Staff News

Students and staff returned to class in the practically new Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation, which received a 70,000-square-foot renovation. 

Principal LaKisha Thomas welcomed the Oak Cliff community to its new home during Roosevelt’s building dedication Aug. 13 alongside Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, District 5 Trustee Maxie Johnson, former superintendent Michael Hinojosa and several Roosevelt alumni.  

“For almost six decades, Roosevelt High School has been a beacon in this community,” Thomas said. “We have a lot to be proud of as we celebrate the completion of renovations and additions to this historic campus—the first school built for African American students in Dallas ISD. Mighty Mustangs, what an amazing day this is!” 

The 58-year-old school transformed into an innovative learning complex that will support and inspire students for years to come thanks to a nearly $64 million renovation funded by the 2015 bond program. 

The project involved the demolition of 75 percent of the original campus, extensive renovations to the original buildings and building additions, including a fine arts addition that doubles as a storm shelter, a new main secured entry, administrative suite upgrades to outdoor athletic facilities, a competition gym addition, multi-classroom and career technical education spaces additions, a restaurant and storage space to support the culinary arts program, a new cafeteria and kitchen addition, a library/media addition and interior and exterior renovations to the entire campus. 

“This is truly an example of one of our beliefs: Excellence and equity in education for every single student in our district,” Elizalde said. “We want everyone to have a state-of-the-art facility. Now, students can feel as proud of the physical building as they can of the emotional, spiritual and academic support of their staff.” 

“I want to encourage everyone to strive for greatness,” Johnson agreed. “This is what building futures through education looks like.” 

If you missed Roosevelt’s building dedication or want to watch it again, visit https://www.facebook.com/dallasisd/videos/1233111287460355. To learn more about other bond projects across the district, visit https://www.dallasisd.org/bondinfo. 

With the 2022-2023 school year in full swing, the safety and well-being of students and staff remain district priorities. Similar to other routine communicable diseases like the flu, we can reduce COVID-19 events by adhering to consistent personal and workplace safety protocols. We want to update staff on some changes and remind everyone to be mindful of others and take precautions to minimize the possibility of transmission. 

Changes to quarantine requirements 

Based on new protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and medical experts, Dallas ISD will no longer require employees (vaccinated or unvaccinated) to quarantine if they come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. A close contact is defined as less than six feet for a 15-minute or longer exposure to someone who is COVID positive.

Based on recommendations from public health officials, employees who have had a close contact are encouraged to:

• wear a mask while in district facilities for at least 10 days from exposure
• monitor symptoms 
• get tested after five days or sooner if symptoms develop 

Close contacts with someone who has tested positive should still be reported to Health Services by filling out the appropriate form. For questions regarding close contact procedures, call Health Services at 972-925-4211.

Changes for responsible distancing signage

The safety and well-being of students and staff is everyone’s responsibility. While signage for responsible distancing in district facilities may be removed when worn or damaged without the need to replace it, the recommendation is to continue to responsibly distance in common areas, including conference rooms, break rooms, and elevators. When planning trainings and other large gatherings of staff, students, and parents, organizers are encouraged to allow for responsible distancing.

Signage that reminds staff, students and visitors about best practices to avoid transmission of COVID and other communicable diseases should remain visible. Updated signage and placement suggestions will be provided to campuses and departments in the near future. 

Campuses and central buildings should also continue to have signage indicating available personal protection items, such as masks and hand sanitizer. PPE supplies can be obtained from Maintenance and Facility Services.

Testing and positive cases

It is critical that you get tested if you believe you have been exposed to COVID or are exhibiting symptoms. If you test positive, report your status to Health Services by completing the contact tracing form. Once you submit a copy of your tracing form, you may also request paid Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL).  

The Emergency Paid Sick Leave allows eligible employees to be absent from the work site for five calendar days from the date of the COVID-positive test. EPSL is a district paid status so access to your systems will not be disabled. Absences will not be deducted from your PTO balance while you are on leave. If symptoms are mild and you are able to perform the essential functions of your job remotely, you may choose to continue to work if appropriate.  

To apply for EPSL, email BenefitsLeaves@dallasisd.org.  Include your full name, employee ID number and a copy of your COVID-positive test result from a lab or your physician as well as phone number to reach you.  Home tests are not accepted. Please note a Health Services directed quarantine does NOT make you eligible for EPSL.

• How do you return to work after being out on EPSL?
  • You may return to work five calendar days from the date of your positive COVID test. (Return to work on day six)
  • A negative COVID test is not needed to return to work.
  • Masks should be worn at all times upon your return to work.

Masks

The district is continuously monitoring the number of positive cases in the district and in the community and working with health professionals to assess the need for additional safety measures. The use of masks can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, and Dallas ISD is currently recommending staff use masks in large gatherings, especially where responsible distancing is difficult. If the numbers increase, the district may encourage or strongly encourage the use of masks.s always, staff who are immune compromised should discuss protocols for meetings and large gatherings with their supervisors.

Cleaning and sanitizing

To ensure safe and healthy environments for students and staff, Maintenance and Facility Services will continue to supply PPE to all campuses and departments as needed. It will also continue: 

• regular cleaning and sanitation of common spaces,
• Saturday sanitization of school buildings,
• deep cleaning and sanitizing in case of an outbreak,
• monitoring areas for ventilation improvement.

Dallas ISD students headed back to school this week with a little help from the community. As in past years, organizations, businesses and individuals donated supplies and other items so students have the tools they need to succeed right from the start. 

“We want to ensure that every student has an equal start at the beginning of the school year,” said Candace Sledge, director of Partnership and Volunteer Services, which manages donations. “Having students show up with a brand new backpack and the supplies they need versus coming in empty-handed helps set the tone for the families and the students on that first day.” 

Fortunately, local businesses and nonprofits have stepped up to put supplies in students’ hands and lessen the burden for families. DFW Yes is donating 10,000 boxes of school supplies so students at 22 Dallas ISD schools show up to class with their own box, while car dealership Clay Cooley is donating backpacks to students at two nearby schools. Office Depot treated students and teachers alike to school supplies, backpacks and gift cards at Stephen C. Foster Elementary School and Otto M. Fridia Elementary School their first week of school, and the Dallas Mavericks kicked off the first day of school at Adelle Turner Elementary School—the team’s adopted campus—with donated backpacks and a new basketball court unveiling. Other back-to-school donors include Big O Tires, Common Sense and Shoes That Fit. 

And it’s not just organizations that are making a difference in Dallas ISD. Individuals and smaller groups are volunteering to host and support back-to-school supply drives. 

Donations are the perfect opportunity to make connections and build relationships with community partners. Schools are reminded to log all donations monthly and stay connected to your donors throughout the year by following the A.R.T. of accepting donations in accordance with CDC policy.

1. Approval—Get the right approval

*Contact Partnership and Volunteer Services prior to accepting donations of technology, funds for technology and/or donations from an Erate/tech vendor.

2. Record—Record the donation

*Includes completing the documentation form and recording all donations online. 

3. Thank—Thank the donor

*Includes the thank-you and sharing a copy of the acknowledgment of the donation form.

The first day of school was a huge success for the more than 180 Dallas ISD schools that started Aug. 15. Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and her leadership team visited schools through the district to welcome students back to school. 

Dallas ISD is accelerating college and career readiness in most grades thanks to a $350,000 investment from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund for a tool that helps students find their career path and opportunities.

“SchooLinks brings awareness and exposure to our students at a high level to see what their interests are,” said JoAnn Jackson, director of Counseling Services. “It also puts a huge focus on school choice, so our students have access to dig deep and identify the different programs that we have.” 

The tool launched for kindergarten through fifth grade students for the first time during the 2021-2022 school year to increase early awareness about colleges and career paths. Meanwhile, middle school students completed inventory assessments and college and career matching so they could align with the schools that best fit their needs, and high school students took virtual college tours, tracked their scholarships and financial aid and more. 

ESSER funding has been allocated to provide SchooLinks to Dallas ISD students and their supporting counselors for several more years. Jackson and her team are currently working with SchooLinks to refine the kindergarten through second grade assessments to match grade-level needs, increase usage across all grade levels and implement a four-year course planner for high school students so they can manage their classes and stay on track for graduation. 

“SchooLinks supports all of the work that we’re doing in the district around college and career readiness and the accountability components that fall within that,” Jackson said. “It’s just a natural progression of educating all students for success.” 

To learn more about how Dallas ISD is using ESSER funds to help offset unexpected costs and overcome obstacles caused by the pandemic, visit https://www.dallasisd.org/esser.  

Feeling tired after a bad night’s sleep is something everyone understands, but several other factors can come into play and leave us feeling exhausted. Some of those include stress, daily habits and having a poor diet. The good news is that by making small lifestyle changes, you can adjust your energy levels and feel better overall.

Cope with stress. Stress is draining, so naturally, finding ways to ease your stress will help you feel less tired. Practice incorporating relaxing activities like yoga, listening to music or spending time with loved ones into your day. 

Stay active. Perhaps exercising is the last thing on your mind when you are tired, but regular activity can give you an immediate energy boost—and increase your energy over time. Start small with a 15-minute walk and challenge yourself to get moving for a few hours each week. 

Develop healthy sleep cycles. Busy schedules do not always feel conducive to a good night’s rest, but sleeping well has a huge impact on health and well-being. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, avoiding naps and winding down away from screens before you go to sleep. 

Eat regularly. It sounds counterintuitive, but eating healthy snacks and meals every couple hours is a great way to keep your energy up. The key is to enjoy smaller, more frequent meals instead of large, infrequent ones. 

Decrease your alcohol intake. While drinking a glass of wine in the evening may help you fall asleep, it will also keep you from sleeping deeply. By decreasing your alcohol intake before bed, you can improve the quality of your rest and wake up feeling more refreshed. 

Hydrate. Dehydration can leave you feeling extra tired, especially in the summer heat. If your energy levels are low, reach for a glass of water for a pick-me-up.

If you try these tips and still feel tired or fatigued, reach out to a medical professional for further assistance. A primary care physician or mental health practitioner can help you identify or rule out the potential underlying medical issues that could be contributing to your tiredness. 

You can also take advantage of Dallas ISD’s free Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. The confidential, secure online platform has counselors on call 24/7, as well as countless other resources and wellness tips. Reach out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000 or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information.

Source: National Health Service 

As the 2022-2023 school year begins, the safety and well-being of students and staff remain district priorities. We wanted to remind staff of some of the safety protocols around communicable diseases, such as COVID-19 to ensure a safe and healthy school year for everyone. 

It is critical that if you believe you have been exposed to COVID or are exhibiting symptoms, you get tested. Testing is available for staff and information can be found at www.dallasisd.org/stafftesting. Remember, close contact is defined as less than six feet for a 15-minute or longer exposure to someone who is COVID positive.

Close contacts

Vaccinated employees: Per COVID safety guidelines, vaccinated employees may not be required to quarantine.

 Unvaccinated employees may be required to quarantine for up to five calendar days. Employees who are directed by Health Services to quarantine must remain at home for the specified time period. Absences will be deducted from the employee’s PTO balance for each day the employee is on a quarantine status. Quarantine is a non-working, unpaid status. Employees may not work from home while they are in quarantine.

• How do you return to work after being out on quarantine?
  • You may return to work five calendar days from the date in which you were directed to quarantine (Return to work on day six)
  • A negative COVID test is not needed to return to work.
  • You may return to work when you are directed to do so by Health Services.
  • Masks should be worn at all times upon your return to work.

You may contact Health Services at 972-925-4211 for questions related to quarantine.

If you test positive

If you test positive, report your status to Health Services by completing the contact tracing form.  Once you submit a copy of your tracing form, you may also request paid Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL).  

The Emergency Paid Sick Leave allows eligible employees to be absent from the work site for five calendar days from the date of the COVID-positive test. EPSL is a district paid status so access to your systems will not be disabled. Absences will not be deducted from your PTO balance while you are on leave. If symptoms are mild and you are able to perform the essential functions of your job remotely, you may choose to continue to work if appropriate.  

To apply for EPSL, email BenefitsLeaves@dallasisd.org.  Include your full name, employee ID number and a copy of your COVID-positive test result from a lab or your physician as well as phone number to reach you.  Home tests are not accepted. Please note a Health Services directed quarantine does NOT make you eligible for EPSL.

• How do you return to work after being out on EPSL?
  • You may return to work five calendar days from the date of your positive COVID test. (Return to work on day six)
  • A negative COVID test is not needed to return to work.
  • Masks should be worn at all times upon your return to work. 

Food and Child Nutrition Services is making the transition from prepackaged foods back to fresh, hot meals, and Executive Chef Trina Nelson could not be more excited about it. 

“During the pandemic, Dallas ISD never stopped feeding students—we just had to figure out a safe way to do it,” Nelson said. “We came up with the idea of prepackaged meals to get them through, but after so long, the kids are ready for something different. Now that school is moving to full swing, we have a huge opportunity to get back into cooking at the campuses.”

The FCNS team tested out several new “back to scratch recipes” with students last year and developed delicious new entrees based on their positive feedback, including Swedish meatballs over rice, cheesy taco pasta, “build your own” lunch bowls in high schools and smothered burritos. 

These fresh meals will be served at every school across the district this year to provide students with fresher, tastier food and to overcome supply chain issues. 

“The past two years of supply chain chaos amid the COVID-19 pandemic significantly limited our access to reliable supplies of both food and non-food items alike,” said Michael Rosenberger, executive director of FCNS. “In expectation of improvements in the still-damaged supply chain, we are implementing new fresh-cooked meals across the district this school year.”  

To ensure the transition runs smoothly, Nelson and her team of chef coordinators hosted “new recipes” training classes for cafeteria supervisors over the past two weeks. Not only did staff members get to see how these new meals are prepared, but they also tried them so they know what each one is supposed to taste and look like. 

“We have tested these recipes to where they’re foolproof,” Nelson said. “So when they get back to their schools, they will be ready to jump right in and get their kids fed.”

FCNS will continue working to expand their fresh food options throughout the new school year by piloting items like salad bars and theme lines, where students can choose between a pizza line, a homestyle line or a heritage line. The taste tests they have completed so far have been positive, with students giving their new meal options a “thumbs up.” 

“Nothing beats healthy, fresh meals cooked by loving hands on the day of service,” Rosenberger said. “We invite students and staff alike to their school kitchens for delicious meals!”

Teachers across the district have been hard at work this week learning how to ignite passions, change lives and embrace differences through a variety of training sessions hosted virtually, on their campuses and at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Peyton Christian, an art teacher at Thelma Elizabeth Page Richardson Elementary School, has a proud history of educators in her family and is looking forward to her first-ever year in the classroom. The teacher training sessions gave her a unique opportunity to connect with veteran teachers. 

“Being able to network and meet new people who can understand the field and give you advice has been really helpful because you’re starting from scratch your first year,” she said. “You don’t know much, so getting that reassurance that you’re on the right path and doing the right thing is amazing.”

Of course, new teachers aren’t the only ones who have benefited from the back-to-school professional development. Teachers with over two decades of experience like Tommy Holland of Ebby Halliday Elementary School and Melissa James of Moisés E. Molina High School appreciate the opportunity to expand their skill sets and incorporate new practices.

“I’m excited to get back into the classroom and work with as many students as I can,” Holland said. “Teacher training is good for veteran teachers, providing lessons we need to brush up on as well as new things like technology and how to use it in the classroom.” 

“Every time we get together, I learn something new to make me be a better teacher and to improve my lesson plans,” James agreed. “We talked about giving our students success criteria, so they can show us that they understand what they’re learning. It gives them more motivation, because the students can say, ‘I can do this,’ by the end of the class period.” 

Teachers participated in sessions covering a range of topics, from their quarter one curriculum to collective equity and social and emotional learning. With these tips, tools and best practices, they have what they need to educate Dallas ISD students for success this school year.  

Patricia Sifuentes, a teacher at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, has 15 years of teaching experience, and she still cannot wait to meet her students for the first time. She enjoyed getting to connect with her peers at the teacher training, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic has kept them apart for a few years. 

She took a moment away from her own professional development to share words of encouragement with teachers who will be entering the classroom for the first time: “Don’t give up. I know it’s hard for new teachers learning the career, but don’t be scared. In the end, it’s worth it.”

Cesar Reyes’ fifth grade math and science classroom at Rufus C. Burleson Elementary School is full of life—literally. He is always looking for new ways to get his students excited about learning, and with fewer field trips available due to COVID-19, he has turned to Dallas ISD’s Living Materials Center to fill his room with butterflies, tadpoles, crickets and more. He had 11 chicken eggs incubating during math testing last school year, which hatched in the middle of a session and created a chorus of chirping to cheer everyone on. 

Forming connections with students has been at the heart of everything Reyes has done since he first started teaching at Dallas ISD 14 years ago. He was inspired to become an educator after watching his aunts and uncles transform lives in various classrooms in Panama, where he started teaching college-level classes before moving to the United States. When he arrived in Dallas, ​​Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary School had an open position for a fifth grade math and science teacher. 

“I remember that clearly,” Reyes said. “That was my first elementary school job, and it was really tough that first year, but the principal saw something in me. I was good at it.” 

He was so good, in fact, that he went on to help apply for a grant to pioneer personalized learning at Dallas ISD in 2015. Once Zaragoza won the grant, Reyes stepped up to pilot the program with students for two years and became an instructional coach to help new teachers incorporate personalized learning into their classrooms. 

Over the years, he has continued to be a mentor and role model for new teachers and teaching students alike, whether at Zaragoza or at Burleson when he decided to transition to an ACE campus two years ago.

“Mr. Reyes is an amazing teacher with a heart of gold,” said Lonnie Russell, the principal at Burleson. “His students perform well on all math and science assessments, and visiting his class is always a delightful, engaging experience. He is a friend to many and has mentored a few of our teachers. Burleson is blessed to have such an amazing educator, who is an even better person.” 

Reyes sponsored a weekly soccer club at Burleson this past year. He has three children of his own, and after seeing how much they enjoyed the sport and hearing interest from his students, he was determined to get the club off the ground. That first Friday, 30 students showed up, and they made do with a few soccer balls and cones for goals. Reyes went to Russell for guidance in securing more supplies, and they worked together with Dallas ISD’s Health and Physical Education Department to get everything they needed. 

Unsurprisingly, the students loved every minute of it. 

“The kids would come from all different grade levels, from second grade all the way to fifth grade,” Reyes said. “On Mondays we would have morning meetings, and all the conversations were about soccer. The girls were talking about soccer; the boys were talking about soccer. They had a blast, and it helped us build relationships with the kids. They got to see that school is not only about learning math or science, it’s also about having fun.”

The past few years have been especially challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Reyes has never stopped believing in his students’ potential. He is looking forward to creating memorable moments and transforming even more student lives this year.