FCPS Employee Bulletin Board
June 18, 2024
Celebrations in the County
FCPS Alumni in Broadway Musical that Won Tony Awards
Photo Credit: Miller Mobley
Gov. Thomas Johnson High Alumni Brent Comer Wins Tony Award for "The Outsiders"
“The Outsiders,” a new musical based on a book of the same name by Susie Hinton, officially opened on Broadway on April 11 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards. Over the weekend, the musical won four of the awards it was nominated for including Best Musical, Best Director, Best Sound Design of a Musical, and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. Gov. Thomas Johnson High School 2014 alumni Brent Comer, who plays Darrel Curtis as an original cast member, performed at the Tony Awards over the weekend and was able to celebrate the four wins with his fellow cast members. Comer has only performed on Broadway for three months before playing an award-winning part. We know that he has a bright future ahead of him!
2024 Spring High School Athletics Recap
During the final weekend of a successful spring sports season, the history-making moments kept coming for Frederick County teams in closely competitive matchups with state titles at stake.
The end result? Four team state championships. Two state-runner up finishes. Memories to last a lifetime.
- Urbana High: Class 4A Boys Lacrosse
- TJ High: Class 4A State Champions Boys Track and Field
- Brunswick High: Class 1A State Title Baseball
- Middletown High: Class 2A State Title Baseball
- Brunswick, Middletown, & Oakdale High: Unified State Champions Track and Field
- Linganore High: State Runner-Up Softball
- Urbana High: State Runner-Up Girls Lacrosse
FCPS Principal Recipient of University of Maryland Change Maker Award
Lisa Smith selected as University of Maryland Change Maker Award Recipient
Tuscarora High principal Lisa Smith has been selected as one of this year’s recipients of the Change Maker Award by the University of Maryland’s College of Education Alumni Network Board.
This recognition is given to a University of Maryland College of Education alumni who has done work that has changed the conversation in the field of education in the pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Smith is entering her third year as the principal at Tuscarora high School and her 18th year with FCPS. This is her second professional stint at Tuscarora High. Previously she served as a teacher specialist and assistant principal at Tuscarora. She started her career with FCPS as a social studies teacher at Linganore High School.
Prior to rejoining Tuscarora High, Smith was the principal at Oakdale High for three years.
Smith received two Bachelor of Arts degrees; one in history and the other in secondary education social studies from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Hood College. She recently acquired a certificate from McDaniel College for Equity & Excellence in Education.
Three Teachers Win District Awards from the Maryland Art Educator Association
Three FCPS Teachers Recognized for District Awards from the Maryland Art Educator Association
Three FCPS teachers were recognized for District Awards from the Maryland Art Educator Association in a virtual award ceremony on May 30.
Congratulations to:
- Katie Burkholde, Heather Ridge School, Middle Level Career Award
- Sue Maseth, Walkersville High School, Secondary Career Award
- Donna Lehman, Middletown High School, Outstanding National Art Honor Society Sponsor Award
These teachers were nominated by their FCPS colleagues who wrote statements of support to recognize these amazing educators.
FCPS News
FCPS Free Summer Food Service Program
FCPS Free Summer Food Service Program Details
Beginning Monday, June 17, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be serving free breakfast and lunch to anyone in the community 18 years old or younger. Those over 18 who are enrolled in an educational program for people with disabilities will also be served meals.
Meals will be served Mondays through Thursdays at the following 3 schools:
- Lincoln Elementary: Entrance point will be the side doors located at the cafeteria.
- Gov. Thomas Johnson High: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
- Waverley Elementary: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
FCPS will serve breakfast at Lincoln Elementary and Waverley Elementary from 8:30-9 a.m. and lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.
FCPS will serve breakfast at Gov. Thomas Johnson High from 7:30- 8 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-noon.
Meals will not be served on June 19 and July 4. Children must be present to get a meal and the meal must be consumed at the site where the meals are served. The last day of summer meals service to the community will be Thursday, August 8.
To read the Spanish translation, click here.
If you have questions, please contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 301-644-5061.
Looking Ahead: Equity in Grading
A Preview for Middle and High School in the 2024-25 School Year
Over the past three years, school and central staff at various levels throughout FCPS have been engaging in learning and continuous improvement towards more equitable and consistent grading practices throughout the district, with focus on middle and high schools. The school system’s Education Reform Council (ERC), along with other teacher and leader workgroups, have provided feedback about our current efforts and suggestions for continuing to propel equitable grading practices forward into next school year. Like the end of last year, this message shares a status update and a preview of focus areas for the 2024-25 school year, with most new practices being optional, to support an early adopter approach.
Guiding Star Award for Employees
Nominate for the Guiding Star Award
Recognition of Employees by Other Employees
Individuals may be nominated for one of the following five (5) categories.
- GOAL 1: ACHIEVEMENT - Innovation and Impact - Recognizes employees who have introduced innovative ideas or have had a positive impact on the organization in support of student achievement.
- GOAL 2: OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE - Continuous Improvement - Recognizes employees who actively seek opportunities to enhance processes, optimize efficiency, and drive positive change.
- GOAL 3: SAFETY & WELL BEING - Leadership and Support - Recognizes employees who demonstrate leadership qualities by taking initiative, assuming responsibility, and inspiring their colleagues.
- GOAL 4: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT - Team and Community Collaboration - Recognizes those who contribute positively to teamwork, foster collaboration, and help achieve collective goals OR who have demonstrated unique and creative approaches to solving challenges alongside others.
- GOAL 5: STUDENT AND STAFF EXPERIENCE - Positive Impact on Culture - Recognizes individuals who contribute to a positive workplace culture through their attitude, collaboration, and overall demeanor.
To nominate a staff member, please fill out the Guiding Star Award nomination form.
Phone Number Changes
Beginning July 1, 2024, FCPS will modernize our telecommunications system and assign brand new phone numbers to the entire district.
Human Resources Update
Benefits - New Insurer
MetLife – New Insurer for Life Insurances and Short-Term Disability
Effective July 1, 2024, MetLife will replace The Standard as the insurer for employee and retiree, Life (AD&D), Voluntary Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance. For your review is an Introduction to our partnership with MetLife and a Question & Answer document that we trust will be helpful.
For additional questions, please email Benefits.Office@fcps.org.
End of Insurance Notice
Notice of Insurance End Date for Resignation or Leave of Absence for the Conclusion of the 2023–2024 School Year
- For 10 or 11-month employees who are not returning for the next school year, the school term ends in June. This means your coverage will end on June 30th even if you do not give your resignation or leave of absence notice until July or August as you have not paid insurance premiums for July or August.
- You will be offered the opportunity to continue insurance through COBRA or Leave of Absence rates.
- COBRA: You will be offered COBRA to continue coverage for Medical or Dental if you had coverage for these benefits at the time your employment ends. You may review the tab for COBRA for more information on this topic.
- If you terminate employment and were employed before 07/01/05 (benefitted) at the end of the Fiscal Year of 07/01/05, the termination date for medical, dental and life is extended one month for 10 & 11-month employees only.
Teacher Lane Changes
Reminder - Teacher Lane Changes
The deadline to request a lane change for coursework completed between
February 1, 2024 and August 31, 2024:
LAST WORKDAY in September: Monday 09/30/2024
Requests for lane changes should be submitted by completing form linked here:
- The certification team continues to process a high volume of coursework and is updating the Professional Education screen in PeopleSoft.
- If you have already submitted documentation of coursework but do not yet see it reflected in your Professional Education, please continue to review your Professional Education profile regularly.
- As long as you’ve met the requirements and have submitted all necessary documentation by the deadline, your pay change will be processed and applied retroactively to July 1.
Additional Lane Change Information
https://www.fcps.org/careers/teacher-lane-change
Lane Change Questions?
Email: CertSalary@fcps.org
Professional Education Questions?
Email: certification@fcps.org
Continuing Education
Mount St. Mary's Graduate Courses for Educators
Find all the information you need on graduate courses being offered at Mount St. Mary's this Summer here.