Attending Student Voices sessions with some of our high school and middle school students, I appreciated discussions about the importance of listening.

"He served with the decency and good nature of a teacher, a coach, and a family man." — Maryland Governor Larry Hogan

Today’s guest blogger is Oakdale HS social studies teacher Ronnie Beard. Principal Donna Clabaugh says, “The policy FCPS has in place to provide support personnel a way to earn their full pay while on sabbatical for the semester they intern as student teachers is of immeasurable value. Student teaching is stressful and takes a lot of time when done right—and simultaneously the intern is taking a course in the evening, yet another process to balance. Not having to work another job and worry about a paycheck is one less stress. Maintaining salary and benefits while an employee strives to become a teacher sends the message to support employees that FCPS encourages and supports their goal. We put our words into action and support our strategic goal to recruit and retain highly qualified employees. I am proud to have been a part of Ronnie reaching his goal—hard work and perseverance pay off!"

Guest blogger Christopher Schlee teaches technology education at Monocacy Middle. Principal Dr. Stephanie Ware says, “It’s amazing to watch collaboration between those traditionally trained to teach and those who enter from a different educational path. The problem solving and discussions they have are richer, thanks to their varying experiences. It’s a win-win for all involved, and the experiences provided to our students are more engaging because of it.”

Teaching is one of the most fulfilling jobs a person can have, and also one of the most difficult. Those who have answered the call to teach have taken many different paths. This short blog series will feature 3 different pathways to teaching. I begin with my own journey.

Redistricting students into new schools is one of the hardest decisions the Board of Education makes. It is a very emotional issue for the students and their families. As we embark on the redistricting process for the Linganore, Oakdale and Urbana feeder patterns, I am very proud of the Board of Education for demonstrating their commitment to cultural proficiency.

I recently attended the National Conference on Education, and one of the keynote speakers was Dr. Bill Daggett. I have heard Dr. Daggett speak several times, and each time, I am reminded that it is time to think about educational practices in the 21st Century.

Guest blogger Meg Lee, supervisor of Advanced Academics, is a valuable member of the FCPS team. She is a passionate leader who has inspired our district’s work with a “growth mindset” and has been integral in developing a partnership described below that will impact students across the county.

The debate over the school calendar has focused on a post-Labor Day versus a pre-Labor Day start date for students. There are passionate arguments on both sides. But are we truly asking the right questions about the school calendar?

There are nearly 8,000 employees who support the students and families in our school system. They hold a variety of jobs and provide critical services to keep our organization running effectively and efficiently. Sometimes it is easy to take their work for granted, but recent data reminded me how fortunate we are to have each and every one of them!