July 2017

 by Staff News

Orientation gives students firsthand look at new CityLab High School

Incoming freshmen to CityLab High School enjoyed an inside look into the campus at a recent special orientation where they learned about what will make the school special.

CityLab will be the newest Dallas ISD Transformation School when it opens its doors for 100 new freshman students in August. It will utilize a school-wide urban planning, architecture, and community development framework, making its downtown location (912 S. Ervay Street) the ideal site for its inventive academic offerings.

Teachers at the new CityLab High School.

The school will provide a transformative educational experience where learning extends beyond the classroom walls into the streets where students live, work, and play. Students will be prepared to become the next generation of design professionals and civic leaders, equipped with an appreciation and holistic understanding of the urban environment. Programs of study will include architecture, environmental science, and urban and regional planning, leading to one or more endorsements in Business and Industry, Public Services, or Multidisciplinary Studies.

Like other district Transformation Schools, CityLab will be open to all incoming ninth-grade students regardless of academic ability. Enrollment will be based on socioeconomic status, following the successful model piloted by Solar Preparatory School for Girls. CityLab High School was identified through the district’s annual Public School Choice competitive proposal process that was open to educators nationwide.

There are still opportunities available at CityLab for interested students. To learn more or enroll a student in CityLab high School, contact the Office of Transformation and Innovation at 972-925-3306 or choice@dallasisd.org.

With the addition of CityLab, the district will have 18 Choice Schools as part of its Public School Choice initiative: five other Transformation Schools (Solar Prep, Mata ES, Hulcy STEAM MS, IDEA HS, Ignite MS opening in August 2018) and 12 Innovation Schools (Cabell ES, De Zavala ES *Innovation Pilot*, Botello ES, Rogers ES, Weiss ES, Preston Hollow ES, Kramer ES, Lee ES, Lipscomb ES, Marsh MS, Franklin MS, and Bryan Adams HS).

in News 0 comments
 by Staff News

Online enrollment open for 2017-2018

Dallas ISD’s convenient, fast and accurate way to enroll new and returning students to the district is just a click away.

By visiting dallasisd.org/onlineenrollment, parents no longer need to wait in line to fill out paper forms at the campus to enroll their child.

The district provides an online enrollment option to parents and families of all kindergarten through 12th-grade students to facilitate the registration/enrollment process for the 2017-2018 school year, which starts Monday, Aug. 28. Pre-K and early childhood students must register on their campus.

Online enrollment is not mandatory and is optional for parents. Those parents wishing to enroll their child utilizing the traditional paper forms may continue to do so. For paper enrollment, click here.

In order to enroll online, all returning students must have a SnapCode, which can be found on their last Dallas ISD report card or retrieved from the enrollment website. All students new to the district will need to follow the listed steps to ensure they are in fact a new student to Dallas ISD. If a SnapCode is not found for a student, the New Student enrollment link will display and guide to submitting the online application.

For questions or concerns regarding the online enrollment process, parents can call the Dallas ISD Enrollment hotline at (972) 925-5860 or send an email to enrollmentsupport@dallasisd.org.

in News 0 comments
 by Staff News

Dallas ISD provides parents back to school information

Dallas Independent School District is providing parents a virtual one-stop-shop with helpful back to school information for the 2017-2018 school year, which starts Monday, Aug. 28.

Available in English and Spanish, the 2017-2018 Back-to-School page, includes information such as:
·      School hours
·      Back to School Hotline
·      Online enrollment
·      Bus Routes and Schedules (2017-2018 bus routes and schedules to be available by the week of August 14).
·      School meal information
·      Immunization requirements

The Back to School page can be found at http://www.dallasisd.org/backtoschool.
In addition, the district reminds parents that pre-registration for the 2017 Mayor’s Back to School Fair is available through July 28.

The fair will take place Friday, Aug. 4, at the Centennial Building in Fair Park. Parents of children attending Dallas ISD schools, who meet the eligibility requirements, can register to receive free school supplies during the fair. Other services at no cost to families available at the fair will include immunizations, health, dental and vision screenings, haircuts, and more. For the pre-registration locations and hours, visit: http://www.mayorsbacktoschoolfair.com/.

in News 0 comments
 by Staff News

District honors volunteer, partnership coordinators at third annual event

The volunteers and partners who donated time, services and products were honored in April. On Thursday, May 25, it was time for the campus-based volunteer and partnership coordinators to be honored for their hard work.

A luncheon to honor those staff members was sponsored by Credit Union of Texas and conducted at The Music Hall at Fair Park.

The Partnership Coordinators receiving honors are:

  • Karen Chandler, Stonewall Jackson Elementary School
  • Monica Santillan, Daniel Webster Elementary School
  • Katie Albritton, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School

The Volunteer Coordinators receiving honors are:

  • Jeanne Juneau, Dan D. Rogers Elementary School
  • Tonye Melton, Albert Sidney Johnston Elementary School
  • Maria Garcia, W.H. Adamson High School
  • Nora Garcia, Sunset High School
  • Melissa Martinez, Mount Auburn Elementary School (Peer Award winner)
in News 0 comments
 by Staff News

Three campus employees nominees for LifeChanger of the Year Award

Three Dallas ISD educators are among 17 in Texas nominated for the national 2017-2018 LifeChanger of the Year Award.

National Life Group has sponsored and coordinated the award since 2006. Multiple awards are distributed each year among nominees from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. One Grand Prize Winner will split a $10,000 prize with his or her school.

The district nominees are:

  • Javier Chaparro, principal, Seagoville Middle School
  • Katherine Evans, counselor, Bryan Adams High School
  • Marisa Saldana, first-grade bilingual teacher, Gilbert Cuellar Elementary School

Learn more about this year’s Dallas ISD educators nominated for the award below. Find their full profiles and the list of all nominees here.

Chaparro was nominated by Deborah Johnson, a member of his community. He is committed to supporting students by mentoring them and showing compassion. “Mr Chaparro is a shining example of positive influence and leadership in our community, and we are so proud of him,” Johnson said.

Evans was nominated by Shannon Rodriguez, who has worked with her for the past three years. Rodriguez said that Evans helps students and their families in a variety of ways by knowing the challenges high schools students can face. “As her coworker, I know that I can always count on Katherine to do a great job or come through in a pinch,” said Rodriguez. “Overall, she is selfless and works tirelessly for the benefit of the students she serves.”

Saldana was nominated by a colleague who wishes to remain anonymous. She is an excellent teacher, but also understands each individual student in her classroom – and is heavily involved in each student’s education as if they were her own child. “I have not met any other teacher that has so much patience, perseverance and dedication for her profession,” the nominator said.

LifeChanger of the Year Award winners will be selected in Spring 2018.

in Campus Staff News / Staff News 0 comments
 by Staff News

Mark your calendar for Benefits Enrollment

The Employee Benefits team reminds employees that the window to change your benefits for 2017-2018 is July 24 through August 22. This is a time when many employees may be away from the office on vacation. While reminders will be sent via U.S. mail and email, it’s a good idea to mark your calendar now so you won’t forget this important activity.

This year, your current benefit elections (excluding Flexible Spending Accounts) will roll over to the 2017-2018 plan year, unless you make changes during annual benefits enrollment.

For details on available benefits and costs, employees can attend one of the series of information sessions set for Tuesday, July 25 through Thursday, August 17.  Go here to view the full schedule of dates, times and meeting locations.
in Central Staff News / Staff News 0 comments
 by Staff News

Samuell instructor helps rescue fellow teacher after car wreck

Tatum Elementary teacher Carolyn Myers was driving to work when a car crashed into her, flipping her automobile on its side.

Myers was trapped, thought she smelled smoke, and, as she puts it, “was totally freaked out.”

After screaming for help, a man came to her rescue, climbing down into the car and steadily talking her through the situation—calming her down— until the ambulance arrived.

“I truly believe this man saved my life,” Myers said. “I can not thank him enough.”

The man turned out to be Sgt. Dewye Jiles, a veteran of the Gulf War and current JROTC instructor at W.W. Samuell High School. Jiles said his army background and medical training kicked into high gear when he saw the car wreck.

“Helping people and being a Good Samaritan is something I teach to my ROTC class,” Jiles said. “I was happy to be able to help Carolyn in her time of need. I could see in her eyes how terrified she was, so I’m glad I got to be there to help.”

in Campus Staff News 0 comments
 by Staff News

Dallas ISD teacher sees governor make his idea a reality

A Dallas ISD teacher saw his suggestion to Gov. Greg Abbott become a reality over the weekend.

Eric Hale, a teacher at Burnet Elementary, served on an education panel with Abbott late last year that focused on ways to attract and retain effective educators. At the meeting, Hale suggested that the State of Texas start an annual tradition where it recognizes the best teachers from across the state for going above and beyond in their efforts to help students.

Fast forward to Saturday, April 29, and Hale attended a special reception at the Governor’s Mansion honoring more than 100 outstanding teachers from across the state. And at the reception, Abbott publicly credited Hale with coming up with the idea for the event honoring outstanding Texas teachers.

“I couldn’t believe it, here was the governor telling this story to everyone about how this was my idea,” Hale said. “He came over to me and handed me the microphone, and I got to say a few words. It was a huge honor to get to represent Dallas ISD at the event.”

Hale said the governor plans to hold the teacher reception on an annual basis.

in Campus Staff News 0 comments