Staff News

This year’s United Way employee giving campaign has provided Assistant Superintendent Usamah Rodgers with a chance to do two things she enjoys: Give back to her community and be competitive.

Growing up in her native Kansas City, Rodgers used to spend her summers at the Boys and Girls Club, an organization that provided a safe place for children and offered a variety of activities.

“I was safe, and I became a really good air hockey player,” Rodgers recalls. “I give because I attended the program, and it made a difference. This is a great opportunity to give back as an adult.”

The campaign also lets Rodgers, who is in charge of Postsecondary Partnerships and Programs, flex her competitive muscles. During the campaign’s leadership breakfast earlier this month, she issued a friendly challenge to the Office of Transformation and Innovation to see who would raise the most money for United Way. So far, her department is winning—as of Nov. 13, OTI was behind by about $200.

“We are at $1,400 and 94 percent participation right now,” Rodgers said proudly.

For Rodgers and many other Dallas ISD employees who have already contributed more than $50,000 toward the district’s $190,000 annual goal, giving back to the community through United Way is important.

“We are blessed to have a way to help invest in the community we serve,” she said. “We can make a difference that will benefit the kids we see every day.”

Employee contributions to United Way benefit Dallas families—students and employees—through a wide variety of community programs and nonprofits. This year’s employee giving campaign runs through Dec. 13.

In addition to investing in the community, staff who donate at least $5 per Friday can wear jeans on Fridays until the end of the campaign; an additional $25 means jeans every day the week of Dec. 9-13 when appropriate for work activities.

There are several ways to contribute to United Way: Oracle, credit card and cash or check. For more information and to see the giving dashboard, visit www.dallasisd.org/unitedway.

Dickey’s offers Dallas ISD employees a 10% discount on catering. Dallas ISD staff can call Dickey’s catering experts at 1-866-BARBECUE (227-2328) and the staff be more than happy to help and provide a quote.

On Wednesday’s Dickey’s offers a $3 Pulled Pork Classic Sandwich at the following locations:

• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on 4610 N. Central Expressway
• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on 2525 Wycliff Avenue

Dallas ISD employees can get a 60-percent discount on regularly priced merchandise and 30 percent off sale and clearance merchandise at JCPenney by sending a text.

By texting DISD to 67292 from a mobile device, employees can have access to special discount coupons. After sending the text, users will be prompted to provide their full name, company affiliation and company email address for verification purposes. The information will not be used for marketing.

Instructions for using the discount code:

• Users will be required to request a unique commercial discount coupon code for each eligible transaction.
• To obtain this coupon code, text DISD to 67292 from previously registered mobile device.
• This coupon code will be eligible for one redemption only, either in-store or online.
• Should a user need to leverage the program discount for a subsequent purchase, he or she must request a new code for that transaction.
• Instructions for coupon redemption will be included with each request.

Standard exclusions will apply to all eligible purchases. A link to a list of those exclusions will be included with your discount offer.

Dallas ISD’s Racial Equity Office is starting a series of community conversations across the district so stakeholders can share concerns about inequities within Dallas ISD and partner with the district to effect changes.

The first community conversation will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at L.G. Pinkston High School.

The Racial Equity Office also will host a series of film and theater showings throughout the school year. The aim of the series is to host conversations related to racial, socioeconomic and educational inequities for students, families and community members. Attendees will watch a movie or theater production followed by a discussion led by students of the youth chapters of the League of United Latin American Citizens and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The goal is to encourage participants to engage in sometimes uncomfortable discussions that challenge their thoughts, beliefs and perspectives.

The film/theater series will launch at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy with the Cara Mia Theater production of “Ursula,” a play about the journey of a 7-year-old girl separated from her mother after seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. As she waits for her asylum request to be processed, she reflects on the difficulties she is leaving behind in Honduras and the new reality she is facing. This showing is intended for audiences 12 years and older.

First impressions are mental snapshots we take when encountering a person for the first time. Those snapshots are based on how we act, talk, dress, and how we present ourselves. By today’s standards, anyone who has all of these components working together in their favor are often seen as having the “it” factor. For celebrities, it’s what helps them build their fan base or followers. For everyday employees, it’s what we embody that helps us make a good first impression with customers, internally and externally.

People may not remember the color of your shirt or the exact words you say, but they will remember your attitude and how you present yourself. Projecting a positive attitude and presentation is a sure way to make a good and long-lasting impression.

Take a quick “it” factor self-assessment:

• Positive demeanor—are you courteous and friendly in your approach?
• Positive image—does the way you dress reflect success and pride in yourself and your job or is a makeover needed?
• Positive focus—do your actions show that you are committed to doing great work that is effective and helps accomplish the goal?
• Positive approach—do you demonstrate a genuine willingness to find a solution to help your customer, or, at the very least, work toward the best solution?

The fastest way to increase customer loyalty is by improving the quality of customer interaction, and that begins with making a good first impression. New customers will develop an impression about Dallas ISD in their first seven seconds of interacting with you. Let’s make the most of those seven seconds. Here are seven things to check:

• Cleanliness (self and workspace)
• Knowledgeable
• Professional (attitude and dress)
• Friendly
• Helpful
• Courteous
• Responsive

As we continue to improve our customer service, remember to focus on delivering remarkable Core 4 service.

Hundreds of individuals and organizations from as far away as Lubbock stepped up to directly help Dallas ISD schools, students and families affected by a devastating tornado. Dallas ISD is overwhelmed and grateful for the donation of supplies for classrooms, sports equipment, gift cards for teacher materials, and help to families affected by the natural disaster.

Thank you!

The list of donors so far includes:

• Hundreds of individuals
• Numerous donors who have purchased items from the Amazon wish list
• Amazon
• Hamon Charitable Foundation
• Thomas Jefferson Alumni Association
• Michael’s
• Credit Union of Texas
• Allstate
• Staples
• Texas Rangers Foundation
• NEC Corporation
• Builders FirstSource
• Office Depot
• United to Learn
• Briggs & Freeman
• Dallas Stars Foundation
• FC Dallas
• Highland Park ISD Dad’s Club
• Keller ISD
• Boots & Badges of The South Plains (Lubbock)
• Riverside Church Butterfly School
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
• Dallas Mavericks Foundation
• Just Say Yes
• Central Market
• Parkland Hospital
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Texas Instruments

A number of individuals, businesses and organizations have also donated their time at schools where students displaced by the tornado damage are now attending classes and have offered to continue to support the district through volunteer efforts, including Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, Colleyville ISD teachers, T-Mobile, Microsoft, Home Depot, AT&T, Allstate, and State Farm.

District staff and their families are welcome to attend free classes offered at Frazier House, an initiative of the Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. Community Outreach Center in partnership with Dallas ISD. Frazier House is located on the first floor of the former Julia C. Frazier Elementary School. It offers multiple services in one building partnering and collaborating with other community nonprofits, service organizations and the Dallas ISD. This shared space offers access to educational, social services, job skills training and job placement opportunities for Frazier House clients.

Classes for November include topics such as:

Nov. 5—Cash Flow, Collateral and Leverage Class, 3-4:30 p.m. (if interested in attending or learning more, email info@zwhjcoc.org)

Nov. 14—Lunch & Learn with Trevor Noel, “Introduction to a Business Plan,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 18—LinkedIn & Medicare 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., must register with Senior Source at (214) 823-5700

Nov. 21—Lunch & Learn with Attorney Antonio Glenn, “The ABCs of Business Entities,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

All activities and programs are at Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. Dallas, TX 75210. For more information about these activities, email info@zwhjcoc.org or visit https://www.zwhjcoc.org. Dates and activities subject to change.

Dallas ISD offers professional development for central and campus staff through a variety of opportunities.

Central staff

Ignite and Unleash Potential Through Talent Conversations 

Audience: Supervisors, Managers, Directors

One of the fundamental roles of a leader is to recognize and unleash the talents and strengths of others.  Talent conversations play a vital role in engaging employees and influencing their performance and development if done effectively and often enough.  This session will provide tools to prepare for and facilitate effective talent conversations.

Results Focused Leadership: Goals and Check-ins

Audience: Supervisors, New Managers, Managers, Directors

Discover how check-in meetings make it easier to manage day-to-day work of the staff and ensure it is connected to big picture goals that impact results.

Campus staff

The Language, Literacy, and Social Studies departments cordially invite teachers to The Language, Literacy, and Social Studies Fall Conference 2019. This year’s theme is “Empowering Students Through Disciplinary Literacy.” The organizers are actively seeking attendees who wish to learn about how to best implement strategies to empower student voice and ownership of student learning.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Bryan Adams High School. Teachers may register by clicking here. Registration is required for attendees. Keynote speakers for the conference include Dallas ISD Chief of Teaching and Learning Dr. Ivonne Durant and national literacy expert Pam Allyn. Professional development credits will apply towards Future of Learning hours. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.