Each year, several schools in Frederick County welcome new principals and assistant principals. Frederick County Public Schools fills vacancies and makes new leadership assignments strategically based on the needs of our school communities and our students.
“We have an outstanding group of administrators in FCPS,” says Tracey Lucas, executive director of School Administration and Leadership. “As we make assignments for the coming school year, we’re constantly looking to support our school communities and foster continued growth in our excellent employees.”
For the upcoming 2013-14 school year, FCPS has appointed the following as principals and assistant principals, effective July 1. Changes are listed alphabetically by school (some changes are transfers and some are promotions; promotions are designated by an asterisk):
• Ballenger Creek Elementary Assistant Principal Debra O’Donnell
• Ballenger Creek Middle Assistant Principal Kathleen Horner • Brunswick High Assistant Principal Nancy Boyenton • Brunswick Middle Assistant Principal Anita Shank • Career and Technology Center Principal Michael Concepcion • Carroll Manor Elementary Assistant Principal Lori Snowden • Catoctin High Assistant Principal Kelly Kirby • Centerville Principal Tracy Hilliard • Crestwood Middle Assistant Principal Jeff Wood • Deer Crossing Elementary Assistant Principal David Migdal • Frederick High Assistant Principals Donna Clabaugh, David Franceschina, Drew Kibler and Aaron Phillips • Gov. TJ Middle Assistant Principal Brooke Collins • Gov. TJ High Principal Jethro Reid* and Assistant Principals Stephanie Bittner, Mary Jacques and Olivia Robbins • Hillcrest Elementary Principal Kimberly Seiss and Assistant Principals Marilyn Mathewsand Amy Routzahn* • Linganore High Assistant Principals Jan Witt and Andrew McWilliams • Middletown High Assistant Principal Christopher Bittner • Monocacy Middle Assistant Principal Daniel Enck* • Myersville Elementary Principal Kathy Swire* • New Market Elementary Assistant Principal Dr. Janice O’Hara • New Market Middle Assistant Principal Anita Hairston • North Frederick Elementary Assistant Principal Ellen Hanner • Oakdale High Principal Jeff Marker* and Assistant Principals Gwen Burcker and William Caulfield • Oakdale Middle Principal Stephanie Ware* • Orchard Grove Elementary Principal Debra Myers and Assistant Principal Lisa Wrzesinski • Sabillasville Elementary Principal Kate Krietz • Thurmont Middle Assistant Principal Deborah Buckman • Thurmont Elementary Principal Cheryl Crawford • Thurmont Primary Principal Karen Locke • Tuscarora Elementary Principal Steve Raff • Tuscarora High Assistant Principals Gwen Dorsey and Cynthia Zimmerman • Twin Ridge Elementary Principal Dr. Ayesha McArthur • Urbana Middle Principal Michelle Concepcion and Assistant Principal Dr. Roger Copeland • Walkersville High Principal Tracey Franklin* and Assistant Principal Sheri Murphy • Walkersville Middle Principal Stacey Hiltner* and Assistant Principal David Early • West Frederick Middle Assistant Principal Jay Schill • Windsor Knolls Middle Assistant Principal Kimberly Leaman • Yellow Springs Elementary Principal Susan Kreiger and Assistant Principal Jana Strohmeyer
When Frederick County Public Schools middle and high school report cards arrive, they will include student Maryland School Assessment (MSA) scores from the Maryland State Department of Education.
Elementary report cards were already issued. Parents of elementary students should expect MSA results in the mail the week of July 1.
Parents should watch for their child’s Maryland reading and math test results for one of the following testing programs: MSA reading and math or Alternate MSA reading and math (and science for students in grades 5, 8 and 10).
If parents have questions regarding the results after they arrive, they should contact their child’s school.
NOTE: Except for the week of July 4, all schools and offices are closed Fridays throughout the summer. 12-month employees work longer hours Mondays-Thursdays to make up for Fridays off. Employees resume their normal schedules the week of August 5.
Frederick County Public Schools has stepped up its focus on effective communication and community engagement and earned a record eight awards from the 2013 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).
FCPS received not one but three NSPRA Golden Achievement Awards for exemplary public relations in campaigns to engage the community in the Frederick High School modernization, the Earth and Space Science Lab’s 50th anniversary and the effort to boost enrollment in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program at Linganore High.
NSPRA President Richard Bagin congratulated FCPS Communications, Community Engagement and Marketing director Michael Doerrer and other Communication Services staff for leadership in school communications. Bagin explained that the judges carefully sought outstanding achievement in four steps of each public relations program: needs analysis, planning to meet the needs, program execution and communication, and formal evaluation. Each project was judged individually against these criteria, he said, and the FCPS Golden Achievement Award projects met them all.
In addition, Communication Services staff earned three Awards of Merit in the Association’s Publications and Electronic Media category. These were for a minority recruitment pamphlet, a series of Rally Around the Promise public service announcements and a Time to Move Forward on Teacher Evaluations letter to the editor.
FCPS also won two Awards of Honorable Mention in the NSPRA Publications and Electronic Media category. These were for work related to the Promise of Public Education and for social media use in building trust and easing fears in the aftermath of the crisis in Newtown, Connecticut.
“What’s most impressive about these awards is the fact that they represent such a wide range of communications and engagement activities. They show that FCPS is executing a comprehensive and innovative set of strategies to inform and engage the people of Frederick County. Our Communication Services staff brings tremendous value and vision to FCPS,” said Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban. “These national awards show that unmistakably.”
Superintendent Dr. Theresa Alban announced the names of the 2013 School-based and Central Office Support Employees of the Year at last night’s Board of Education meeting.
Deborah Wachter-Harne, Central Office Secretary of the Year, is the 2013 FCPS Central Office Support Employee of the Year. Mrs. Wachter-Harne has been employed with FCPS for 39 years and is currently the senior executive secretary for the Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Innovation Department. She supports her department’s executive director, curriculum specialists and administrative secretaries. On a normal workday, she interacts with over 75 people. It’s a monumental job as the school system transitions to new curriculum standards, assessments and schedules and works to invest in the best resources for students. Mrs. Wachter-Harne performs a wide range of activities that directly support student achievement. Sue Ann Nogle, secondary curriculum specialist for English and Language Arts, nominated her for this award.
Kelly Woodard, Special Education Instructional Assistant of the Year, is the 2013 School-based Support Employee of the Year. She has worked at Centerville Elementary School since 2009 and was nominated for this award by Centerville kindergarten teacher Sylvia Brantner. Mrs. Brantner explained how Ms. Woodard contributes to FCPS’ mission: “Students come first with Kelly, and she is always attentive about what is best for them. She constantly seeks to challenge children to achieve their true potential with the belief that every child can learn.”
The FCPS-sponsored Support Employees of the Year program recognizes outstanding support staff in eight broad job categories. Two of the category winners are selected as the FCPS Central Office and School-based Support Employees of the Year.
Also recognized at last night’s Board meeting were: Business Support Employee of the Year—William “Bill” Crabill, route surveyor, Transportation; Central Office Maintenance Employee of the Year—Michael Madrake, lead maintenance mechanic, Catoctin Cluster; School-based Custodian of the Year—William “Bill” King, Jr., lead custodian, Kemptown Elementary; and School-based Registrar of the Year—Jane Nicholson, Thurmont Middle.
Photo caption from l-r: Deborah Wachter-Harne, Kelly Woodard, Jane Nicholson, William Crabill, William King Jr., and Michael Madrake
The Frederick County Public Schools’ Special Education Department hosted a celebration yesterday, honoring employees receiving outstanding achievement awards for dedication supporting students with disabilities.
Shown in the photo, left to right, are: Outstanding High School Special Education Teacher Dawn Chrisinger from Brunswick High; Friend of Special Education Brunswick High volunteer Maria Johnson; Outstanding High School Special Education Instructional Assistant Jerry Williams from Frederick High; Outstanding Speech-Language Pathologist Danielle Wilson from Urbana Middle; Outstanding Achievement Award winner Speech-Language Coordinator Cathie Duncan; Outstanding School Psychologist Dr. Mitch Ginsburg; FCPS Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban; Board of Education President Jean Smith; Outstanding Elementary Special Education Instructional Assistant Sally Tokar from Thurmont Primary; Outstanding Special Education Administrator Parkway Elementary Principal Betsy Little; Outstanding Elementary Special Education Teacher Alicia Krauss from Parkway Elementary; and Outstanding Middle School Special Education Instructional Assistant Douglas Biggus from Heather Ridge. [Not present: Outstanding Middle School Special Education Teacher Melissa Moller from Monocacy Middle.]
The Civitan Club of Frederick, Famous Dave’s, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Market, and several anonymous givers donated refreshments. The Civitan Club also generously donated the awards that honorees received.
Local public schools are strengthening security with the help of a $1,163,500 Maryland State Department of Education grant. The grant required Frederick County Public Schools to determine a source for matching 38% of the grant funding. The Board of County Commissioners allotted the necessary $700,000 as a one-time expenditure to enable schools to take advantage of the grant.
FCPS is analyzing the best possible uses of the expanded resources. “The grant stipulates that we have until fall 2014 to complete the projects it funds,” says FCPS security coordinator Clifton Cornwell. “Our focus is on improving student and staff protection through strengthening security access to schools.”
FCPS has prioritized enhanced school security initiatives this past year. For example, the school system recently partnered with the Frederick County Division of Emergency Management in securing a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant to purchase and install facility notification devices in each school office. When activated through a weather alert or Central Office staff, the devices will emit a tone and flashing lights while displaying a text message. When school staff shuts off the device, confirmation is sent to the Central Office that school staff got the message.
“Allegany and Washington Counties use this Alertus product,” Mr. Cornwell says. “I expect the devices will be a helpful addition in improving school crisis communication. We can target all county schools, a group of schools or just one school, depending on the circumstance,” he adds.
“Without Frederick County government’s partnership, the cost to the school system for these measures would be prohibitive. We are very grateful for County support,” he said.
The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) approved the appointment of Walkersville Middle Principal Jamie Aliveto to supervisor of Student Achievement, effective July 1, 2013. This is a new position in Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban’s budget-neutral strategic Central Office reorganization.
Ms. Aliveto earned her B.S. degree in elementary education and M.S. degree in special education from West Virginia University in Morgantown, in 1995 and 1997 respectively. In 2004, she earned administration and supervision certification from Hood College.
In 1997, Ms. Aliveto began her career with Frederick County Public Schools as a special education teacher at Windsor Knolls Middle. She transferred to Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle and was promoted in 2004 to assistant principal at Brunswick Middle. In 2008, she transferred to Walkersville Middle and was promoted to principal there in 2010.
Ms. Aliveto co-chairs the FCPS Middle School Principal Learning Community on Scheduling and has served on and co-chaired numerous other committees. She was a Master Instructional Leader for the Maryland State Department of Education’s 2013 Educator Effectiveness Academies. Ms. Aliveto’s accolades include a Sally Mae New Teacher of the Year nomination in 1998 as well as selection as FCPS Outstanding Special Educator in 2002 and FCPS Outstanding Special Education Administrator in 2010.
“Mrs. Aliveto brings incredible experiences and a passion for seeing all students be successful. She will play an important part in supporting our principals and schools in improving student achievement and continuing to move our system forward,” says deputy superintendent Steve Lockard.
The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) approved the promotion of Oakdale High Principal Dr. George Seaton and Physical Education and Health curriculum specialist Brett Stark to directors of Curriculum, effective July 1, 2013. These are new positions in Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban’s budget-neutral strategic Central Office reorganization.
Dr. Seaton earned his B.S. degree in health, physical education and recreation in 1979 and master’s degree in administration and supervision of secondary schools in 1983 from Frostburg State College, now Frostburg State University. He completed his Doctor of Education degree in 1988 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
In 1979, he started his FCPS career as Outdoor School teacher. He was promoted to assistant principal of Linganore High in 1987, transferred to Middletown High in 1989 and then to Urbana High in 1997. Dr. Seaton was appointed principal for Oakdale High, where he has remained since its 2009 opening.
Mr. Stark earned his B.S. degree in physical education/health education and M.S. degree in physical education teacher education from West Virginia University in Morgantown, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. In 2007, he earned Administrator I and II certification from Hood College.
Mr. Stark’s career with FCPS started in 2002, teaching physical education at Windsor Knolls Middle. In 2006 he transferred to Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle and was promoted to secondary curriculum specialist for Physical Education and Health in 2008. In 2012, Mr. Stark became lead curriculum specialist for secondary Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Innovation.
Mr. Stark’s leadership experiences are extensive. He co-chairs the Middle School Schedule Committee, chairs the Family Life Advisory Committee, the Frederick County School Health Council, the Maryland Association of Physical Education (high schools) and the Maryland Association of Physical Education’s grant committee. He also serves on a number of other community involvement and leadership committees.
The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) approved the promotion of Yellow Springs Elementary Principal Kathryn Prichard to instructional director of elementary schools, effective July 1, 2013. This position is part of Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban’s budget-neutral strategic Central Office reorganization.
Ms. Prichard earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from Frostburg State University. She also earned administrator certification from Hood College and a Reading Recovery teacher certificate from Mount St. Mary’s University. She has been an educator for 30 years, spending 17 years in Frederick County.
In 1995, Ms. Prichard came to FCPS from Allegany County, Maryland, beginning as a substitute teacher. The following year FCPS hired her to work at Parkway Elementary, where she was a classroom, Targeted Intervention and Reading Recovery teacher. From 2003 until 2005, Ms. Prichard was an FCPS teacher specialist for professional development. She was then promoted to assistant principal at North Frederick Elementary, and two years later promoted to principal there. In 2010 she transferred to Yellow Springs Elementary.
Ms. Prichard has served on the Principals’ Advisory Council, Educational Reform Council, Staffing Formula Committee and others. She has taught many Maryland State Department of Education approved courses and managed several grants. The Maryland PTA selected Ms. Prichard as 2012 Maryland Educator of the Year.
“The School Administration and Leadership Development division is thrilled to have Ms. Prichard join the team. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will benefit our elementary schools," says Tracey Lucas, FCPS executive director.
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). This is the fourth consecutive year that the school system has earned the highest form of recognition for accurate and full disclosure in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
“Achieving the certificate for our comprehensive annual financial report for fiscal year 2012 is a clear demonstration that FCPS is committed to transparency and responsible financial stewardship. Frederick County Public Schools is committed to managing every dime of the taxpayers’ money responsibly, and this validates the high quality of our work,” says Leslie Pellegrino, executive director of FCPS Fiscal Services.
Pellegrino commends finance manager Robert Reilly and all FCPS Finance Department staff for their dedication and hard work throughout the year in keeping the school system’s financial records in good order: “It is the attention to detail that staff applies year-round that resulted in this recognition. It’s a team achievement accomplished through everyone’s commitment to making sure school dollars go where they should to produce the best possible education for Frederick County students. We can all be proud of the financial accountability FCPS provides to the public and the resulting honor FCPS has received four years running.”
According to the GFOA--a nonprofit professional association serving about 17,500 governance finance professionals--attaining the certificate is a significant accomplishment for a government entity and its management. An impartial GFOA panel determined that the FCPS Finance Department meets the high standards of the program including a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate the school system’s finances.
Superintendent Dr. Theresa Alban announced the names of the 2013 School-based and Central Office Support Employees of the Year at last night’s Board of Education meeting. 
The Frederick County Public Schools’ Special Education Department hosted a celebration yesterday, honoring employees receiving outstanding achievement awards for dedication supporting students with disabilities. 
FCPS has prioritized enhanced school security initiatives this past year. For example, the school system recently partnered with the Frederick County Division of Emergency Management in securing a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant to purchase and install facility notification devices in each school office. When activated through a weather alert or Central Office staff, the devices will emit a tone and flashing lights while displaying a text message. When school staff shuts off the device, confirmation is sent to the Central Office that school staff got the message.