Staff News

Good communication is key in every work environment, and it often starts with being assertive. According to the Mayo Clinic, assertiveness not only leads to better communication but also boosts self-confidence, strengthens decision-making skills and produces higher job satisfaction. 

While you may already lean toward one style of communication or another, everyone can learn to be more assertive by practicing the following tips from the Mayo Clinic. 

Study the way you communicate.
Are you more likely to speak your mind or wait to see what your colleagues say? Do you ever find yourself feeling resentful because your voice is not heard, or do people hesitate to go to you for help? Determine your strengths and growth areas, and then look for small ways to practice balanced communication. 

Do not be afraid to say no.
If you have too much on your plate, set boundaries for yourself by being polite and direct. Practice expressing your needs clearly by making statements like, “I do not have the capacity to take on a new project at this time.” Never hesitate to ask for the support you need. 

Be slow to place blame.
The purpose of being assertive is to state your intentions clearly without projecting blame or frustration onto those around you. Use “I” statements to speak your mind calmly and confidently. 

Think before you speak.
If you struggle to speak your mind, write out what you want to communicate ahead of time or rehearse your exchange with a friend or colleague. If you find yourself getting emotional in the moment, take a deep breath and keep your voice firm and calm. While emotions are natural during conflicts, they can prevent people from communicating assertively. Remember, you can take a moment to collect yourself or briefly step away from a difficult conversation before trying again with a clearer mind. 

Your communication style will not change overnight, but by practicing being assertive, you can gain confidence over time and benefit everyone around you. If you are struggling to make progress on your own, Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks offers confidential, secure training programs that focus on topics like communication, anger management and work well-being. All Dallas ISD employees can access these CareNow Programs, no contribution required.

Learn more by reaching out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000 or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information.

*Source: Mayo Clinic

On Saturday, May 7, 103 district facilities will be used as voting centers for the constitutional amendment and primary run off elections taking place in May. Department heads, principals and office managers of facilities assigned to serve as polling locations are asked to prepare and staff their facilities accordingly.   

• All listed facilities should be opened at 5:30 a.m. on both dates. Election judges will need access to the buildings until 10:00 p.m. or until the election staff is finished for the evening.
• Ensure that school staff cooperate with the election judges regarding setup requests and that polling locations are presentable.
• A custodian will be required to work overtime on Saturday, May 7.  Two custodians may split the time, but there should be no overlap of time between the custodians and the combined total hours worked should not exceed 16.5 hours.  
• Custodial staff must use the supplemental pay icon on the biometric time and must clock in and out, using the activity code 126802. 
• Please note that at no time should a district facility be left unattended by district personnel. 

Because the primary runoff election on May 24 falls on a Tuesday, a regular workday, no overtime will be paid to custodians assigned to open/close the building for this election.    

Please direct questions to Orlando Alameda at (972) 925-5142, or OAlameda@dallasisd.org.

The Leader Excellence, Advancement and Development department is launching cohort two of the Future Principals Institute and is looking for candidates.

The Future Principals Institute is a one-year professional development program designed to prepare high-performing leaders to be principal-ready in the next one to two years. FPI’s curriculum is grounded in the essential work of a school leader: leading instruction, leading people, and leading systems.

If you want to see and hear how leaders across Dallas ISD are reacting to this incredible opportunity, watch a special video about the institute: https://youtu.be/DTutNbwJYB8.

The ideal candidate for this program is someone who:

• Is committed to personal and professional growth
• Is eager to collaborate and share feedback with peers
• Has a passion for the people and future of our district
• Is interested in enhancing their leadership capabilities necessary for leadership
• Is ready and committed to pursuing a principal position in the next two years

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on May 8. The application may be accessed by visiting the program page at tiny.cc/futureprincipalsinstitute.

Starting in June, the district will be closed on Fridays as central staff employees begin to work the summer schedule four-day week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monthly employees
Employees who are paid monthly will work the four-day work week from June 6 through July 29 and resume their regular work hours on Aug. 1.

Biweekly employees
Employees who are paid biweekly will work a four-day workweek from June 10 through Aug. 4. Biweekly employees will NOT work on June 10 if they participate in the four-day workweek. They will resume their regular hours on Aug. 5.

The Schedule
Employees are responsible for consulting with their supervisor to determine the start, end, and lunch times of their daily work schedule during the summer. Employees approved to take a working lunch will only be required to stay at the worksite or be available remotely for 10 hours. Employees will be compensated for the “working lunch” time, and it will be considered part of normal work hours.

Supervisors may allow employees to work a schedule other than the four-day workweek as long as the modification does not negatively affect the functions of the department. In addition, some departments may choose to return to the regular work schedule sooner. Decisions regarding the work schedule are at the discretion of the department supervisor. In addition, divisional leadership may modify the employee’s work schedule to meet campus, divisional, or district needs. An event such as New Teacher Academy or a back-to-school program may require a change to the work schedule in order to provide support.

Juneteenth and Summer Break
Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, and the district will be closed on June 20 for the Juneteenth holiday observance.

The district will also be closed for summer break July 4-8. Employees will not be allowed to work for pay while the district is closed unless the employee has received prior written approval from their department chief. All central staff will return to work on July 11.

Dallas ISD is celebrating School Lunch Hero Day by asking you to show your appreciation to a school nutrition employee with a simple thank you for what they do. 

“Between preparing healthy meals for Dallas ISD students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies and offering service with a smile, Dallas ISD food service professionals are truly heroes to our school community and deserve to be recognized,” said Michael Rosenberger, executive director of Food and Child Nutrition Services. “On Friday, May 6, 2022, we will celebrate the Eighth Annual School Lunch Hero Day! We want to invite you to help us celebrate these true heroes.”   

How can you show your favorite school nutrition heroes that you value them?

Vote for your favorite school cafeteria staff from May 2 to May 6 at www.dallasisd.org/lunchhero so they can be in the running for a prize. Students can also create thank-you notes or drawings and drop them off at the cafeteria. 

Learning acceleration and recovery is impossible when students cannot make it to class, which is why Dallas ISD committed so much time and effort to providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at every campus and office. As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic began, the district started purchasing materials required to keep students and staff safe and healthy, including air purifiers, plexiglass, hand sanitizer, wipes and backpack sprayers. 

The cost of the district’s pandemic response in those first years was substantial, but Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance and Facility Services David Bates said Dallas ISD was in a “great position financially” at the time and was able to support the initial costs. Even better, $23 million out of $26 million have since been reimbursed thanks to funds from FEMA. Funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund is helping cover some of the costs. 

“Between FEMA and ESSER, we really didn’t pay anything for PPE, which has been phenomenal,” Bates said. “We’re in a position now where we’re ready. And thanks to ESSER, moving forward our district will not have to pay out of pocket, look to FEMA for reimbursement   or tap into our fund balance. We have ESSER dollars at our disposal if we need them.”

Over the next two years, Dallas ISD has allocated up to $6 million a year in ESSER funds to cover PPE and cleaning costs, but Bates does not anticipate using the entire budget unless a new variant appears or some other pandemic setback occurs. For now, Bates’ team is working to restock campus supplies so PPE can be accessed as needed.

Ultimately, the goal is to not use ESSER funds for PPE and cleaning, because that will mean these safety measures are no longer needed, Bates said. Until then, the district is taking steps to be prepared no matter what the future may hold. 

“There’s so much to be done for our kids holistically,” Bates said. “ESSER can touch every part of the kid’s life. It is not just the teacher who stands in front of them, but also the air that’s coming through the vent. We have to keep kids in school, and ESSER is going to allow us to do that. And these kids need it more than ever.” 

To learn more about Dallas ISD’s federally-funded pandemic recovery efforts, visit https://www.dallasisd.org/esser.

The Credit Union of Texas has extended its deadline to apply for the $20,000 William H. Cotton Scholarship. The new deadline to apply is June 1.

The Cotton Scholarship was established by Credit Union of Texas to honor the legacy of Cotton’s 46 years of dedication and service to Dallas ISD and CUTX. Cotton was a long-time principal and administrator who was also the first African-American president of the Dallas School Administrators Association. He retired in 2000 as an associate superintendent.

The scholarship is awarded to one district educator or administrator seeking to pursue continuing post-baccalaureate education, including certifications, to further their career in the field of education for the benefit of the Dallas ISD community and its students.

The completed scholarship application should be emailed or postmarked no later than June 1, 2022.

Who is eligible?

1. Applicant must be a CUTX member with a checking account or a loan product prior to submitting an application. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
2. Checking account, and all other accounts at CUTX, must be in good standing. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
3. Must be a full-time or part-time Dallas ISD faculty or administrator. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
4. Must be intended to further your career in education and serve the Dallas ISD community during the course of the scholarship term. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
5. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
6. All required attachments must be submitted with your application (see below).
7. CUTX employees and family members of CUTX employees are NOT eligible for this scholarship.

What you should attach.

1. The completed application
2. A professional resume.
3. Proof of current Dallas ISD employment (contract or pay stub).
4. Two professional/scholastic letters of recommendation. Each letter should be dated and include the name, address, and phone number of the referrer. The letter must state what capacity the referrer knows the applicant.
5. A typed essay. All applications must include a typed essay between 500-600 words about the top three challenges Dallas ISD faces in the next five years. You should also describe your goals and vision to overcome each of these challenges.

The rules

Incomplete applications or those missing any required attachments will not be considered.

Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.

Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the educational institution. Continued disbursement of scholarship funds requires a grade of C or better in a graded course and passing in a pass/fail course.

The scholarship value will be awarded in increments of $5,000 per semester over a period of four semesters.

Email the completed scholarship and attachments to cottonscholarship@cutx.org. Email is preferred, but you can mail to William H. Cotton Scholarship Committee, Credit Union of Texas, P.O. Box 7000, Allen, Texas 75013-1305

Are you bilingual and seeking to shift your focus to supporting and engaging with families? Are you interested in helping students explore career opportunities? Central administration is hiring! Read on to learn about impactful opportunities at the district.

• Coordinator II (Family Liaison Function), Dual Language EsL Department  
• Coordinator II (Partnerships & Engagement Focus), Workplace & Career
• Coordinator (Broadcast & Programming Function), Communications
• Coordinator I, Creative Services Multimedia & Design, Communications

To explore other openings, visit dallasisd.org/careers. 

If you are a hiring manager and interested in highlighting your open vacancies and/or department, contact Central Recruitment at careers@dallasisd.org.

Tamika Alford-Stephens joins Dallas ISD as the new chief financial officer, reporting to Deputy Superintendent Dwayne Thompson. Prior to coming to Dallas, Alford-Stephens had been chief business and operations officer for Aldine Independent School District, where she oversaw district resources to drive improvements in processes and practices that promoted organizational efficiency and optimized student-learning experiences and saved the district $5 million through operational efficiencies. She began her 21-year career in education as a third-grade teacher at Aldine ISD. At Aldine ISD, she oversaw federal programs, grant accounting, and finances before being named chief financial officer in 2017 followed by becoming chief business and operations officer. She has a bachelor’s degree from Dillard University, a master’s degree in education administration from Prairie View A&M University, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate in educational leadership from Sam Houston State University.

Deputy Chief of IT Laurie Vondersaar has been appointed as acting chief of Technology to replace Jack Kelanic, who has been hired as the chief technology officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Vondersaar has been with the district since June. Prior to coming to Dallas, she was assistant superintendent of Strategic Initiative and Communication for Lovejoy ISD. In her 21 years of experience, she has also held the position of chief technology officer at various districts. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in computer education and cognitive systems from the University of North Texas and a doctorate in educational administration from Concordia University.

Playgrounds Specialist Ralph Watts has been making memorable moments in the district as part of the Maintenance and Facility Services team for 21 years. 

“I love working with the kids,” he said. “I install playground equipment, and when the kids come out to see, their faces just light up.” 

Lead custodian Yesenia Horn has only been with the district for about six months, but she is passionate about “creating a clean environment for our students and staff.” She is equally dedicated to expanding her horizons each and every day, something she loves about maintenance services culture. 

“You can never say, ‘I’ve learned it all.’ Every day, you’re learning something different,” she said. “You also get to see and learn about different backgrounds and people, which makes it better when you come together as a team.” 

Maintenance and Facility Services is hosting an in-person spring hiring event on May 5, and Watts and Horn encourage others to spread the word about the opportunities they have experienced that the district offers in the custodial, grounds and maintenance teams. 

The Spring Hiring Event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at Emmett J. Conrad High School. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and interview with maintenance services hiring managers for a variety of positions in custodial services, grounds and athletic fields and mechanical, electrical and plumbing. Human Capital Management will also be on hand to help applicants with online applications. Open positions include: 

• Custodian, Districtwide 
• Lead Custodian 
• Groundskeeper 
• Facility Attendant, Sprague Field
• Concrete Specialist III 
• Weed Control Specialist III 
• Heavy Equipment Specialist III 
• Fencing Specialist III 
• Maintenance Specialist III 
• Irrigation Specialist III 
• HVAC Repair Technician 
• Plumber 
• Electrician 
• Preventative Maintenance Technician

For a full list of current vacancies, visit www.dallasisd.org/careers. 

If you know of someone who would be interested in these and other positions, share the Eventbrite link so they can pre-register or get them to participate in the hiring event. 

For those who want to work and make a difference for Dallas students, Dallas ISD offers competitive pay as well as opportunities for training and advancement.  

“If applicants come in with a positive attitude, the sky’s the limit for them,” said Ronnie Elms, a multi-skills specialist who has been with Dallas ISD for more than five years. “They can move to supervisor, to manager. They can open up any door they want.” 

If you have any questions, email opsmaintenancehc@dallasisd.org.