Ed Briefs

In this episode of Coffee with Calvin, Dr. Watts reflects on 2024 and offers best wishes for the New Year.

The Blueprint in Action focus for the months of November and December is Each and Every Student. During these months we will be spotlighting how our schools are taking on the challenge to meet the needs of each and every student.

• GIVE Center East and GIVE Center West – Serving students, supporting their potential
• It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Drone!

And be sure to catch up on all Each and Every Student spotlight stories here!

Do you have a story aligned to one of the four Blueprint implementation focus areas for 2024-25? We want to share it on our website, through GCPS TV, and social media as part of our 2024-25 Blueprint in Action Campaign! All GCPS staff can submit stories and photos to be reviewed and considered for a web story, Focus Moment video, or social media post. Submit your story today!

Beginning in January 2025, we are launching an exciting literacy campaign titled, “Every Student, Every Story: Powering Futures through Literacy,” to increase awareness among parents and staff about the importance of literacy in public education. This campaign will be a key part of the district’s Blueprint in Action. Through social media posts, insightful website articles, informative email newsletters, and inspiring videos, we will explore the science of reading, its impact on our students’ success, and our district’s strategy for leading literacy initiatives. Follow our posts for tips, resources, and stories that will help us support each and every student’s future through literacy. #EveryStudentEveryStory

The ISC Annual Book Fair has returned! Open through 2 p.m. Friday in the Shiloh Room, all items are 20% off the retail price. In addition to books, you’ll find puzzles, crafts, and games. We accept cash, card, check, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Book fair proceeds benefit the GCPS Book Mobile Program!

Be sure to review your personalized GCPS Total Package to understand the true value of your total compensation, and know just how valuable you are to Team GCPS. You’ll find your personalized Total Package Summary in the Benefits section of your About Me portal page. This outlines the additional compensation the Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) provides to you in the form of employer-paid contributions that add to your actual salary.

Did you know? GCPS created its own defined benefit plan, the Gwinnett Retirement System (GRS)? GCPS funds the benefit entirely on your behalf. GRS is a replacement for Social Security, so GCPS does not contribute to Social Security. This means you have no payroll deduction for the Social Security portion (6.2%) of FICA; therefore, your take home pay is 6.2% more! Questions? Contact Gwinnett.Retirement.Systems@gcpsk12.org.

Please be aware that we made changes to our Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) process on December 2, 2024. The look has changed, and you now have additional authentication options.

MFA adds an extra layer of security when logging into the Staff Portal. This extra layer of security helps protect your account from unauthorized access, even if your password is stolen. It’s an easy way to keep your information secure. Check your inbox for details and instructions that were shared in November.

Last school year, GCPS adopted a new password policy that requires employees to create a 12-character portal password that expires annually. Most employee passwords will start to expire in January and expirations will continue through April 2025.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Passwords will expire at different intervals within this timeframe (i.e., not all at the same time).
• Every employee will receive a notification approximately 10 days before their password is set to expire.
• Each employee must create a new password at least 12 characters long. The password will be valid for one year.
• All employees will receive a postcard later this month with helpful hints on creating an effective password or passphrase.

We appreciate all that you do daily to foster a safe and secure digital learning and work environment.

Cybercriminals steal millions of dollars through QR code scams every holiday season. As we approach this festive time of year, it's crucial to remain vigilant against the innovative tactics scammers use to undermine our holiday cheer. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Stay Sharp with QR Codes: Scammers are disguising malicious links in QR codes. Always check the URL and verify a QR code's origin before scanning. If unsure, avoid scanning and verify the source directly.
• Gift Card Safety: Before purchasing gift cards, check for any signs of tampering. Scammers often manipulate gift cards to siphon off funds once activated.

This holiday season, your awareness can prevent cyber theft. Share these tips within your network to promote a secure and joyous holiday season for everyone in our community.

Remember to sign up to receive tax forms online: Don’t take chances with your important tax forms! Accessing tax forms via the Staff Portal is fast, secure, and environmentally friendly! It’s easy to enroll. Visit the Portal and click on “About Me.” Under the Payroll section (left column), select the two consent forms—W-2 and 1095-C Healthcare Tax Statement—and follow the directions. You will receive an email receipt confirming the change. Once posted, you will have secure access to your tax forms 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Both your W-2 and 1095-C will be available online prior to the IRS’s required mailing dates.

Keep an eye on your mailbox: If you choose to receive your tax forms via the mail rather than online, your Tax Year 2024 W-2 will be mailed during the week of January 27, 2025. If you do not have access to the GCPS Staff Portal and you do not receive your W-2 by February 12, you may request a duplicate tax form by sending an email with your name, employee ID number, and current address to payroll.support@gcpsk12.org or by sending a fax to 678-301-6310. For those who do not enroll for access to their 1095-C online, the forms will be mailed in accordance with IRS guidelines in late February.

Verify contact information: If you choose not to enroll for online receipt of your W-2 and 1095-C, be sure to verify your address and telephone information before the end of the year. For changes, go to the About Me tab in the Staff Portal and select Employee Contact Information. Follow the instructions to make changes.

Any Team GCPS member can submit a recognition for this publication. Please feel free to share this information with your staff and team members. Submit your staff recognition today!

Want to share a success story about your school or department with the entire GCPS community?

Are you looking for a way to celebrate an honor and recognize a teacher, student, or team member for their work? Do you want to share an achievement, upcoming event, or opportunity?

Do you have GCPS Good News to share? Let us know through this online form.

• Board meeting and work session
• Connected (November 14)
• GCPS Links (November 21)
• Coffee with Calvin (November 7)
• Ed Briefs (November 7)
• News Releases
  
• Student Calendars

• Keep Connected with news from GCPS TV… the next episode airs December 12!
  
• The next regular Board meeting is December 19. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)
  
• Watch for the next issue of GCPS Links on December 19!