Category: School Notebook

Parkville Teachers Nominated for BCPS Teacher of The Year


Baltimore County Public Schools released their nominees for 2020 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Each school, program, and center could nominate one teacher. The BCPS Teacher of the Year committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff. The five finalists have been named but here are the nominees for BCPS teacher in the Parkville area.

* Tara Youssefi, Carney Elementary

* Ruth Evans, Oakleigh Elementary

* Bobby Richardson, Parkville High

* Robert Runk, Parkville Middle

* Kathy Andrzejewski, Pine Grove Elementary

* Matthew Llufrio, Pine Grove Middle

* Marti Hubers, Villa Cresta Elementary

Rosedale & Overlea Teachers Nominated for BCPS Teacher of The Year


Baltimore County Public Schools released their nominees for 2020 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Each school, program, and center could nominate one teacher. The BCPS Teacher of the Year committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff. The five finalists have been named but here are the nominees for BCPS teacher in the Overlea-Rosedale area

* Jamie Diamond, Elmwood Elementary

* Nicole Curran, Fullerton Elementary

* Kay Antley, Golden Ring Middle

* Kirstie Kelly, McCormick Elementary

* Lisa Duggan-Lee, Overlea High

* Mary Knoerlein, Red House Run Elementary

* Janice Boyd, Rosedale Center

* Kelly Spragg, Shady Springs Elementary

Essex Teachers Nominated for BCPS Teacher of The Year
Baltimore County Public Schools released their nominees for 2020 BCPS Teacher of the Year. Each school, program, and center could nominate one teacher.

Perry Hall Teachers Nominated for BCPS Teacher of The Year


Baltimore County Public Schools released their nominees for 2020 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Each school, program, and center could nominate one teacher. The BCPS Teacher of the Year committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff. The five finalists have been named but here are the nominees for BCPS teacher in the Perry Hall area.

* Rita Godwin, Chapel Hill Elementary

*Allison Purcell, Gunpowder Elementary

*Jessica Osipowicz, Honeygo Elementary

*Theresa Iacarino, Joppa View Elementary

* Kelsey Shirey, Perry Hall Elementary

* Laura Yencsik, Perry Hall High

* Courtney Croxton, Perry Hall Middle
• Dan Overtoom, Seven Oaks Elementary

Dundalk Teachers Nominated for BCPS Teacher of The Year


Baltimore County Public Schools released their nominees for 2020 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Each school, program, and center could nominate one teacher. The BCPS Teacher of the Year committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff. The five finalists have been named but here are the nominees for BCPS teacher in the Dundalk area.

* Bianca Crockett, Battle Grove Elementary

* Brandi Corriggio, Battle Monument School

* Jennifer Maddox, Bear Creek Elementary

* Alexis Uhland, Berkshire Elementary

* Claudia Enders, Charlesmont Elementary

* Tanya Kropkowski, Colgate Elementary

* Lisa Tracy, Dundalk Elementary

* Christopher Wojcik, Dundalk High

* Sharon Gibson, Dundalk Middle

* Avery Pritchard, Gen. John Stricker

* Allyson Miele, Holabird Middle

* Zachary Davis, Logan Elementary

* Nina Arlotta, Norwood Elementary

* Mara Ma, Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts

* Lisa Grey, Sandy Plains Elementary

*Angela Cassano, Sollers Point Technical High

Essex Teachers Nominated for BCPS Teacher of The Year


Baltimore County Public Schools released their nominees for 2020 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Each school, program, and center could nominate one teacher. The BCPS Teacher of the Year committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff. The five finalists have been named but here are the nominees for BCPS teacher in the Essex area

* Tara Wrightson, Chesapeake High

* Antoinette Layfield, Deep Creek Elementary

* Kim Cafarchio, Deep Creek Middle

*Ryan Hoge, Eastern Technical High

* Lauren Williams-Moore, Essex Elementary

* Jillian Posposil, Hawthorne Elementary

* Angela Glenn, Kenwood High

* Amanda Kazin, Mars Estates Elementary

* Jordan Neff, Middleborough Elementary

* Christina Solomon, Middlesex Elementary

* Rebekah Young, Sandalwood Elementary

* Kelsey Kelly, Stemmers Run Middle

* Eric Thompson, Sussex Elementary

Three Eastside Teachers Among Five Finalists for BCPS Teacher of Year


Five Baltimore County Public Schools educators have been named finalists for 2020-21 BCPS Teacher of the Year. Three of those educators are from eastern Baltimore County.

Bianca Crockett is a kindergarten teacher at Battle Grove Elementary. She serves on her school’s leadership committee and is also the equity team leader. This year, she presented at the BCPS Leadership Summit for Young Women in High School and the Maryland Cultural Proficiency Conference. She is in her fifth year at Battle Grove and her 10th year overall as an educator.


Claudia Enders is a special education teacher at Charlesmont Elementary. She works with some of the school’s youngest learners, who are just 3- and 4-years old. Enders leads Charlesmont’s environmental club. She recently partnered with the Baltimore County Police Department to ensure that her students could build a rapport. She is in her third year at Charlesmont and her 13th as a teacher.

Robert Runk is a special education teacher at Parkville Middle. He also served as a paraeducator there. He leads a mentorship program for male students at Parkville Middle and leads a martial arts program through the Parkville Recreational Program. He has worked for 17 years at Parkville Middle in various roles and is in his sixth year there as a teacher. He is a Sparrows Point High graduate.

Amara Griffin of Lansdowne Elementary and New Town High science department chair Taylor Ransome are the other two nominees.

“All of these dedicated educators go above and beyond for their students,” BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams said. “In addition to being exemplary teachers, they are making a true difference in their school communities.”

One of the finalists will be named 2020-21 BCPS Teacher of the Year and will be Baltimore County’s Maryland Teacher of the Year representative.

Principals at the 175 BCPS schools, programs, and centers could nominate one educator for BCPS Teacher of the Year. Nominations were received from 165 schools and all nominees are featured on the Team BCPS blog.

The BCPS Teacher of the Year selection committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, students, and staff, selected the five finalists.

Past BCPS teachers of the year include:
2019: Kristen Nielsen, Crossroads Center
2018: Brendan Penn, Lyons Mill Elementary
2017: Rebecca Eig, Owings Mills Elementary
2016: Corey Carter, Northwest Academy of Life Science
2015: Orly Mondell, New Town High
2014: Anne Cross, Gunpowder Elementary
2013: Sean McComb, Patapsco High & Center for the Arts, the 2014 National Teacher of the Year

Robert Runk
Claudia Enders
Bianca Crockett

Marks & Henn Ask Gov. Hogan for School Funding in Letter


Fifth District School BCPS Board Member Julie Henn and 5th District Councilman David Marks have written a letter to Gov. Larry Hogan asking him to continue to support the Build to Learn Act. Henn and Marks are asking for funding for the new Northeast Elementary School at Ridge Road, the new Northeast Middle School, and a renovation / expansion of Pine Grove Middle.

“We are writing to ask for your continued assistance. The Build to Learn Act of 2020 will provide $2.2 billion in school construction funding and help ensure our children have access to modern comfortable classroom for genereations to come,” said a portion of the letter.

The Maryland General Assembly passed the funding for the construction money for the projects, but Gov. Larry Hogan said he was not going to sign any spending bills into law as a result of an unexpected economic downfall as a result of COVID-19. Some believe that the $400 million in Baltimore County school construction funding could be denied and Henn explained that is why the letter was sent.

“Today, Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and I wrote to Governor Hogan asking him to support the Built to Learn Act of 2020. This legislation provides funding that would allow several critical school construction projects in the northeast to move forward,” Henn said in a statement about the letter. The full letter is above.

BCPS Adds Meal Distributions & Makes Changes to Service


The Baltimore County Public Schools’ Office of Food and Nutrition Services (with assistance from the BCPS Office of Transportation) is making changes to the Mobile Meal Program’s distribution times and locations effective Monday, April 20.

Beginning April 20, students will receive a breakfast, lunch, and snack on Monday through Wednesday. On Thursday, students will receive two breakfasts, two lunches, and two snacks for Thursday and Friday. Meals will no longer be distributed on Friday.

Meals will be distributed from the following 58 locations. While students are encouraged to be present when picking up meals, accommodations will be made for students who are unable to be present. New sites are listed in bold. Please note the specific distribution times for each location. Times have been changed for some locations. Here are the locations in eastern Baltimore County:

Battle Grove Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Berkshire Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Carney Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Chesapeake High School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cove Village Apartments, Essex, in front of rental office, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Deep Creek Middle School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Dundalk Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Dundalk High School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Dunfield Apartments, 55 Insley Way, 21236, in front of leasing office, from 11 – 11:50 a.m.

Elmwood Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

General John Stricker Middle School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hawthorne Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Johnnycake Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Logan Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Middle River Middle School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Oakleigh Elementary School, from 11 – 11:50 a.m.

Parkville High School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Pine Grove Elementary School, from 12:10 – 1 p.m.

Rosedale Library, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saddle Brooke Apartments, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sandy Plains Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Seneca Elementary School, from 11 – 11:50 a.m.

Sollers Point Multipurpose Center, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sparrows Point High School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eastern Ave., from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Stemmers Run Middle School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sussex Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Whispering Woods Complex, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

BCPS sites have also been added to the map feature at mdsummermeals.org, which includes all state meal sites.

All Maryland Public Schools Remain Closed Until May 15


Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and State School Superintendent Karen Salmon announced on Friday afternoon that all Maryland public schools would remain closed until May 15 as a result of COVID-19.

Schools were originally closed for the coronavirus pandemic from March 16 to March 27. Then in late March, Salmon made an announcment that the closure was extended until April 24.

Baltimore County Public School’s last day for the 2019-20 school year is set for Monday, June 22.

BCPS announnced it had already cancelled all senior activities for its students.

COVID-19 Could Delay Northeast School Construction Projects


EastBaltCo.com was the first to report that the General Assembly finally passed SB 1 which secured school construction funding across the state and Baltimore County.

This funding was set for three northeast Baltimore County school projects; a new elementary school in the Rossville area, a new middle school at Nottingham Park on King Avenue and to expand Pine Grove Middle School in Carney.

Gov. Larry Hogan was in favor of the construction money and was expected to sign the bill, but recent events of COVID-19 have changed the landscape of Maryland.

As a result of an unexpected economic downfall, Hogan said he was not going to sign any spending bills into law. It appears that the $400 million in Baltimore County school construction funding could be denied.

Fifth District School Board Member Julie Henn stated that BCPS is still going to plan for construction of those schools even though it is now unlikely.

“Last night, the Board approved a contract modification that authorizes the school system to purchase new technology for projects including the new NE Elementary School at Ridge Road and the new NE Middle School,” Henn said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The approval was bittersweet. While it is encouraging to see plans for these projects advance, construction cannot move forward without state funding.”

Henn added that she has been working hard to get these schools built in her district and said she will continue to fight for construction of those schools

“Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and I remain committed to doing everything we can to advance these schools for the communities we represent and call home,” Henn said.