The Dallas Mavericks are offering two programs during February and March to engage students, inspire future leaders and promote literacy. Learn more about the Mavs Black History Month Art Contest With American Airlines and the Mavs Reading Challenge presented by Whataburger below, and help us spread the word to get more Dallas ISD students involved.
Mavs Black History Month Art Contest With American Airlines
To honor Black History and inspire future change makers, the Dallas Mavericks and American Airlines are encouraging students from eighth to 12th grade to create and submit a visual art medium that interprets the beliefs of past and present Black leaders and how they inspired others to unite and join hands for justice.
Five students will be selected as grand prize contest winners and will receive an invitation to the Feb. 28 Dallas Mavericks home game, an opportunity to have their art featured in the African American Museum of Dallas at Fair Park during March and more. Learn the details by visiting https://www.mavs.com/blackhistory/.
Mavs Reading Challenge presented by Whataburger
The Mavs Reading Challenge presented by Whataburger is fostering a love of reading in students of all ages. Students K-12 who read (or are read to) for 20 minutes a day for a total of 40 days can earn cool prizes from the Dallas Mavericks and Whataburger.
This year’s challenge runs now through March 31, so encourage any students you know to get started. Visit https://www.mavs.com/readingchallenge/ to learn more about how students can participate.
Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services deserves a hearty congratulations for receiving a “perfect” Administrative Review from The Texas Department of Agriculture, making Dallas ISD the largest district in the state to earn this recognition this school year.
FCNS received the “perfect” AR over the last full week of school in December, when 12 on-site and five off-site Texas Department of Agriculture auditors and review specialists spent a week visiting the participating schools, auditing every part of the food services department. The key review areas included financials, procurement, federal and state program compliance, operations, meal quality, and food safety.
On-site auditors visited 19 schools for breakfast and/or lunch service and 24 schools for after-school meal programs. In addition to the week of on-site review, the off-site auditors spent three months examining last year’s records. The rigorous process included FCNS staff uploading thousands of documents and records for review.
FCNS deeply appreciates the partnerships of campus team members and administrative support, without which the “perfect” audit result would not have been possible, said Michael Rosenberger, executive director of Food and Child Nutrition Services.
“Earning a perfect Administrative Review is a direct reflection of our FCNS staff’s hard work and dedication,” he said.
Assistant Principal David Fifield centers all of his work at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy around the motto, “You only succeed when they do,” and it shows.
He can often be found building rapport with students in the hallways or the cafeteria and practicing the Core 4 culture tenets of being fast, focused, flexible and friendly to accelerate learning and reduce disciplinary issues.
“At such a large school, we have to have the Core 4 in place so everyone feels like they are welcomed and like they are not just a number,” Fifield said. “They are all individuals, and their needs are being addressed based on what they need, not what somebody else needs.”
One of the ways Fifield does this is by appreciating every victory, no matter how small. For example, he was working with a student who had been missing a lot of school, and when she came to campus one day, he made sure to celebrate with her, even though she was still not in class.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “We can get her into class as a second step.”
Being an assistant principal at Greiner requires flexibility and focus as no day is the same, but Fifield is up to the challenge. He first joined Dallas ISD as a teacher in 1998 and made memorable moments in the classroom until 2014, when he became Greiner’s assistant principal.
His passion for service started early. His mother owned a daycare, so Fifield was constantly around younger children growing up, helping them accomplish tasks like working on their homework, tying their shoes or expressing themselves. When it came time for him to choose a career, transforming student lives was an easy choice.
Fifield said some of his favorite memories at Greiner, an arts magnet school, include seeing students “come alive” on stage. Even those who are quiet in class transform when they are performing as they gain confidence and demonstrate their passion for what they love, he said.
“We have a lot of amazing students. When I go into their classrooms, I make a point to ask them about their work so they know that I am interested in who they are,” Fifield said. “If I can’t work with them to help them be successful, then at the end of the day, I haven’t been successful myself. So I always try to keep a positive outlook and build rapport with the students and the parents so that the students are spending more time engaged academically.”
One in two adults has high blood pressure, and few have it under control, which can lead to severe and chronic health issues. The Human Capital Management Benefits Department is going red during February to help team Dallas ISD members be aware of risks and improve their heart health.
The campaign will include tips on preventing heart health issues, high blood pressure screenings, and opportunities to help others.
In partnership with Carter Blood Care, the Benefits Department will host a blood drive at the Linus D. Wright Administration Building. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the United States requires a blood transfusion. By donating blood, people can help those injured in accidents, undergoing cancer treatments and battling blood diseases.
The blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the administration building in Room 1350. To see if you are eligible to donate blood,click here, and to sign up,click here.
In partnership with Health Services, the Benefits Department will host two blood pressure screening dates in the Administration Building: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Room 206 and on Feb. 22 in Room 205. Screenings at campuses will also be available through the school nurses. No need to sign up.
Also, if you Go Red by wearing red during the week of Feb. 13-17 to support heart health awareness, you can wear jeans one day during that week.
For more information and tips, please visit the Benefits website.
Due to inclement weather, there will be no after-school activities including athletic events and practices today, Jan. 30. As temperatures are expected to remain above freezing, we will complete the day as normal. Buses will run at the regular time, however, may experience delays as drivers exercise extreme caution this afternoon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
We will continue monitoring the weather and provide updates on any changes. For information on school openings or closures, visit the district’s social media channels orwww.dallasisd.org
No existen palabras Cuando lo inimaginable se desenvuelve ante nuestros ojos, no existen palabras que puedan ayudarnos a comprender el horror de lo que vemos, como son las imágenes que fueron capturadas en el vídeo de Memphis donde un joven brutalmente perdió la vida. No existen palabras para consolar, razonar, analizar o explicar. Ninguna.
En momentos en que las palabras nos fallan, debemos aferrarnos a la humanidad que nos une para proteger nuestros corazones y mentes y evitar que perdamos la esperanza, haciendo imposible avanzar juntos. Hoy, no mañana, debemos unirnos y enfrentar este claro ejemplo de desprecio por la vida humana. Hoy más que nunca, tenemos la obligación, desde nuestro lugar en el mundo, de trabajar todos los días para construir puentes y enseñar a nuestros hijos a entenderse, respetarse y honrarse unos a los otros. Aún más importante, debemos ser ejemplo de este comportamiento con nuestros amigos, vecinos, colegas y todo el que nos rodea.
El mundo se vuelve un lugar peligroso cuando nos permitimos hacer caso omiso de cualquier realidad que impacte negativamente a nuestras vidas. Y cuando lo ignoramos, invade nuestras calles, nuestros hogares y nuestras comunidades, como hemos visto en Memphis.
Como madre, tengo el corazón hecho pedazos al pensar en otra madre cuyo hijo ha sido sometido a este tipo de trato inhumano. Como superintendente de un distrito escolar centrado en preparar a los jóvenes para que lleven una vida mejor y contribuyan a la sociedad que los rodea, estoy más decidida que nunca a ayudar a brindarles a los estudiantes las herramientas para mejorar el mundo en el que viven, ya que ellos son nuestra esperanza para un mejor mañana. Y como integrante de la raza humana, no dejaré de abogar por el respeto, la comprensión, la tolerancia, la equidad y la bondad.
En este momento, es fácil perder la esperanza. Hemos visto demasiados casos como este en todo el país. Pero no me rindo, y tampoco se rinden nuestros maestros, directores e integrantes de nuestro equipo. Los tiempos difíciles requieren personas aún más resilientes, y estamos aquí para encontrar la solución. Tengan la certeza que Dallas ISD hará todo lo posible para asegurar que nuestros jóvenes estudiantes estén preparados para hacer lo mismo, y los invitamos a unirse a nosotros.
Nuestros pensamientos y oraciones más sinceros están con la familia de Tyre Nichols. Y pido que todos trabajemos para que esta increíble tragedia no haya sido en vano. Comencemos hoy
___
Justin Henry presidente de la Junta Escolar
Es extremadamente doloroso ver una vez más un evento nacional donde nuevamente, un joven negro es asesinado de manera tan brutal. Tyre Nichols, de 29 años, era padre de un niño de 4 años. Por lo que he leído, le encantaba fotografiar los atardeceres y andar en patineta, una pasión que tuvo desde que era niño.
Ningún ser humano que lleve sangre en las venas puede ver cómo se desarrolla esta historia y sentir que el mundo está bien. ¡No estamos bien! El asesinato de Tyre es otro doloroso reflejo de las injusticias raciales en América. Ya es tiempo de acabar con la retórica y entrar en acción. Todos debemos actuar, especialmente los líderes locales y los encargados de formular leyes.
La Junta Escolar de Dallas ISD ha actuado diligentemente para abordar las desigualdades raciales en Dallas ISD. Las injusticias raciales de nuestro pasado y presente continúan avivando incendios y dejando escombros en nuestras calles, hogares y comunidades. Si no hacemos frente contra el tipo de comportamiento que hemos observado en Memphis y los sistemas que crean ese comportamiento, no podemos avanzar como nación.
Tengo el corazón roto al ver como Tyre llamaba por su madre que no estaba muy lejos. Como padre, el solo pensar en su desesperación, me paraliza. Nadie debería perder su vida de esta manera.
Nuestros corazones están con los amigos y la familia de Tyre Nichols, y seguimos orando por ellos.
There are no words When the unimaginable plays out before our eyes, there are no words that can help us comprehend the horrors we see, like the images captured on the Memphis video where a young man brutally lost his life. There are no words to comfort, sense make, analyze, or explain. None.
In times when words fail us, we must cling to the humanity that binds us to guard our hearts and minds and keep us from losing hope, making it impossible to move forward, together. Now, not tomorrow, we must come together and take a stand against this type of blatant disregard for human life. More than ever, we should be compelled to, in our own little corners of the world, work every day to bridge build and teach our children to understand, respect, and honor each other. Even more importantly, we must model that behavior with our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and others.
The world becomes a dangerous place when we give ourselves a pass to somehow close our eyes to any harsh reality that negatively impacts our world. And when we fail to address it, it plays out in the streets, in our homes, and in our communities, as we have seen in Memphis.
As a mother, my heart breaks at the thought of anyone’s child being subjected to that type of inhumane treatment. As a superintendent of a school district focused on preparing young people to lead better lives and contribute to the world around them, I am more resolved than ever to help give students, the tools to improve the world around them, for they are our hope for a better tomorrow. And as a member of this human race, I will not stop advocating for respect, understanding, tolerance, equity, and kindness.
At this moment, it is easy to lose hope. We have seen far too many instances like this playing out across the nation. But I am not a quitter, and neither are our teachers, principals and team members. Tough times require even tougher people, and we are here for the solution. You have our word that Dallas ISD will do everything in our power to ensure our young students are equipped to do the same, and we invite you to join us.
Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with Tyre Nichols’ family. And I ask that we all work to bring some meaning to this incredible tragedy. Let’s start today.
___
President Justin Henry Dallas ISD Board of Trustees
It is exhaustingly painful to watch another national event where, once again, a young Black man is murdered in such a brutal manner. Tyre Nichols, 29, was a dad to a 4-year-old son. From what I’ve read, he loved to photograph sunsets and skateboard, a passion he’s had since he was a little boy.
No human with a soul can watch this story unfold and feel like the world is OK. We are not OK. Tyre’s murder is another painful reflection of the racial injustices in America. It is beyond time to move from rhetoric and to a point of action. We all must act, especially local leaders and policy makers.
Our Dallas ISD Board of Trustees have acted diligently to address racial inequities in Dallas ISD. The racial injustices of our past and present continue to stoke fires and leave wreckage in our streets, homes, and communities. If we fail to take a stand against the type of behavior displayed in Memphis and the systems that create that behavior, we cannot move forward as a nation.
My heart breaks to know Tyre cried out for his mom who was not far away. As a parent, the thought of that is paralyzing. No one should lose their life this way.
Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Tyre Nichols, and we continue to pray for them.
In today’s world of cybersecurity, we all have a duty to protect the safety of students, parents, team members and the districts’ private information. Dallas ISD takes this responsibility seriously and will continue the necessary measures to ensure confidential information remains secure.
It has been determined by the federal government and the State of Texas that the video-sharing platform TikTok poses a serious security risk for its users. To better protect against cybersecurity risks, the district is discontinuing access to the platform from its devices and networks.
Starting at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, TikTok will be blocked from district-issued devices and networks. TikTok will no longer be accessible on any device if you are connected to the district’s Wi-Fi networks. While TikTok will be accessible from private devices and networks, Dallas ISD does not allow its use for instructional purposes or district-related projects. External networks should not be utilized to access TikTok on district devices.
In 2022, the U.S. Congress prohibited the use of the platform on any government-issued devices and networks, and the governor of Texas recently issued orders to eliminate the cybersecurity risk posed by TikTok by removing access to it from devices of state agencies, including school districts.
The cybersecurity risk stems from the belief of state and federal agencies that TikTok’s parent company tracks data from users—including when, where and how a person conducts internet activity— that could be used to threaten national security as well as impact district cybersecurity.
The district understands that videos can provide a level of creativity and engagement that benefits instruction. Other video-sharing platforms can be used on district devices and within district networks to support instruction and other Dallas ISD initiatives. Reels is an effective feature on Instagram that allows the creation of short and engaging vertical-style videos. Tips on how to utilize Reels and other applications can be found on the district’s social media webpage.
For additional guidance on the use of district-issued electronic devices and networks, please, refer to Board Policy DH–Employee Standards of Conduct and CQ–Technology Resources by visiting the district’s online Board Policy Manual.
Dallas ISD va a descontinuar el acceso a TikTok
En el mundo actual de la ciberseguridad, todos compartimos la responsabilidad de proteger la seguridad de los estudiantes, padres, miembros del equipo laboral y la información privada del distrito. Dallas ISD se toma muy en serio esta responsabilidad y continuará implementando las medidas necesarias para asegurar la confidencialidad de este tipo de información.
El gobierno federal y agencias del estado de Texas han determinado que TikTok, la plataforma para compartir videos, presenta un riesgo importante a la seguridad de sus usuarios. Como protección contra estos riesgos a la ciberseguridad, el distrito va a descontinuar el acceso a la plataforma en todos sus dispositivos y redes.
A partir de las 11:59 p.m. el jueves, 26 de enero, el acceso a TikTok será bloqueado en los dispositivos pertenecientes al distrito y todas sus redes. No se podrá tener acceso a TikTok en dispositivos privados que estén conectados a la red Wi-Fi del distrito. Aunque se podrá tener acceso a la plataforma a través de dispositivos y redes privadas, Dallas ISD prohibe el uso de la plataforma en la instrucción o proyectos relacionados con el distrito. No se deberán utilizar redes privadas para obtener acceso a TikTok en dispositivos pertenecientes al distrito.
En el 2022, el Congreso de los Estados Unidos prohibió el uso de la plataforma en dispositivos y redes pertenecientes al gobierno federal, y el gobernador de Texas recientemente emitió una orden para eliminar el riesgo a la ciberseguridad que presenta TikTok al bloquear el acceso a ella en todos los dispositivos pertenecientes a agencias del gobierno estatal, lo cual incluye a distritos escolares.
Los riesgos a la ciberseguridad están basados en la creencia por parte de las agencias estatales y federales de que la empresa matriz monitorea los datos de los usuarios—incluyendo cuándo, dónde y cómo utilizan la internet—de una manera que podría presentar un peligro para la seguridad nacional.
El distrito entiende que los videos proporcionan un nivel de creatividad y participación que es de gran beneficio para la instrucción. Otras plataformas para compartir videos están disponibles en dispositivos y redes del distrito para apoyar la instrucción y otras iniciativas de Dallas ISD. Reels está disponible en Instagram y permite la creación de videos verticales cortos y efectivos. Pueden encontrar consejos de cómo usar Reels y otras aplicaciones en la página de medios sociales del distrito.
Para información adicional en el uso de dispositivos y redes pertenecientes al distrito, por favor, consulte las regulaciones Board Policy DH–Employee Standards of Conduct y CQ–Technology Resources que se encuentra en línea en Board Policy Manual.
Now more than ever it is important to stay vigilant when it comes to cybersecurity, so Dallas ISD’s security team is sharing tips on how to protect your account and data:
Keep your personal information private. Avoid sharing your name, address, telephone number and school name when using the internet or any apps.
Use strong passwords with a minimum of eight characters or more that combine numbers, letters and symbols.
Don’t share your passwords with anyone—Dallas ISD’s Information Technology department will never request this from you.
Think before you click. Don’t open emails from strangers, links from unfamiliar sites and advertisements.
Be wary of messages that implore you to act immediately as well as offers and browser extensions. These are tricks designed to get you to give up personal information or click on links to install malware or spyware automatically.
If you’ve ever been to a Dallas ISD community event at a school or throughout the city, chances are you’ve seen Sgt. Simon Tapia, one of the faces of the Dallas ISD Police Department’s UNIDOS program.
He, along with fellow officer Lt. Juan Cedillo, co-founded the Dallas ISD chapter of UNIDOS, an outreach program that provides assistance and information to the district’s Spanish-speaking community, with a focus on parents and students.
“UNIDOS is a collaboration with multiple police organizations and the purpose of the program is to connect our Spanish-speaking community with resources and to address areas of need that directly impact the community,” Tapia said.
Tapia, who has worked as a police officer for 27 years—22 of them years with the district, has worked in different areas such as campus services in West Dallas.
“I’ve had the opportunity to do a little of everything, and have really gotten to know the district well, as I’ve worked with multiple Dallas ISD leaders and community leaders,” Tapia said. He’s also worked in areas such as the Criminal Investigation Division, gang unit, and is currently working night patrol.
The UNIDOS chapter at Dallas ISD began when Sgt. Robert Muñoz of the Community Affairs Department of the Dallas Police Department reached out to Tapia and Cedillo after he was inundated with requests for not only community outreach throughout the city, but specifically in Dallas ISD. Muñoz suggested that Tapia and Cedillo start their own chapter in the district.
“He brought us into this program and he showed it to us,” Tapia said. “In November 2017, we did our own presentation with DPD at Arcadia Park Elementary as our own unit. Sgt. Muñoz was doing important work bridging the communication gap with our community, as well as connecting them with resources, and we wanted to continue this work in the district.”
While it’s not always easy having to keep up with a demanding work schedule, plus volunteering at community events, Tapia said he is happy to do this important and impactful work. He was once asked by a colleague about where the return on their investment was.
“It was a valid question but it really resonated with me,” he said. “I said that he and I would never see a return on our investment. We are investing in the kids, in their future. When we give a toy to a little kid or a sticker that looks like our badges, we are creating a long lasting memory for the student. You never know what kind of impact it may have on their future.”
He recalls a moment when he took a picture a few years ago at Celestino Mauricio Soto Jr. Elementary School in front of his squad car with seven or eight students all dressed as police officers as a costume.
“I took the picture for my unit, and I sent it to them, and I jokingly said, ‘I’m replacing all of y’all.’ That’s the return on our investment,” Tapia said. “They had a blast seeing us, seeing our cars, getting a sticker, and I hope that out of those seven or eight, maybe one or two will decide to become police officers. The investment will never be seen, because by the time these students graduate and begin working as an officer, I’ll likely not be around.”
Although they might not always get to see the impact their work has on the community, Tapia says that a couple of times he has had the opportunity to work with officers who recall seeing him at their schools when they were students.
“We have some officers that remember seeing me when they were in elementary school or high school, and now, they’re working for us. They say, ‘Ah I remember you. You used to come to our school with the K-9 unit,’” Tapia said.
Tapia, Cedillo and the 15 or so volunteers from UNIDOS have worked and volunteered in many community meetings, health fairs, toy drives, school career days, and their signature “Conchas con Chotas” meetings at schools. One of the groups UNIDOS collaborates with often is Comadres Unidas de Dallas, a community based organization whose mission is to empower, inform and connect the Spanish speaking community with resources.
“The first meeting we worked on together was at [Thomas C.] Marsh Middle School because I was the PTA president,” said Mirna Mendez, founder of Comadres Unidas de Dallas. “Sgt. Tapia has always been accessible and he is always willing to help and to serve. We have worked together on several occasions, including a toy drive this past December. We had run into some challenges because we needed a bigger location for the toy drive, and by the next day, he had found us a place. Sgt. Tapia is all about community. He is a problem solver, a go-getter, and is just an all around good person who is always willing to help and to serve the community.”
If you would like more information about UNIDOS, contact Tapia via email at stapia@dallasisd.org or unidos@dallasisd.org. You can also find UNIDOS on twitter @DISDPD_UNIDOS or here, on the district’s website.
Mavs Reading Challenge presented by Whataburger 
The UNIDOS chapter at Dallas ISD began when Sgt. Robert Muñoz of the Community Affairs Department of the Dallas Police Department reached out to Tapia and Cedillo after he was inundated with requests for not only community outreach throughout the city, but specifically in Dallas ISD. Muñoz suggested that Tapia and Cedillo start their own chapter in the district.