Do you like to sing? The HCPSS Employee Chorus is a unique opportunity to use your voice and connect with colleagues from across the county! Please watch the short video below and register if you are interested.
When the doors open to New High School #13 for students in August 2023, one of the first smiling faces students will see is that of Principal Josh Wasilewski, who by then will have been waiting an entire year to welcome his students into their new school.
“I can’t wait to welcome students through the door on the first day of school. For these students and families, I want this to be a positive experience and I am excited to work with them to establish our school’s culture, community, traditions, and, most importantly, the school spirit and pride that will infuse everything we do,” Wasilewski said.
Wasilewski, who has been with HCPSS since 2001, brings a wealth of experience to his role as principal of High School #13 (name to be determined), having served as a teacher at Mayfield Woods Middle School, Assistant Principal at Patuxent Valley and Wilde Lake middle schools, and Principal at Murray Hill Middle School and Long Reach High School. Much of Wasilewski’s career has been spent in the eastern portion of the county in the Elkridge, Savage and Laurel areas—it’s a community close to his heart and he’s excited to be part of that community once again.
As a principal, Wasilewski is committed to providing all students with the opportunities, resources and skills needed to excel in a dynamic world. Critical to this vision is creating a culture centered on equity, cultural responsiveness, high-quality instruction and engagement of all members of his school community.
“I have tremendous faith in Mr. Wasilewski and I am thrilled for him to serve as the Principal of High School #13,” said HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano. “He was the HCPSS 2019 Principal of the Year because he is a great collaborator and community builder and I look forward to him welcoming staff, students and families for the 2023-2024 school year. This new high school community is fortunate to have the type of inclusive and energetic leadership that Mr. Wasilewski provides.”
Aside from his professional experience, Wasilewski draws on personal experience related to opening a new school. His daughter was one of the first students to attend her high school in Anne Arundel County when it opened in 2020, so he understands firsthand the apprehension—and the excitement—students might feel in coming to High School #13.
While waiting to learn which families will be attending High School #13, Wasilewski has been working to ensure the school will meet its students’ needs, including plenty of open spaces for collaboration. From meeting regularly with the architect and the builder to make sure the instructional areas were designed correctly, to picking out fabric and ordering furniture for the school, Wasilewski has been busy and often shares photos of the school’s progress on Twitter and Instagram.
In addition to the physical space at the school, Wasilewski is most excited about the chance to build a new community alongside these students and develop a sense of school pride. The students who attend High School #13 will have an opportunity to leave their mark by establishing traditions and helping to choose the mascot. Parents will play a role in establishing traditions, too, by setting up the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association and booster clubs.
Wasilewski has messages ready to send to new students and families and has meetings planned for students and parents/guardians to get to know him. Meeting his students and hearing their input, as well as that of their families, will be Wasilewski’s focus over the next several months.
“I’m excited, not just for next year, but for these next couple of months where I can finally meet with students and have them be a part of creating the community at High School #13. I can’t wait to experience all the firsts alongside these incoming classes and most importantly, I can’t wait to see the first graduates from this school walk across the stage when the time comes,” Wasilewski said. “I want students and families to be just as excited about all the possibilities that are waiting for them.”
! WARNING! To trick people into responding, scammers sometimes use publicly available information to send text messages to employees using an unfamiliar phone number and claiming to be someone of importance in the organization. During the ongoing text exchange, the attacker attempts to get the recipient’s personal information or get the recipient to purchase gift cards. If you suspect a text to be fraudulent, do not proceed with the directions provided in the text.
Below is an example of a common text message using this trick.
Employees may want to review and limit their mobile contact sharing settings on social media apps. Attackers often use social media to associate victims' cell phone numbers with their employers to conduct these attacks. Fraudulent activity can be reported to wireless providers by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM).
After three years as the defensive coordinator for Wilde Lake High School’s JV football team, Chantal Thacker stepped into a new role this year as the team’s head coach. Thacker, who teaches science at WLHS and plays linebacker for the D.C. Divas football team, is the first female head football coach in Howard County.
We are excited to launch a new "Get to Know" feature and who better to start with than our Superintendent, Dr. Martirano! Look for more HCPSS leaders and staff in the future - and be sure to check out the Get to Know with Dr. Martirano on the HCPSS Instagram.
Why did you choose to work in education?
I am driven as the day is long to help those who are less fortunate and those who need additional support. It is my guiding tenet of life. By choosing to work in education, it has afforded me the opportunity to do meaningful and powerful work everyday for our young people. I am the grandson of an Italian immigrant who was a coal miner and a stone mason. I was always told that hard work, persistence and getting an education would be the key to a productive future. My guiding focus has always been to unlock all the educational opportunities for every young person so their dreams and aspirations can be realized. It is my North Star.
What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
Always be compassionate, kind and do all you can to support students who need additional care and support. Never lose sight of your "why" and be intentional and authentic in all that you do.
What is an unpopular thing that you like a lot?
I am a foodie for sure. I like many different foods and I have an affinity for robust, strong flavorful olives, peppers, capers and cheese.
What is on your bucket list?
I would like to do a Ted Talk or host my own Podcast.
What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
By far, Rome, Italy. I spent 5 days there a few years ago and barely scratched the surface. The culture, the connections to my family lineage, the deep and rich history were beyond intriguing and had me wanting for more.
Tell us something that others might not know about you.
I have 5 beautiful grandchildren and they are the joy of my life.
Jeff Fink has been principal of Oakland Mills High School since 2018 and is Howard County’s 2022 Principal of the Year. While Fink’s path to becoming a principal wasn’t straightforward, he draws on his life experience to support his students where they are and push them to succeed.
HCPSS is actively implementing multi-factor authentication across the district. MFA is a security measure that requires users to enter multiple sources of authentication before being granted access to their account.
Implementation is currently ongoing in Phase 1 of 2 :
Phase 1: Voluntary Enrollment – Staff can now actively enroll their HCPSS credentials and leverage the enhanced security of MFA. Voluntary enrollment provides time to become familiar with the authentication process and help minimize any disruptions to staff member’s daily workflow.
Phase 2: Mandatory Enrollment – HCPSS will provide a firm date when MFA enforcement will be mandatory soon. Once mandatory enrollment is enforced, supervisors will be notified of staff that are out of compliance. Additionally, access to some HCPSS systems may become restricted.
! Call to Action !
Learn more about Duo MFA on the Technology Resources Canvas community and start using the new system today. During the process, staff who are currently using MFA via Microsoft Authenticator will be able to discontinue its use.
If after reviewing the resource you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org.
The attached letter serves as notification, as required by law, of the availability for public review of Asbestos Management Plans for Howard County Public Schools.
For additional information, contact the Office of the Environment at 410-313-8874.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and HCPSS is increasing our resiliency in combating cybersecurity threats. In the coming weeks and months the Department of Information Technology will be implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) system-wide. MFA is a security measure that requires users to enter multiple sources of authentication before being granted access to their account.
Some staff are currently enrolled in Microsoft Office 365 MFA. In order to increase functionality and the number of systems protected by MFA, HCPSS is sunsetting Microsoft MFA and implementing Duo MFA. Although enrollment in MFA is initially voluntary, enrollment will soon be mandatory. Staff are encouraged to get an early start on securing their account.
! Call to Action !
Learn more about Duo MFAon the Technology Resources Canvas community and start using the new system today. During the process, staff who are currently using MFA via Microsoft Authenticator will be able to discontinue its use.
If after reviewing the resource you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org.
Working with the Maryland State Department of Labor, HCPSS can enable employees to apprentice with trained HCPSS HVAC technicians and complete the 8,000 hours of on-the-job training required to earn a state license.
Select the link below to learn more about the program, including how one employee completed both the courses and on-the-job training required to become an HVAC technician–all while continuing his work at HCPSS.