Mount Vernon HS staff prepare to distribute laptops to the Class of 2024. (Photo: Mount Vernon HS)
Claudia McDowell, school social worker at Lynbrook ES (left), and Bethany Koszelak, FCPS mental wellness specialist (right), joined Superintendent Brabrand for last Wednesday's virtual Town Hall.
Join Superintendent Brabrand's virtual Town Hall for operational employees tonight, Tuesday, August 25, at 6 p.m. Representatives from Human Resources, Food and Nutrition Services, and Facilities and Transportation Services will also be available to answer questions about return to school preparations. View the livestream. Please email questions to ReturntoSchool@fcps.edu now or call 1-800-231-6359 during the forum.
More Town Halls Planned, Including Spanish-Language Event
Dr. Brabrand has additional virtual Town Halls for the community scheduled through Wednesday, September 2, including a Spanish-language forum on Tuesday, September 1. Visit FCPS' Town Hall webpage for more information.
Teachers LaTonya Floyd (left), Chelsea Ettere (center) and Paula Cortes (right) joined other Woodburn ES staff to pack books and supplies for students. See Paula's tweet.
#OurFCPS Faces: Regina Patterson
As a second grade teacher at Freedom Hill ES, Regina Patterson loves helping students reach their full potential every day. Regina’s teaching career began in 1995 in North Carolina, where she was named Teacher of the Year at her elementary school and was nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Fortunately, she joined FCPS seven years ago, as a teacher at Lemon Road ES.
Regina says, “I have truly been able to lead a career that I am passionate about and believe in. For over two decades, I have been able to teach multiple generations of students and have seen the positive impacts that a caring and dedicated person can have on any child’s life. In keeping with the FCPS mission, I am driven to equip students with the tools necessary to be well educated, independent, responsible members of the community.”
Principal Nick Zapadka touts Regina's positive influence in the classroom. “Mrs. Patterson is a wonderful asset to the Freedom Hill school community. In addition to being a fabulous, caring instructor in the classroom, she is active on our Equity and Inclusion Team and serves as her team’s representative on our Instructional Leadership Council. Though I could speak glowingly about her for a long time, I’d like to instead share an email written by a parent last year that demonstrates how she meaningfully impacts her students and families each year.”
Dear Dr. Zapadka,
I have a 2nd grade son at FHES and I wanted to let you know that Mrs. Patterson has gone above and beyond to engage all her students while navigating this public health crisis. She has made personal phone calls with each student and has been so patient with the children online to ensure everyone’s participation. She has made sure translation has been provided and that students with IEPs connect with specialists for their TLPs [Temporary Learning Plans]. It has been challenging for all of us as parents and to know that she, too, is an involved mother while juggling the evolving lesson plans amazes me. Our son misses the classroom and for almost an hour a day, Mon.-Thurs., Mrs. Patterson creates an environment for him to connect with his peers while learning grade level concepts. We adore Mrs. Patterson and our TLP team. We are in this together.
With hope,
A 2nd grade parent
As COVID and distance learning have forced change in educational strategies, Regina remains optimistic. “The closure has allowed me to create a learning environment for my students that blends established teaching techniques with new innovative ways of teaching and learning.”
Outside of FCPS, Regina enjoys reading and traveling with her husband and two daughters, both of whom attend Marshall HS. She is also earning her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction.
Thank you, Regina, for being a true champion and role model for our students!
Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
The Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement is offering five courses, taught by instructional coaches, to support collaborative teams and student engagement this fall:
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Course Title
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Dates and Times
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Designing Digital Lessons for Student Interaction and Engagement
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Tuesday 9/1, 3-4 p.m. or
Wednesday, 9/16, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
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Creating Community in Online Learning Environments
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Wednesday, 9/2, 3:30-4:30 p.m. or
Thursday, 9/3, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
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Leveraging Collaborative Teams to Design Meaningful Asynchronous Instruction
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Wednesday, 10/7, 4:30-5:30 p.m. or
Thursday, 10/8, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
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When a Slide is Not Just a Slide: Differentiation and Engagement for All (Elementary Teachers)
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Wednesday, 9/16, 4:30-6 p.m. or
Wednesday, 9/23, 4:30-6 p.m.
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When a Slide is Not Just a Slide: Differentiation and Engagement for All (Secondary Teachers)
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Wednesday, 9/9, 3:30-5 p.m. or
Wednesday, 9/16, 3:30-5 p.m.
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To see course descriptions and register, click on the dates and times above, or go to MyPDE and search for the course name. If you have questions, please contact Michelle Lis at mllis@fcps.edu.
Staff Staples
Note: Intranet access is required to open some of the links in this email. If you're using a mobile device or working remotely, you can connect to the intranet via the Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.
Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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