News

Staff should be aware of the following information:

HCPSS has partnered with Bonfire Interactive, a Euna Solutions company, to create a new procurement portal that will allow HCPSS staff to receive notifications on contracts that they manage, submit intake requests for solicitations, and conduct evaluations of RFP/IFB documents digitally.

The Office of Purchasing is currently in the implementation process with Bonfire. As current contracts are loaded into the new system, the staff responsible for managing the contracts will receive an email from Bonfire. The Bonfire email will provide notice of the contract being added and the ability for HCPSS staff to sign on and review the associated contract documentation. The system also will send out alerts periodically to these staff when actions need to be taken regarding these contracts.

HCPSS staff also may submit intake requests for formal solicitations that are required by Board of Education Policy 4050 Procurement of Goods and/or Services. To submit an intake request, please visit https://hcpss.bonfirehub.com/login, select “Create a Requestor account,” sign on with your HCPSS credentials, and complete the required fields for the solicitation. The Office of Purchasing will assign the request to a Procurement Specialist who will reach out to the requesting staff to move forward with the solicitation.

Questions may be directed to Office of Purchasing at 410-313-6644 or by email at purchasing@hcpss.org.  
 

HCPSS employees and their dependents have access to free professional confidential counseling and support services to manage their needs. This program can connect you to resources including confidential emotional support, financial information, legal guidance, work-life solutions, online will preparation, and much more. 

Employees and family members can receive up to six free counseling sessions per person, per episode, per year. See attached for more information and/or watch this brief orientation video. (Please note, video is third-party sponsored and does not provide subtitles/closed captions.)

Create an account by visiting guidanceresources.com. Click on the “register” tab and use the Organization Web ID: HCPSS. GuidanceResources provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a toll-free nationwide number, 1-888-532-7874 and (TDD) 1-800-697-0353.

All employees should be advised of the risks associated with reusing account credentials due to credential harvesting. 

Credential harvesting is a type of cyberattack in which the malicious actor acquires usernames, login IDs, and passwords that are stored by online website providers or web-based applications, and then uses those credentials to impersonate the victim. Harvested username/password pairs can be automatically fed into the login pages of other websites and web-based applications to gain unauthorized access to the account.

! Call to Action ! 

1. Do not use your HCPSS username and/or password to enroll, register, or sign into any personal or non-HCPSS websites or online applications, including but not limited to your personal social media, financial or retail websites.

2. Enable MFA on your HCPSS account and your personal computing accounts that offer the service such as Facebook, Gmail, and Apple ID.

3. Create strong passwords and do not reuse them for other systems. Learn what makes a strong password by reviewing EFF Super-Secure Password. 

4. Make sure your family and friends do not use your work devices and do not share your HCPSS credentials with anyone.

 If assistance is needed, contact Technology Support at TechSupport@hcpss.org.

Jen Robinson is the HCPSS Community Superintendent for Area 2 schools.

Why did you choose to work in education?
During my senior year in high school, I worked with students with cognitive and physical disabilities as a student aide. I fell in love with the special education field of study and there was no turning back!

What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
I was always told by my parents that if you are invited to the table, be sure to speak up; otherwise there is no point in you being there. I definitely internalized that and have always kept that in mind in the different roles I have had throughout the years.

What is something you like a lot that would surprise people?
Getting up early. I love waking up no later than 5 a.m. to start my days! Even on weekends!

What is on your bucket list?
Going to Italy and Ireland … I truly look forward to traveling!

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
I really enjoyed the Carnaval de Quebec (Old Quebec City, Ontario, Canada)! French culture is unique, the brick paved streets lined with quaint shops and restaurants are beautiful, and the town is filled with fire pits, hockey rinks and street performers. There is also an ice hotel right outside of town that is such a unique experience!
 

The Office of Human Resources is excited to announce a change in process for Tuition Reimbursement. While developing the new process, our office implemented improvements based upon feedback from employees.

The new process for tuition reimbursement allows for multiple employee benefits including:

• Faster approval and reimbursement times
• Self-service visibility of expense report status
• Decrease in employees costs associated with official transcript requests
• Automated routing for course approval

Before employees decide to participate in tuition reimbursement with HCPSS, we encourage review of their respective negotiated agreement and the tuition Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to ensure they understand the submission requirements and timelines.

The steps of the new process are outlined below. Employees should use these steps to request reimbursement for all coursework for which they have not already been reimbursed.

Note: Use the following instructions to view courses that have previously been reimbursed or are in the reimbursement process. THESE REQUESTS DO NOT NEED TO BE RE-SUBMITTED.

Before Your Course Begins:

1. Determine if you require course Pre-Approval- The employee groups listed below are required to receive course approval BEFORE the course begins. Note: If you do not know your bargaining unit, you can view this information in Workday by selecting your picture in the top right-hand corner, “View Profile”, select Job from the blue navigation pane and select Organizations. Locate your employee group under Bargaining Unit Type.
   1. All employees within the HCEA-ESP bargaining unit- i.e. paraeducators, student assistants, liaisons, secretaries, etc.
   2. All employees within the AFSCME bargaining unit- i.e. custodians, maintenance, grounds, etc.
   3. Licensed Professionals within the HCEA bargaining unit- i.e. occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, etc.
2. Yes- Complete Tuition Pre Approval - If you fall within a required group outlined above, you will need to complete course approval to be eligible for reimbursement at the conclusion of your course. Employees should submit this request using the Service Request System which is accessible from the Staff Hub. Use the following instructions to complete the request: Tuition Reimbursement Pre-approval
3. No- No action is required before your course begins. Follow the steps outlined for after your course is complete to submit for reimbursement.

After Your Course is Complete:

4. Gather Required Documents for Submission- The documents required for submission will vary depending on the type of reimbursement you are submitting and your bargaining unit. You should be prepared to provide the following:
   1. Tuition Reimbursement Request Form- This is required for all reimbursement requests.
   2. Unofficial Transcript or Grade Report- Document from the educational institution that shows the student’s name, coursework, issued grade, number of credits, and the start and end date of the course(s) for which you are requesting reimbursement. This can usually be downloaded from your student account once the course is completed. (Required for College Credit Hour Reimbursement)
   3. Proof of Tuition Cost- Itemized student statement, receipt or bill issued from the educational institution which shows the student’s name, course(s) name, number of credits, cost of tuition by credit hour. (Required for College Credit Hour, CPD, and CEU Reimbursement)
   4. Proof of Payment- Student account statement from the educational institution, personal credit card statement, bank statement or cleared check showing payment of tuition. (Required for College Credit Hour, CPD, and CEU Reimbursement)
   5. CPD Credit Form- Document from showing participation and completion of the CPD course, signed by both the instructor and professional development liaison. (CPD Reimbursement)
   6. Certificate of Completion- Document from the educational institution or instructor showing participation and completion of the course (CEU Reimbursement).
   7. Course Approval Form- Completed PDF showing pre-approval of the course or program completed using the Service Request System referenced in #2 above. (College Credit Reimbursement for HCEA-ESP and AFSCME employees and CEU Reimbursement for HCEA employees) Note: If you received course approval using the paper form for a recently completed or on-going course, please submit that document with your reimbursement.
5. Submit Expense Reimbursement for Tuition Reimbursement- All employees seeking reimbursement will be required to submit an expense report in Workday with the correct documents within 60 days of course completion to be considered for reimbursement. Use the following instructions to complete the request: Create an Expense Report for Tuition Reimbursement.

Once you have submitted your reimbursement, any communication regarding required changes will occur directly in the Workday system. To check on the status of your reimbursement, return to the Expenses application in the Recent Expense Reports section.

We understand that HCPSS employees appreciate the ability to independently determine the status of requests and to answer questions using pre-developed documentation. Our office has developed many resources for your review to support this change. Please use these resources to answer any questions you may have about the process. All other inquiries may be sent to humanresources@hcpss.org.

Workday Community-Expenses-Tuition Reimbursement

Tuition Reimbursement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

More information regarding types of documentation required for reimbursement types: 
College Credit Hours Reimbursement 
Continuing Education Units 
Continuing Professional Development Credits

Did you know there's a Canvas page for staff retirement celebration announcements? They are shared from the HCPSS Communications Canvas, and can easily be accessed by going to the Staff Hub and scrolling down to Resources > Communications > Retirement Announcements.

Notices of celebrations of HCPSS employees who are retiring AND that are open to anyone wishing to attend should be emailed to communications@hcpss.org with the following:

• Who: Name of employee(s) being celebrated
• When: Date and time
• Where: Location, including address
• Cost: If applicable
• RSVP: If applicable, to whom and how

Why did you choose to work in education?
My teachers, at all grade levels, had a profound impact on my social-emotional and academic well-being. They were there to provide sanctuary as I worked through the trauma associated with domestic violence, abuse and substance abuse at home. They provided the knowledge, skills and experiences that helped to lead me out of that darkness and on to college, where I committed to being part of the community of educators, driven to help all students, but especially those experiencing trauma or who needed additional support to achieve success.
 

What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
A mentor gave me the best piece of advice early in my career. She said that it was important to truly know oneself. To understand, and to be able to articulate, your purpose, your values, your beliefs and goals. She said that this understanding would serve as my north star, a guiding light that would help me with the difficult decisions that I would inevitably face. So, essentially, know yourself and be true to yourself.
 

What is on your bucket list?
I would like to see more of the world with my wife, Page, and my daughter, Abby. Alaska and Hawaii are on the list!
 

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
Seven years ago, our family went on a European vacation. Our favorite place was Florence, Italy. We were awestruck by the architecture and art museums. We visited churches, climbed domes, saw works by Michelangelo, biked in Tuscany, watched European futbol, and enjoyed trying out the Italian language every time we were in a store or restaurant.
 

What is one hobby that you enjoy that you think would surprise people at work? 
When my mom passed away at the age of 53, it was a sobering reminder that life is short and that each moment is precious. I had always wanted to learn how to play guitar. So, I bought a guitar and taught myself how to play through books and YouTube videos. When we moved to our current home, I was fortunate enough to meet neighbors who also played (only better). So, we formed a band called “Barely Audible” and we have headlined many of our backyard picnics with renditions of our favorite songs.

The Technology Department recently added an additional HCPSS Wi-Fi network called HCPSS-Enterprise.  

Android and Apple cell phone users can join the HCPSS-Enterprise network. Review the guide for joining an Android device or iOS device to Wi-Fi to learn the proper settings to apply when adding the network to your device.   

If you have additional questions, please contact Technology Support at 410-313-7004 or send an email to techsupport@hcpss.org.

! WARNING! To trick people into providing their HCPSS credentials, attackers sometimes create a spoof, or copy, of the official HCPSS login pages, including the page with the Digital Citizenship Pledge and the Office 365/Email page.  

All employees should be advised that we have noticed an increase in phishing attacks. Employees are reminded they should read all emails with a healthy level of suspicion, even those sent from @hcpss.org email addresses or that have the name of an HCPSS employee.  

Please note: 

• HCPSS does not email employees telling them that their password is expiring and to click a link. Instead, HCPSS would notify you that your password needs to be changed upon login.   
• If a link directs you to a login page and you are unsure if it is the official HCPSS site, close the window and navigate to the appropriate login page on the Staff Hub or hcpss.me websites. You may be able to identify a spoofed page by looking at the login screen’s URL.  

To defend yourself against these cybercriminals sign up for multi-factor authentication today by following the directions on the Technology Resources community in Canvas. 

Employees are encouraged to forward any suspected HCPSS phishing emails to abuse@hcpss.org, and then delete the message. Spam text messages can be reported by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM). If assistance is still needed, contact the Technology Support at TechSupport@hcpss.org or 410-313-7004.

Congratulations to the 76 teachers who achieved certification in December 2022—22 first-time achievers and 54 who renewed their certification!

National Board Certification (NBC) is the highest-level credential in the educational profession. Teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, self-assessment, peer review and expert evaluation.

Howard County is among the top five Maryland districts by historical number of NBCTs, with a total of 212 teachers who have achieved national certification. HCPSS is also among the top five Maryland districts for the number of current National Board candidates, with more than 400 teachers pursuing certification.

HCPSS educators interested in pursuing their National Board Certification should join the HCPSS NBC Canvas community to learn more about SY23-24 cohort opportunities and contact Jennifer Hlavka with any questions.

The newly certified achievers are:

• Catherine Baruah, Reading Specialist, Longfellow Elementary School
• Karina Borkowski, Teacher – Secondary English, Howard High School
• Victoria Borowy, Grade 1, St. John’s Lane Elementary
• Jenna Boule, Kindergarten, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary
• Monica Bunai, Secondary English, Long Reach High School
• Julia Carter, Secondary English, Howard High School
• Beth Ceglia, Secondary Social Studies, Clarksville Middle School
• Allison Deacon, Secondary Mathematics, Oakland Mills High School
• Stephanie Hastings, Library Media Specialist, Lisbon Elementary School
• Samantha Hendershot. Secondary Mathematics, Glenelg High School
• Melissa Kiehl, Gifted & Talented Resource Teacher, Mt. Hebron High School
• Katherine McNamara, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Hammond High School
• Laura Nelson, Health Education, Oakland Mills High School
• Nancy Paik, Grade 1, Elkridge Elementary School
• Christina Renoud, Elementary ESOL, Stevens Forest Elementary School
• Shannon Ryan. Secondary English, Howard High School
• Kate Sandoval, Elementary Math Specialist, Bollman Bridge Elementary School
• Jamie Saperstein. Kindergarten, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School
• Courtney Shoemaker, Grade 3, Waterloo Elementary School
• Kylie Spencer, Kindergarten, Bushy Park Elementary School
• Ben Townsend, Secondary English, Wilde Lake High School
• Emily Warner, Reading Specialist, Howard High School

A complete list of newly certified and renewal achievers can be found online.