Community Committee Member Highlight
Kevin McKinney, D.B.A., First Vice President Harford County NAACP Branch 7019-B
“I am excited to be a part of the North Star Sub-Committee as part of the Blueprint for Maryland. I think it wonderful that the State of Maryland and Harford County are motivated to ensuring a brighter future for our children. As a community partner from the NAACP and a retired member living in Harford County, we hope to secure educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all children.”
Kimberlee Hyde, SVP of Sales and Service for Har-co Credit Union
"I am honored to serve as a Business Community partner with the HCPS Blueprint Career Ladder Sub-Committee. As a member of Harford County’s local business community, I am committed to ensuring students are financially prepared for life beyond high school graduation. Financial Literacy knowledge is imperative for students and their families. Har-co Credit Union has been a Business Community partner with HCPS for over 60 years. I am excited to be a part of the implementation for preparing students for life beyond graduation, supporting students mental and physical health, expanding access to high quality pre-kindergarten, and connecting with diverse stakeholders."
A new co-chair for the Early Childhood Committee:
Heather Kutcher, HCPS Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
“I joined HCPS as a high school English teacher in 2000, after working for two years as an Educational Support Professional in another district. I have had the absolute privilege of serving as a department chair, teacher mentor, teacher specialist, Coordinator, Supervisor, and now Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. I have one daughter who is getting ready to start her 11th grade year in HCPS. You can find me out and about in the town of Bel Air logging road and trail running miles or walking our fabulous rescue dog. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to co-chair the work of the Early Childhood Sub-Committee and support the continued expansion of early learning opportunities in our community. A child’s early learning creates the foundation for lifelong cognitive and social development and is a powerful way for families, the community, and the school system to build a strong future together.”
Student Supports
Welcome New Community Schools
HCPS is pleased to welcome Riverside Elementary School, Magnolia Middle School, Edgewood Middle School, and Joppatowne High School as new Community Schools. Community schools develop and utilize partnerships to connect the school, students, families, and surrounding community to the resources needed in order to thrive. At its core, the community school strategy is deeply rooted in equity; it highlights the assets in traditionally underserved communities and leverages additional partnerships to provide essential services.
Superintendent Presentation to the AIB
Dr. Sean Bulson, Superintendent of Schools, participated in an Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) meeting on August 25, 2022 with talking points specific to the Student Supports pillar of the Blueprint. He discussed concentration of poverty/community schools, special education, and mental health. Dr. Bulson touted much of the work of the Student Supports Blueprint Sub-committee and the Office of Student Support Services, and he also asked the AIB to consider the leadership needs to carry out initiatives, such as community schools, and to align future work required for mental health screeners with the established work of HCPS for Mental Health Needs Assessments. You can view his comments, HERE, starting at 1:56 in the recording.
