This Thursday, Jan. 9, is Team BCPS Day! -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, January 6, 2025

Why are you proud to be #BCPSBlue?

Tell us on Team BCPS Day, Thursday, January 9

Every year on Team BCPS Day, the entire community is invited to wear blue and post photos on social media using #BCPSBlue. For 2025, the focus will be celebrating the many reasons why students, teachers, staff, schools, offices, and community partners are proud to be #BCPSBlue.

To support your engagement, printable templates and social media templates are available online.

Awards will be presented for distinguished participation, including Best Alumni Pride, Best Large Group Photo, Most Fun Classroom Photo, and much more.

Let's take the opportunity of Team BCPS Day to toot our own horns and share the many ways that we engage, empower, and excel.

53 BCPS teachers achieved, 10 renewed their National Board Certification in 2024

163 National Board Certified Teachers now serve BCPS students

Fifty-three Baltimore County Public Schools teachers achieved and 10 BCPS teachers renewed their National Board Certification in December 2024.

To achieve National Board Certification from The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the highest certification a teacher may obtain, teachers must successfully complete a rigorous, performance-based, peer-review process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement. To preserve Board certification, teachers must complete a Maintenance of Certification process every five years.

“Becoming Board certified is one of many ways that our teachers continually advance their skills and effectiveness,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “While BCPS now has 163 Board certified teachers, 58 percent of these certifications were first earned in the last few years: 13 in 2022, 29 in 2023, and now 53 in 2024. This rapid rise in Board certification reflects the additional supports this administration offers to assist teachers who undertake the arduous process.”

The list of teachers who earned and renewed their National Board Certification in 2024 can be found in a recent news release. They will be honored during a pinning ceremony this spring. For more information about the BCPS National Board Certification Support Program, please contact Jill Snell, manager of employee development, at jsnell@bcps.org.

Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget Presentation

Monday, January 13, at 9 a.m.

George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204

Please join BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers as she presents her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget and outlines the work of the school system to fast-forward the academic progress of 110,000 students. Limited seating will be available in person. The presentation will also be livestreamed on the BCPS YouTube channel.

Why I Teach: Abigail Karey, Maiden Choice School

In this episode of "Why I Teach," Abigail Karey, a vocational / life skills special educator at Maiden Choice School, shares her commitment to nurturing and supporting her students.

Nomination process to open soon for School Counselor of the Year

The Baltimore County Association for Counseling and Development seeks nominations from BCPS employees, parents, and students for School Counselor of the Year 2024-25 awards. The nominated school counselors should demonstrate effective leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to address students’ academic and social/emotional development, and the nominees should meaningfully contribute to the school counseling profession. Winners of the School Counselor of the Year awards will be considered for statewide honors from the Maryland School Counselor Association. Nominations will be accepted from Tuesday, January 21, through Friday, March 14.

Nominations are sought for:

Rookie School Counselor of the Year (with less than five years' experience)
School Counselor of the Year (with at least five consecutive years' experience)
School Counseling Advocate of the Year (A BCPS administrator, teacher, support staff, parent, or community member who consistently advocates for and supports the critical work of school counselors)

For more information, contact MaatenRe Ramin or Jen Abbe at 443-809-0291.

Stay informed this winter! Please review important information on our school closing and emergency procedures. As a reminder, decisions regarding school operations are made by 5:30 a.m. Learn more on the BCPS website or by watching a video.

Around the county

Randallstown High School held its Third Annual Career and Technical Education Fair. More than 40 businesses, including trade programs, military branches, Baltimore County Police Dept., and Baltimore County Fire Dept., participated. Students had the opportunity to learn more about many career opportunities.

At Watershed Public Charter School, the week before winter break was Hibernation Week. Special guests included representatives of Arts for Learning Maryland, Irvine Nature Center, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. During the week, students made hibernation hovels, learned about things to see in the night sky, and dressed like animals that hibernate.

School counselors at Lyons Mills Elementary School shared useful information about resources and positive affirmations with the families of its PreKindergarten students.

County library's Winter Reading Challenge offers free basketball game tickets

Students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 can win prizes for participating in Baltimore County Public Library's Winter Reading Challenge.

The challenge runs through Friday, January 31, and details are available online and at all county public library branches. Students who read for at least 400 minutes will receive special pompom beanies while supplies last. All students who complete the 400 minutes will receive a complimentary ticket to a Towson University basketball game as well as discounted tickets for friends and family.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Parent University Lunch & Learn Workshop: “Who You Gonna Call? Not Ghostbusters”

Friday, January 10, at 12:30 p.m.

This virtual session, presented by the Center for Family Success, will explore how to find needed answers, contacts, and clarity. Participants will learn how to resolve their questions with the right person in a productive way. Registration required.

Meet the Parent University Face of the Month

You might know her voice. Antonette Gause, administrative secretary, is the person behind the friendly “hello” answering questions when you call or visit the BCPS administrative building. A new FACE of the Month feature introduces the woman whose job is more than just answering phones.

Please share your feedback on the BCPS and Title I Family Engagement Plan

BCPS invites family and community members to participate in the annual review of the BCPS and Title I District Level Family Engagement Plan and the Board of Education Family Engagement Policy 1270. Please take a few minutes to review and send feedback .

for your viewing pleasure

Collage by Daniel Ukah, Ridge Ruxton School. This artwork is featured in the Every Artist, Every Voice Adaptive Art Exhibition on display at the Towson University StarTUp at the Armory.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Make a New Year's resolution you'll be proud to keep!

Happy New Year to all the Champions of Education who support BCPS! The Education Foundation of BCPS Inc. has set new goals and many New Year’s resolutions to continue growing its support for the schools, programs, and centers in our school community.

You, too, can make a New Year’s resolution to support our mission-driven work. Will you accept our monthly challenges? Together we can contribute to a brighter future for the next generation of leaders. Resolve to support the foundation this year!

A word from Dr. Rogers

January 6, 2025

Dear Reader:

Here we are again at the beginning of a new year! To every Team BCPS stakeholder, I extend best wishes for positive growth and continued learning.

BCPS ended 2024 with great news about school performance, increased numbers of teachers earning National Board Certification, and impressive student and teacher honors. Every achievement is a reminder of what is possible; individually and collectively, we are capable of so much growth.

Let's keep up the amazing momentum and make 2025 the best year ever for BCPS! Let's begin this Thursday, January 9, by participating in Team BCPS Day and celebrating our commitment to engage, empower, and excel.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent