Thursday, September 17, 2026

Previous editions of the BCPS Staff Bulletin are archived and available for viewing on the BCPS website.

Thank you, Community School Facilitators!

September 13-19 is Community School Facilitators Appreciation Week! Please join us in celebrating the dedication and impact of BCPS Community School Facilitators. Community School Facilitators connect families with critical resources and build strong community partnerships to ensure every student has what they need to advance excellence.

BCPS has 110 community schools, and our Community School Facilitators focus on addressing the barriers that impact academic success. They identify needed resources and programs and have expertise in building partnerships and working with all stakeholders.

In honor of BCPS Community School Facilitators Appreciation Week, in a new blog post, meet the 2026 BCPS Community School Facilitator of the Year, LeeAnne Barnett of Milbrook Elementary School.  

Meet Community School Facilitator of the Year LeeAnne Barnett of Milbrook Elementary by Team BCPS - Team BCPS - Exposure

REMINDER: Share your thoughts on system priorities with the Superintendent's Transition Team

The purpose of this survey is to assist Dr. Heiser's Transition Team in assessing the school system’s current state of teaching and learning, operations, and culture/climate. The transition team is charged with identifying commendations and developing short-term and long-term recommendations for system progress in the following four priority areas: Academic Excellence, Operational Readiness and Financial Sustainability, Talent Identification, and Community Engagement. The survey is open to all members of Team BCPS. 

Complete the survey.

¡Celebramos con orgullo!

Join us through October 15 as we spotlight language, culture, trivia, and the various activities and celebrations that Team BCPS schools and offices will hold throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

We're kicking off our celebrations with a brand-new Myths & Legends series on our social media accounts, where we explore the stories behind culture, language, and much more.

This week, we’re diving into the story behind the Mexican flag emblem. You’ve probably seen it a thousand times, but do you actually know how it came to be? Watch the video below. Make sure to stay tuned next week for even more Myths & Legends.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• Spread the word! Special Education Resource Fair set for Oct. 24

The Department of Special Education will hold a free resource fair for BCPS families and stakeholders on Saturday, October 24. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet staff, learn about resources, engage in activities, and visit vendor tables. Families are encouraged to pre-register to receive email reminders and to be entered into a drawing for great prizes! 

• Save the date! BCPS Green Schools Summit set for Oct. 9

The BCPS Office of Facilities Support Services and Office of Science PreK-12 are pleased to invite you to the 9th Annual BCPS Green Schools Summit! Event registration is available on KickUp. 


This year, teachers and other school staff can attend five 50-minute sessions of their choosing, with educators earning six Professional Development Points for the day. Teachers can also earn credits toward their school’s MAEOE Green School portfolio.

• Grant opportunity for classroom teachers

The Maryland Retired School Personnel Association Foundation is offering six grants to classroom teachers across Maryland. The grants may be used on special projects or activities that are not funded through the school system or Parent Teacher Organization. 

The grant application can be found on the MRSPA website. Teacher and principal signatures are required on the application to ensure that the activity or project in the application is approved by the school leadership to support, enhance, or supplement the student learning experience.

Grant applications need to be completed and returned to MRSPA by November 2. Applications will be reviewed on November 19, and winners will be notified by January 5, 2027. Six grants of up to $500 each will be awarded. Grant money will be sent directly to the winning teacher's school to be used in the current school year. 

• REMINDER: Central Office Professionals Leadership Development


Registration for Central Office Professionals Leadership Development is now available in Kick Up. Supervisors and managers, non-represented administrative assistants, directors, executive directors, and chiefs from the divisions of Human Resources, Information Technology, Fiscal Services, and Operations, as well as central office CASE supervisors who support central office staff, are expected to register for the Central Office Professionals Leadership Development 2026-2027 in the Kickup Registration System.

• Immunization exclusion


Students who are missing one or more required immunizations will be excluded from school beginning Tuesday, September 22.

To minimize the impact on student attendance and ensure compliance with immunization requirements, schools are strongly encouraged to convene a Special Attendance Committee Meeting as soon as possible. The purpose of this meeting is to:

• Review the list of students who may be impacted by immunization non-compliance.
• Identify and prioritize students at risk of exclusion.
• Divide outreach responsibilities among team members.
• Develop a coordinated plan for connecting with families.
• Monitor progress and remove barriers that may prevent students from receiving required immunizations.
• Ensure families are informed of available immunization resources and clinic opportunities.

Attendance remains critical to student success. Every effort should be made to keep students engaged in learning by supporting families in meeting immunization requirements before the exclusion date. The following resources are provided to support compliance and minimize students missing valuable instructional time and opportunities for engagement:

• Back to School Vaccination Clinics

School principals are encouraged to identify opportunities for proactive and timely outreach to families from the school nurse and Pupil Personnel Worker.

Putting Students First Grant Application Window Closes Sept. 25

The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., is pleased to provide the Putting Students First Grant in partnership with First Financial Federal Credit Union.

Applications for the 2026-2027 #PuttingStudentsFirst Grant are due next Friday, September 25, by 5 p.m. Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to BCPS schools.

The review and award of project funds will be based on the project’s anticipated need of supplies, resources, and opportunities/experiences to fulfill classroom needs and to impact student’s educational readiness. The project funds should have a clear alignment with BCPS academic goals, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools' mission, and the school’s progress plan, with clear measurable objectives and impact and potential for successful implementation.

Learn more.

• Provide feedback on state literacy policy

There is still time to provide your feedback on MSDE's draft Comprehensive PreK-12 Literacy Policy! Your input is essential to ensure Maryland's literacy expectations reflect a connected continuum of instruction, intervention, and support from early through secondary literacy. View the draft policy and provide feedback online.

Share your partnership highlights with us!

Schools and offices are invited to send brief highlights and photos of their partnerships with businesses and community organizations to communications@bcps.org. This information might be featured in the monthly BCPS Partnership Spotlight Newsletter.

Curriculum Night Success!


On Wednesday, BCPS families gathered at Pikesville Middle School for this year's Curriculum Night! The evening began with dinner and presentations from Superintendent Dr. Bill Heiser and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jennifer Mullenax.

Then, the event transitioned to a resource fair as families and students viewed curricular and instructional materials, participated in engaging activities and demonstrations, spoke one-on-one with content area experts, and engaged with representatives from county government agencies and nonprofit partners.

Photos from the event are posted on Flickr. To all of the BCPS staff members who contributed to a successful Curriculum Night: THANK YOU!

 Countywide Spirit Days continue with an 'Attendance All-Stars' theme this Friday!

Are you here for it? Each Friday in September, students and staff are invited to highlight the impact of regular attendance by participating in countywide spirit days.

September 18 is "Attendance All-Stars" Friday. Staff and students are asked to wear a team or sports jersey to celebrate being "on the team" by attending every day.

Coming up!

September 25: Spirit wear 

More information is available in this News Hub post.

The State of the Arts

In honor of National Arts in Education Week, September 13-19, BCPS presents its annual State of the Arts blog post. This year’s post highlights specific initiatives in Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts.

Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge: Let's vanquish Litter-Zilla

Litter is not just unsightly, its costs really add up. It creates problems in our waterways, harms wildlife, and cleaning it from storm drains, streets, and parks is a waste of tax dollars that could go toward schools, parks and other priorities. We’ll continue to do our part, but you can pitch in for a simple, powerful solution.

Cleaning up is easy and quick – and it really adds up. Just grab some trash bags and take 15 minutes to pick up litter in an untidy area near you— a park, a schoolyard, a vacant lot, a stream, anywhere that needs it. We're just asking your group to set up your own 15-Minute Trash Pick-Ups – you decide when, where, who and how.

When you have completed your pickup, come back and let us know how much you collected by filling out our form. We'll track the amount of trash collected as part of the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability's Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.

Magnet Expo set for this Saturday, September 19!

The magnet application process has begun. BCPS magnet programs are available in elementary, middle, and high schools across the county. Descriptions of program offerings are available online.

Some key opportunities to learn more:

Magnet EXPO!

Saturday, September 19,

from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

CCBC Essex Wellness and Athletic Center

7201 Rossville Blvd., Essex 21237

Application Information Meetings

Students and families are also invited to attend one of two application information meetings: 

Thursday, September 17, at 6 p.m.

Kenwood High School

501 Stemmers Run Rd.

Essex 21221

Tuesday, September 22, at 6 p.m.

Milford Mill Academy

3800 Washington Ave.

Windsor Mill 21244

The Black Excellence (BE) Program is an extracurricular opportunity for elementary and middle school students to deepen their knowledge of Black history and culture through historical inquiry, literature, research, and collaboration.

This school year, the program will include three components: a book study, a school-based competition, and an independent research and presentation experience. Schools may participate in one or more components of the program. Additional information is available in the BE program information flyer.

The registration deadline is Friday, October 2. Coaches and club sponsors should plan to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, October 8, from 5-6 p.m. at the BCPS Employee Development Center. More information is available in a News Hub post.

Payroll reminders

The first pay for 10-month employees is September 18, for 10 days. For more information regarding payroll calendars and schedules, please visit the Office of Payroll website.

Time and Absence Submission Deadlines

For ESPBC, non-represented hourly, administrative assistants, executive administrative assistants, paralegals, paraprofessionals, additional adult assistants, 10-month clericals, and contractual/temporary employees who clock-in/out using Oracle Web Clock, timecards must be submitted after the work week, but no later than 9 a.m. on Mondays.

Recommended submission process

• Clock out on your final workday for the week, and submit your timecard after clocking out, OR on the following Monday:
• Clock in using Oracle Web Clock.
• Access the timecard for the previous week, review, and submit the timecard – this must be completed no later than 9 a.m. on Mondays.
• If changes are needed to your timecard due to missing clock in/out, error messages, or a missed meal break, submit a “Request Time Change” in Oracle to your supervisor.
• If you are on approved leave or did not clock-in/out during the time period, you will not have a timecard to review and submit.
• If you submitted an absence request through Oracle Cloud, these are approved through a separate process and do not require a timecard submission.

Timecard approval deadline

• Supervisors should monitor their notifications for time and leave request submissions and must approve *hourly employees’ timecards and/or salaried employees’ leave requests no later than 1 p.m. on Mondays.
• If a supervisor fails to approve hourly employees’* submitted timecards, it can jeopardize on-time payment for employees’ time and absence submissions.
• Note: ESPBC, non-represented hourly, and contractual/temporary employees who clock in/out using Oracle Web Clock timecards must be submitted no later than 9 a.m. on Mondays for the prior week.

*Hourly employees-ESPBC, administrative assistants, executive administrative assistants, paralegals, paraprofessionals, additional adult assistants, 10-month clericals, and contractual/temporary employees.

Spread the word: Upcoming Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee meetings

BCPS is hiring!

Spread the word! BCPS will host in-person events in September to recruit individuals interested in school bus driver, bus attendant, grounds worker II, building service worker, and cafeteria worker positions. BCPS encourages applicants to apply online prior to attending, but walk-ins will be accepted. For more information, please call 443-809-7872. 

Team BCPS Shoutout!

Two BCPS educators named 2026-2027 NEA Global Learning Fellows

Dr. Kelli Hickey, teacher and equity liaison, Stoneleigh Elementary School, and Edwin A. Pérez, Spanish teacher, Perry Hall High School, have been selected to serve as 2026–2027 Global Learning Fellows with The NEA Foundation.

Chosen from a highly competitive national pool, Hickey and Pérez will be part of a cohort of 50 educators from 41 NEA state affiliates.

Over the next year, they will engage in specialized coursework, national collaboration, and a 10-day international field study in Perú, bringing back impactful cross-cultural curriculum strategies to their classrooms.

Dulaney High School educator Meekah Hopkins selected as a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classroom Fellow

Meekah Hopkins, who teaches AP Literature and Creative Writing at Dulaney High School, has received a Fulbright Teacher Exchange award for the 2026-2027 cycle from the U.S. Department of State. 

Hopkins is among the approximately 2,500 U.S. citizens selected as "Fulbrighters" this year. Through the fellowship, she will complete a rigorous, semester-long online course focused on best practices in global education; participate in a professional development workshop in Washington, D.C.; travel abroad for two to three weeks to experience another country’s culture and education system; and share with the BCPS community the skills, experiences, and resources she gains through the program.

Pikesville Middle School paraeducator Anthony Janey named Maryland Education Support Professional of the Year

The Maryland State Education Association has named Anthony Janey of Pikesville Middle School as its Education Support Professional of the Year. The honor was presented to Janey on September 14, during a surprise visit from BCPS Superintendent Dr. William Heiser and other school system leaders. (Photos from the awards presentation can be found on Flickr.)

Janey was considered for the statewide honor after being named Paraeducator of the Year by Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County (ESPBC) in April. In honoring Janey, ESPBC 

highlighted his “consistent enthusiasm, felt by students and staff,” his work on multiple ESPBC committee and taskforces, the creative and individualized strategies he employs to help students achieve success, and his student-centered and collaborative approach.  

You may submit a shoutout for a variety of reasons. For example, you may want to offer a pat on the back to a colleague for helping out, recognize a staff member or student achievement, or welcome a new employee. When your shoutout appears in The Staff Bulletin, your name and school/location will be included.

FOR SCHOOL AND OFFICE SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS

"Level Up Your Social Media"/ Social media manager trainings

Do you manage social media for your school or office? Have you thought about doing so, but aren’t sure where to start? The Department of Communications and Community Outreach is thrilled to offer the "Level Up Your Social Media" series again this school year in partnership with Employee Training and Development!

Register for all sessions, or just the ones you need the most! All sessions will take place in Room 28 at the BCPS Employee Development Center, located at 2034 Greenspring Dr., Timonium 21093.

Registration is open now via Kickup, the new BCPS professional development registration system. Search for "Social Media" within "Browse Events."

Please note that these sessions will focus on Facebook and Instagram.

"Press Start: Intro to Social Media"

• Monday, September 28, from 1 - 3:30 p.m.

• Thursday, October 1, from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

"Design Quest: Creating Graphic Magic"

• Monday, October 26, from 1 - 3:30 p.m.

• Thursday, October 29, from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

"Story Mode: Capturing Photos & Video"

• Monday, November 9, from 1 - 3:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, November 11, from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

"Multilingual Mission: Social Media That Speaks to Everyone"

• Monday, December 7, from 1 - 3:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 9, from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Questions? Please contact Jermaine Rowley, Communications Specialist, Stacey Wade, Program Specialist, or Sam Lister, Workforce Development Trainer.

FOR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS

MSDE Mathematics Coaching Network

MSDE’s Mathematics Coaching Branch is launching the Statewide Mathematics Coaching Network, a professional learning series designed to strengthen Tier 1 mathematics instruction through skillful and intensive implementation of instructional materials. This will include opportunities to deepen pedagogical content knowledge and improve coaching practice across Maryland. Be sure to review the Overview document for full information and commitment to this network. This opportunity is open to all educators who support efforts to improve math instruction across Maryland. Interested in participating? Apply today!

FOR EDUCATORS

Gifted and Talented Conference: Free registration

The MD Conference on Gifted Education will be in Towson (Sheraton Baltimore North Hilton) on Friday, October 16. (Schools are closed for students on this day.) The Office of Advanced Academics and Title II funding will cover the $125 registration fee for 50 BCPS staff, who will be able to attend for free. Speakers and experts from around the country and state will convene to share best practices in gifted education. Sign up for free registration.

FOR EDUCATORS

Fall shopping dates announced for The Education Foundation's Exchangerees

BCPS educators may shop at one of The Education Foundation's two Exchangerees once per month for school supplies, classroom resources, books, social-emotional support tools, and more at no cost to them! Please note that registration is now required.

Upcoming meetings

All are welcome to attend

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, September 22, at 6:30 p.m.

BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204

PTA Council of Baltimore County Fall Workshops and General Meeting

Thursday, September 24, at 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

West Towson Elementary School, 6914 N. Charles St., Towson 21204

UPCOMING RECOGNITIONS

Attendance Awareness Month - September

National Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 - October 15

Suicide Prevention Month - September

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Advancing excellence together.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org