News

Staff are reminded that employee retirement and fond farewell celebration announcements can be found online. You can find that link anytime by going to the Staff Hub, scrolling down to Resources, and then selecting the Retirement Announcements link under Communications.

To share an open celebration for an employee who is retiring or leaving the school system, email communications@hcpss.org with the following:

• Who: Name of employee being celebrated; include their current title and location
• When: Date and time
• Where: Location, including address
• Cost: If applicable, and how to contribute
• RSVP: If applicable, to whom, by when and how

The following is shared on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education:

The Phones in Focus initiative is a non-partisan, research-based effort aimed at identifying the most effective school cell phone policies to support students' learning and overall wellness. By surveying principals and teachers about current phone use policies and enforcement strategies, the study will create a comprehensive state and national map of practices and link them to key student outcomes like academic achievement and attendance. Maryland has opted to participate in this national effort.

Phones in Focus needs your help answering a pressing question: How, specifically, should schools manage student cell phones to maximize learning and well-being? The Phones In Focus survey aims to change that by:

• Creating a statewide and national map of phone policies
• Connecting policies to academic and well-being outcomes to identify what
  works best and for whom

Take a few minutes to complete the online Phones in Focus survey. The survey closes Friday May 23.

Additional information:

• At the end of the survey, you’ll receive a real-time snapshot of how educators across the U.S. are answering the same questions
• Every educator who completes this survey is automatically entered into a weekly raffle ($100 for the educator and a $100 donation to the school). One educator will be chosen as the winner of the grand prize raffle: a gift basket that includes a $500 VISA gift card, a $500 donation to their school, personalized and signed copies of Mindset by Carol Dweck and Grit by Angela Duckworth, and a personalized professional development workshop or in-person school assembly with Angela Duckworth.
• All educators from schools where at least 5 educators complete the survey will be invited to an online, invitation-only professional development webinar on the science of self-regulation with Angela Duckworth in fall 2025.
   

The HCPSS Get To Know series was created to help staff learn more about system leaders in schools and offices with whom they may not typically interact. HCPSS leaders answer a mix of personal and professional questions in an effort to let all employees get to know them better. Please use this form to nominate an HCPSS leader to be featured in the series.

Why did you choose to work in education?
My parents played a major role in my decision to work in education. My mom immigrated to the United States from Trinidad as an adult and always wanted her children to have the opportunities that she did. My dad was in the military and stressed the importance of service to others. Neither of my parents attended college but they stressed the importance of education. As a result I loved school and serving others, which is why I decided to be a social worker in a school setting.

What is your role within HCPSS?
As the coordinator of Social Work Services, I oversee the work of school social workers and manage the School-Based Mental Health Services Program. I work collaboratively with student services colleagues, administrators, and community partners to address and support the mental health needs of our students by expanding mental health services in schools.

What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
The best professional advice I've ever received is to always remain open to opportunities for growth no matter where you are in your career, and to treat everyone with respect.

What is something you like a lot that would surprise people?
I have a high sense of adventure. I once took pilot lessons and flew a small Cessna-style plane.

What is on your bucket list?
I love to travel. Traveling to as many countries as I can is on my bucket list.

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
The most interesting place I've ever been is Maho Beach in St. Maarten. St. Maarten is a small island with over 30 beautiful beaches, friendly people, and great food. The island also provides two different cultural experiences, as one side is Dutch and the other side is French. Maho Beach, in particular, is very interesting because it is so close to the airport that when the planes are landing, they fly so low to the beach that you feel like you could hit it with a rock! It's thrilling to experience! I would highly recommend visiting!

Do you know a fellow staff member who has gone above and beyond in supporting students with Individualized Education Programs (IEP)?

The Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) invites you to nominate a staff member for its 2nd Annual Gladiator Program, a special initiative recognizing HCPSS staff who have made a positive impact on a student with an IEP. The Gladiator Program is open to all HCPSS staff and contractors, including teachers, therapists, bus drivers, aides, administrators, media specialists, custodians and more.

Staff selected to receive the award will be celebrated at an event on June 3.

Submit your nomination through this Google Form by Friday, May 16.

Join in celebrating HCPSS Principal of the Year Lisa Smith (Hammond Middle School), and HCPSS’ Teachers of the Year Tyrone Page (Oakland Mills Middle School) and Natalie Pretzello (Hammond Middle School)! 

Each recipient was named during surprise visits at their respective schools, and will be recognized at an upcoming Howard County Board of Education meeting. The three also serve as the HCPSS nominees for Washington Post Principal of the Year, Washington Post Teacher of the Year (Page) and Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of the Year (Pretzello).

Learn more about these outstanding staff members online.

The HCPSS Get To Know series was created to help staff learn more about system leaders in schools and offices with whom they may not typically interact. HCPSS leaders answer a mix of personal and professional questions in an effort to let all employees get to know them better. Please use this form to nominate an HCPSS leader to be featured in the series.

Why did you choose to work in education?
I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a very young age. I had a love of learning and reading combined with the world's greatest kindergarten teacher. As I got older, my reason for sticking with education evolved. While I loved school and found a deep sense of belonging in the schools I attended, I realized that wasn't the same for everyone and hoped to change that for the students I worked with.

What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
During my first year of teaching, the TDL at my school (who became a close friend and mentor) gave me the advice to "find my marigolds" from an article published by the Cult of Pedagogy. Marigolds are people who are positive and encourage you and help you grow. I love sharing this article with new staff as a reminder to find people who will both push you and care for you.

I also have taken some of my best professional advice from the show Ted Lasso, specifically "be curious, not judgmental." Curiosity allows for deeper understanding, builds relationships, and helps escape the pitfall of making assumptions without knowing the entire story.

What is something you like a lot that would surprise people?
I love playing the various New York Times puzzle games and I'm a great baker!

What is on your bucket list?
There are a lot of countries I want to visit, especially Greece and Italy. My mom has always wanted to take a cruise to Alaska so I also would love to do that with her.

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
I was very lucky in high school to go on a trip where we explored both Spain and France. I would recommend anyone that has an opportunity to travel to another country and immerse themselves in a different culture and experience do so!

The 2025 National Board Certification (NBC) Scholarship is now open. This scholarship fully covers the cost of NBC candidacy.

For those ready to apply:

1. Attend an information session – This is the essential first step for all applicants.
2. Join the NBC Canvas community – Stay informed and supported.
3. Visit the Potential Candidates page – Access key information and step-by-step directions to complete your application.

Preferred deadline is May 16.

Application Questions: casey_schurman@hcpss.org | NBC Program Questions: jennifer_hlavka@hcpss.org

The following is shared on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education:

The Phones in Focus initiative is a non-partisan, research-based effort aimed at identifying the most effective school cell phone policies to support students' learning and overall wellness. By surveying principals and teachers about current phone use policies and enforcement strategies, the study will create a comprehensive state and national map of practices and link them to key student outcomes like academic achievement and attendance. Maryland has opted to participate in this national effort.

Phones in Focus needs your help answering a pressing question: How, specifically, should schools manage student cell phones to maximize learning and well-being? The Phones In Focus survey aims to change that by:

• Creating a statewide and national map of phone policies
• Connecting policies to academic and well-being outcomes to identify what
  works best and for whom

Take a few minutes to complete the online Phones in Focus survey. The survey closes Friday May 23.

Additional information:

• At the end of the survey, you’ll receive a real-time snapshot of how educators across the U.S. are answering the same questions
• Every educator who completes this survey is automatically entered into a weekly raffle ($100 for the educator and a $100 donation to the school). One educator will be chosen as the winner of the grand prize raffle: a gift basket that includes a $500 VISA gift card, a $500 donation to their school, personalized and signed copies of Mindset by Carol Dweck and Grit by Angela Duckworth, and a personalized professional development workshop or in-person school assembly with Angela Duckworth.
• All educators from schools where at least 5 educators complete the survey will be invited to an online, invitation-only professional development webinar on the science of self-regulation with Angela Duckworth in fall 2025.
   

This information has been updated to reflect the changes in the Low Performing Schools identified for the 2025-2026 school year following the vote at the April 9, 2025 Board of Education meeting.

Background

In 2021, the Maryland State Legislature passed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which raises the status of the teaching profession and encourages professional development through a performance-based Career Ladder with salaries comparable to those in other professional fields with similar education requirements. Through Blueprint, teacher salary progression and classroom performance will be linked to teacher achievement of National Board Certification (NBC).

Impacted Staff

In partnership, HCPSS and HCEA have determined this includes all staff who have the following workflows in the Frontline Employee Management and Evaluation System:

• Non-tenured teacher
• Tenured teacher
• Elementary library media specialist
• Infant and toddlers teacher

This includes all staff that have Student Learning Objectives.

It does not include staff who have the following workflows:

• Alternative education teacher
• Central office leader
• Instructional specialist
• Pupil personnel worker
• Related service provider
• School counselor
• Secondary library media specialist
• Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist
• Support teacher

NBCT Pay Increase Details

Teachers successfully completing the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification program (NBPTS), also known as National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs), who are not primarily responsible and accountable for teaching students in the classroom, shall receive an annual supplement of $2,000 each year their NBPTS certificate remains in good standing.

In accordance with the Blueprint law, teachers successfully completing the NBPTS, who are primarily responsible and accountable for teaching students in the classroom, shall receive an annual supplement of $10,000 each year their NBPTS certificate remains in good standing. To view these scales see the Board of Education/HCEA Master Agreement, Appendix B (this document will be updated when the master agreement is ratified).

Additionally, NBCTs who teach at schools that are low performing, as defined by the Blueprint law, shall receive an additional annual supplement of $7,000. The NBCT will continue to receive these monies even if the school ceases to be low-performing while the teacher is at the school and remains in an eligible position.

See the Master Agreement, Notes: Article 20, Salary Schedules (this document will be updated when the master agreement is ratified) for complete details.

NBCTs Working at a Low Performing School

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) created two categories of Low Performing School identification: 

• State Defined (Required) - schools identified as 1-star and 2-star schools in 2019 and 2022 accountability. HCPSS had no State Defined schools in 2022-2023 & 2023-2024. 
• Local Flexibility (Optional) - bottom 10% of local schools in the state accountability system. HCPSS does not have any Local Flexibility schools for the 2025-2026 school year.

The HCPSS schools designated as locally Low Performing Schools for the 2025-2026 school year are: 

• Harper’s Choice Middle School (State Defined)
• Lake Elkhorn Middle School (State Defined)

More information on the HCPSS NBC program can be found on Canvas.

Last month, HCPSS implemented adjustments to Board of Education Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media; specifically, guidelines pertaining to student use of personal devices during the school day.

! Share Your Feedback ! 
HCPSS staff are encouraged to provide input on implementation, and any impact they may have seen as a result. Please complete a brief online survey by Wednesday, April 16.

Staff input and reflections on the policy adjustments and implementation is crucial to help inform any necessary modifications moving forward.

More information is available online.