Dallas ISD invites staff to Education Summits

Dallas ISD is launching a strategic planning process to create a strategic and innovative vision for Dallas ISD learning, technology, and facilities design. To launch this process, the district is hosting four education summits and encourages all stakeholders to attend one of the summits.

Parents, students, district staff, business leaders and community members will have an opportunity to share their innovative vision of the future. Dates, times and locations are listed below*.

6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7
W.T. White High School

6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7
South Oak Cliff High School

6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9
Emmett J. Conrad High School

6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9
W.W. Samuell High School and Early College
(*Free childcare and refreshments will be provided at each location.)

During the summits, citizens will have the opportunity to learn more about the learning, technology and facilities planning process and hear from a student panel, as well as talk about their highest hopes and aspirations for their children. In an effort to develop an actionable and measurable vision, Dallas ISD encourages all community members to join this effort.

Additionally, community members can provide feedback through an online survey now through Friday, Nov. 10 here. The survey will also be posted on the district and campus websites. The district is also hosting a series of focus groups representing various stakeholder groups in October and early November.

Information, feedback and input gathered at the summits, focus groups and from the survey will be used by a design team comprised of citizens and district staff who will create a community-focused strategic direction for technology and facilities. This strategic direction will include a set of community beliefs, call to action, goals, action steps and a learner profile. Additionally, it will allow Dallas ISD to measure student learning and serve as a guide for the district as it makes future decisions regarding instruction, technology, budgeting, staffing and facility planning.

As the district embarks on this process, all summits, documents and resources will be posted online at www.dallasisd.org/envisiondallasisd for community members to stay informed. The district will provide updates throughout this process.

Dress up for a cause on Tuesday, Oct. 31

In support of the district’s annual United Way Campaign, employees are invited to dress up for Halloween in exchange for a $5 donation. There are three ways to pay:

Cash:      See your department’s United Way coordinator.

Check:    Pay to “United Way of Metropolitan Dallas” and submit to your United Way coordinator.

Oracle:   Starting Oct. 26, log in to Oracle and make a one-time donation to United Way.

Your contribution will be deducted from your next check. Click here for instructions.

Please note: Costumes must meet the district’s dress code standards; specifically:

•          No masks.

•          No inappropriate language, photos, or imagery.

•          Facial features cannot be disguised–

Face paint/body stickers are allowed on no more than 25% of the face.

•          Replicas of guns, knives, or other weapons are prohibited.

Hero is spelled T.O.Y.

A hero is defined as someone who is admired for courage, outstanding achievement or noble qualities. In celebration of its heroes, Dallas ISD gathered more than 230 stellar teachers at the Frontiers of Flight Museum to laude them for their achievement, dedication and leadership in the classroom.

It was a celebration of the Campus Teachers of the Year and each of them remained incredibly grounded while administrators and Dallas ISD trustees hailed them for their daily acts of courage, molding and guiding students into responsible citizens prepared to make their own way.

Every year, each campus selects its teacher who embodies the work of a classroom champion with an unwavering commitment to students.  Go here to see the full list of honorees. 

Each of them then are eligible to be considered for the districtwide title, which will be selected in January.

Give us your feedback on proposed 2018-2019, 2019-2020 academic calendars

Employees, parents, students and community members are invited to provide feedback on proposed academic calendars for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years. The features of the two calendars are virtually identical in terms of the number of student school days, holidays and winter breaks, teacher professional development days, etc.

Copies of the calendars, a brief list of highlights, and a survey to collect feedback on the proposed calendars are available here through Friday, Nov. 10. The administration expects to submit the calendars to trustees for consideration at the December board meeting.

Dallas ISD Toastmasters to host open house, Wed., Nov. 1

Getting ahead professionally requires strong leadership and communication skills. Both are bedrocks of the Toastmasters global professional development program. Learn how Toastmasters can help you get better and get ahead. Attend the Dallas ISD Talk It Up! Toastmasters open house at 5:45 p.m., Wed., Nov. 1, in room 257 of the H.B. Bell School Support Services Building, 2909 N. Buckner Blvd. Join us for free pizza, fun and fellowship.   

 

César Chávez Learning Center nurse loves the diversity of her job

From teaching about diseases and holding health screenings to helping get gum out of students’ hair, César Chávez Learning Center school nurse Heidi Frumkin does it all.

Frumkin says she loves the diversity of what she does for work every day.

“I also really love my coworkers, we pull together and help each other,” Frumkin said. “This really is a great place to work.”

 

Teachers-in-training get firsthand look at why they should work in Dallas ISD

Twenty clinical teachers in Dallas ISD toured multiple schools to see for themselves why they should work for the innovative school district.

Clinical teachers, also known as student teachers, are educators-in-training in Dallas ISD who are getting their teacher certifications from different programs. Clinical teachers go to a Dallas ISD school and work with a mentor teacher to get in-classroom experience.

“Our goal is for the high-quality clinical teachers to then become teachers in Dallas ISD,” said Jill Peeples, Dallas ISD coordinator of clinical teaching.

The clinical teachers visited Francisco “Pancho” Medrano Middle School, where they learned about social and emotional learning; L.G. Pinkston High School, where they observed Career and Technical Education classes and the collegiate academy program; and Raul Quintanilla Sr. Middle School, where they talked with and learned from students and saw a performance. The teachers last week also toured Dan D. Rogers Elementary School, Eduardo Mata Montessori and Robert E. Lee Elementary.

“Overall, we are trying to create this experience through these visits where the clinical teachers know about our district and feel a calling to work with our students,” Peeples said.

Community liaisons find resources to help curb domestic violence

Community Liaisons Monica Zumaya from W.W. Samuell High School and Elsa Cardenas from Ann Richards Middle School attended Judge Faith Johnson and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office–Family Violence Division’s annual open house on Friday, Oct. 6.

During the open house, Ms. Zumaya and Ms. Cardenas were able to network with other organizations such as Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support, The Family Place, Catholic Charities, and Human Rights Initiative of North Texas to take back resources for their campus, parents, and community as well as bring about awareness of domestic violence.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Celebrate campus leaders during National Principals Month in October

Along with teachers, school principals play a vital role in laying the foundation for student success.

With that in mind, October is National Principals Month, and it’s a chance to thank these campus leaders who work so hard to make their schools successful.

Dallas ISD is encouraging community members, staff and students to share the below image and post it on social media. Include the name of the principal you are thankful for, and use the hashtags #DallasISD and #ThankAPrincipal.

Sign up to support students at Dec. 9 Oncor Mayor’s Race

If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to support Dallas ISD students, plan now to volunteer at the Oncor Mayor’s 5K Race Saturday, Dec. 9. Join more than 10,000 students from all grade levels along with district faculty and staff for this annual community event. The Mayor’s Race is a morning packed with fun and encouragement for students and their families to engage in regular physical activity.

Go here to sign up today, and show students you believe they can accomplish their goals both in and out of school. Students have already begun training for the race, so come out to cheer them on and help distribute water and t-shirts to the participants. Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt, a huge thank you for supporting Dallas ISD students, and the satisfaction that comes with encouraging students to lead active, healthy lives.