Central Staff News

To keep Dallas ISD moving forward and team members attuned to the latest innovations, Library Media Services is offering a hands-on virtual learning series that will teach the ethical and meaningful use of Gemini AI to support teaching, learning, and everyday tasks.

The learning series—Wired Wednesdays–Gemini at Work—was created by Patricia Alvarado-Barnes, director of Library Media Services and member of the district’s artificial intelligence task force, which was created to study ways to responsibly integrate AI across all levels. Alvarado-Barnes also happens to be a skilled user of Gemini.

“It’s getting easier and easier to really use AI for everything—for translating, for reviewing your documents, editing your emails, brainstorming ideas,” she said.

Gemini AI is not the only resource open to everyone in the district. Turning to her monitor, Alvarado-Barnes pulled up Notebook LM, a research and note-taking tool built on Gemini AI. She uploaded a 300-page document and watched as the AI extracted the main ideas and supporting evidence in just seconds. Small pop-up windows, known as tooltips, appeared below the chat window, giving her the choice to convert the document into a podcast or a mind map.

“Notebook LM is super powerful, and it’s wonderful. If you’re going to college, you feed it all your information from your professor, and it will create a podcast,” she said.

Many people have concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs or human capability, but that isn’t what Gemini AI does at all, she said.

“People feared the internet when it came out, too,” Alvarado-Barnes said as she continued demonstrating how Gemini can take notes for the user, synthesize information, create spreadsheets, and even generate a budget variance analysis. All of its input and output, however, requires human presence, making it a tool, not a replacement.

“I don’t see it as a shortcut,” she said, “but as a way to enhance learning. I want to make sure our students and teachers don’t miss out on this.”

Even so, there are valid fears about artificial intelligence gathering information for sale, but Alvarado-Barnes put those to rest.

“It’s connected to our district, so it is not selling the information to someone else,” she said.

The district in fact reached a privacy agreement with Google, which prevents the search engine from selling what employees create through the use of Gemini AI to third parties.

“Unlike ChatGPT, where there is no privacy agreement with the district, using Gemini AI is as secure as using Google Drive,” she said.

But what about plagiarism?

“We’re having these training sessions to teach the responsible use of technology,” Alvarado-Barnes said.

Also, anything put into or produced by Gemini’s vast database will be kept there and cross-referenced by its algorithm, thus flagging users who commit plagiarism, she said.

Reading Language Arts classes are already using AI-powered grading tools to provide essay feedback for students and teachers.

Over the next few weeks, the district will launch pilot programs in select high schools to implement Gemini AI.

May—Mental Health Awareness Month—is a time to shine a spotlight on mental health, so the HCM Benefits Department is rolling out an exciting lineup of resources, tips, and features designed to support all district employees. Whether you’re facing a crisis or simply seeking a little more balance in your life, they’ve got you covered.

Start your wellness journey with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Benefits Department’s Employee Assistance Program is the perfect place to begin your mental health and wellness journey. Head over to dallasisd.lifeworks.com to explore the amazing resources available at your fingertips and get the support you need today.

Go mobile with Telus Health One
Want mental health resources on the go? Download the FREE Telus Health One app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Simply sign up with the invitation code, and you’re ready to access valuable support anytime, anywhere. Already registered? Just hit ‘Log In’ to get started.

Apple App Store: Click here

Google Play Store: Click here

Need counseling?
Team members seeking in-person, virtual, or phone counseling, the EAP is there for you—available 24/7, every day of the year. Call 972-925-4000, select option 3 for EAP, and take the first step toward feeling better. These services are completely free, confidential, and ready to help.

Stay tuned for monthly mental health highlights
Throughout May, we’ll be sharing powerful messages and tips, featuring key resources to help tackle everything from depression and burnout to anxiety and stress.

Behind every student’s success is a teacher who recognizes his or her worth and cultivates it, and to honor these teachers who have gone the extra mile, the Rotary Club is now accepting nominations for its annual Service Above Self Teacher Awards. Winners will receive cash awards and be honored at a special luncheon in August.  

The Rotary Club will consider teachers from all district schools who: 

• go beyond the call of duty to develop curriculum, tutor students after school without compensation, and support other activities at the school; 
• actively participate in their communities, frequently volunteering with organizations that promote the well-being of residents and positively impact students; 
• support at-risk or developmentally disadvantaged students by offering counseling, support, and a positive learning environment; and
• are selfless in their conduct and innovative in their classroom instruction. 

The nominees will have to submit a statement of professional philosophy that highlights what drives his or her actions and attitudes. The deadline to apply is June 6.  A special award luncheon will be held Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Teachers may self-nominate or be nominated by colleagues who think they meet or exceed the criteria listed above.  

To submit a nomination, please click here.

One of the features someone might notice when first meeting Brenda Brooks are her curls— bouncy and exuberant. Not unlike her curls, Brooks exudes exuberance at work and in life, fueled by the joyful conviction that what she does as a cafeteria supervisor at Nancy Moseley Elementary School is purposeful, making her one of the School Lunch Heroes celebrated on May 2.

She often wears the school’s green and white and a matching green headband. A computer speaker on her desk thumps out gospel music and the occasional R&B, a tradition Brooks has established to keep her team motivated. In the back of the office, on one of the walls, is a collage depicting memories of Brooks’ 27-year tenure with Dallas ISD—family gatherings, Christmas celebrations, portraits, and, in a prominent position, Michelle Obama’s visit to Dallas in 2012 during “Schools and Chefs Working Together.” Obama honored Moseley Elementary School for providing healthier food to students.  

Brooks remembers fondly the day she received a call from the former first lady’s secretary: “I told her this was a school district and not to call playing on the phone.” 

Brooks hung up, but Obama’s secretary rang back and assured her it was no prank call. 

“Michelle Obama wanted to come and visit our school, because we were doing great things,” Brooks said. It was a sign. Just the year before, Brooks had been considering an offer at another school but decided against it feeling she might miss out on something. 

“Lo and behold, a year later, Michelle Obama came to our school,” she said. 

This is just one of the many moments that define Brooks’ life. It may seem her work in the kitchen keeps her out of sight, but that is just optics. Teachers and students alike go to her for a quick chat and even to ask for counsel. Her connection to the school has gotten even stronger now that her 3-year-old granddaughter attends Moseley.  

“I love the children, and I’ve gotten to know them so well,” she said. “My teachers are always coming down here.”  

A Louisiana native, Brooks did not see herself working for a school district. She began her career working as a temp and later enrolled in management training.  

“We graduated two years later, and we were sent out to schools,” she said. 

When her brother, a former custodian, encouraged her to apply to Dallas ISD, she listened. As a young mother of three in 1998, she wanted to strike a balance between work and her personal life. The district offered such a balance.  

“I went in for the interview in the morning, and when I got home in the evening, I found out I had gotten the job,” said Brooks, who became a pastry cook, rising early to bake rolls and other desserts from scratch.  

“When I first started, everything was done from scratch. Everything has changed now, but it has changed for the better,” she said. In 2000, she was promoted to cafeteria supervisor. 

“The kids really brighten up my day,” she said. “And I love feeding them because a lot of kids out there don’t get this meal.” 

Brooks is an early riser. She begins her day at 6:30 a.m. to assemble the breakfast bags for students, each bag complete with protein, fruit, and milk. She and her team make their way down the hall to deliver breakfast to classrooms, part of the “Breakfast in the Classroom” program. Once the deliveries are made, Brooks returns to her office to complete paperwork before the lunch rush. 

“It’s something I know like the back of my hand,” she said. “I can do it with my eyes closed.” 

Of course, Brooks spends only a small portion of her day in the office. As a supervisor, she recognizes the importance of working alongside her team – and having fun while doing so. 

“To me, when you’re out there working and you’re working with the employees, it’s fun. We laugh, we talk, we interact with the kids,” she said.  

Brooks’ leadership style is grounded in respect and mutual collaboration. She trusts her team members to get their job done and never asks them to do anything she wouldn’t do, she said. More importantly, she reminds herself that she’s been in their shoes before.  

“You have to remember where you came from, so you don’t get yourself in the position of thinking that you’re superior,” she said. “It’s not about, ‘I’m not going to do this, and you’re going to do that.’ I like to approach things in a respectful manner.” 

Brooks likes to keep her door open to her employees – both literally and figuratively. She believes in open communication and dialogue. 

“When my employees are going through something, I tell them to call me to make sure they’re okay,” she said.  

Brooks has been living in Dallas for over three decades, proudly raising her three children in Dallas ISD. Though she is planning to retire in 2026, the thought of it chokes her up every time she talks about it.  

“I love working at Nancy Moseley, and when I go, I’m going to try not to cry,” she said. “I tell people this is one of the greatest places I have worked, and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.” 

Nazira Sahial has created a nurturing environment in her kindergarten classroom at Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows where students can feel seen and valued. She understands the importance of honoring diverse ancestries—especially her own, which she celebrates during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. 

Originally on a path to become a doctor, Sahial discovered her true passion in education while working as a Pre-K aide during her undergraduate studies at Dallas College.

“I started to reconnect with a childhood memory. One day I had this image of myself ripping out packets for the kids in my family,” Sahial said. “Something inside of me went off like a light bulb. This is what made me want to become a teacher.”

Raised in a multigenerational household in San Diego, Calif., Sahial, who is of Afghan descent, spent her early years surrounded by family, playing school with her cousins, foreshadowing her future.

As an adult, she joined a teacher certification program at TechTeach Across Texas. While in the program, Sahial became a secretary at a school in Richardson ISD, finally taking a step into the classroom as a prekindergarten aide.

Soon after, she landed her first teaching position at Highland Meadows, where she has been a prekindergarten teacher for three years.

Her classroom is a creative learning environment that supports her student’s social emotional well-being by providing centers filled with magnet tiles and Legos, brain breaks, free time for students, and breakfast. As a new teacher during the 2022-2023 school year, Sahial was honored as a Teacher of Promise. 

“It took a village for me to be able to successfully function in my classroom the first year. It’s not an easy experience for first-year teachers, so when I got the teacher of promise recognition so soon, I was overwhelmed,” Sahial said.

That same year, Sahial was faced with a unique situation. One of her students was blind. 

“That experience changed me,” she said. “Taking on the responsibility of being my student’s eyes and daily support instilled confidence in me. It taught me the power of patience and that I can overcome anything.” 

Now in her third year of teaching, Sahial has continued to create an inclusive learning environment for her students. Her approach stems not only from her professional experience but also her personal identity. 

“I’m from San Diego and that’s where I was born. If someone wants to know my background, I usually say I’m Afghan American, which is part of Central Asia,” Sahial said. “My identity of being Afghan American and being educated in public schools has helped me stay resilient. My identity has always felt very complex.”

Sahial’s parents were refugees from Afghanistan in the 1980s. She was raised in a multilingual household, speaking English, Dari and Pashto—a foundation she believes shaped her open mindedness and empathy towards others. 

“I hope to expand my community’s knowledge of what it means to be Asian American. Most people do not think of Central Asian countries when they think of AAPI Heritage Month, but we’re a part of the story too,” she said. 

She attributes her upbringing to her ability to be accepting of others and their cultures.

Sahial’s philosophy as a teacher is to ensure authenticity in her classroom, hoping that students will know to be understanding towards one another. She strives to make each student feel a sense of belonging, encouraging them to embrace who they are without feeling the need to be someone they are not.

“Growing up in the education system, I didn’t see a lot of people who wore a hijab. So, there was not a lot of representation around me,” she said. “Representation still feels rare, but I take pride in who I am and what I represent.” 

On May 7, Dallas ISD will celebrate National School Nurse Day, honoring dedicated nurses like Lorraine Michael, who has spent her career supporting the health and well-being of students for 23 years. 

Michael served as a school nurse at Ascher Silberstein Elementary School for 15 years before becoming a districtwide special needs nurse.

During her time at Silberstein, she said the most fulfilling part of her job was watching her patients grow up and having the opportunity to connect with their families. 

Since graduating from nursing school in 1983, Michael said she has had a fulfilling 42-year career rooted in compassion and professionalism. 

“I worked in a hospital. I worked in psychiatry, and I worked for an insurance company. I have done a lot of different things as a nurse,” she said. “But when I started school nursing, I really just fell in love with it.” 

Michael transitioned into school nursing to be present with her family and align with her son’s schedule.

“My advice to any nurse is to look at what your priorities are in life,’ she said. “If your priority is your family, the school setting is a terrific way to do that because you will be off of work when your child is off. You’re going to be able to spend more time with your child than you do when you’re working in a hospital.” 

Currently, Michael supports campus nurses in meeting special education requirements and preparing for admission, review and dismissal (ARD) meetings. She helps ensure nurses are administratively prepared to collaborate with parents and team members in reviewing students’ individualized education plans. 

She works with 47 schools across the district, training new nurses on the special education process, conducting vision and hearing screenings for students with special needs, and attending ARD meetings on behalf of the schools without an assigned nurse.

“Some days I may spend the whole day at my desk, but virtually I have been all over the district attending meetings for multiple schools,” she said.

Michael explains that her current role as a leader of district nurses is vastly different from her previous experience as a school nurse. 

“School nurses independently make decisions and assess the medical needs of students based on their medical knowledge,” she said. During her 14 years at Silberstein, Michael relied on her own medical knowledge to meet the day-to-day needs of the students. 

“So much of what I do now across the district is collaborative,” Michael said. “I am always working with someone else versus just doing things by myself. I go to meetings. I meet with nurses. There is a difference, and I enjoy getting out and interacting with more people.” 

Drawing from her experience in the field and now as a leader, Michael emphasized the importance of both independence and connection. She believes great school nurses have the ability to trust their judgment. Despite the busy schedule of a school nurse, Michael encourages them to step outside of their offices and engage with their campus.  

As the mother of a child with ADHD, her personal and professional lives intersect. She brings a unique perspective to her work while supporting new special education teachers across the district. 

“It takes a special kind of person to be able to see the potential in children that other people might write off,” Michael said. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting the special education teachers in the district now that I interact with them at so many different schools. They bring so much heart to their classroom. It’s amazing and it’s inspiring.” 

Teachers are the engine that makes schools run, and on the week May 5-9—National Teacher Appreciation Week—local and national businesses in the community are taking the time to thank them for all they do to make sure children have brighter futures. Some are concentrating their efforts on National Teacher Day, which takes place on May 6.

If you want to thank a teacher, the National PTA has created a special thank you card that can be downloaded here. 

Special offers for educators:

Whataburger is serving up a Whatasized “thank you” to the real MVPs of our communities—our amazing teachers. For the fourth year in a row, Whataburger is celebrating the everyday heroes who bring heart, hustle and a whole lot of care to the classroom—teachers can swing by from 5 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday for a free breakfast entrée. It’s Whataburger’s way of showing a little love for the big impact they make every single day. Whether they’re team Taquito with cheese, Breakfast on a Bun or all about that Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, educators and school staff can enjoy their choice of a free breakfast entrée by presenting a valid school ID when ordering for dine-in, drive-thru or takeout. This offer is available in-restaurant only—just swing by the counter or drive-thru at participating locations. This offer is not available at Whataburger.com or through the Whataburger App.

This year, SONIC® is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with a bundle of craveable rewards for educators who belong to the free SONIC Teachers’ Circle rewards program. On May 6, Teachers’ Circle members will receive an extra-large ‘thank you’ in the form of five separate rewards that can be redeemed for various FREE SONIC menu items.* SONIC Teachers’ Circle members can redeem the following delicious deals anytime between May 6 and May 20 with any qualifying purchase:* For more information, click here.

• Buy One SONIC Blast®, Get One Free
• Buy One Entree, Get One Free
• Free SONIC® Cheeseburger with any Purchase
• Free Large Drink or Slush with any Purchase
• Free Small Side with Entrée Purchase

SONIC Teachers’ Circle is a free rewards program exclusively for educators available through the SONIC App.** Any teacher, faculty or staff at a K-12 or degree-granting university can sign up for SONIC Teachers’ Circle in the SONIC App and start receiving exclusive rewards. To take advantage of these Teacher Appreciation Week offers, educators must sign up before May 6, when rewards become available.

RaceTrac is giving teachers registered with ID.me a FREE medium coffee every day during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-9.  To sign up, visit www.racetrac.com/Rewards/CommunityOffers.

DonorsChoose is encouraging teachers to sign up and create projects before May 5 to take advantage of numerous funding boosts and matching opportunities during #TeacherAppreciationWeek. ​Teachers bring hope, joy, and creativity to students every day. Now, it’s time to bring on the week and celebrate you!​ Submit your request for classroom resources today to join the celebration and make this week unforgettable.

Half Price Books gives teachers and all educators a 10% discount on all purchases year-round with the Educator Discount Card.

Michaels also appreciates teachers year-round a 15% discount on both in-store and online purchases after verifying your educator ID online through the Michaels Rewards program.

Apple offers an education discount on their products when purchased at their stores or online. 

By joining the Star Teacher program, Office Depot offers teachers 10% back in rewards on ink, toner, and paper, 1% back in rewards on nearly everything else, and a 15% instant discount from Design, Print, & Ship Depot™.

By enrolling in the Classroom Rewards program at Staples, teachers  can get 5% back on purchases.

If you’re planning to retire in 2025, you have the opportunity to get paid for unused local days. Dallas ISD is honoring team members’ dedicated service with the Retirement Service Award by giving them the chance to receive compensation for any unused local days accrued by June 15, 2025. 

How to qualify 

1. Enter your retirement date in Oracle Self-Service by May 1, 2025.
2. Complete your work days for the 2024-2025 school year.

Team members who have completed both steps, will see the payment for unused local days reflected in the July 15 paycheck. For more details, visit the Dallas ISD Benefits Retirement page or reach out to the Benefits Department at retirement@dallasisd.org or 972-925-4300.

Dallas ISD families will be able to join district and community mental health experts for a day of conversations, learning, resources, giveaways, and more on April 26 at the Empowering Families forum.

The keynote speaker will be The Defensive Line founder Martha Thomas who will share her family’s experience with the suicide of a child, tips on how to talk about suicide and mental health with youth, and resources available for parents. The forum marks the end of Stress Awareness Month in April and the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. 

The forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Emmett J. Conrad High School, 7502 Fair Oaks Ave., and is organized by Dallas ISD’s Mental Health Services and Parent Advocacy and Support Services to provide parents a safe space to discuss mental health topics and learn how to help their children deal with stress and other challenges. 

In addition to the keynote speaker, and the opportunity to take part in confidential conversations with Dallas ISD mental health professionals, parents will be able to attend small group sessions on topics, such as:  

• Anxiety and its effects on mental health
• Signs of depression and strategies to help
• Suicide awareness
• Power of parents—Dangers of underage substance use and abuse
• Parents Connecting
• Father to Son connections
• Supporting parents who are struggling

Interpretation will be available for those who need it in Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, and Pashto. Giveaways and refreshments will also be available for participants. 

When Dallas ISD announced that it acquired 17 electric school buses, Ansley Carlos, bus driver for both Solar Prep Schools and Dallas ISD alumna, never imagined she would be driving one. In fact, had you asked her if it were something she would be open to, she would have balked at the thought.  

“I just knew I wasn’t going to understand anything,” Carlos said. “I wanted nothing to do with it.” 

The district, however, had other plans for Carlos.  

Just this past January, Carlos received training in the safe operation of electric buses, including behind-the-wheel instruction and charging procedures. 

“Our team went through rigorous training by the vendor to ensure that they learned the ins and outs of driving an electric bus and how to charge them,” said Jazmin A. Harrison, executive director of Student Transportation Services. 

Carlos passed training and quickly became one of the “most versed individuals in electric vehicles,” according to Albert Brown, director of Student Transportation Services. Although Carlos is merely following proper procedures and protocol, Brown believes this is all anyone needs to adapt to the novelty of electric vehicles over time.  

“The EV is more complex than diesel-fueled buses, but Ms. Ansley was able to pick up on it quickly,” he said.  

In addition to their eco-friendly designs—including lower noise pollution and emissions-free operation—the new buses provide a smoother driving experience. Particularly, Carlos notes that she does not need to apply much pressure to the brakes before bringing the bus to a complete stop.

“You’re not stomping on the brakes as much as you do in a diesel bus,” she said. 

Students—and even some parents—have remarked how much more comfortable electric buses are than their diesel counterparts. 

Carlos is one of approximately 30 district employees, including substitute drivers, who are trained to operate the electric buses. The initiative’s first phase focused on drivers already on the shortest routes. 

“We were strategic about identifying the routes with the fewer miles traveled per day,” Harrison said. “We had to prioritize safety and take Dallas weather into consideration.” 

The purpose is to track energy consumption and range capacity. In other words, how long can the buses be on the road before they need to be recharged? The buses collect data to “learn,” so to speak, how much energy is needed to complete a run, Brown said. Depending on the results, the district will explore the possibility of extending their use to meet other transportation needs. 

Already, Harrison said, the buses are serving to transport students to field trips.   

While Carlos is pleased with her overall driving experience, she points out that one downside is ensuring the battery does not run completely flat. With an approximate 200-mile range, forgetting to recharge the buses could leave drivers stranded and disrupt services. Moreover, speeding, too, can drain battery life swiftly.  

Carlos acknowledges a further advantage of driving electric buses: the quiet engine allows her to pay closer attention to her charges, especially those with special needs.

“If they’re in trouble, I’ll know,” she said. 

In the meantime, she does not foresee an about-face regarding her newly found preference for electric buses. 

“I don’t want to go back to diesel,” she admitted. “This morning I had to drive a diesel because my EV is in the shop, and I was very confused. I kept looking for the buttons.”   

The electric buses are currently stationed at Lawnview Service Center. The district is planning to equip more service centers with charging capabilities in the coming years.