News

The free weekly virtual yoga sessions offered on Wednesdays by Bluebird Yoga and Wellness are on hiatus for the summer. Sessions will resume in September 2026.

As you prepare for the end of the school year, please review the below staff technology reminders. 

Staff who will not be returning to work for HCPSS next school year:

• Staff who are leaving and are assigned HCPSS devices, including laptops, cell phones and tablets, must return those devices to HCPSS by their last day of employment. Devices can be returned to the school’s library media specialist or elementary technology teacher, or taken to the Logistics Center 9645 Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Staff devices collected by offices or schools should be returned to the Technology Department. A Halo Pickup/Move ticket should be entered indicating what devices are being returned and where they are being securely stored. 
  • Staff who will not return next school year but will continue to work in a temporary capacity over the summer (summer programs) may return their device(s) at the conclusion of their temporary assignment.
• Active Directory accounts will be suspended once a person no longer works for HCPSS. Staff who are leaving who wish to have copies of non proprietary materials they created, in Google, O365 or other, must download the files prior to their last day of work. Access will not be provided after their account is suspended. They must not take proprietary or confidential information including documents containing student personally identifiable information (PII) .

Temporary Staff

• Daily substitute teachers and other temporary staff who are not working over the summer should return their assigned device and charger to the Library Media Specialist, Elementary Technology Teacher or Technology Support at the Central Office so that they may be returned to the Logistics Center.  A Halo Pickup/Move ticket should be entered indicating what devices are being returned and where they are being securely stored. 

Staff Support Over the Summer 

• If issues arise with your HCPSS-issued technology over the summer, call 410-313-7004 or email techsupport@hcpss.org.
• Store your assigned computer so that it will not be damaged, and take appropriate precautions to prevent damage, loss or theft. Report any damage immediately by calling 410-313-7004 or email techsupport@hcpss.org. 

Multi-factor Authentication Reminder

• Staff who replace their mobile phone over the summer and use it for Duo MFA should use the directions under the heading “I lost, replaced, or don’t have my mobile device or security key…” to remove their old phone and add their new phone to MFA.

Questions may be directed to Technology Support at TechSupport@hcpss.org or 410.313.7004.

The salary payment option update timeframe will be June 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026. This annual opportunity allows 10-month employees who would like to change their current election to select either a 10-month or 12-month salary option for the upcoming school year. Eligible employees will receive a Workday notification to perform the update.

Please note:

• If you wish to continue your current pay option, NO action is required.
• If you wish to change your current pay option, the salary payment option election must be completed no later than July 31, 2026. Please note that Workday will be updated with your new pay option no sooner than August 13, 2026.

Employees can find their current pay option in Workday, following these directions:

1. Log into Workday (Staff Hub > Services dropdown > Workday)
2. Select your profile picture at the far right and then select view profile
3. Select Job from the left side blue navigation menu
4. Select the Organizations tab at the top
5. Your current pay option displays in the first line 
    

Employees can now view their personalized Total Rewards Statement in Workday. This statement provides a comprehensive view of the full value of your employment with HCPSS; including base salary, employer paid benefits, FICA, and pension contributions. Within Workday, you can review a personalized breakdown that includes:

• Total Compensation (base pay and any applicable incentives)
• Employer-Paid Benefits (such as health insurance and benefits credits)
• Employer Contributions to FICA
• Employer Contributions to your pension

Together, these elements represent your Total Rewards, giving you a clearer picture of the overall value you receive as part of your employment.

To view your statement:

1. Log in to Workday
2. Navigate to your profile
3. Select the “Compensation” section
4. Click on “Total Rewards”

We encourage you to take a few minutes to review your statement and better understand the full scope of your total compensation. For questions about your compensation, please contact humanresources@hcpss.org, for questions about your benefits please contact benefits@hcpss.org, for questions about employer contribution to FICA, please contact payroll@hcpss.org, and for questions about employer contribution to your pension, please contact HRRetirement@hcpss.org.

Several circulars recently have been posted/updated:

• #0004 – Policies 1070, 3000 & 9050; Updates for 7070 IP & 8080 IP
• #0005 – Campaign Activities by Staff on School Property
• #0011 – Religious Cultural Observances 2026-2027
• #4003 – 2026-2027 Furnishing School Book Covers

HCPSS circulars are to share information when that information is needed by staff systemwide and is not specific to a particular school/location or position/job class. All HCPSS staff are responsible for adhering to the guidelines and procedures outlined in the circulars. Circulars are released on July 1, and subsequently as needed throughout the year. When a circular is added or updated, staff will be notified via Staff Hub post/email. 

Circulars are available anytime in Canvas (staff login required), which can be accessed from the Staff Hub under the Services dropdown menu, or Hub homepage Featured Applications button.

Several new features are now available in theLightspeed Parent Portal that increase parental oversight at home. Parents/Guardians can now create internet activity schedules, block specific groups of websites and create a custom block list. As a reminder, settings created by parents in the portal are active when students are logged into HCPSS Chromebooks off the school system’s network. Learn about all the features of the Lightspeed Parent Portal on the HCPSS website and direct parents to the website to learn how they can sign up.  

As a reminder, Lightspeed Classroom is a software application that allows teachers, during specified timeframes, to control how a student uses their HCPSS-issued Chromebook, including viewing student screens, sharing resources, locking devices, reviewing class activity, and restricting some non-instructional sites. Teachers who wish to use the tool must complete the required Classroom Management professional learning module to ensure compliance with student data privacy policies and access, and learn how to use the application.

Recognition and Support for Maintenance of National Board Certification

The information below reflects changes in the Low Performing Schools identified for the 2026-2027 school year following the vote at the Jan. 29, 2026, Board of Education meeting, and supersedes any previous details shared.

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

NBCTs staying or moving to a Low Performing School will receive an additional $7,000 added to their salary. As long as they stay at that school, an NBCT will continue to earn the salary increase, even if the school shows improvement and is no longer identified as 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 that are not alternative schools. 
• Local Flexibility (Optional) - bottom 10% of local schools in the state accountability system..

The HCPSS schools designated as locally Low Performing Schools for the 2026-2027 school year are: 

• Cedar Lane School (State Defined)

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

HCPSS Superintendent William J. Barnes today announced the recipients of the school system’s annual principal and teachers of the year award:

• Principal of the Year: Dan Notari, Cradlerock Elementary
• Teacher of the Year: Samantha Mathis, West Friendship Elementary School
• Teacher of the Year: Kacy Valentine, Lake Elkhorn 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 (Mathis) and Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of the Year (Valentine).

Congratulations to these outstanding employees, and all those nominated!

This is a reminder that staff IDs must be worn and visible at all times while inside all HCPSS buildings. The intent is for all staff to be easily identified by students, visitors, and other staff throughout the day. 

Please note: 

• IDs should be worn on a lanyard or clipped to clothing so it can be easily seen. 
• IDs should not be covered, turned around, or placed in a pocket, bag, or desk. 

These expectations support safety, accountability, and the ability to quickly identify authorized individuals in our buildings. 

Additional information on obtaining a staff ID can be found online. 

Thank you for helping ensure our school and office environments remain safe and secure. 

HCPSS staff have access to systemic well-being programming, made possible through the HCPSS Employee Well-Being Program. AETNA provides funding to support this program. These opportunities include:

Weekly Livestreaming Yoga Class

HCPSS staff can join the livestreaming “Yoga Flow & Restore" class every Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m., using this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 865 9872 9492 and Passcode: 590493). Classes will be recorded and accessible online using case-sensitive password – BlueBirdforHCPSS – so staff can access them any time – whether individually or in a group setting.

Nervous System Regulation Videos

These monthly on-demand videos provide staff with self-regulation practices to use during the workday and evening wind-down practices. The March videos are available now:

• In the Moment Nervous System Reset: Try one of these quick grounding strategies if you are feeling stressed in the middle of your workday? Each strategy will help guide you to return to the present moment, providing a tool to help move from stress to self-regulation.
• Evening Wind Down: After a stressful, active day, it can be difficult to fall asleep. The body can feel charged and tense, and the mind might be filled with racing thoughts. Taking a few minutes to intentionally wind down—both physically and mentally—can help release built-up tension, calm the nervous system, and quiet the mind, making it easier to drift into deep, restorative sleep.