MAY 2024, 12TH EDITION
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...
This edition, we featured Nikki Pierre, Adult Learning Technology Specialist (ALTS) at the LLC. To read more about Nikki's day, please click here.
If you would like to share your day, and possibly be featured in an upcoming newsletter, please complete the survey here.
BECOME AN EDUCATOR
Are you interested in becoming a teacher? If you currently hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any content, please apply and schedule an Initial Teacher Interview. If hired, the HR team will evaluate your credentials and provide necessary guidance. If you do not hold a Bachelor’s Degree, or you are not ready to begin your teaching career yet, please review the information at www.mdcert.org. You are encouraged to visit our college/university partners. FCPS has direct pay partnership arrangements with:
- Frederick Community College (2 year only)
- Frostburg State University
- Hood College
- McDaniel College
- Mount St. Mary's University
- Trinity Washington University-hybrid
- University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
- University of Phoenix-online
- Walden University-online
They all have Maryland Approved teaching programs and they also can review your information and provide you what they would require.
If you are benefitted, you have tuition benefits available to you. An additional $2,000 is provided for those enrolled in programs that lead to teacher certification. Some employees are eligible for sabbaticals while doing their student teaching/internship. You can find more information about this in your FCPS Negotiated Agreement.
BENEFITS - OPEN ENROLLMENT
Open enrollment for eligible FCPS employees closes May 24, 2024. That means you can currently add, remove or update your current elections within the medical, dental and flexible spending account options. Elections and changes made during May 1 - 24th will be for the Plan Year, July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025.
Click here for more information, including premium updates and plan design changes.
BLUE REWARDS
Human Resources would like to remind employees that the deadline for Blue Rewards is quickly approaching. This is a great benefit available for employees! Please find more information in the CareFirst flyer.
CALENDAR EVENTS
- May 17, 2024 - Wear Green to Show Support for Mental Health Awareness
- May 27, 2024 - Memorial Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
- June 7, 2024 - Last day of School for Students (2-hour early dismissal)
- June 10, 2024 - Summer Schedule (4-Day Work Week Begins)
- June 19, 2024 - Juneteenth (Schools and Offices Closed)
- July 4, 2024 - Independence Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE'S (CDA) RESOURCES
The Early Childhood Office is pleased to offer a new textbook and training resource for Instructional Assistants and Special Education Instructional Assistants interested in earning their Child Development Associate's (CDA) credential!
As part of Maryland's Blueprint for the Future Legislation, all IAs and SEIAs working within a full-day Pre-K program must obtain their CDA (or higher) prior to the 2027-2028 academic year. To help with this process, the ECE office has created a Self-Guided CDA Pathway which can be found on the ECE Website . For more information, please reach out to Lauren Perry at Lauren.Perry@fcps.org
COMMUNITY CORNER
- Looking for fresh salads, fruit desserts, BBQ basics and great summer soups and stews? Take a look at Summer Recipes, shared by allrecipes.com, full of summer hits!
SUMMER IS COMING!
- Ready to start planning your summer? Curious what events are happening locally? Learn how Visit Frederick enjoys summer by attending some of these local events. Looking for other fun activities? Click here.
NEED MORE?
Here are a few suggestions to do this summer:
- Backyard camping
- Fly a kite
- Go berry picking
- Go on a bike ride
- Go hiking
- Go to the beach
- Plant some flowers
- Splish-splash in the pool
FCPS PAY SHIFT - PAY IN ARREARS
Please view the newsletter link below containing important information regarding the FCPS Pay Shift.
FREDERICK ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPPORT EMPLOYEES
The Frederick Association of School Support Employees (FASSE) and staff from the Equity & Organizational Development Department would like to thank all of the staff that attended the 2023 FASSE Professional Learning Day. We had over 700 employees register and attend, the largest number we have ever seen! We hope you found this day to be filled with learning and connection.
We also would like to thank those who completed the survey following FASSE Day. Your feedback helps to prepare future FASSE Professional Learning events!
JOB FAIRS (IN-HOUSE)
FCPS will host two in-house job fairs in June. Please see dates below:
- June 11, 2024 / 4:00pm-6:00pm / Brunswick High School
- June 18, 2024 / 4:00pm-6:00pm / Catoctin High School
KUDOS FOR STAFF
Do you know a coworker that deserves to be celebrated in an upcoming newsletter? Please submit your kudos in this Google Form.
LET'S LEARN
Wondering what trainings are currently available, whether in person or asynchronous? Maybe you attended a training and believe materials were shared on the website? Find training options and shared materials here.
MINDFULNESS AND WELLNESS
FCPS, in partnership with Burnalong, is bringing you Best Way to Reduce Pain From Sitting All Day. This short class will help you reduce lower back pain and improve your posture, especially for those that are sitting frequently throughout the day.
Find these and many other video options at burnalong.com. Burnalong is a free resource for all FCPS staff members.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY (FALL 2024)
Calling all instructional assistants, special education instructional assistants, substitutes, long-term subs and resident subs!
Join us for a four-part PL series on classroom management, behavior management, understanding lesson plans, accommodations and modifications. Applicants should attend all four sessions.
Click here for more information and to register for this opportunity.
SAVE THE DATE - FCPS/FASSE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY
Mark Your Calendars for the 2024-2025 FCPS/FASSE Professional Learning Event (FASSE Day), scheduled for Monday, October 28, 2024 at LHS. We are thrilled to once again offer this opportunity to the support staff in FCPS.
To help us prepare, we need your help planning sessions! Please complete the survey form to indicate sessions you would like offered this fall.
We would also like to inform staff that due to increased number of participates, parking conflicts, and budget constraints, the FASSE Day Committee has adjusted the schedule for the 2024-2025 FCPS/FASSE Professional Learning Event (FASSE Day). This year we will be breaking the day into two sessions (a morning session and an afternoon session). The morning session will be for all secondary and central office support staff, and the afternoon session will be for elementary school support staff. More information regarding the schedule, sessions and registration will be posted soon. Our plan is to implement this structure for the 2024-2025 school-year to see if it alleviates some of our logistical concerns. The FASSE committee will re-evaluate the schedule each year, to make the most appropriate decision for our support staff.
If you have any immediate questions, please contact Carlos Mellott at cmellott@mseanea.org.
We look forward to seeing you all this October.
SUPPORT EMPLOYEE TRANSFERS
Open Transfer for Support Professionals is Now Open!
Support Professionals who desire a "Voluntary Lateral Transfer" are required to submit a: Transfer Request Form to the Office of Human Resources Support Talent Acquisition and Relations, between March 1 and May 31 of each year to take effect the following school year. The transfer list will remain in effect for a period of one (1) school year or until exhausted.
How to Submit a Transfer Request:
Follow these steps if you are ON-SITE at an FCPS location.
Click the following link to access the form (You will need to use your FCPS login in order to access this form. If you need help logging in, please contact the Technology Help Desk at 301-644-5310)
- https://forms.fcps.org/view.php?id=824322
- Fill out the form electronically and click the submit button
- A copy of your responses will be emailed to you
Follow these steps if you are NOT on-site at an FCPS location:
Click the following link to access your remote desktop / VPN (If you need help logging in, please contact the Technology Help Desk at 301-644-5310)
- https://ssl.fcps.org/connect
- Enter your FCPS username and password credentials
- Click the FCPS Support Transfer Request Icon
- Fill out the form electronically and click the submit button
- A copy of your responses will be emailed to you
Additional Information:
- You may select up to ten (10) locations on the Transfer Request Form, however, only one transfer will be granted per fiscal year
- Transfer requests are kept in a database maintained by the Human Resources Support Talent Acquisition and Relations Office
- The Support Transfer Process is open to all benefited employees who are not on probation or who anticipate being off probation by the time the new transfer list becomes effective (July 1)
- Transfer candidates must have a satisfactory work evaluation. Employees who present twelve (12) months of satisfactory experience by June 30 are eligible to participate in the transfer process
Confirmation of request to be placed on the Transfer List will be sent to the employee using their FCPS email account (response to email is not necessary).
The Support Talent Acquisition and Relations Office recommends that an employee on the transfer list have an active application on the current online Application System. To fill out an application please go to: www.fcps.org/jobs.