Staff News

Grief is a universal human response based on loss, trauma and unmet expectations, and the complicated emotions attached to it can recur months and even years after the initial loss of a loved one. 

During National Grief Awareness Day, observed annually on Aug. 30, mental health professionals focus on encouraging open communication about loss and bereavement to achieve a better understanding of what causes grief and how to address it. 

This is especially important because grief can be hard to identify, said Dr. Tracey Brown, executive director of Mental Health Services. 

“A lot of times, people are experiencing grief, and they don’t recognize they’re grieving,” Brown said. “They know something is wrong internally, but they don’t understand what grief looks like, so a part of our job is to help individuals define their response to grief and loss and develop coping strategies for overcoming it.”

Common signs of grief include anger, depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, sadness, fatigue, guilt, pain, crying spells or loneliness.

“Know that it’s OK to not be OK,” Brown said. “If you find yourself in that space, know that help is available.”

Help for staff experiencing grief

For Dallas ISD staff who are experiencing some of these feelings and are having trouble dealing with them, help is a phone call away through the Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. This confidential, secure platform has free specialist counselors on call 24/7, as well as personalized wellbeing tips, podcasts, videos, exercises, assessments and more. 

Staff can simply contact LifeWorks by calling (972) 925-4000, or visiting www.dallasisd.org/benefits and clicking on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information. LifeWorks also has an app that offers specialized self-help resources developed by world-leading experts. Once downloaded, the app can be accessed through the EAD login credentials. 

For instances when dealing with grief or other emotional situations involve more than just one person, the EAP also has support counselors available. These counselors can be deployed to campuses or departments to help staff who may be facing a conflict or have emotional concerns. District managers can start this process by contacting the Benefits Department in Human Capital Management.  

The EAP is one of the resources offered in the district. Others include Mental Health Services, Counseling Services or Social and Emotional Learning, Brown said. 

“No matter the concern, we are here to support you,” she added.

Coping with grief

For people who are actively experiencing grief, Brown recommended several coping mechanisms. 

• Practice self-care regularly and prioritize your physical health
• Drink plenty of water
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise

You can also put yourself in a different space by taking advantage of your available PTO, practicing positive affirmations or engaging in new leisure activities like a pottery or yoga class, she said. 

“Do something different,” Brown said. “Some of us will get into a routine, and even though we might be experiencing grief, trauma and stress, we do not realize that it’s ongoing because we have not given ourselves that moment to step away and engage in something we enjoy.” 

Another tool is leaning into your social support system. While back-to-school season can bring busier schedules and a faster pace, be sure to schedule time with friends and remember the positive, joyful connections you have. 

Grief is a journey, but you do not have to endure it alone. 

Helping those who are grieving

For anyone who is caring for a struggling friend, family member or student, Brown said self-care is key to showing up each day. You do not need to know all the answers or have the perfect response. Simply check in with your grieving loved one, give them permission to feel whatever they feel and help them find the resources they may need to process through their pain.

“Take care of yourself,” Brown said. “We all experience grief, so when you are having those feelings, reach out to someone. Please, do not suffer in silence. Someone is available to help!” 

The 2022-2023 school year is off to a good start, but like any other organization whose purpose is to serve people, Dallas ISD staff sometimes encounter conflict. But by following the Core 4 culture tenets, these encounters can be turned into memorable moments. 

When encountering conflict—whether it involves a colleague, a student, a parent or a community member—the best way to turn it around is to make them feel that you are on their side. 

By showing them you are their partner in solving their concern, they will feel heard and valued. Show them that you want them to succeed by following these tips:

• If meeting in person, shift your body language so you’re both facing the problem together
• Listen carefully to customers to better understand their concern
• Don’t interrupt
• Repeat what seem important points to them to make sure you understand
• When discussing solutions, use collaborative words like “we” and “let’s”

Conflict often arises out of the feeling that the person’s concern is not being taken with the level of seriousness it deserves, and it can be resolved by simply listening to their issue and trying to be helpful. 

Sometimes, there isn’t a satisfactory solution to a concern, but showing interest and a willingness to help will likely diffuse misunderstandings and create memorable moments. 

The iDesign Central Fellowship is an experience for Dallas ISD central staff leaders to build habits for design to lead teams and transform culture. This opportunity takes a design thinking approach to spreading creative confidence by equipping fellows with tools, processes, and resources to intentionally and creatively tackle district challenges using design thinking. To learn more, go to www.thepltoolbox.com/idesign. This fellowship is open to 20 central staff leaders.

The fellowship asks for the following commitments from participants:

• Five full day workshops between September 2022-February 2023.
• One day (chosen at your discretion) to shadow a user to better understand how he/she experiences the systems you lead.
• Dedicated time in-between workshops to put what you learn into practice and work on your design challenge (~4-6 hours).
• Participation in two Showcase events hosted in December 2022 and February 2023.

Interested in being one of the 20 iDesign Fellows? Learn more and submit a short application at www.thepltoolbox.com/idesign by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. Reach out to the Personalized Learning Department with questions at idesign@dallasisd.org.

Evelyn Lopez and Patricia Barroso were well into planning out their year as early learning specialists when the call came last week for Teaching and Learning staff to support students in a more direct way—as teachers of record in schools across the district.

Evelyn Lopez set up her classroom with the help of her Early Learning colleagues.

 “My first reaction was surprise,” said Evelyn Lopez, who is teaching first grade at John W. Carpenter Elementary School. “But when Chief [Shannon] Trejo shared the reality that some kids would not have a teacher on their first day, I knew that’s what I had to do. My mind immediately transitioned to being back in the classroom.”

 “My son started first grade this year, and I imagined how he would feel if he didn’t have a teacher there to provide a welcoming environment and be there for him,” she added. “Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is show up and be present and ready to work for the kids.”

Dallas ISD was facing starting the new school year with some classrooms without a teacher due in great part to a national teacher shortage, so central divisions stepped up to send certified staff back to the classroom to serve as teachers of record in bilingual, special education and core content classrooms. While the district still has teacher vacancies it is working to fill with new hires, the central staff deployment meant that students in almost 100 classrooms had a certified teacher of record welcoming them to their first day of class.

 “We are focusing on the vision to put kids first,” Trejo said. “We value our campus teachers and now have a system in place to support them in a different way.”

The Teaching and Learning Division has identified 145 certified staff who can be deployed to campuses—especially high priority and ACE schools—to fill vacancies and other classes that need additional supports through at least Sept. 23 when campus needs will be re-evaluated based on student enrollment, the fall leveling process and hiring capacity, said Trejo. Our team is ready and willing to serve as teacher of record until the end of year to ensure that students have the best learning experience possible. If a full-time teacher is identified for that position before Sept. 23, the central staff member would remain on the campus to help with the transition, content training, and acclimation to the classroom systems that have been established before returning to prior duties.

Patricia Barroso

Barroso—who was a teacher for 14 years before becoming an early learning specialist six years ago—immediately switched to teacher mode when she heard she was going back to the classroom. Like Lopez, her first priority was to set up the classroom to welcome students.

The Saturday before school started, she spent several hours preparing her pre-K 3 classroom at Edwin J. Kiest Elementary School with the help of other early learning staff.

“I thought, ‘I have done this before and I am going to give it my all like all other teachers.’ There is no room for questions or wondering why,” Barroso said. “You show up for the kids. At that age, they need to have a good first day, a good first impression of their first day of school that will set the foundation for every other year.”

Transitioning back into the classrooms has had its challenges and adjustments, but Barroso and Lopez agree that putting kids first means being flexible and willing to go where they are needed for as long as they are needed.

 “When the call comes, it’s all hands on deck,” Lopez said.

 The goal will be to continue to recruit high quality teachers into the district during the fall semester. Potential candidates such as December college graduates or teachers qualifying under alternative certification will be a pipeline for placements in January. The team will remain committed to maintaining and/or reassigning central office staff to classrooms that remain unfilled at that time. 

Dallas ISD made significant gains despite COVID-19 challenges to learning and maintained its pre-pandemic score of 86. With the B grade from the Texas Education Agency, the district has a baseline for success as staff, students and families begin the 2022-2023 school year. 

“These results clearly reflect the hard work and commitment of our staff and the innovation and versatility that drives Dallas ISD,” said Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde. “The ratings provide encouraging data points that will map the programs and supports for this year. As I have told our schools, ‘You got us here, preparing students during difficult circumstances, now, let’s go!’ We have work to do, but excellence is within our grasp.”

The ratings from the Texas Education Agency are the first to be issued since 2019 due to two years of COVID-related pauses. TEA rated 1,195 districts and 8,451 campuses using grades A-C and a Not Rated designation, based on districts’ and schools’ data on student achievement, school progress, and closing the gaps.

Dallas ISD registered achievement gains in reading from 2021 results and often matched pre-pandemic levels in grades three through eighth across all three student groups—economically disadvantaged, African American, emergent bilingual. Significant progress was made in math but work still needs to be done to return to pre-pandemic achievement levels and to close the gap for all student groups. 

Among African American students, Dallas made meaningful gains and stayed largely consistent in both reading and math in comparison with the state. In reading, achievement levels from third through eighth grade improved significantly from those during the pandemic, and in all cases met or exceeded pre-pandemic achievement levels. Reading gains from 2021 to 2022 were as high as +17 percentage points for this student group.

 In math, results for African American students are up substantially at all grades and levels but are not at pre-pandemic levels. This is consistent with gains in math among other urban districts and the state. 

Reading and math results are also similar among economically disadvantaged and emergent bilingual students—reading results show substantial gains from 2021 for both groups to meet or exceed pre-pandemic levels while math results show improvement but mostly did not meet pre-pandemic levels. One exception were results in fifth grade reading among emergent bilingual students, which registered a decline from 2021 and pre-pandemic levels. 

 In addition to the district’s grade, every campus is also rated. Including the local accountability ratings—which are more demanding than the state’s—the district had:

• 26 campuses rated A (Accomplished)
• 123 rated B (Breakthrough)
• 59 rated C (Competing)
• 14 Not Rated (Developing)
• 8 Not Rated (Focus)

 Of 227 schools, 68% had at least one distinction, 26% had at least four distinctions, and 9% had all seven out of seven distinctions. Some schools are not eligible for distinctions and not all schools are eligible for all seven distinctions, which acknowledge campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. They are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics. 

 Dallas ISD’s reading and math scores in grades third through eighth increased significantly across the board compared to 2021 results, and in many cases surpassed 2019 achievement levels. Compared to other districts with similar demographics, Dallas ISD matches the growth and leads in achievement levels in reading in third through eighth grade. In math across grade levels, Dallas ISD shows similar growth as the state and other districts but did not match pre-pandemic achievement levels—a trend that was true across the state and other urban districts.

 In high school end of course results, Dallas students made greater gains than the state toward pre-pandemic levels in Algebra I, biology and U.S. history despite having registered a significant decline during the pandemic. In English I and II end of course exams, student progress was slightly greater or similar to state. Results in all end of course exams indicate more work needs to be done to continue closing the gap for these grades.

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.