Staff News

Principal Monica Marquez has spent the majority of her career at Louise W. Kahn Elementary School, as a teacher when it opened and then working to become an academic coordinator, assistant principal, and now principal of her home campus. 

It was during her time as a third-grade teacher that she first met student Selene Ramos—who is now assistant principal at Kahn Elementary. 

“Selene was very talkative and always came dressed to the nines,” Marquez said. “She was a good student who was always a go-getter wanting to help others, and that really has not changed in the 20 years we’ve known each other.”

Ramos recalled similar memories with a smile: “Sometimes I would get in trouble because I would want to help the other students too much. It’s always been in me to help others. I grew up in this neighborhood in Oak Cliff. As an immigrant child, I always wanted to give back to the community and to Dallas ISD, which built me.”

The two of them kept in touch over the years as Ramos was growing up. Her siblings attended Kahn as well, so Ramos would visit to catch up with Marquez, who Ramos said was “always happy to hear about my journey.” 

As an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas, Ramos was placed at Kahn to complete her teaching internship at her request, and then she transitioned into being a teacher on the campus. 

“I’ve been here for nine years,” Ramos said. “This is all I know. This is my home.”

Marquez said it has been a joy to support Ramos first as a student and then as a teacher and now as her assistant principal. 

“I’m always proud when I see my students come back,” Marquez said. “That’s what you want to do is make a difference in somebody’s life through education. My proudest moment with Selene was when she told me, ‘I’m going to get my master’s to become an administrator.’ It was really exciting for me to help her grow. And then when I had the opportunity to hire her as an administrator, I knew that was where she needed to be—here by my side to help.”

Calling Kahn home is something Ramos treasures, and she attributes much of that to Marquez.  

“She has made such an impact in my educational journey,” Ramos said. “She is that teacher who always sees your potential and continues to push you forward. She has seen me. She’s seen my potential since I was a third-grade student, a college intern, and a teacher, and it just continues. It’s been a true blessing.”

As the district moves to the beat of opportunity in classrooms throughout the district, one department is creating opportunities for students to grow, explore their interests and develop life skills outside the classroom.

By providing students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, Student Activities is improving the overall educational experience of Dallas ISD students.

Director of Student Activities Leonidas Patterson believes the department’s theme for this year—Stay the course—communicates its singular focus on the district’s priority of making sure that all students have the opportunity to get involved in at least one extracurricular or co-curricular activity each year. 

“I know from my journey that extracurricular activities matter and help young people grow and develop while they are looking for their niche in life,” he said. “Participating in yearbook and theater allowed me to be curious, creative, and brave.”

The newest coordinator to Student Activities, Omar Ovalle, said that it is exciting to work in a school district that makes participation in extracurricular activities a priority.

“Being a part of Student Activities gives me the opportunity to be a resource to students in their journey as they excel in an environment outside of the classroom,” Ovalle said.

Last year 23,779 students participated in the 12 extracurricular programs sponsored by Student Activities at no cost to schools. The department offers a variety of extracurriculars for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including UIL Academics, esports, cheer, and debate.

Christina Martinez, program manager, said that the extracurricular activities help students foster their creativity and improve their academic performance while highlighting their knowledge and talents.

“Providing students a space where they can shine is what makes this job worthwhile,” she said. “The workshops, tournaments, and academic competitions afford students that space where they can be competitive, have fun, and meet new friends.”

For a complete list of the extracurricular activities sponsored by Student Activities, visit www.dallasisd.org/studentactivities.

For nearly three years, some Dallas ISD students needing extra support in reading have been finding it through the district’s Reading Interventionist Program. The results have been so promising that as this new school year begins, the program is expanding to nearly every elementary campus in the district.

The program began in March 2021 with six elementary and four middle schools serving campuses with primarily African American student populations. In partnership with the district’s Racial Equity Office, the district’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Department used the MAP assessment (Measure of Academic Performance) to identify students who were reading two to three grade levels behind and to capture their growth and achievement.

Starting with just 10 interventionists paid for with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, the program yielded results so favorable that 10 more interventionists were added, followed by an additional 16 last year specifically to support second graders.

“The results have been incredible, to say the least,” said Assistant Superintendent Roshonda Clayton-Brown. “Last school year, the reading interventionists were moved under the direction of School Leadership. With the combined efforts from Teaching and Learning, School Leadership, and the Racial Equity Office, our students saw substantial growth!.”

And this year, ‘because of the hard work of our reading interventionists and the huge impact this initiative has made on our students, our program is expanding,” said Clayton-Brown. “We have added an additional 139 reading interventionist positions to serve third-grade, tier 2 students on almost every elementary campus in the district. We know that by providing this additional support to our students, we will increase the number of students reading at or above grade level.”

And as for what’s next for the program? “The sky is the limit!” Clayton-Brown said. “We will continue to provide high-quality interventions as we close instructional gaps for our students. Our students will become lifelong lovers of reading as they exceed grade-level expectations.”

In compliance with state and federal laws, Dallas ISD requires that all employees complete the policy acknowledgement and compliance training by Friday, Sept. 29.

Step 1: Complete Policy Acknowledgement

Using their email address and password, employees will log into the policy acknowledgement website at https://PolicyAcknowledgement.dallasisd.org to acknowledge the Employee Handbook, Annual Employee Notification of District Policies, Family Relationship Disclosure, and Confidentiality Requirements.

Step 2: Complete Compliance Training (Cornerstone)

Employees will use their email address and password to log into Cornerstone at https://dallasisd.csod.com. The compliance training assignment will be in the “My Assigned Training” section located on the “Welcome” page or on the “Learning” tab under “View Your Transcript.”

Training includes the following: Child Abuse Awareness, Educators’ Code of Ethics, Copyright and Licensing, Dress Code Standards, Employment Concerns and Employee Rights, FERPA, Sexual Harassment, and Workplace Bullying. Training for campus staff will also include Anaphylaxis and Auto-Injectors, Bloodborne Pathogens, What is Bullying, and Section 504.

For assistance with technical issues in Cornerstone, go to the Live User Support tab in Cornerstone to access the live support team.

Substitutes only

Both the policy acknowledgement and compliance training are available in the Compliance Learning Portal. Substitute employees will use their employee ID, last name (as listed in Oracle), and date of birth to log into the portal.

Links to the policy acknowledgement, Cornerstone, and the substitute portal can also be accessed on the Policy and Compliance website at https://www.dallasisd.org/hcmpolicy.

For additional questions or assistance, please contact Human Capital Management’s Policy and Compliance team at HCMcompliance@dallasisd.org.

National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized annually in September to raise awareness for suicide prevention and treatment, as well as warning signs and how to get help when it is needed most. 

Dallas ISD holds the safety and well-being of students and team members alike at the highest priority, so employees are encouraged to learn the warning signs and get the support they—or those around them—need.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), warning signs of suicide include: 

• Increased substance use and abuse
• Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness or being trapped
• Significant mood swings 
• Talk of wanting to die or being a burden 
• Withdrawal from friends and relatives 
• Feelings of intense guilt or shame
• Making a plan or researching ways to die
• Eating or sleeping more or less
• Acting impulsively or recklessly

Anyone who is experiencing a crisis can get immediate support by contacting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in English or Spanish at 988. Additionally, people can access the NAMI HelpLine from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), texting “HelpLine” to 62640, or emailing helpline@nami.org. 

Dallas ISD team members can also access the Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. This confidential, secure platform has free specialist counselors on call 24/7, as well as personalized wellness tips, health assessments, and more. 

Contact LifeWorks by calling (972) 925-4000 or by visiting www.dallasisd.org/benefits and clicking on Benefits Resources. LifeWorks has an app that offers specialized self-help resources developed by experts. Once downloaded, the app can be accessed through the EAD login credentials.

It’s OK to not be OK. Reach out for help, and encourage those around you to do the same. Together, we can break the stigma around mental illness and help prevent crises.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Dallas ISD has purchased 13,000 Zoom licenses with a 300-attendee capability that will allow teachers and departments to utilize the virtual meeting platform again.

Those who would like access to one of the licenses will need to submit a ServiceNow Zoom ticket. Departments or campuses that need a license for a meeting larger than 300 participants can request one for a determined period of time, they can submit a ServiceNow ticket. In instances when the large audience licenses are needed for longer periods of time, Educational Technology will work with departments or campuses to assign one if available or work with the vendor for the requesting department to purchase its own license.

Microsoft Teams and Google Meet will continue to be available as meeting platforms for Dallas ISD team members.

In the two years Victor Hendrix has been a Vendor Management coordinator in the Procurement Services Department, he has come to understand the critical importance for the district of working to complete construction projects, bond projects, and more.

“I first came to the district out of a desire to provide service as well as excellence to our students and team members,” Hendrix said. “I enjoy being able to provide quality customer service to our internal and external customers.”

Dallas ISD’s Procurement Services works together with schools, departments, vendors, and stakeholders to support the core beliefs of public service by acquiring vital resources through prudent purchasing practices and excellent customer service. Hendrix’s main responsibilities under that umbrella include assisting vendors that desire to conduct business with Dallas ISD in the process of registering and receiving badges.

Working with a wide variety of clients requires Hendrix to be focused, fast, flexible, and friendly every day, and his customers appreciate him for it. 

Francis Anaya, an administrative assistant in the Athletics Department, communicates with Hendrix regularly throughout the school year. 

“He is always so polite and attentive, and he provides expedited help when needed,” she said.

For Hendrix, it is all in a day’s work. He said his ultimate goal is to “provide top-tier customer service so each person knows that they matter,” and he finds the Core 4 tenets come naturally to him as he practices “doing unto to others as I would have them do unto me.”

During the 2023-2024 school year, Hendrix said he is looking forward to supporting his team and any customers who come his way and to attending more community events hosted by the Minority & Women Business Enterprise Department, which have become some of his favorite memories in Dallas ISD. 

“I enjoy the work I do,” Hendrix said. “I am glad for the opportunity to work with such a great team here at Dallas ISD to affect the culture of our district in a positive way.”

The TEXAS YES grant application period is now open to all Dallas ISD educators. The nonprofit is committed to closing the gap for educational equality by providing students across Texas with recommended school supplies and classroom resources. 

Currently, two grants are available, the TEXAS YES STEAM Grant presented by Thomas J. Henry and the TEXAS YES Grant. The STEAM Grant will focus on STEAM education, while the YES Grant will prioritize updating school equipment such as library books, computer labs, and physical education equipment.

Please note that applicants may only be considered for a YES Grant or TEXAS STEAM Grant every two years. 

The application deadline for both grants is Sept. 30, so get started on your submission. To apply for a TEXAS STEAM Grant, visit ​​https://www.texasyesproject.org/yes-steam-grant-application/. To apply for a YES Grant, visit https://www.texasyesproject.org/yes-grant-application/. 

For more information about TEXAS YES, visit https://www.texasyesproject.org/.

Dallas ISD team members and anyone who has ever considered going into teaching will have the opportunity to learn more about the process through the Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program by signing up for any of the weekly information sessions.

The weekly information sessions provide potential candidates with information to decide if they want to move forward with the application process, said Shuntrice Rhodes, director of the Alternative Certification Program. 

According to Rhodes, one of the wonderful things about the program is that it is free to the applicant. The only out of pocket expenses cover content exams and the certification posting. Things such as the in-person content study groups, content test preparation materials, internship tuition, books and materials do not cost the candidate.

“We have been recognized by the state. We have two commendations from the Texas Education Agency–one for mathematics, seven through 12, and one for preparing the educators that Texas needs,” she said.

The district’s AC Program has experienced an 82% increase in program applications and a 44% increase in candidates admitted into the program. According to the Texas Education Agency, the program boasts an 82% overall pass rate for all content pedagogy exams and a 97% pass rate for all pedagogy tests.

While many of the applicants are already Dallas ISD team members, such as teacher assistants and members of central departments, the Alternative Certification Program accepts applicants from out-of-state and out of the country. The department recently began accepting H-1B visa candidates again. 

Some of the requirements to be part of the AC program include having a bachelor’s degree and at least a 2.5 grade point average. About 80 recent Alternative Certification graduates became new teachers this school year. The AC program anticipates that over 100 candidates will become teachers in the spring semester.  

Isabel Gonzalez, a facilitator in the department, is a former teacher who went through the district’s Alternative Certification Program. 

“When I first went through the AC program, I didn’t know how much I was going to enjoy being a teacher,” said Gonzalez. “Once I stepped into the classroom, I realized that this was my passion. And now I get to help others discover their calling for teaching.”

“One of the benefits of going through the district’s alternative certification program is that all our training is aligned to the district’s initiatives, in addition to being in alignment with the TEA,” Rhodes said of the district’s premier alternative certification program.

The new cohort application period will open on Sept. 15 and close in January. For detailed information on the program, you can visit https://www.dallasisd.org/altcert.

Congratulations to the 38 Dallas ISD team members who received this year’s Junior League of Dallas Grants for Innovative Teaching. 

The grants of up to $2,500 are awarded to support unique programs that fall outside of school budgets to help improve education in Dallas ISD. These innovative teaching projects span all grade levels and subjects and will contribute to student success.

View the grant recipients below: 

• Shakirae Ajaga, George W. Truett Elementary School
• Rebecca Ajuluchukwu, Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School
• Jennifer Belchi Segura, George W. Truett Elementary School
• Mark Broughton, STEM Environmental Education Center
• Mishalee Bryeans, James Bowie Elementary School
• Juan Bustamante, George W. Truett Elementary School
• Michella Chappell, Frank Guzick Elementary School
• Ramicia DeClues-Paul, Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy
• Mykel Estes, Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy
• ShaDerika Finley, D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School
• John Fore, Young Women’s STEAM Academy At Balch Springs Middle School
• Angela Gier, Maple Lawn Elementary School
• Aileen Gomez Benitez, Alex Sanger Preparatory School
• Octavio Gutierrez, Stevens Park Elementary School
• Virginia Hadley, W.T. White High School
• Maria de los Llanos Hortelano Garcia, Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School
• Natalie Janssen, Arthur Kramer Elementary School
• Pamela Jenkins, Martin Weiss Elementary School
• Jasmine Jones, Skyline High School
• Candace Klein , George W. Truett Elementary School
• Emma Grace Lloyd, Harry C. Withers Elementary School
• Rebecca Lopez, Rosemont Upper Campus School
• Blake Mokate, Skyline High School
• Harry Monroe, STEM Environmental Education Center
• Thu Nguyen, Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
• Mario Ordonez, Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy
• Dee Anna Pier , Anne Frank Elementary School
• Sara Ramirez, STEM Environmental Education Center
• Lizette Rincon, Prestonwood Montessori at E.D. Walker
• Alexandria Saulnier McKinin, Edward Titche Elementary School
• Lecharia Scales, George W. Truett Elementary School
• Terry Stotts, Multiple Careers Magnet Center
• Megan Vance, Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School
• Brandy Verseckes, Frank Guzick Elementary School
• Lesya White, North Dallas High School
• Lakeisha Williams, New Tech High School at B.F. Darrell
• Arianna Zeb, Lee A. McShan Jr. Elementary School
• Beatriz Zuluaga, Frank Guzick Elementary School

Learn more about the Grants for Innovative Teaching at https://www.jldallas.org/grants-for-innovative-teaching/.