Author: eastbaltco

Art Teachers from Pine Grove & Golden Ring Receive Linda Popp Leadership Award


Vernon Fains, visual arts content leader at Pine Grove Middle School, has earned the Linda Popp Leadership Award, and Camille Gibson, visual arts teacher at Golden Ring Middle, has earned the Middle School Teacher of the Year award. The statewide awards from the Maryland Art Education Association were presented at its annual award ceremony on Dec. 15.

The Linda Popp Leadership Award, meant to recognize an individual for outstanding contributions and professional service, is named after the former visual arts coordinator for Baltimore County Public Schools. After the awards ceremony, Popp described Fains as “truly a champion for every child and all teachers!”

The awards ceremony program featured the following quote from Fains: “As an art educator, I want to be able to encourage and contribute to the holistic growth of artists/students by providing space and opportunities for individual expression and meaningful experiences as they develop unique and personal ways to communicate thoughts and feelings.”

Beyond his role at Pine Grove Middle, Fains is an adjunct art education professor at Towson University, a board member for the Maryland Teachers Union, and a National Education Association Leader for Just Schools. As a member of the BCPS Lead Art Teacher Cadre working with special needs instruction, Fains is helping to facilitate a transformation of inclusive art instruction. Fains’ educational background includes a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual communications from the Maryland Institute College of Art, and a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in art education, both from Towson University. Fains has won multiple awards and says that he is inspired by interacting with fellow educators by leading and participating in exhibitions, workshops, collaborative planning, and curriculum writing sessions.

In addition to serving as an art teacher at Golden Ring Middle, Gibson also serves as department chair and art lead teacher for the eastern zone of BCPS. In addition, Gibson created a student-driven art program at Golden Ring Middle called “Art for a Cause.” The program allows her students to use their artistic abilities to address issues that are relevant in their community. Gibson has worked at Golden Ring Middle for six years and has her master’s degree in leadership teaching in cultural proficiency from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She is working on her post-master’s certificate in administration and supervision from the same university.

“My philosophy of art education,” Gibson said, “is creating a safe space where students can foster their artistic abilities, providing opportunities for my students to make artworks that are meaningful for them, and providing an outlet to students to explore various components of the visual arts.”

Parkville, Perry Hall & Eastern Tech Students Part of Youth Diplomats Program


The World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) has named four local Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) students among the inaugural class of participants in its Youth Diplomats Program.

The new program for Maryland high school juniors and seniors offers workshops, meetings with professionals, and volunteer opportunities for students who are curious about the world, open to diverse perspectives, committed to making an impact locally and globally, and who advocate for human rights, equality. and peace.

In total, 31 students, representing 23 schools from six counties and Baltimore City, have been selected through a rigorous application process for the inaugural class. The eastside BCPS participants are:

•Rebecca Angin, Parkville High School

•Cameron Rozankowski, Parkville High School

•Lena Wang, Eastern Technical High School

•Rylee Wienhold, Perry Hall High School

The Youth Diplomats Program includes eight workshops, held on Saturdays from Jan. 25 through Aug. 15, 2020. The program also incorporates components such as a group trip to Washington, D.C.; a meeting with the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program; and a hosted dinner with international families.

Eddie Resende, co-CEO of the World Trade Center Institute, said, “The program is designed to increase the younger generation’s appreciation for some of today’s most pressing global issues in international affairs and business. We hope their experiences in our program inspire them to become global citizens and pursue careers in some of the program’s featured topics.”

The students will also earn 25 service-learning hours, gain cultural competency, and further a connection to the network of Youth Diplomats from around the nation, as well as advance their abilities to demonstrate knowledge of global affairs to colleges and employers.

“This program is meant to empower students with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make a positive impact both locally and globally,” says Zachary Sheaffer, assistant manager of programs and operations for WTCI. “After all, they are our future leaders.”

Upon completion of the program, the Youth Diplomats will be deemed Albrecht Fellows. The Albrecht Fellowships’ goal is to help globally-minded students become the next generation of international leaders.

Joppa View Student selected as Baltimore Chick-fil-A Kid Correspondents


Alexis Orzolek, a Grade 4 student at Joppa View Elementary School, has been selected as one of the 12 Chick-fil-A Kid Correspondents for FOX45. She is one of two BCPS students as Bryce Garrett, a Grade 8 student at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School, was also selected

This is the third year that FOX45 has teamed with the 42 Baltimore-area Chick-fil-A restaurants to select Kid Correspondents. The educational competition was designed to reach youth interested in exploring careers in broadcast journalism. From applications, semi-finalists are selected through a random drawing.

One child from each of the 42 Baltimore-area Chick-fil-As is selected as a semi-finalist. The semi-finalists attend a luncheon at FOX45 studios, where they receive a tour of the studios, including a meet and greet with a FOX45 anchor and producer, and a bag of Chick-fil-A promotional items. Then, each semi-finalist presents a 30-second “report” in front of the camera and judges, explaining why he or she should be the next Chick-fil-A Kids Correspondent. The semi-finalists are judged on poise, creativity, personality, and presentation. Based on the presentations, the top 12 semi-finalists are chosen to become official Chick-fil-A Kids Correspondents.

Orzolek and the other winners will each receive 52 free chicken sandwiches and will each record a 15-second public service announcement that will be broadcast on FOX45 for one month in 2020. Scripts will be provided to the winners, and the recordings will take place at the end of December

Orzolek, a FOX45 News fan, told the judges, she has set many goals for herself. She hopes to become a veterinarian, American Ninja Warrior, and the president of the United States. To prepare, she works with rescue bunnies at Joppa View Elementary, has earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and studies presidents and other people who have had major impacts in the world.

BCPS Accepting Applications to Fill Vacant School Board Seat


Would you like to serve on the BCPS Board of Education?

The Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission will be accepting applications beginning Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, for the Board’s vacant at-large seat. The individual selected for this seat will fill the remaining vacated term, which ends December 2022. This is the seat that was vacanted after the passing of BCPS Board member Roger Hayden in October.

Following the 2014 and 2017 Maryland General Assembly sessions, the composition and selection of the Board of Education of Baltimore County changed. Beginning in 2018, the Board became a hybrid Board by including both appointed and elected members. Seven members of the school board are elected, while four members of the Board are appointed by the governor. The Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission has the task of selecting nominees to recommend to the governor for the four at-large positions.

“Now, our task is to select two nominees to recommend to the governor for appointment for the one at-large seat,” said Commission Chairman Aaron Plymouth. “All interested Baltimore County residents are urged to submit applications.”

Candidate interviews are scheduled for:
• Tuesday, February 18, 2020 – 6 to 9:30 p.m.
• Monday, February 24, 2020 – 6 to 9:30 p.m.

The application will be posted on the Baltimore County Public Schools’ website as of Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. Applications will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.

Applications can be mailed to the Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission, c/o Tracy Gover, 6901 N. Charles Street, Towson, MD 21204.

Early Morning Homicide Reported in Rosedale’s Fontana Village


Police are investigating a homicide following an early morning call for a stabbing in Fontana Village in Rosedale.

Officers responded to the unit block of Capella Court in Rosedale on Dec. 19 at 6:32 a.m. where they located the victim, an adult man, lying unconscious in the parking lot with traumatic injuries. Medics transported the man to Franklin Square Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The body of the victim will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine cause and manner of death. Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit are on scene and ask anyone who may have additional information to call 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous.

Marks Honors The Seven Courts Citizens on Patrol as Citizens of the Year


Councilman David Marks honored the Seven Courts Citizens on Patrol [COP]as his Fifth District Citizens of the Year. The group started this year after there were calls from the residents to decrease levels of crime in the Seven Oaks community of Perry Hall.

Members of that COP include: Shawn & Shannon King and Brian McCully.

“This neighborhood watch program has made an extraordinary difference for a densely-populated part of Perry Hall,” Mark said about the group.

Marks started his Fifth District Citizens of the Year back in 2011 as he honors, outstanding volunteers and community leaders in his Fifth Councilmanic District.

Police Looking for Answers After Parkville Murder of Tavon Marshall


Police are continuing to investigate the shooting death of Tavon Marshall on Nov. 26, just two days before Thanksgiving, and are hoping the public can help.

Detectives believe that Tavon (pictured above) had just arrived home to the 3500 block of Fieldcreek Way in a neighborhood just south of the intersection of Upton Road and Kintore Drive in Parkville. It appears that Tavon was shot just after he exited his car around 9:42 p.m. as he was found lying in the parking lot near his vehicle after the shots rang out.

Police believe that Tavon was the intended target of this shooting and suspect that the shooter was in the neighborhood waiting for him to arrive home. Anyone who may have seen a person or vehicle that was out of the ordinary in the neighborhood before the shooting took place is asked to contact police with information. Police added that it was very cold that evening, only around 40 degrees and windy, so it would have been unusual for someone to be hanging around outside without a clear purpose.

Police are also asking anyone who recognizes Tavon or has any additional information about him to contact police. Call 410-307-2020 to reach Homicide investigators. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Parkville High’s Orogo Named Finalist in Black History Month Essay Competition


Trisha Orogo of Parkville High School is one of four Baltimore County Public Schools students who has been named a finalists in the 32nd Annual “Champions of Courage” Black History Month Essay Competition presented by M&T Bank. Orogo will appear this winter, along with 16 other Baltimore-area student finalists, on FOX 45, The CW Baltimore, and MyTV Baltimore saluting their personal heroes.

According to a BCPS press release, more than 2,500 entries were received this year from public and private schools throughout the Baltimore area. The competition challenged students, Grades 6 through 12, to write brief essays saluting their personal “Champions of Courage,” positive role models who share the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In addition to sharing their essays on the air during January and February, the finalists will be presented with $100 prizes at an awards breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Martin’s West. At the breakfast, the top three essayists will be announced and will be presented with additional awards, including cash prizes for their schools.

Police Report Murder Reported in Hawthrone


Baltimore County Police responded to the unit block of S. Hawthorne Road in Middle River for a check location call on Sunday, Dec. 15 around 1:53 a.m.

Responding officers found a man, Antonio Hudgins (18), suffering trauma to the body. Medics responded to the scene and pronounced Hudgins deceased.

Baltimore County Police Homicide Detectives are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Police Report Shooting on English Oak Road in Parkville


Baltimore County Police were dispatched to a local hospital in reference to a gunshot wound on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Investigation revealed that an adult male, 26, suffered trauma to the body in the 6600 block of English Oak Road in Parkville and drove himself to an area hospital. Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Detectives are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Anyone with information should contact the Baltimore County Violent Crimes Unit by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.