Staff News

Dallas ISD has abundant opportunities for students, including the off-campus physical education (OCPE) program for middle and high school students looking to develop high-level skills in various activities such as rowing, ballet, gymnastics and martial arts.

“Our Off Campus Physical Education program enables students to earn physical education credits while participating in activities not affiliated with the University Scholastic League (UIL) or offered by the Athletic Department,” said Barbara Johnson, director of Health and Physical Education. “The Dallas ISD OCPE program has become a model for other districts throughout the state.”

To create these opportunities, the department partners with approved agencies so students can attend these off-campus facilities without additional fees to the district. OCPE applications are due two weeks before each semester begins, and students can participate in one of two categories. Category I is intended for the Olympic or national level. High school students participate in intensive, professional, supervised training for at least 15 hours a week. Meanwhile, high school and middle school students in Category II hone their skills for at least five hours a week.

“The program gives students more flexibility and exposure to what they can do,” High School Health and Physical Education Coordinator Elridge Thibodeaux said. “I’ve spoken to many parents about their students applying and getting approved, and it’s always exciting because it allows the students to compete at a higher level.”

Thibodeaux was recently invited to watch OCPE students compete in the Texas State Rowing Championships at White Rock Lake. He also recalls speaking with the parents of one middle school student already competing at a high level in ballet. They were thrilled when she was accepted into OCPE so she could continue to advance as she transitioned into high school. 

“For some it’s a dream to be part of a team or to be able to practice their Olympic skills,” Middle School Health and Physical Education Coordinator Rhonda Rutherford-Odom said. “The students, especially in high school, have taken ownership of their participation in the program, and it’s amazing to see.” 

The program was put on hold for about a year due to COVID-19. Thibodeaux said, “This past school year, 50 students participated, but we expect to see more students apply as the Dallas ISD community becomes more familiar with OCPE.”

You can help more students take advantage of this opportunity. If you know any families who may be interested in OCPE, refer them to https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/42954, where they will find more information about the program and the application process. Families can also contact their school counselor for more information.

Seasoned teachers across the district are getting ready to help and support approximately 1,800 new teachers during the first year at Dallas ISD through the district’s Mentor Teacher program. The program had its kickoff and training this week. 

Maria-Elena Pacheco of Martha Turner Reilly Elementary School, Chris Buchanan of J.N. Ervin Elementary School and Nila Miller-Bynum of Charles Rice Learning Center are participating in the mentorship program, and they all agreed that providing guidance to new teachers is of the utmost importance when it comes to retaining educators, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“It’s very important to cultivate relationships in education because these teachers that you’re teaching next to, they become your friends, they become your family,” said Miller-Bynum, who will be a teacher mentor for the first time this year. “Those relationships are how we survive, how we make it through. We learn to love each other through this hard work, and having a mentor program catapults that. Teaching is truly a work of heart.” 

The mentor-mentee pairs will have 10 monthly check-ins throughout the school year. They will also have unique opportunities to observe and demonstrate classroom skills, pursue professional development and build relationships with other teachers. The goal is to provide new teachers with the support they need to overcome obstacles, reflect on their successes and identify their growth areas. 

This is Buchanan’s first year as a teacher mentor, and he was so inspired by the Mentor Teacher Kickoff that he immediately reached out to an old teacher mentor to say thank you, writing, “I’m here because of you.” Now, he hopes to do the same for his mentee. 

“I am a product of teachers who have mentored me, who have taught me a lot,” Buchanan said. “They have poured into me, and I want to be a blessing and give back by paying it forward to these teachers that come after me.”

Pacheco, on the other hand, has been mentoring teachers in Dallas ISD for the past two decades. She loves seeing her mentees achieve their educational goals, including Lisa Vega, whom Pacheco mentored “many years ago” at Maple Lawn Elementary School. Back then, Vega dreamed of becoming a principal or an executive director, and today, she is an executive director in School Leadership.

In Pacheco’s eyes, what really counts in mentorship is listening and helping others grow. She is looking forward to helping her mentee become more efficient and satisfied in their work, especially considering how effective teachers are more likely to have successful students.

“This work is so paramount, it’s so vital,” Pacheco said. “I’m glad that Dallas ISD recognizes the fact that mentoring and having this program is important. It’s very significant.” 

Buchanan agreed: “Expect great things to come from this mentor program. The collaboration and being able to feed off of each other’s different ideas, it’s going to be epic. I’m so excited.” 

To learn more information about the Dallas ISD mentorship program and new teacher support initiative, visit the Dallas ISD Professional & Digital Learning website at dallasisd.org/pdl. 

If you are a new or aspiring central staff leader interested in growing your leadership capacity, HCM Performance Management is accepting applications for Cohort 6 of Manager 101.

 This leadership development program is hosted in partnership with the Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas. Participants will engage in learning modules, discussions, and projects aligned to the Dallas ISD culture/vision tenets and central staff evaluation domains: Shaping Culture, Developing Talent, Driving Impact, and Engaging Stakeholders.

 Interested candidates must:

• Complete the application (two pages) and submit their current resume
• Inform their direct supervisor that approval will be verified by HCM
• Attend four full-day sessions on the UT Dallas campus
  • September 14
  • October 12
  • November 16
  • December 14
• Complete all pre-work assignments and projects (an estimated 1-2 hours per session)

HCM Performance Management will host Open Labs via Teams on July 28 and Aug. 4 from noon to 1 p.m. to assist in the application process. 

All applicant materials must be received by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 7. HCM will contact direct supervisors to verify support of applications and notify participants by Friday, Sept. 2.

Please contact careermanagement@dallasisd.org for questions or comments.

Maria Chan, a first grade teacher at Arcadia Park Elementary School, is the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets thanks to her passion and dedication. Her legacy is evident in the former students who come back over a decade after leaving her classroom to say thank you and even invite her to a quinceanera. 

Chan took her first teaching job in special education in the Philippines in 1999, and she has been transforming student lives ever since. She moved to El Paso in 2003 and in 2007 to Dallas, where she has been bringing inspiration and motivation to the halls of Arcadia Park for 15 years. Her dream of becoming an educator started in her own first grade classroom as she experienced her mom’s teaching. 

“I was one of her students,” Chan said. “She was always telling me to be good, to try, and that’s why I strive so hard. I can do anything—even if it’s challenging—as long as I try my best and don’t give up. That’s what my mom would always tell me: ‘Don’t give up. You can do it.’” 

Even now that Chan’s mother is retired, she loves tutoring her old students’ children and swapping stories with her daughter. The two of them may live an ocean apart in the Philippines and the United States, but are brought together in their understanding the value of making a difference through education.

That same passion prompted Chan to make lasting changes at Arcadia Park. She taught the school’s first specialized unit and helped create their first preschool program for children with disabilities (PPCD). She also took the lead on the district’s first kindergarten collaborative, which put special and general education students together in one classroom. Dallas ISD had pre-K collaboratives at the time, but Chan’s efforts inspired kindergarten collaboratives in other schools to ensure that every student received enough support to enter first grade with confidence. 

While Chan has been working with general education students for a few years now, she is excited to return to Arcadia Park’s PPCD for the 2022-2023 school year. 

“It’s so rewarding,” she said. “You see so much growth, and you celebrate every little thing. When you’re a special education teacher and you teach kids with special needs, you’re part of their family.” 

She could not resist sharing one of her favorite student transformation stories. One year, she had a kindergartener in her class with autism. At the beginning of the year, the student would cry every day because she did not want to be in school, but by the end of the year, she was talking, making jokes and enjoying time with her friends. The child’s mom was so happy that she told Chan, “We will never ever forget you.” 

For Chan, that is what it means to be a teacher. 

“It’s not just about academics; it’s about making a difference in students’ lives,” she said. “You may think school is over at 3:15, but you are making an impact, not just in school but also at home. I love Arcadia Park, and I’m not going to leave this school until I retire. It’s amazing.” 

We all face challenges throughout our lives that come with a variety of emotional responses from sadness to impatience. While it is important to cope with these daily stressors, it is also necessary to learn the signs that may indicate an ongoing mental health concern. 

The following symptoms may be indicators of mental illness when they are experienced for prolonged periods of time:

• Sudden mood changes
• Decreased sense of confidence 
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Withdrawing from relationships
• Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
• Loss of interest in regular activities 
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
• Feeling sad or down 
• Paranoia, delusions or feeling detached from reality 
• Experiencing exhaustion or fatigue
• Difficulty coping with minor problems and daily activities
• Thoughts of suicide 

While many of these signs and symptoms are common responses to obstacles and challenging life events, pay attention to them and whether or not they are continuously affecting your health. If you are struggling or know of someone who is, reach out and get support today. 

Contact your physician or a mental health professional, or take advantage of Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. The confidential, secure platform has countless resources available online for free, including on-call counselors who are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Reach out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000, or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information. 

If you are having suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to get help. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use the chat feature at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.  

You matter, and so does your mental health and well-being. Take some time to reflect on how you are doing, and prioritize yourself and your needs. And remember: You are never alone. 

*Source: LifeWorks 

Dallas ISD is ready to help students get enrolled and welcome them to the new year. Families who have not yet enrolled their students, can join Dallas ISD staff at the This Is Home Registration Fair on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ellis Davis Field House, located at 9191 S. Polk St.

Families will receive in-person assistance with their child’s registration. Free school supplies and backpacks will be given away until supplies last, and other services will be available to help them prepare for back to school. 

To complete their child’s enrollment, families will need:

• Birth certificate (new students)
• Parent/guardian photo ID
• Proof of address
• Immunization record
• Social Security card (optional)

Parents of pre-K students will also need to provide documentation to determine eligibility for pre-K (as applicable):

• Proof of income
• Medicaid/SNAP/TANF benefits letter
• Foster care paperwork
• Military paperwork
• Star of Texas paperwork

Dallas ISD’s Convocation, welcoming staff back for the 2022-2023 school year, will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 8, and provide an opportunity for all staff to be celebrated and to receive key information from senior leaders and the superintendent.

Each campus and department will receive a link to access the presentation and may identify the appropriate viewing location for its staff (i.e., conference room, auditorium, cafeteria, or individual computer stations). All campuses and departments will also receive an event package that will include thematic signage, refreshments and commemorative items to create an event area.

Because of their earlier start, staff at Intersession and School Day Redesign campuses will receive a separate link to allow them to view the presentation at a time that is more convenient and that doesn’t interfere with the school day

More information concerning event package deliveries and access to streaming links is forthcoming.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July was created to highlight the unique challenges that racial and ethnic minority communities experience in the United States when it comes to mental health, and Dallas ISD is working to bring awareness and resources to our diverse community. 

Historically, accessing mental health care has been difficult for racial and ethnic minority populations due to discrimination, trauma caused by racial profiling, restricted access to resources and a lack of cultural awareness from medical practitioners. According to Mental Health America, people who identify as being two or more races have been the most likely group to report mental illness within the past year. Meanwhile, Native and Indigenous Americans report higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder. One study even found that physicians engaged in 33 percent less patient-centered communications with Black patients than with white patients.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health put together a list of resources on topics ranging from trauma and violence to LGBTQIA-specific community guides, including:

• Communities during COVID-19
• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Disasters and Other Traumatic Events: What Parents, Rescue Workers and the Community Can Do
• Mental Health by the Numbers

The full list can be found at https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/minority-mental-health/resources/. 

You can also explore Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks online. This free, confidential platform has countless resources available, including counselors who are on call 24/7 and practical tips on how to help children embrace diversity or how to educate yourself about anti-racism and race. 

Contact LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000, or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information. 

Source: Mental Health America

Dallas ISD staff can review and enroll in benefits for the 2022-2023 school year now through Aug. 18. While enrollment this year is passive, some benefits do require action before the closing date, and Dallas ISD is here to walk you through the options with a series of live webinars.

The webinars will provide general enrollment information and benefits experts who will answer your questions. To register for the webinars, click on the date and time you want to attend.

• 5 p.m. — Tuesday, July 19
• 12 p.m. — Tuesday, July 26
• 5 p.m. — Tuesday, Aug. 2
• 12 p.m. — Tuesday, Aug. 9
• 5 p.m. — Tuesday, Aug. 16

The Benefits Department is also ready and available to assist employees with appointment options for individualized in-person and virtual assistance. For an individual in person or virtual appointment, please email Benefits@dallasisd.org and a team member will connect with you to schedule an appointment.

You can review your benefits and enroll by visiting the enrollment portal at Employee Portal. Additional information is on the Benefit website www.dallasisd.org/benefits. If you need assistance, contact the Benefits Call Center at 972-925-4000, or call or email a Benefits team member at 972-925-4300, Benefits@dallasisd.org.

Whether as a former teacher and principal or as a parent himself, Israel Rivera has had a lot of experience in meeting the needs of parents and truly being part of the team that helps students be successful. As the new executive director of the department that provides services to parents, he is committed to ensuring parents have a voice and get the support they need.

“We want to help schools in giving parents a voice, a platform to speak—PTSA, SBDM—and provide the extra support when needed to make sure those avenues are available and running smoothly,” Rivera said. “We also want to work on making sure parents hear about resources, where to make connections. I think they would feel a lot better knowing all the services and resources we provide.”

In his new role over Parent Advocacy and Support Services, Rivera oversees parent services, attendance, truancy and homeless education. One of the first things he did when he took over these departments this summer was analyze what has been done before, what works and what the vision is going forward to better support campuses differently or better.

“We just want principals to welcome us, especially when it comes to parent engagement,” Rivera said. “We are not there to poke around or get them in trouble. We are there to ask, ‘How can we help you bring parents back to campus?’”

The department offers a FROG bus that visits campuses during the school year and attends events to share information and resources with parents and staff. But Rivera said they are exploring other ways to enhance parent engagement and let them know the district is there to help them help their students, especially in the area of social emotional learning.

“Our focus is letting parents know that SEL is out there, it’s a real thing, and letting them know they can go beyond their immediate community and get the help they need elsewhere,” he said. “They can seek help for themselves and their families from organizations and not feel embarrassed. I think it’s about giving parents access to resources at all levels.”

His focus for parent advocacy—whether it’s in the area of mental and educational resources or attendance improvement—is to first be very responsive.

“Having been a principal myself, it gives that lens to know how to help principals resolve issues,” he said. “One thing I want to do is get in front of the principals to let them know my role is to help them in their parent engagement. You don’t want a parent to leave the campus confused or feeling like they weren’t heard because that will fester and make the problem worse.”

Rivera also has experience working with schools from the other side. He is a Dallas ISD graduate and moved around a lot during his childhood because the family went where rents were more affordable. He graduated from Skyline High School and went into a career in advertising, but in the early 2000s, circumstances led to him becoming an instant parent to his brother’s children. He started dealing with the children’s schools and then the education bug bit him.

“I got to see what our teachers were like, principals were like and how they welcomed families,” he said. “When I could be part of sessions and meetings, I always participated. I got to see both sides.”

In 2005, he went through the alternative certification program and later became an assistant principal and principal. He opened Joe May Elementary School in 2016 and then became principal of the Business Magnet at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center.

 “My mother instilled in me the drive to help others, serve others, help find solutions and help them be better people,” Rivera said. “I have helped others and had put myself on hold, so I am now working on my doctorate. I also realized that I wanted to work on a bigger scale. I had so much fun and loved engaging with parents as a principal, and now I have this opportunity to do it at a districtwide scale. I am very excited about the possibilities. It makes me feel good to be helping parents and to make sure they are taken care of.”