BCPS Partnership Spotlight Newsletter, April 2023

April 2023

Scott Dorsey of Merritt Construction Services named BCPS Business Partner Champion of the Year

At the BCPS Champions for Children event held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology on April 19, Baltimore County Public Schools celebrated the county’s more than 9,000 classroom educators but also its school administrators, staff, and community supporters. Among those honored at the event was Scott Dorsey, chair and CEO of Merritt Construction Services.

Dorsey, a former BCPS student, and the Merritt team are long-standing supporters and partners of BCPS. Over the past four decades, Merritt has provided space in its buildings for BCPS offices and storage space, as well as for two education centers. Dorsey has served on the Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council and now serves on the board of the Education Foundation of BCPS. His company supports the foundation's “Exchangerees,” where school staff can shop for free (donated) supplies and materials to support student learning.

The 1993 Dulaney High graduate leading NASA's next moon mission remains connected to the school

When astronaut Reid Wiseman was a senior at Dulaney High School, the caption under his yearbook photo began with the words “FUTURE PLANS: Fly high.”

He first achieved that goal in 2014, when he spent more than five months on the International Space Station conducting experiments and spacewalks. He will achieve it again late next year when he serves as the commander of NASA’s Artemis II, the first crewed spacecraft to travel to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

In a new blog post, Dulaney High's science department chair, Stephen Shaw, describes some of the many ways that Wiseman has taken Dulaney High with him to space and inspired the Dulaney High community.

Eastern Tech students invited to White House to meet with federal officials and cybersecurity experts

Six Eastern Technical High School students had a rare opportunity on April 11. They visited the White House to meet with high-level federal officials and cybersecurity experts from the public and private sector at the “Unlocking Cybersecurity Career Pathways to Success and Global Security” event.

“The small gathering was designed to showcase the importance of cybersecurity education programs and how we are working to address the needs of the cybersecurity workforce,” says Dr. Michael E. Grubbs, BCPS coordinator of Career and Technical Education. “BCPS was asked by the U.S. Department of Education to bring high school students and educators in cybersecurity pathways. The students selected by my office were chosen based on their high placement in the recent Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST competition."

A new blog post includes a video of the event and lists event panelists and attendees from BCPS.

Eastern Tech student Fatou Sonko speaking during the meeting

Facing the panelists

Career and technical education automotive programs at two BCPS high schools receive national accreditation

The automotive training programs at Sollers Point Technical High School and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science have received ASE Training Program accreditation from the ASE Education Foundation for maintenance and light repair.

“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Michael Coley, ASE Education Foundation president. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that BCPS CTE Automotive Program graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by Sollers Point Technical High School and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the work force.”

Sollers Point Technical High School

Western School of Technology

"The CTE Show" for April highlights students interning at local businesses

The April episode of "The CTE Show" profiles a Loch Raven High School student interning at Hollenshade's Auto Service; a College and Career Research and Development class at Loch Raven; and the cosmetology program at Sollers Point Technical High School. The show also introduces students interning at Freestate Electric and St. Joseph Medical Center.

Pot Spring Elementary School Grade 3 students discover their power to protect the environment

After taking a walking field trip, Grade 3 students from Pot Spring Elementary School discovered that soil erosion was damaging Springlake Pond. Once they were back in the classroom, the students wrote letters to the Springlake Community Association urging the association to act. In response, Ron Boone, chair of the Springlake Community Pond Preservation Committee, worked with the Springlake Community Pool on a solution. A new blog post delves into the story and the role a Towson University professor and Towson University interns played.

Quick takes from around the county

Police Department participates in Career Speaker Series at Cockeysville Middle

Officer Pitts and the Baltimore County Police Department "rocked the house" during their Career Speaker Series presentation at Cockeysville Middle School. Students were fully engaged in learning about being a police officer, acting out a crime scenario, and trying on police gear.

Partners support field trip for Cockeysville Middle students

The AVID and BRILLA programs at Cockeysville Middle School took a trip to museums in Washington, D.C., with generous support from HP Sportswear, Janda Florist, la familia Rivera, and Rubin Fortunato.

Businesses participate in Eastern Tech career fair

Eastern Technical High School held a career fair in April, and dozens of area businesses participated.

Partnership with Towson University will facilitate BCPS student art exhibition

The 2023 BCPS High School Art Exhibition will be held in partnership with Towson University in its new Towson StarTUp space.

The Education Foundation seeks sponsors for Let's Play Ball! event

Let’s Play Ball! is a free community event to celebrate BCPS. Held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204, on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will include a BCPS Allied Sports Clinic, vendor village, live music, food trucks, a home run derby, and softball game.

The sponsorship portal for Let’s Play Ball! 2023 is now open and offers a variety of sponsorship levels and benefits. All proceeds from this event will provide post-secondary scholarship opportunities, 21st Century Instructional Grants, and other initiatives that directly align with our mission to support improved outcomes for our community.

Message from Dr. Williams

Dear BCPS Partners,

On Monday May 1, BCPS College & Career Decision Day, all graduating seniors who have committed to a college or university or career plans are asked to share that news on social media using hashtag #BCPSdecisionday. In addition, BCPS staff and community members are encouraged to wear college gear.

BCPS employs a variety of strategies to support post-secondary plans. The BCPS Office of College and Career Readiness provides tools, support, and opportunities to students and staff members systemwide through the implementation of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Early College Access Programs (in partnership with the Community College of Baltimore County), mentoring programs, and other initiatives so that all students graduate from BCPS ready for college, careers, and productive lives. In addition, high school counseling departments host college fairs; students take the PSAT and SAT (for college admissions) and the ASVAB (for military enlistment) free of charge during the school day; high schools employ dedicated college and career counselors who work with students in Grades 9-12 to promote career exploration, community programs, and military options and to support the college application process; workshops are offered for students and parents related to college admissions and financial aid; and more.

BCPS also supports students in pursuing additional education in the trades or military careers through its career and technical education and magnet programs, JROTC programs, and internship and apprenticeship programs.

Business partners are invaluable in supporting our students as they reach the critical milestone of graduation and life beyond high school. We encourage area businesses to initiate, continue, and expand efforts to provide students with internship, apprenticeship, and job experiences. These experiences help our students – this community's future workers, leaders, and citizens – in strengthening skills, nurturing interests, and meeting mentors.

Please join us in celebrating this year's graduating seniors and working together to support our future graduates.

Sincerely,

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Baltimore County Public Schools

PTA Council of Baltimore County

Dear Reader:

As a stakeholder group, the PTA Council of Baltimore County, Inc., is invited to take part in a number of BCPS and Baltimore County workgroups, focus groups, and committees. We appreciate the chance to provide input on the following:

Ramona Basilio, Family, School, and Community Partnerships Committee Chair

– Baltimore County Summer and After-school Meals Coalition

– Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Stakeholder Workgroup

Andra Broadwater, Health and Safety Committee Chair and Council Secretary

– BCPS School Health Council

– Safe and Supportive Environments Advisory Group

Carrie Horwitz Lang, Curriculum Committee Chair

– Advanced Academics Math Workgroup

– Early Childhood Advisory Group

Jayne Lee, Vice President for Leadership

– BCPS Calendar Committee

Leslie Weber, President

– Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission (represents PTA Council and serves as Secretary)

– Board of Education (BOE) Equity Committee until a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee Chair is appointed

– Reopening Stakeholder Group

Our officers and committee chairs contribute in other ways to public education in our county and state. While this list isn’t all-inclusive, we’re proud that:

Central Area VP Christina Pumphrey was elected to the BOE.
Extension Committee Chair Emory Young was appointed to the BOE for his second term.
Southeast Area VP Will Feuer serves on the Southeast Area Education Advisory Council.
Northwest Area VP Ryan Coleman is the President of the Randallstown NAACP.
Jayne Lee is the Secretary of Free State PTA.
Advocacy and Legislation Committee Chair Beth Jarrett chaired the Free State PTA committee to nominate the parent representative on the State BOE and serves on the Free State PTA Advocacy Committee.

Two board members – Treasurer John Ryan and Reflections Committee Chair Hope Metzler – aren’t on the above lists, but they’re incredibly busy all year long offering stellar financial advice to PTA units and managing Council finances (John) and running the National PTA’s Reflections Arts Education Program and handling communications for the Council (Hope).

We’re clearly a committed group of volunteers who are honored to serve BCPS in many capacities.

Leslie Weber

BCPTA Council President