2024 Support Employee of the Year Winners
Brandon Brewbaker is the FCPS School Support Employee of the Year as well as the Overall Support Employee of the Year. Mr. Brewbaker is an instructional assistant at Frederick High School and has worked for FCPS since 2008. He was nominated by Liz O’Neal, assistant principal at Frederick High.
It’s hard to fully explain all that Mr. Brewbaker does for Frederick High because so often, he goes above and beyond his basic job duties as an instructional assistant. At FHS, he is head girls lacrosse coach, social media content creator, sports information director, football game announcer, lunch music DJ, CTC transition support and monitor, as well as “pie-staff-in-the-face” volunteer, mentor, encourager, and so much more. Mr. Brewbaker does this while making sure students and staff are laughing and having a great day.
Mr. Brewbaker took the initiative, on his own time, to create CadetAthletics.com, the #2 high school athletic website in the country. While the website has the term “athletics” in it, he features the accomplishments of all FHS students, not just athletes. Mr. Brewbaker is also in charge of the Cadet Athletics social media accounts which he uses to promote athletic events, spirit days and more.
Mr. Brewbaker’s focus is always on supporting students to help them improve themselves. He takes the time to connect with all students, circulating in the cafeteria during supervision to check-in on their goals, and give them support when they are struggling. He is an encourager and never has a negative thing to say to any student when they share their worries and concerns with him. Mr. Brewbaker also connects with students before school starts, in the halls, during dismissal and at many sports games. The connection is always genuine and personal.
Dr. Fanceschina, principal at FHS, wrote “to put it simply, Mr. Brewbaker IS Frederick High School.”
At the time Michael Bowles was awarded the Operations Support Employee of the Year, he was lead custodian at Urbana High. (He has since moved to the warehouse as a specialist.) Mr. Bowles has been with FCPS for fifteen years and was nominated by Michael Hombach, assistant principal at UHS.
While at UHS, Mr. Bowles went above and beyond. He led the operations team to complete tasks that otherwise would have fallen to the maintenance department including streamlining work order submissions, volunteering for arrival duty, and helping to direct traffic each morning. Mr. Bowles also took on some facilities duties that would typically be handled by an AP or coordinator. He took the bold step of emailing staff for feedback about the quality of the work performed by his custodial crew in each area of the building. This allowed Mr. Bowles to fine tune the performance of his crew, address issues and praise and reward good work. It is efforts like this that allowed him to build strong and purposeful relationships with stakeholders, both in the building and within the community. These relationships allowed him to communicate the needs of the building, staff, and students so that these needs are met and the functioning of the building improves.
Mr. Bowles went the extra mile for his staff. When there was overtime to be given, he allowed his staff the opportunity to first take the hours and, if there are hours left, he took take them. He is a team player and an excellent leader. The rapport and morale of the custodial staff has improved with his support; he built a team that feels supported and heard. Mr. Bowles is definitely a role model for his peers and truly a pleasure to work with. It is no doubt that he has taken this spirit with him to the warehouse.
Cheryl Desmond, special education program assistant at Crestwood Middle School, is this year’s recipient of the Special Education Support Employee of the Year award. Ms. Desmond has been with FCPS since 2006 and was nominated by Special Education Department Chair Darla Roesch.
Cheryl is an exceptional program assistant. Not only does she do the program assistant’s job of scheduling meetings, but she pitches in to do lunch duty, tends the tardy desk, covers classes when needed, and monitors medical assistance. She is always looking for ways to take things off the plates of the special education teachers. Ms. Desmond takes her job very seriously but doesn’t even think about the duties outlined in her job description; instead, she sees supporting the school as a whole, pitching in wherever she is needed.
Ms. Desmond makes a point to interact with students every day. She supports the general education and special education teachers alike as everyone prepares students for high school and adulthood. Ms. Desmond is a team player and she cares about student success.
Beyond Ms. Desmond’s job responsibilities, her interactions with parents are marked by warmth, empathy, and a genuine desire to support families. Her communication skills and ability to connect with parents create a positive and collaborative atmosphere, fostering a strong partnership between school and families. Ms. Desmond’s professional knowledge is respected by others and she has transformed the special education department at Crestwood Middle.
Tina Ford, food service assistant manager, has been awarded the Food Service Support Employee of the Year. She is located at Tuscarora High and has been with FCPS for seventeen years. Ms. Ford was nominated by Kevin Hall, assistant principal at THS.
Ms. Ford enthusiastically helps with the after-school tutoring program. Not only does she ensure students receive a nutritionally balanced snack each session but she is always willing to serve students in the tutoring coordinator’s absence. At the same time, Ms. Ford is building rapport with students.
Ms. Ford regularly communicates with the appropriate stakeholders about concerns she or her employees have regarding the cafeteria and how food service programs can be improved to help students access healthy meals. For example, when staffing improved and a fourth line could be opened, she surveyed students about what kind of food they would like to have in that line. This resulted in the opening of an Asian bistro line and a burrito bar line.
Ms. Ford sets an example for students as a reliable, personable adult in the building who takes pride and care in her work, exemplified by her promotion of a culture that fosters wellness and civility for THS students and staff.
The Transportation Support Employee of the Year goes to Shelly Fraley. Ms. Fraley (or “Miss Shelly” as her students call her) has been a bus driver for FCPS for six years. She was nominated by parent Sean McKillop. Ms. Fraley serves the Walkersville High, Middle, and Elementary communities.
Ms. Fraley quickly learns the name of all her students and builds a connection with each by taking the time to become familiar with their interests. She decorates and enhances her school bus so it’s an inviting space for all students. This includes decorations to reflect the current holiday season or football memorabilia to spark discussions about the upcoming big game. She is known to attend extra-curricular activities, such as sporting events, cheering loudly and showing support for her students. These appearances are made during her personal time without compensation or professional reward.
Ms. Fraley manages challenging student discipline situations with care and effectiveness. Recently, a student was the victim of bullying on the bus. Not only did Ms. Fraley provide comfort, but when explaining the situation to the student’s parents she made assurances that the situation would quickly be resolved. She addressed the situation with the other students; her quick and kind approach ensured the negative experience of the student being targeted was minimized. The bullying stopped. This resolution was achieved by Ms. Fraley outside of her normal contract hours.
It is evident that the reason Ms. Fraley is so successful in her role with the school system is because of her positive attitude and effect she has on students, parents, and staff. Because she approaches her responsibilities with a positive outlook, success becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Her enthusiasm for her students’ success and care for their safety makes a difference in the lives of everyone she encounters.
User Support Specialist Philip Hannaby is the Technical Support Employee of the Year. Mr. Hannaby works at New Market Middle School and has been there for 3 years. He was nominated by his co-worker Janet Officer and the staff at New Market Middle School.
Mr. Hannaby contributes to every facet of the mission at New Market Middle. He is at school before his starting time and after his ending time. He seeks to have all the bugs worked out before everyone arrives. He encourages the spirit of learning by taking the time to teach students and staff how to fix their technology problems instead of just fixing them himself.
Co-workers respect Mr. Hannaby because of his competency as an IT professional and as a problem solver. He takes on any problem with a great attitude and finds a solution in a timely manner. If he doesn’t immediately know the answer, he takes the time to research and soon returns with the answers. Adults are happy to work with him. They feel well-supported and appreciate the fact that he is dependable, friendly and positive.
Mr. Hannaby is respected by students as well. He has created a way for students to message him when an issue arises. Students like working with him as they have learned that he is approachable and they are confident he will help them.
Robin Hemp is the Administrative Support Employee of the Year. She has been with FCPS for 21 years and is the administrative secretary at Tuscarora High School. Ms. Hemp was nominated by her principal, Lisa Smith.
Ms. Hemp serves as the backbone of THS. She is meticulous in her attention to detail and ensures fiscal responsibility by applicable staff. Beyond that, she cares for the employees at THS; she is referred to as Mama Hemp! She anticipates the needs and plans to address them, from being an office manager for the other secretaries to ensuring substitute coverage.
Ms. Hemp is at the school assisting each and every day. She ensures that teachers have the materials they need to teach students. She brings in cow eyeballs from her family’s butcher shop for students to dissect in science classes. Ms. Hemp also ensures that students have what they need. She acquired the correct color shirt required by a student to try-out for the basketball team. She makes sure that a student has food for lunch or that no student is left out of a field trip opportunity.
Ms. Hemp is beloved by staff. It is evident that all need a few minutes with her, every day. She is there to help with a work-related issue and personal issues. Ms. Hemp has a positive disposition at all times. Her cool, calm care draws people to her and they leave her office feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle their own obstacles. She is able to manage others with kindness and patience and holds others accountable so that they become the best version of themselves.