News

Why did you choose to work in education?
I wanted to assist in ensuring students received the appropriate services under the law. Working within a school system appeared to be the more effective route to support students and ensure required services were provided as opposed to suing school systems on behalf of individual students. Also, my father served on the school board throughout my education and handed me my diploma as his last act as a Board member.

What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
Always keep the interest of the students at the forefront of any discussions as the business of the school system is to educate the students.

What is something you like a lot that would surprise people?
Rooting for Tottenham Hotspur, English Premier League, and playing Premier League Fantasy Football.

What is on your bucket list?
To visit presidential birthplaces and libraries throughout the United States.

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
The Cathedral of Bones in Evora, Portugal. The country is beautiful; the Cathedral is a bit creepy, but extremely interesting to see.

The attached letter serves as notification, as required by law, of the availability for public review of AsbestosManagement Plans for Howard County Public Schools.

For additional information, contact the HCPSS Office of the Environment at 410-313-8874.

Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires users to enter multiple sources of authentication before being granted access to their account. Beginning last school year, HCPSS has been actively implementing MFA across the district. Staff are receiving messages notifying them of mandatory MFA enrollment when they login.

While staff who were not already enrolled were provided additional time to due to summer break, staff currently not enrolled in MFA will begin to see the number of days left to enroll shrink to zero in the coming weeks. Once the timeline runs out, staff will not be able to log in to systems until they enroll. Staff are encouraged to use the instructions to self enroll prior to their window closing. 

Direct questions to TechSupport@hcpss.org.

The Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching (FFT) has been updated by the Danielson Group and better reflects the values and commitments prioritized in the HCPSS Strategic Call to Action and the HCPSS Equity Framework. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, HCPSS will use the updated FFT as the foundation for teacher evaluation and conversations about teaching and learning.

HCPSS will provide school-based learning sessions in every building during the 2023 August in-service week, and the content will be embedded in curriculum sessions during Professional Learning Days. There additionally will be optional school-based and systemic professional learning opportunities throughout the year. 

What’s the same: 

• Organization and structure (Four Domains, 22 Components, Rubrics describing levels of Performance) 
• Evaluation models and processes

What Has Changed? 

• The language used to describe teaching and learning shifts at the domain, component and element level. 

HCPSS, HCEA and HCASA support these changes as it better uplifts and clarifies racial equity, social and emotional learning, sense of belonging for all students, and culturally responsive pedagogy. 

Employees who wish to review the FFT updates prior to August in-service can learn more on the Danielson Framework for Teaching Canvas page, part of the HCPSS Employee Evaluation Canvas community.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore on June 14, 2023, named Wilde Lake High School student Abisola Ayoola as the 2023-2024 Maryland State Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). Ayoola was selected as a finalist in November during the Maryland Association of Student Councils annual Legislative Session attended by over 300 student leaders from across the state.

Ayoola served as the Howard County Board of Education SMOB during the 2022-2023 school year, during which time she amplified student voice between the thousands of students in the school system and school system leaders. She will be a senior during the 2023-2024 school year and is active in her school where she is a part of several clubs, including student government, class council, Rise Up mentorship, and Active Minds, which supports student mental health. She additionally is a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society.

Full Release: Howard County’s Abisola Ayoola Named Maryland State Student Member of the Board
 

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!
 

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.