Staff News

As the November presidential election approaches, it’s a good time to celebrate Women’s Equality Day, celebrated on Monday, Aug. 26. The day commemorates the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote. 

One way to commemorate Women’s Equality Day is to encourage women to register to vote. There are resources available in the Dallas County Elections Department from how to register to vote to early voting and polling locations. 

Another way is to support women owned businesses. You can support women owned businesses through the district’s Minority and Women Business Enterprise Department (M/WBE), which is committed to maximizing the participation of minority and women owned businesses in all phases of the district’s purchasing and contracting services. You can learn more about vendors that are women owned businesses, by contacting the M/WBE Department. M/WBE also offers various trainings and opportunities to become a vendor. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Women’s Equality Day, the U.S. Department of the Interior is hosting a virtual event titled “Women’s Suffrage and Empowerment” at 1 p.m. on Aug. 26 at www.doi.gov/events. There will be closed captioning and virtual sign language available. You can also learn more about this landmark legislation by visiting the National Park Service’s 19th Amendment page.  

While families are getting their children ready for school, Miller Wilson and hundreds of Dallas ISD custodians are getting schools and facilities throughout the district ready to receive students, district employees, and community members. 

Wilson, who is beginning his third year with the district at Mockingbird Elementary School, normally arrives on campus at 6:30 a.m. When necessary, he gets there as early as 5 a.m. 

While the hours might be challenging for some, for Wilson, they are fine because every day brings a new opportunity to not only do the work that he enjoys but also to see the people he considers to be part of his extended family. He also gets to see his grandson, who attends the school.

“Everybody around here makes me smile,” Wilson said. “The kids, my colleagues, the community—I love making everybody happy. If everybody is happy, I’m happy.”  

The first thing Wilson does when he arrives is turn on all the lights in the building. Stopping in the main office to clear out  the trash, he makes sure to spray and wipe everything down to avoid the spread of any illness. He cleans the offices in the front, the bathrooms, makes sure the auditorium is vacuumed and that the gym and library are clean. The copy room and the nurse’s office round up the morning routine. All of this is done by 7:20 a.m., as team members arrive and before students begin entering the building. 

Wilson carries a school radio so team members are able to reach him quickly to tend to anything that might come up, from maintenance issues to cleaning up spills. Around 1:30 p.m. he eats lunch. After school, he works in different sections, such as the six upstairs bathrooms and classrooms. From early morning to afternoon, Wilson is on his feet, and he said it’s the best job he’s ever had. 

Even as team members throughout the district were out for the summer, Wilson was busy at work getting the building and portables ready for students and teachers who would be there for summer school. He stripped the floors and waxed them and made sure the facilities were up to standards to keep everyone healthy, he said. 

“I treat others with kindness and respect, and I receive it back from my school and community,” Wilson said. 

While Wilson is the lead custodian at the school, he works with one other colleague, and together, they’ve received a high score by the Custodial Department every time their work is evaluated. Although they are a small team, they are mighty, he said, and takes pride in the good work they are doing serving the school. 

Wilson said the thing he enjoys the most from his job is the camaraderie and the relationship building with PTA members, office personnel, teachers, and students. He said he feels appreciated by all. 

All students seem to know his name, he said. Students at Mockingbird who are deaf and communicate via sign language, gave him his own sign, something that Wilson finds endearing. Wilson said it’s a sign that is a reference to the braids that he has in his hair. 

The only regret that Wilson had is not having found this job sooner in life. 

“I wish I could have started 15 years ago,” he said. He has been told by colleagues that there aren’t too many people like him. He’s referring to what he called his heart of service above and beyond the call of duty, he said.

Working in public education is something he discovered by accident. Wilson previously had been working in a factory but ended up leaving that role to help his sick daughter, who passed away. He asked a friend if they were hiring in the district in custodial services, so he took a leap of faith and applied. Making the switch is one of the best decisions he’s ever made, he said. 

“Working for the district and at Mockingbird has been a perfect fit for me,” Wilson said. “The trust, the connection, and the relationship building—the rapport with the school’s community is more than I had ever hoped for.”

With the new school year underway, Dallas ISD is emphasizing the importance of immunizations to ensure students are healthy and ready to learn. During National Immunization Awareness Month in August, the district is increasing awareness among parents and guardians about the vital role vaccinations play in protecting children against preventable diseases. 

Jennifer Finley, executive director of Health Services, highlighted the district’s collaboration with local health providers and community organizations that offer convenient access to vaccinations.

“To remain enrolled, students should have up-to-date immunizations,” she said. “Immunizations prevent diseases so children are healthy and ready for school. For questions about your child’s immunization status, please check with your school nurse.” 

One of the most important resources is the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department, which offers low-cost immunizations for students 18 and under. For $10 a visit and $5 each subsequent visit, students can get their shots at the DCHHS’s main clinic, located on the first floor of 2777 N Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. There are seven clinic locations throughout Dallas County, all of which take walk-ins and appointments. For more information, call 214-819-2000 or visit DCHHS | Immunization Hours (dallascounty.org) for additional information.

Also valuable as a resource to parents is the district’s T. D. Marshall Youth & Family Center. To make an appointment, families can call 214-540-0300.

The Parkland Mobile Immunization Van will be at 9400 N. Central Expressway every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until vaccines run out) from Aug. 21 through Dec. 11 

Kiosco Youth and Family Center HHM Health at Kiosco YFC offers vaccines on Tuesday and Friday 8 a.m.-noon

 

Dallas ISD’s Lawnview Service Center has received the district’s Risk Management Services’ Safe Driving Award for the school year 2023-2024. This award recognizes the center’s dedication to safety and the outstanding execution of its safety program, which has placed it as the top service center for safe driving across the district.

The Safe Driving Award, along with a $3,000 grant, will enable Lawnview to enhance its safety measures further. The funds are earmarked for purchasing safety-related items, particularly those aimed at preventing common vehicle accidents such as tail swings, collisions with stationary objects, sideswipes, intersection accidents, and rear-endings.

Matthew Watkins, a coordinator from Risk Management Services, emphasized the significance of these awards, stating, “The awards were given to recognize the service centers that aid us in keeping large financial losses, such as accidents and injuries, from occurring,” said Watkins. “The Lawnview Service Center was awarded the Safe Driving Award for having the least amount of preventable, at-fault accidents.”

This year marked the first time Risk Management implemented the safety incentive program with Student Transportation. Competing against three other service centers, Lawnview’s commitment to safety distinguished it from the rest. Additionally, the Kleberg Service Center received recognition for the Best Cycle Time award. Watkins noted, “This also aids us in mitigating large financial losses by providing documents needed to recover money from third parties involved and settling claims in an efficient manner.”

Student Transportation Services is responsible for safely transporting thousands of students to and from school daily. This program aimed to foster a culture of safe driving and acknowledge the exceptional efforts of those who ensure the safety of Dallas ISD students on the road.

The winners of the awards were announced during the Student Transportation in-service on Aug. 2, celebrating the service centers that have gone above and beyond to prioritize safety within the district.

At the end of the day, when work is over, the kitchen is clean, homework is done, the promise of blissful sleep awaits. But for many people, a good night’s rest is difficult to attain, especially during the hot days of summer, and this can have an impact on overall health.

Studies performed here and other countries have found that rising heat affects the quality of sleep, and that the most effective way to get restorative sleep is to create a cool environment that will lead to fewer interruptions.

 Thermostat

The ideal temperature for comfortable sleep is between 65 and 75 degrees. This can be difficult to achieve when the low temperatures outside are in the 90s, but experts recommend setting the air conditioning at 78 and using fans, but that may be too hot for some. For those without central air conditioning, they recommend a ductless system that is less noisy than a window unit. Make sure you keep blinds and curtains closed during the day to keep the room from getting too hot.

 The key is to play with your thermostat until you find your ideal temperature, keeping in mind a good balance between what your system can provide and how you can adapt other aspects of where you sleep.

Ceiling fans are common and good for circulating air, but sometimes, a smaller fan on a nightstand that’s directed at your face can provide enough personal cooling to bring down the temperature.

Your bed

The comforter that keeps you cozy during the colder months might not be the best choice for sleeping cool in summer. Look into sheets that are moisture wicking like those made from bamboo or linen.

There are cooling mattresses and mattress toppers in the market at different price points that some people find helpful with staying cool at night.

A cooling pillow made from materials designed to circulate air or whisk heat away from your body is helpful. Some pillows also have a cooling gel side that helps the temperature from rising while you sleep.

What you wear to bed can also make a difference. Light nightgowns or pajamas made from moisture wicking fabrics can help keep you cool.

Your body

Try not to do activities right before bed that might increase your body temperature. Exercise maintains your body temperature high, so exercising close to bedtime will not let your body cool down. You might also want to take a cold or lukewarm shower before bedtime to bring down your core body temperature and help your body start its natural cooling down process.

This process is also aided by hydration. That doesn’t mean that you have to drink extra water at night, but that you drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid getting dehydrated, which also increases our body temperature in addition to causing other problems.

These accommodations to deal with the heat along with a consistent sleep schedule, will help you get the amount and quality of sleep you need to wake up refreshed and be healthy.

Source: National Institutes of Health, Instituto de Salud Global

This summer, Dallas ISD team members were teaching, obtaining new degrees, working on their business ventures, traveling to expand students’ learning opportunities, building schools, and much more. Because there were a lot of great vacation stories, we are sharing them in two parts. This week, we are sharing vacation adventures with an educational twist. 

Josie Rivadelo, assistant principal, Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School

I traveled to Los Angeles for my doctorate graduation. It was wonderful getting to meet all members of our class in person since our program is online. We made a side trip to Puerto Peñasco in Mexico after graduation. I also learned that anything is possible if you put your heart in it. The journey to finishing the doctorate was not easy, but I met a lot of amazing educators that made the adventure fun and lighter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reanoel Navarrete, guidance counselor, Gilbert Cuellar Elementary School

I spent two weeks in Jamaica teaching yoga at a resort. Many vacationers were very open to yoga and appreciated the experience of an in-person instructor in a beautiful setting. I learned how Jamaicans prepare for a hurricane and support everybody within and outside of their families and community including us, American tourists.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridget Smith, teacher, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School

Building a school in Malawi with BuildOn is how I spent my vacation, living in the community and working with them to build the school. Teachers are revered in Bwanyundo (the community we visited). They had the best houses, but very few resources. It was an honor to help build a new school that will serve 800 students in the area and change so many lives. Living with a local family was fun but challenging. We taught our family Go Fish! and played for hours by headlamp, as there was no electricity or running water. We often had goats or chickens waiting on our doorstep whenever we left.

 

Christopher Simpson, inclusion teacher, head boys’ basketball coach, assistant football coach, Thomas Jefferson High School 

During May 26-June 2, I took my three kids to Miami. During the month of June, I taught summer school in the district. During July 13-16, I went to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. On July 20-22, I was in San Antonio for the THSCA Coaching School, and I took my three kids with me. Then on July 23-27, I traveled to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and Tulum, Mexico. My favorite thing about my experience was exposing my kids to new places, new experiences, getting them out and about. I did some haggling at the airport when I landed in Cancun and got my rental car for really cheap after pitting three rental car agencies against one another. Competition is the mother of cheap prices!

 

Rossana Ambriz, bilingual pre-K teacher, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy

This summer, I got certified in sound therapy. Now I can share with others something that makes me feel so relaxed by doing sound bath harmonizations. While practicing, I had my grandparents try my sound bath sessions, and my grandfather looked at me astonished like saying “what is this?” My grandmother really loved them and got that stress out of her body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian Beltran, teacher, Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College High School

I took a group of students to Puerto Rico this summer. The reactions the students had to traveling for the first time was amazing. We went to a hacienda and learned all about native fruits, vegetables, plants, and animals. We got to cultivate them as well and bathed local horses. Then for lunch it was all farm to table. It was all fresh and delicious.

 

 

 

Stacie Davenport, dyslexia teacher, Eladio Martinez Learning Center

To make reading engaging, I created books taking pictures of the students (that were previously approved by parents), focusing on what they needed to be successful. I worked the whole summer on the books and now that they are finally done, the students are loving them! 

 

Michael Saucedo, plumbing, Dallas ISD Southwest Maintenance

I worked all summer to ensure all plumbing projects were completed and schools plumbing systems were up to par for the upcoming school year. I enjoyed working together with other team members and accomplishing tasks. I also got recognized for my hard work and was nominated for the shining star award in the Maintenance Department. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antonio McGhee, special education teacher and coach, North Dallas High School

I spent my summer officially starting my cooking business called G’s Cajun Kitchen. I am a high school football coach, and football is my passion, so to actually have the energy and drive to start a business has been amazing. I started my cooking page in 2021 and had several viral videos and have been at it since. The coolest thing is turning a hobby that you enjoy into something monetary. I thought that I was going to walk away from coaching to officially start G’s Cajun Kitchen, but I could not. I truly love coaching defensive line and being a mentor and role model for the students. I look forward to what’s to come this year balancing coaching and G’s Cajun Kitchen on the weekends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Gomez, newcomer instructional specialist, Dual Language ESL Department

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer with the Dream Nziza Foundation. This is a nonprofit organization founded by former Dallas ISD student Isaac Nkurunziza. The main goal of this organization is truly inspiring. It is dedicated to empowering children living in rural areas of Rwanda by helping them improve their English skills and ensuring they have access to important educational materials they need to succeed. For a week, we spent time teaching English at a small school in the village of Kanzenze, Rwanda. Beyond the classroom, we made a lasting impact through the organization by providing the students with new uniforms, essential school supplies, and daily meals to support them throughout the upcoming school year. The experience was both deeply gratifying and profoundly humbling. The students and teachers we worked with radiated warmth and gratitude as their faces always lit up with smiles. Every moment was a celebration, filled with chants, laughter, and joy. 

This journey not only touched my heart, but it also transformed my outlook on life. I returned home with a richer understanding of cultural diversity and a newfound appreciation for the incredible world we share. I was taken aback the moment I stepped into the classroom where I would be teaching. The heat was intense, a wasp nest clung to the ceiling, and the desks were old and worn and made from rough wood. It was a stark contrast to the classrooms we’re used to in the United States. But as soon as I began teaching, all those concerns faded away. The students’ bright smiles and eagerness to learn drew me in completely. This made me forget everything else as I immersed myself in the joy of teaching and connecting with them.

 Stay tuned for part two of Dallas ISD team member summer vacation stories!