HCPS 411 Update

Did you miss the Monthly Minute with Dr. Bulson earlier today? Click below to watch his latest message.

To view a complete archive of all past Monthly Minute videos, visit the Monthly Minute page on our website by clicking here.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is accepting applications for their new advisory councils through December 23, 2024. Councils include the Principal Advisory Council, Teacher Advisory Council, and Family Advisory Council.

The advisory councils play a vital role in shaping the future of our schools by providing direct input to State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright on a variety of key issues. This is an opportunity for principals, teachers, and families to share their voices and help improve education across the state.

For more information, please visit the MSDE website. A flyer with additional information is linked below. For questions, please email advisorycouncils.msde@maryland.gov.

A reminder that in addition to the 1.5% Cost-of-Living-Adjustment effective 7/1/2024, an additional 1.0% Cost-of-Living-Adjustment will be reflected in upcoming salaries, as follows:

• 12 and 11-month employees – Effective 12/22/2024 (reflected in the 1/3/2025 pay)

• 10-month employees* – Effective 1/19/2025 (reflected in the 1/31/2025 pay

*Inclusion Helpers received a 7.0% COLA, effective 7/1/2024 and are not subject to the additional 1.0% mid-year COLA.

All Salary Schedules can be found on SharePoint or by clicking here.

The Professional Learning Office, in partnership with the Office of Organizational Development, is excited to introduce the Future U Teacher Leadership Academy. This initiative is for HCPS educators seeking advancement in their teacher leadership journey within the near future.

The academy focuses on uncovering individual strengths and exploring essential strategies for adult learning and teacher leadership skills.

The program also offers an opportunity to learn about the various teacher leader and specialist roles available in HCPS. The Future U Teacher Leadership Academy is designed to empower educators, providing a transformative experience that aligns with their professional aspirations.

Future U Teacher Leadership Academy

• Thursdays, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• January 16 - March 27, 2025, A.A. Roberty Building (102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air)

Interested individuals must submit a formal application, including cover letter, resume, and references. All applicants will receive notification of approval status via email. Deadline to submit an application is Friday, December 20.

Click here to access the application.

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible educators and aspiring teachers who make HCPS a thriving community. This year, initiatives like the TUNE partnership and Model Schools Program have continued to support our mission to develop a strong teaching workforce. The Talent Pathways Education Support Professionals (ESP) program–a first-of-its-kind initiative in Maryland–is a partnership between TUNE and HCPS that provides qualifying ESPs with full scholarships to become certified teachers. This innovative initiative helps eliminate barriers for aspiring teachers and helps keep talented educators right here in Harford County.

Meanwhile, the Model Schools Program is providing hands-on classroom experiences for teaching interns, paired with personalized mentorship and support from HCPS leaders. These initiatives not only strengthen our workforce but also enhance the learning experience for our students. To all of our teachers, staff, and partners, we express our sincere gratitude for your dedication to our students and schools. Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with success and opportunity!

Thank you to the Jaguar Ambassadors and the incredible administration at Norrisville Elementary School for recently hosting the Board of Education and members of the Superintendent's Leadership team for a school visit.

Click the video link below to learn about the seven habits Norrisville Elementary students practice to help discover the leaders inside themselves.

The HCPS Limelight program celebrates school-based employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding service to others. Honorees are nominated by their administrator. HCPS Limelight events are held virtually once a month during the school year and are sponsored by a different community business partner each month.

Congratulations to all of the December honorees highlighted below for serving in a BIG (Bold, Invested, Genuine) way this month!

A special thank you to this month's Limelight sponsor, Strategic Alliances Group, Inc.

The HCPS Bowtie recognition program celebrates Central Office employees who consistently serve others in a BIG (Bold, Invested, Genuine) way and go above and beyond in their roles. Honorees are nominated by colleagues to attend Superintendent Bulson’s virtual event held each month.

Join us in celebrating our awesome HCPS staff!

And a big shout out and thank you to Freedom Federal Credit Union for sponsoring this program for us each year.

It is the Parent Academy's distinct pleasure to share that the 2024-25 First Quarter Most Valuable Parent (MVP) Award recipient is Tamar Pair of Magnolia Middle and Joppatowne High schools! Join us in celebrating Ms. Pair!

The MVP Award recognizes one HCPS parent/guardian a quarter during the school year for their efforts to go above and beyond in modeling one or more of the National PTA Standards.

Parents/guardians are nominated by their school's PACE Liaison. All nominations are reviewed by the HCPS External Customer Service Task Force and a winner is selected. Winners receive a certificate and personally engraved plaque from Parent Academy and Superintendent Bulson.

Selecting the First Quarter winner from among all the fantastic nominations was not an easy task. We’d like to give a shout out and heartfelt thank you to each of this quarter's nominees. We are so grateful for all they do to support students and their child’s school.

Ms. Pair's award presentation took place this week at Joppatowne High School with Superintendent Bulson and leaders from both schools. Stay tuned for a special video with her in the new year.

All MVP Award winners will be archived on the HCPS website here:

https://www.hcps.org/.../parentac.../mostvaluableparent.aspx

Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils (HCRASC) will be hosting their second annual Bingo fundraiser on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Bel Air High School, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). The evening will feature 20 regular rounds of Bingo, special rounds, raffles, concessions, and plenty of opportunities for community engagement.

HCRASC is proud to share that a quarter of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center to support their work in mental health awareness. This cause is deeply important to HCRASC.

Thank you for your continued support of HCRASC and their efforts to foster leadership and community involvement among Harford County students.

The Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils (HCRASC) is a student led organization that gives student leaders the opportunity to meet with other students who share the same passions as they do, which is making a positive impact within their community. Just in the past year we have flourished immensely as an organization increasing our community outreach by tenfold! Recently our student delegates have been starting to advocate more for their peers with the issues that are prevalent within our local community, but there is still much more that we can do for the betterment of our community!

The Human Resources Benefits Office plays a vital role in helping employees manage their benefits effectively. Members of the Benefits team are here to provide you with assistance and support in understanding your benefit options, making informed decisions, and resolving any issues that may arise. Additionally, the Benefits Office is responsible for administering the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other leave of absence (LOA) programs, helping employees navigate the process for necessary time off for medical reasons and supporting supervisors in this process. Moreover, the Benefits Office also handles the process of tuition reimbursement, helping employees navigate the reimbursement process for educational expenses.

Do you have a question about retirement and the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System? Benefits team members can help you navigate answers to those questions. This doesn’t stop when you retire from HCPS, either. The Benefits team continues to support you for your benefits throughout retirement, as well.

The chart below provides a listing of just some of the services provided by Benefits:

HCPS Human Resources consists of five teams prepared to assist you with various employment-related needs, as described in the Human Resources Contact List. Please don’t hesitate to contact them with your questions. They will be happy to assist you or connect you with someone best able to provide assistance. A complete list of HR Team members can be found at HR Published Phone Lines.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Benefits@hcps.org or 410-588-5275.

This month, join Manager of Communications Jillian Lader as she unveils the latest book from the Harford County Education Foundation! We’ll explore our new book together before you read it with your family. Didn’t get this month’s book? Visit our partners, the Harford County Education Foundation, http://harfordeducation.org/littlesun..., to register for a copy of next month’s book and grow your Littles home library!

Is there something your students created and are extremely proud of? Is there a group of staff or students getting ready to do a performance or host an event at your school? Let WMAR 2 News help you share it with our community!

Record a video, horizontal, on your phone (or feel free to get fancy with a real camera!); be sure to include the clear message, “Good morning, Maryland!” along with your brief message promoting, celebrating, or informing the viewing area of the amazing things happening in your school! Your video should be no more than 30-45 seconds long. Email it to Kristy Breslin at Kristy.Breslin@wmar.com. Ms. Breslin will let us know what day and time it will air so we can share it on HCPS social media platforms.

Let’s see if we can flood the morning news with great things happening in HCPS!

The Spring 2025 CPD course catalog is now available. Registration for these MSDE credit courses is available in HECTOR. Register soon for the best course selection. Seats are available for the following:

• Introduction to Sign Language I
• Laboratory Safety Workshop for Career & Technology Education Teachers
• Process and Acquisition of Literacy
• Spanish for Communication I

HECTOR Directions

Need assistance HECTOR (registering for courses, checking registration and history, or changing or canceling registration)? Please see the Instructions for HECTOR.

Course Title: Level 1- Intro IIRP Restorative Practices for Educators

Course Description: Building and strengthening relationships and community is a critical component of school culture. Restorative practices are an essential process for creating a positive learning environment, building social capital, and resolving relational issues.

During your training session, you will learn the fundamental theory and practices for engaging with students, staff, and parents in your school.

Topics include the importance of being explicit about practice, how to set high expectations while being supportive, and ways to build community in your setting. We will discuss giving direct feedback, asking questions that foster accountability, and using effective methods to resolve common conflicts.

You will learn to apply the restorative practices continuum and understand which restorative processes are best for achieving certain goals or responding to situations. We will focus on facilitating circles, an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles can be used proactively and responsively to build social capital, sustain relationships, address social problems, and respond when harm occurs. Participants will plan circles to use in their schools.

• Location: These training sessions will be offered virtually via TEAMS link sent by the course instructor or in person at the TUNE center.
• Session Format: There is a Max 24 participants per session and 14 participants need to be registered for the course to run. Session formats are subject to change based on registration. You will be notified by email of any format changes.
• Permissions: If you are registering for an in-person weekday training session, you will need to obtain permission from your principal to attend. Sub-coverage pay will be provided.
• Payment: For HCPS staff completing training outside of their duty day, the compensation rate is the $25/hr. negotiated rate. Payment will be processed upon completion of the course and course feedback form.

Hector Registration Links:

VIRTUAL: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1814

IN-PERSON: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1813

Questions:

Please email Rachel Trovato rachel.trovato@hcps.org

Conditionally Licensed Teachers: University of Phoenix offers two pathway options for Teacher Preparation programs:

• Option 1: Master of Arts in Education
  Students take one, six-week online course at a time to balance work, school, and life.
  
  MAEd/Elementary Education (grades 1-6)
  Upcoming Spring 2025 cohorts starting: Jan. 7th, Feb. 18th, April 1st
  
  MAEd/Secondary Education (grades 7 -12)
  Upcoming Spring 2025 cohorts starting: Jan. 7th, Feb. 18th, April 1st
  
  MAEd/Special Education (grades K -12) Credits: 46, Approx. 21 months
  Upcoming Spring 2025 cohorts starting: Jan. 28th , March 11th, April 22nd

• Option 2: Graduate Initial Teacher Certificate
  Post-Bachelor program. This 15-month program is a first step to teacher licensure. The program combines academic theory and coursework with a clinical component made up of student teaching and field experiences. Credits from this certificate can apply toward a Master of Arts in the aligned Licensure area.
  
  Graduate Initial Teacher Certificate - Elementary
  Graduate Initial Teacher Certificate – Secondary
  Upcoming Spring 2025 cohorts starting: Jan. 28th and April 22nd
  
  Content areas: Biology, Business, Chemistry, Earth/Space Science, Economics, English, Environmental Science, Geography, History, Health, Math, Physics, Political Science, Social Studies, Theater
  
  **Note: Art, Physical Education, Dance, Health, Music: Students MUST be placed in classrooms grades 7 -12th for the Clinical practice requirement.

Nominate your favorite Harford County Public Schools employee from this year or years past for the 2025 Celebration of Excellence in Education (CEE)!

Once again, this year we will celebrate all aspects of education in Harford County Public Schools, in addition to the Teacher of the Year! At the 2025 CEE, we will honor a principal, assistant principal, custodian, facilities employee, food services staff member, support professional and technology employee.

Visit hcps.org and click on “learn more” in the banner on the main page to share a few sentences on why you are nominating a deserving HCPS staff member!

Local businesses and community members continue to play an integral part in showing our appreciation for our educators. We look forward to celebrating with everyone again this year! If you know of a business that would like to support the program this year, please reach out to joyce.jablecki@hcps.org for more information.

Nominations are due by January 3, 2025. Don't delay; submit your nomination here as soon as possible.

The next Board of Education of Harford County’s Engage for Education listening session is Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at North Harford High School in the auditorium.

Following the January 8 session, the next public session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Joppatowne High School.

No pre-registration is required to attend or speak at these Board listening sessions. For more information, or to provide feedback directly to the Board if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, please visit the Engage for Education page on hcps.org.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board business meetings? Provide your feedback to the Board on a specific policy by the deadline listed on the webpage: https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx.

Energize Your Health with the $10,000 School Team Challenge: Presented by the HCPS Wellness Committee in partnership with HealthyWage

The HCPS Wellness Committee is excited to announce its partnership with HealthyWage in its $10,000 School Team Weight Loss Challenge that kicks off on January 24, 2025. Get ready to transform your health and win big! Join this thrilling 12-week competition where teams of five (5) go head-to-head to shed the highest percentage of weight and walk away with a grand prize of $10,000! Don’t miss your chance to achieve your wellness goals, push your limits, and celebrate with your teammates while competing for an incredible cash reward!

What to Know:

• Register online or on the HealthyWage mobile app.
• Start date is on January 24, 2025.
• Create a team of five (5) coworkers, friends, and/or family members. Don’t have a team? No problem! HealthyWage will match you up with one!
• Compete against other teams from organizations to lose the greatest percentage of weight in 12 weeks to win the GRAND PRIZE of $10,000!
  - Organizations that have at least 50 total participants will receive a top team prize of $1,500 (if they aren’t the grand prize-winning team).
• Enjoy fun and interactive mini-challenges like “Smart Swap” and “Get Active” to collect achievement ribbons!
• Get active on HealthyWage’s interactive mobile app to connect with your teammates, gain healthy tips, and check your personal and team stats and standings!
• There is a participant registration fee of $84 (individuals can elect to pay this fee in three payments of $28). However, you will earn back your registration fee by losing 10% or more weight in 9 months!
• Not looking to lose weight but want to participate? Register as a team cheerleader for free and support your five teammates (limit one cheerleader per team). If you’re on a winning team, you’ll win an equal share of the cash prize!

Questions? Contact HealthyWage at info@healthywage.com or 888.636.3832

This December, Prioritize Stress Management and Self-Care

The holiday season is also upon us as we prepare to close out another year this December. For many, this time of the year brings joy and cherished traditions. However, it can also bring increased stress as we juggle the hustle of holiday preparation. It is essential to prioritize stress management and self-care during this busy time of year. Let’s come together as we navigate holiday stress this season. Click here to learn more.

December CareFirst Wellbeing Challenge: Live Mindfully

The holidays can be a stressful time of year. Whether work, finances, or relationships are causing you to worry, tracking your stress level daily can help you identify your primary triggers and work toward managing them. Join the Live Mindfully Challenge throughout December and find additional resources to help you manage your stress. Click here to learn more.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS: CareFirst WellBeing Unwinding Program

Unwinding isn’t your average meditation app.

Unwinding is more than just nice videos or disconnected medications. This app offers short, practical tools to deal with stress, anxiety, overeating, anger, and more. It teaches you how your mind works and how to use mindfulness to manage stress and unwanted behaviors.

Available through CareFirst WellBeing, Unwinding is a digital resource that helps you build resilience and create a more focused, aware, and mindful approach to life and work. This app offers on-demand, in-the-moment tools to ease stress throughout the day. Members can log in or sign up through carefirst.com/wellbeing or by downloading the CareFirst WellBeing app. Click here to learn more.

One-on-One Personal Health Coaching: Easy as 1, 2, 3

You can participate in personal health coaching as part of your CareFirst Wellbeing program. Your health coach will work with you and provide the support, guidance, and encouragement you need to see actual results. Your coaching program is personalized, approachable, and delivered through one-on-one calls and an easy-to-use portal where you can find additional resources, schedule calls with your coach, and more. Click here to learn more about the Personal Health Coach Program available through your CareFirst coverage.

We are excited to announce the November challenge winners!

We are excited to announce the 12 Days of Wellness winners!

Wrap up the year strong by reflecting on your wellness journey, celebrating achievements, and setting empowering intentions for the year ahead.

Join BurnAlong for a month of reviewing accomplishments, challenges, and personal growth over the past year. Embrace the end of the year with intention and mindfulness. Their December events offer the chance to recharge, reflect on your personal growth, and set a vibrant tone for the year ahead.

How can you focus on your efforts on resetting and reflecting to close out the year? Challenge yourself to create a list of your achievements and areas you want to improve in the coming year this December.

Looking for Class Recommendations?

Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes for December:

Have you registered for your Burnalong account yet?

Visit the Staff Wellness page on the HCPS website by clicking the calendar below to learn about other exciting events and opportunities available to all employees.

Employees who wish to provide feedback on their experience(s) obtaining medications through CVS retail pharmacies are advised to complete the CVS/Caremark Service Reporting Tool, available on SharePoint. This report is monitored bi-weekly by a member of the Benefits Office for further assistance and tracking of member service feedback. To access this form, visit the Harford County Public Schools – SharePoint Home Page.

As always, if there is an immediate need or concern when obtaining medication, please email benefits@hcps.org so that a member of the Benefits Office can assist you more quickly.

Toolbox Talks

As the new year approaches, it is a good time to take stock of your overall mental health. Take inventory of the different tools you have in your figurate toolbox and look at things differently. Let Acentra Health help empower you in your journey by clicking here.

Date: Available on demand beginning December 17, 2024

Broadcast Length: 60 minutes

How to Access Webinars: Go to your EAP website, www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code, HCPS, and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage. You can also search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day. It is a free, confidential program that helps you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call Acentra Health toll-free at (866) 795-5701 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit their website at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org