The Blueprint Quarterly
June 2025
Hello! I am Dr. Sarah Sirgo, the Chief of Staff and Blueprint Implementation Coordinator for Frederick County Public Schools! Welcome to the latest issue of The Blueprint Quarterly - a communication tool dedicated to providing our students, staff, families, and community members, up-to-date information about the Blueprint implementation in FCPS.
As expected, the Blueprint was a key focus of the most recent legislative session. In this issue you can explore a legislative session summary along with a closer look at the "Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act", which was focused on Blueprint funding and expectations.
Our latest update also includes a highlight on the work around National Board Certification (NBC) and how we are elevating the opportunity for staff to gain this credential as part of the teacher career ladder development.
You may review this newsletter, all other issues, and the most current Blueprint information on our website at https://www.fcps.org/blueprint
Pillar 2 - National Board Certification within the FCPS Career Ladder
National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS.org) is recognized as the highest certification a teacher can obtain. It is designed to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and to foster ongoing improvement in schools. The certification process offers teachers a rigorous, peer-assessed portfolio experience that demonstrates well-rounded skills and expertise in their National Board-certified area.
Current FCPS NBCT Sarah Yoder, a member of the NBC/PAR workgroup, shared the following statement regarding how the National Board process is a natural extension and next step for a teacher’s professional development after their first 3–5 years as an educator:
Teaching is about reflection—it is how we respond to our students' needs, develop our pedagogical toolbox, and collaborate with our colleagues. When we are just starting out, PAR and induction programming provide mentors who can guide our reflection when we feel lost and do not know the right questions to ask. As our careers progress, and we move along the career ladder, the National Board process offers teachers an opportunity to deeply reflect on their teaching practices and the impact they have on their students, schools, and communities. An NBCT is a teacher who knows the right questions to ask, who can sort through data to identify the next steps, and is ready to share that knowledge with their schools.
Within the FCPS Career Ladder, achieving National Board Certification allows staff to “move up” the ladder and become eligible for strategic leadership responsibilities. This provides professional learning experiences that foster foundational leadership abilities for various career opportunities, including the Level 4 Teacher Leader role.
FCPS is proud to be in the top 10 school districts nationwide in terms of the number of new NBCTs! With 141 National Board Certified Teachers and an additional 100+ teachers submitting between 1–4 NBC components in May 2025, more teachers are committing to this journey. This process affirms—and sometimes deepens—a teacher's understanding and ability to articulate the instructional decisions made in the best interest of all students.
The National Board Certification process provides professional growth, career advancement opportunities, and recognition of expertise, validating strong teaching practices and a commitment to student learning. Current NBC candidate Rebecca Pfeil shared the following after her first year of candidacy:
My National Board journey has been an incredibly valuable experience. Component 4, in particular, challenged me to deeply reflect on the specific obstacles I face in the classroom and develop targeted strategies to address them. The growth I experienced—especially in my work with multilingual learners—not only benefited my students but also led to personal and professional development. Overall, the process reignited my passion for teaching. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone, lifted my spirits, and contributed to what has been a truly positive and fulfilling 2024–2025 school year.
FCPS’s NBC Support and Career Ladder design respond to the need for and value of instructional leadership at all levels and in a variety of roles. As this work continues to evolve, it will reveal curated, visible pathways in teacher leadership that embrace opportunities to “lead from where you are” and foster continuous improvement throughout the many phases and chapters of an educator’s career!
Meet Amy Cordes, National Board Certification and Peer Assistance and Review
Amy Cordes serves as the sub-committee chair for FCPS’s Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) and National Board Certification (NBC) support as part of Blueprint Pillar 2: Employee Support and Development. As the Supervisor of Professional Growth Systems for FCPS, it is essential to evaluate teacher support and development pathways, from pre-service/induction to leadership. The demands and opportunities in education are ever-evolving, so this committee’s work is fundamental to the design, implementation, and, ultimately, the success of quality teacher retention and leadership development as it relates to the FCPS Career Ladder. To ensure the success of both our organization and students, it is crucial for the school system to remain agile and make effective use of instructional leadership across various educator roles.
Changes on the Horizon
Content standards for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study have undergone significant revision and review by business and industry partners across the state of Maryland. The standards are currently in the review stage by educational partners and are now also available for public comment.
Highlights as the Blueprint completes its 3rd full year of implementation
AIB Blueprint Implementation Progress One-Pager -
Blueprint Implementation Progress Highlights - Extended Version
The AIB was pleased to announce that all Local Education Agency (LEA) 2023 - 2027 Blueprint Implementation Plans have been fully approved as of the February 20 AIB public meeting. The AIB thanked their LEA partners, and especially Blueprint Coordinators, who put so much time and effort into ensuring their plans are effective and will lead to increased student outcomes, thus elevating public education in Maryland.
Have you had a chance to check out our new stakeholder series on what our Blueprint work looks like in action? Go to our FCPSMaryland - YouTube channel and type Blueprint, in the search area, to watch any one of our featured video shorts below!
Action Area 1- Career Technology Education
Action Area 2- National Board Certification
Action Area 3--Community Schools
Action Area 4--Strategic Resource Allocation*Coming Soon!
Maryland State Department of Education
State Graduation Rate Reaches 7-Year High - Approximately 88% of Maryland students graduated on time in 2024.
MSDE Recommends Increase in child Care Scholarship Provider Reimbursement Rates - New market rate study and cost analysis notes rising costs to providers for employees and supplies.
Maryland Matters
House approves Blueprint education bill that rejects most cuts proposed by governor - The House of Delegates approved an amended, comprehensive education plan that rejected cuts proposed by Gov. Wes Moore.
Tax fatigue hobbles support to pay for education spending (Poll) - Amid state support for improving public school education, a new poll suggests there might be a limit to what people are wiling to pay.
Maryland improves in national rankings in fourth grade, eighth grade reading - reading test scores jumped from 40th in the nation in 2022, to 20th place in 2024.
New bills would require all school systems in the state to have cell phone policies - proposals vary in the levels of restrictions on student use, but all see the need for policies in schools across the state.
Maryland HS graduation rate reaches seven-year high - now at highest point since 2017.
Feedback and Reflection Opportunity
We want to hear your thoughts on the FCPS implementation of the Blueprint. Please click on one or more of the links to share thoughts on the Blueprint pillar areas of focus. The responses to any of the following will be reported back to FCPS staff directly.
- Pillar 1: Early Childhood (Pre-K expansion, Kindergarten Readiness, Judy Centers) Pillar 1 Reflections
- Pillar 2: Elevating Educators (Career Ladder, Diversity Recruitment and Retention, Talent Pathways) Pillar 2 Reflections
- Pillar 3: North Star (College & Career Readiness, Post-CRR Pathways, Support Pathways, Career Coaching, High-Quality Curriculum) Pillar 3 Reflections
- Pillar 4: Student Supports (Behavioral and mental health, Special Education, English language learners, Students experiencing homelessness, Communities experiencing poverty, Community Schools) Pillar 4 Reflections
You are also welcome to email us directly at the link in the box below.