May 2019, Volume 10, Number 10
You Are an FCPS Ambassador Share Achievements! Support Students!
This school year's last FCPS Insider equips staff for summer gatherings likely to bring opportunities to share what you know about the caring and hardworking employees and students in public education. Whatever your role as an employee, you're a highly credible source of FCPS information for others.
Let them know the impressive results FCPS achieves, balancing top-rate academics with caring support:
There are far too many accomplishments to name them all here! Find others throughout this issue, including links to FCPS Proud and other videos, news releases, accolades and lots more.
See FCPS Fast Facts or use the About Us tab from the fcps.org home page. Smartphones can access the site, too, providing convenient Fast Facts on the go!
Reverse Mentoring for Cultural Proficiency Learning across Generations to Counteract Age Bias
Pairs of FCPS employees took part in a "reverse mentoring" experience this school year, then shared what they learned with Superintendent's Central Leadership Team members to help staff recognize and counteract age discrimination. The teams were (left to right): Systems Support Specialist Mike Moss and Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban, Instructional Director Kathy Prichard and Facilities Planner Holly Nelson, and Lead Video Production Specialist Jeremy Eccard and Instructional Director Tom Saunders. To learn more, check out The Reluctant Mentor: How Baby Boomers and Millenials Can Mentor Each Other in the Modern Workplace, contact participants or leaders who attended the session, or email Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel Jamie Cannon, who led the session to support Board Policies 300, 309 and 444 and FCPS Regulation 300-01.
FCPS All-Star
Surprised by the Superintendent's Prize Patrol and surrounded by his family, colleagues and students, Mike Franklin learns he's the FCPS 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year! Mr. Franklin chairs the Health and Physical Education Department at Catoctin HS, where he teaches, coaches baseball, leads service projects and much more. He is a Linganore HS alumnus. Watch the Prize Patrol video! See more photos in the news release.
Peek inside the classrooms of each countywide Teacher of the Year finalist: Leslie Byrd Linganore HS Lydia Kowalski Tuscarora HS Matthew McVay Monocacy MS John Yoho Brunswick HS
Congratulations to all employees earning FCPS All-Star Awards since our April newsletter: Kathy Axline, Gary Downs, Shelly Greenway, Craig Muschik, Julie Tobery, Darrin Watts and Melissa Williams.
Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition!
Accolades
DISTINGUISHED For her significant impact on young people, Butterfly Ridge ES first-grade teacher Allyson Golightly is the 2019 Charles E.Tressler Distinguished Teacher. In the above photo are some of her students, and next to her (left to right) are BOE member Karen Yoho and Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban.
EXCEPTIONAL Mary Salapa is named 2019 Substitute Teacher of the Year. Below (left to right) are Human Resources Personnel Officer Anne Paxton, Mary Salapa and Kemptown ES Principal Liz Worch.
EXCELLENT Congratulations to Support Employees of the Year, selected in eight categories: Sharon Botkin, bus driver; Renee Brandenburg-Huffer, Central Office maintenance; Melinda Dobbie (Liberty ES), Food and Nutrition Services; Shelley Dowling, Central Office secretary; Terry Eskuchen (Tuscarora HS), school-based secretary; Sharen Gartrell, business support; Deborah Holford (Heather Ridge), instructional assistant; and Melvin Shafer (Gov. TJ HS), school-based custodian. FCPS will announce two overall Support Employee of the Year winners--one school-based and one from Central Office--at the June 12 BOE meeting. Watch for photos and names in your next issue.
OUTSTANDING Honored at this year's Special Education Celebration: Outstanding Special Educators Alissa Gordon (Monocacy ES), Heather Shevstov (Tuscarora HS) and Aimee Smith (Heather Ridge); Outstanding Special Education Instructional Assistants Tiffany Cuddahee (Walkersville HS), Mary Lopez (Emmitsburg ES) and Martha Spencer (Windsor Knolls MS); Outstanding Speech Language Pathologist Ann Springer (Emmitsburg ES); Outstanding Special Education Administrator Michele Baisey (Hillcrest ES); Outstanding School Psychologist Wesley Allen; and Outstanding Related Service Provider Devan Dewees. See the photo and more.
CARING FCPS celebrates 2019 School Counselors of the Year (left to right): Laren Anderson (Frederick HS), Kathleen Klecan (Brunswick ES) and Ashley Frushour (Middletown MS).
INNOVATIVE Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban is profiled in the series, Superintendent Spotlight. The national AASA Leaders Matter initiative recognizes outstanding public school district leadership that results in meaningful and measurable outcomes for schools, students and communities: "What truly distinguishes Alban's leadership...is her commitment to innovation." See Superintendent Profiled in National Campaign.
GOLD For the 5th year (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015 and 2014), FCPS has earned a Wellness at Work Gold Award. HR Director Tim Thornburg commends Benefits and Wellness Coordinator Phoebe Barreto, wellness champions in every school, and all staff who participate for their roles in fostering a culture of wellness.
EXEMPLARY Purchasing Manager Stephen Starmer received the MD/DC ASBO highest recognition, the Paul B. Bell Award, for exemplary contributions.
News to Use
IN TRANSITION? When leaving a job or work location or starting a new position, please follow procedures for tracking FCPS property such as ID badges, keys, parking passes, phones, computers and more. See details.
4-DAY WORKWEEKS 12-month employees will begin 4-day workweeks Monday, June 24 and resume 5-day workweeks Monday, August 19. See details.
UNTIL AUGUST This is your last edition of FCPS Insider until the August issue with all the new faces in key places and essentials to prepare you for a successful school year. Thursday, June 20 is the last workday for teachers and other 10-month staff, whom we wish a safe and renewing summer!
RE-ALIGNMENT FCPS is combining and restructuring some Central Office departments to better meet the needs of our growing school system. Watch for new organization charts in your back-to-school issue. Most changes take effect July 1.
IN THE KNOW To keep up with school news over the summer, follow FCPS Maryland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Use handy links at the bottom of www.fcps.org.
OFF THE CUFF Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban has blogged (and vlogged!) about the following topics since our last issue:
See them here.
NEWS RELEASES SINCE APRIL FCPS Earns Wellness at Work Gold Award Startup Frederick: Shark Tank-Like Student Competition Career Signing Day for Local Students FCPS Announces 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year Allyson Golightly Recognized for Distinguished Teaching 2019 School Counselors of the Year Summer Food Service Next Step to Naming New School FCPS Superintendent Profiled in National Campaign 2019 FCPS Substitute Teacher of the Year FCPS Names Support Employees of the Year FCPS Celebrates Special Education Award Winners FCPS, FCTA Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract Battelle and FCPS Award $50,000 in STEM Challenge Grants
VIDEOS Released since our April Issue: FCPS In a Minute - April 26 May 3 May 17 May 24 Tweet of the Week - Frederick HS art teacher Bernadette Miller Ashley Shaffer and the Linganore-Oakdale-Urbana Area Redistricting Study Carroll Manor ES Principal Kimberly Robertson
FCPS Proud May 2019
BOE Meetings - Watch any meeting or select a portion by topic here
Also see the FCPS All-Star section above for videos featuring Teacher of the Year Mike Franklin and finalists Leslie Byrd, Lydia Kowalski, Matthew McVay and John Yoho.
FCPS Fast Facts
Q: How many students will FCPS graduate in the class of 2019?
A: As we begin graduation week, we anticipate 2,960 graduates!
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.