Career Ready," Thanks for Asking.
News to Use
NEW FACES IN KEY PLACES FCPS welcomes new Human Resources Director Tim Thornburg (in photo). Learn more about him here. We also welcome new Student Services Director Dana Falls and Capital Programs Director Adnan Mamoon in the FCPS Operations Division. Students have elected the 2019-2020 Student Member of the Board of Education: Congratulations to Malachi Mason, whose term will begin July 1; see the news release.
SECURITY At the FCPS Central Office, interior doors from the main-entry vestibule into the lobby now remain locked, requiring buzzer/intercom use for entry. Once admitted, all visitors (including FCPS staff whose work locations are not at Central Office) must check in using the same Raptor visitor-management system that schools use, with their driver's license or employee ID number. While in the Central Office, everyone should display their ID badge or visitor sticker. Please inform visitors and alert Central Office receptionists in advance of meetings: front.desk@fcps.org.
REDISTRICTING Enrollment growth leading to new school construction has resulted in an FCPS redistricting study underway to determine attendance areas and feeder patterns for Sugarloaf ES in Urbana (temporarily housing Urbana ES students and staff until their school re-opens for SY2020-2021) and a not-yet-named elementary in the Lake Linganore Hamptons West neighborhood (opening in SY2021-2022). FCPS is engaging all school communities--including staff--in the Linganore HS, Oakdale HS and Urbana HS feeder areas in the LOU Redistricting study, slated for November completion. Learn more: www.fcps.org/louredistrict and please share your views: LOURedistrict@fcps.org.
NOMINATE FCPS has opened nominations for Support Employee of the Year, Substitute of the Year and the Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award.
$$$ On February 13, the BOE determined its locally funded budget request. Thank you to those who shared priorities at the hearing and via email and social media. See the budget forwarded to the County Executive and timelilne for future opportunties to share your views.
WELLNESS HR recently launched the Wellness at FCPS newsletter. See the first edition! And HR reminds staff: Coughing, sneezing and unclean hands spread serious respiratory illnesses. Please cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, dispose of the tissue, and wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer afterward. When you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.
RETIRING? FCPS offers $500 to staff who provide written notice by March 1 and $200 to staff who provide written notice by April 1 of intent to retire as of July 1. See details.
ACADEMIC TOURNAMENT High school teams are competing Fridays through February 22 at Frederick HS. Come enjoy the free, fast-paced matches, and cheer for your team! See details
WHEN IT SNOWS Here's how to check FCPS work status on inclement-weather days and what it means when the liberal leave policy is in effect.
WATER SAMPLES FCPS continues to post results of tests for lead in school drinking water, adding schools as we receive reports of their results. Please check the page until you see your school's report.
OFF THE CUFF Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban blogged about the following topics:
See them here.
MORE NEWS RELEASES FCPS Begins Brunswick High Feasibility Study Academy for the Fine Arts Seeks Internships for Students Kindergarten and PreK Registration Begin Monday, March 18 FCPS Wants to Hear from Parents: Launches Survey Students Excel in Seatbelt Challenge Classmates4Life Drug-Awareness Contest VIDEOS Released since our January Issue: FCPS In a Minute - January 18 February 1 February 9 February 15 Tweet of the Week - LYNX NJROTC Youth Apprenticeship Program with Jeremy Brown BOE Meetings - Watch any meeting or select a portion by topic here
FCPS Fast Fact FCPS has closed 6 days this school year due to inclement weather as of Thursday, February 21. See the snow dates. The footnote on the June page of the Calendar Handbook explains the end-of-the-school year calendar.
The FCPS Insider is published monthly August-May by FCPS Communication Services, 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.