Dallas ISD launches summer learning with new opportunities for teachers

Dallas ISD is turning up the heat on learning opportunities this summer by rolling out a brand new type of professional development experience called Learning Academies.

Teachers will have it made in the shade for the 2019-2020 school year after they attend one of these conference-style learning academies this June. Attendees will hear from nationally-recognized keynote speakers, engage in a wide variety of breakout sessions, explore thought-provoking demonstration areas, and enjoy multiple types of interactive, hands-on learning experiences.

Keitha Shelby of the Dallas ISD Professional and Digital Learning Department called the summer learning opportunities a big upgrade. Next generation learning experiences have been designed for teachers to become content and technology integration ninjas, to collaborate with colleagues to generate new ideas and innovative solutions for universal educational challenges, and to expand their understanding of how to differentiate instruction to create culturally responsive classrooms for students.

“The district is not just looking to support the whole child, we are looking at how we can support the whole teacher,” Shelby said.

Learning Academies will be hosted at D. A. Hulcy Middle School, 9339 S. Polk St.  Sessions and accompanying topics are scheduled for:

  • Whole Child Development (June 10–13)
  • STEAM & Technology Integration (June 17–20)
  • Meeting the Needs of All Students (June 24–27)

Teachers view the 2019 Future of Learning Summer Learning Guide Catalog and Summer Professional Learning Agreement at www.dallasisd.org/pdl.

Special discounts for district employees at DSW

On Thursday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., district employees will receive an additional 20 percent discount on regular priced items and 10 percent on clearance items at any DSW. Employees must present the official flyer and a Dallas ISD employee ID to receive the discount. The first five employees to make a purchase at the DSW located at The Shops of Park Lane, 8160 Park Lane, will also receive a backpack when they present this flyer while supplies last.

Munch Madness winner is announced

After many calorie guesses during Munch Madness, Luis Rosado of Procurement Services emerged the champion. In addition to the admiration of the other participants, Rosado also won a $25 gift card when his guess came close to the 780 calories for Texas Tech—pork rib patties, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and brownie meal. Munch Madness is a fundraiser by the district’s Core 4 Team on behalf of the United Negro College Fund. Contributions made during the Munch Madness events benefit the scholarship fund, and money raised by Dallas ISD will go to graduating seniors from district schools.

 

Celebrate winner of Munch Madness on April 8

Luis Rosado, a manager with Procurement Services, was a Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final Four winner in the Munch Madness bracket. Will he be the Munch Madness winner on Monday, April 8?

Find out by joining the Core 4 Team at 2 p.m. in Suite 910 of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building to close out Munch Madness, share more tasty treats and announce the champion, who will receive a $25 gift card. The winners of the Munch Madness stages correctly guessed and ranked the caloric content of several elite desserts. Munch Madness is a fundraiser by the district’s Core 4 Team on behalf of the United Negro College Fund. Contributions made during the Munch Madness events benefit the scholarship fund, and money raised by Dallas ISD will go to graduating seniors from district schools.

Announcing Final 4 of Munch Madness

The Flexible Final 4 of Munch Madness have been unveiled:

  1. Tonya Mayberry Davis
  2. Luis Rosado
  3. Velina Smith
  4. Denise Donelan

The winners correctly guessed and ranked the caloric content of several elite desserts. The dessert with the highest caloric content in this round was Purdue’s pumpkin cheesecake with whipped cream and sprinkles coming in at 514 calories.

Munch Madness is a fundraiser by the district’s Core 4 Team on behalf of the United Negro College Fund. Contributions made during the Munch Madness events benefit the scholarship fund, and money raised by Dallas ISD will go to graduating seniors from district schools. With a donation to UNCF, staff will have the opportunity to participate in Munch Madness, starting at 11 a.m. Friday, April 5, in Suite 910 of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building.

Winners of the Friendly Sweet 16 Munch Madness announced

Several central employees moved up to the Fast Elite 8 bracket of Munch Madness last Friday by ranking especially selected sweets based on caloric count.

The winners are:

  1. Gonzalo Reyes
  2. Luis Rosado
  3. Denise Donelan
  4. Jenine Smith
  5. Zavier Waters
  6. Eva Macias
  7. Velia Lara
  8. Rachel Villanueva

These savvy winners will receive a prize and recognition for their keen knowledge of sweets and their generous contribution to scholarships for district students. Munch Madness is a fundraiser by the district’s Core 4 Team on behalf of the United Negro College Fund. Contributions made during the Munch Madness events benefit the scholarship fund, and money raised by Dallas ISD will go to graduating seniors from district schools.

There are more chances to win during Munch Madness. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, central staff will have the opportunity to rank assorted treats to become the Flexible Final 4 winners. The names of those who come closest to the actual caloric count will be announced on the staff page on April 4 and will receive a $5 gift card from Starbucks. Munch Madness takes place in Suite 910 of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building.

The Munch Madness challenge will continue on Friday, April 5, for a chance to win one of two, $10 Subway gift cards in the Focused Championship battle. The winners will be announced during a special Munch Madness ceremony at 2 p.m., where they will receive a $25 gift card each.

Participating in the brackets is not required to enjoy additional treats during Munch Madness, only a small donation to the UNCF.

April 3 MTSS Twitter chat to focus on best practices for student support

Teachers, counselors, and campus administrators are encouraged to participate in an April 3 Twitter chat hosted by Teaching and Learning highlighting best practices for instruction, intervention strategies and information supporting Multi-Tiered Systems of Support at each campus. A new initiative being implemented throughout the district, the MTSS framework is aimed at providing support for students in the areas of reading, mathematics, language, and engagement. The Twitter chat is set for 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, @DallasISDMTSS. For more information, contact Teaching and Learning at 972.925.8804.

Submit proposed names for campus and district facilities to Board Services by March 29

District staff members are reminded that all Dallas ISD facility and school names and name changes require approval by the district’s Board of Trustees. Board policy spells out the naming process and requires that proposed names of new facilities and changes to names of existing facilities be submitted to Board Services on the approved nomination form by April 1 of each year for consideration by trustees in June. Community members and employees are urged to go here to review the policy on facility/school namings. The site links to the required nomination form with guidelines for names and instructions to submit proposed names. Nominations should be submitted by 5 p.m., Friday, March 29, to meet the April 1 deadline. Questions about the process should be directed to Board Services at 972-925-3720.

Information for staff regarding board action on TASB salary study

Trustees have approved the recommendations of a salary study conducted by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) calling for mid-year salary increases for many employees in Food & Child Nutrition Services, Police & Security, Maintenance & Facilities Services, Construction Services and Transportation Services. This approval will result in pay scale changes and compensation increases for 61 percent of employees in those departments effective March 1, 2019.

The following information answers questions employees may have about the board action.

What was the purpose of the study?

The TASB review compared the pay and the pay scale for various Dallas ISD Operations jobs to the average pay for similar positions in the Dallas labor market. Comparisons were based on jobs requiring similar skills, qualifications, and responsibilities and included both school districts and other Dallas employers.

What were the review’s findings?

Entry level pay for a number of Operations positions was identified as a challenge in the recruitment and retention of staff.  Many of the hard to fill positions were found to be in grounds, custodial and food services.  The study also verified that compensation in many job categories is reflective of the market and appropriate.  Another recommendation was to adjust pay scales for certain job categories.

What action did the board take to address these concerns?

  • Raise the minimum wage for all employees to $12 per hour.
  • Add adjustments for experienced employees in the bottom half of the pay range (i.e., those below market pay).
  • Reset pay ranges to match market pay scales.
  • Adjust the pay for other groups of employees during the regular budget cycle.
  • Create a new pay structure for Construction Services.

What will these changes cost the district?

Based on the Board’s action approximately, 1,900, or 61 percent of employees in Police & Security, Maintenance, Food Services, Custodial Services, Construction Services, and Transportation Services will receive immediate salary increases ranging from 9.6 percent to 15 percent. The price tag for the raises for the remainder of the fiscal year is approximately $1.6 million, which will be covered with funds from the district’s general operating budget and special revenue funds.

Are there plans to review the salaries of other employees?

A second TASB study is currently underway to review the salaries of all other employees. The findings are expected to be presented to the board in April, and any recommendations for salary adjustments will be considered as part of the district’s 2019-2020 budget deliberations.

If you have questions regarding the study or how it may impact you, please contact notifycomp@dallasisd.org.

Junior League webinar set to help teachers win grants for classroom projects

Teachers looking for funding for classroom projects should mark their calendars for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, for the Junior League of Dallas’ live webinar designed to help teachers craft winning proposals. The webinar aims to help teachers prepare to submit grant proposals by the March 18 deadline and will feature tips and answers to common questions about creating effective grant proposals. Interested teachers can go here to download a flyer with instructions to access the webinar, which will also be available for later viewing.

Grants for Innovative Teaching is the Junior League of Dallas’ signature project. The grants provide up to $2,000 for special classroom projects. In 2018, the grants were awarded to 50 Dallas ISD teachers to fund projects ranging from large-scale art sculptures and educational videos to Lego robots and games designed to promote literacy and social skills.