Central Staff News

November is Native American Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions, history and culture of the indigenous people of the United States. Dallas ISD is commemorating the month by sharing a series of documentaries and films from Chickasaw Nation Productions.

In 1990, The U.S. Congress passed a resolution designating November as the first National American Indian Heritage Month to honor the members of the members of the more than 574 federally recognized tribal nations that govern an estimated 100 million acres of indigenous land. This year, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation praising the contributions of native people in the advancement of the United States, including the Code Talkers of World War II. To read the full proclamation, click here.

The Chickasaw Nation Productions films can be viewed by clicking on their respective links below:

BEARER OF THE MORNING: THE LIFE OF TE ATA THOMPSON FISHER (Documentary)—Born in small-town Oklahoma, Mary Thompson Fisher, later known as “Te Ata,” was determined to pursue her passion as a performer. Supported by her undeniable charisma and oratorical talent, Te Ata entertained and enlightened audiences across the world, including royalty and statesmen. Throughout her travels and performances, Te Ata kept her Chickasaw heritage close to heart and shared the unique story and spirit of the Chickasaw people. By studying and performing traditional Native American stories, she overturned negative stereotypes and advocated the preservation of Indigenous American cultures.

First Encounter (Documentary)—First Encounter explores the actions taken by Chickasaws in 1540 during their first contact with Europeans. The documentary highlights the encounters, struggles and perseverance of the Chickasaw people throughout Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s attempted conquest. It was the first European contact for the Chickasaw, but perhaps the most important and set the standard by which the tribe remained for centuries and remains today – “unconquered and unconquerable.”

Pearl Carter Scott: On Top of the World (Documentary)—The story of Native American aviatrix Pearl Carter Scott.

Pearl (Movie)—Set in 1920s rural Oklahoma, Pearl is based on the remarkable true story of Chickasaw aviatrix, Pearl Carter Scott –the youngest licensed pilot in American history. Mentored by world-renowned aviator Wiley Post, Pearl first pilots a plane at the age of 12 and becomes a commercial pilot and local celebrity before she reaches adulthood.

Te Ata (Movie)—This movie is based on the inspiring, true story of Mary Thompson Fisher, a woman who traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest First American performers of all time. Born in Indian Territory and raised on the songs and stories of her Chickasaw culture, Te Ata’s journey to find her true calling led her through isolation, discovery, love and a stage career that culminated in performances for a United States president, European royalty and audiences across the world. Yet, of all the stories she shared, none is more inspiring than her own.

While all Dallas ISD staff have been working hard to ensure students have all they need to succeed despite the challenges of the pandemic, the more than 300 nurses and assistant nurses throughout the district have been directly working to ensure the safety of staff and students.

In addition to their usual duties of administering care at the schools and making sure students’ medical records are up-to-date, school nurses have been demonstrating their commitment to Dallas ISD’s Core 4 culture tenets on the frontline of the pandemic. They have administered COVID tests at their campuses, coordinated quarantine, and scheduling vaccine clinics to make it easier for students and staff to get vaccinated.

Their efforts—transforming student lives and striving for the yes with urgency for all—were recently recognized with at Core 4 care package to say thank you. Health Services staff came together to put the thank you packages together and deliver them to the nurses.

“Nurses have always played a crucial role in the health and well-being of our campuses, but for the past few months, they have taken on so much more and have done an admirable job of holding the line against the virus,” said Jennifer Finley, executive director of Health Services. “Dallas ISD has not seen the numbers of COVID cases this fall that other districts have in great part due to the work of our wonderful nurses—they have been Core 4 all the way, and we are all grateful.”

As Dallas ISD continues to recover from the challenges of the pandemic, the safety, well-being and retention of the district’s highly qualified staff is a priority. A retention incentive for all eligible staff—whether campus-based or central—will be implemented for the 2022-2023 school year.

ESSER funds will be leveraged to fund the retention incentive.

Staff who return for the 2022-2023 school year would be eligible to receive the retention incentive, which would be included in employees’ paychecks in three installments. The first installment—$500— would be paid in September to welcome staff back to the new school year. The rest of the retention incentive would be included in the December and May paychecks. Part-time employees are also eligible to receive the incentive, and the amount will be prorated to their position. For example, an employee who is .5 would get half the corresponding incentive while a .75 position would get 3/4 of the corresponding incentive.

“In a competitive market, this retention incentive will not only help us keep the outstanding staff who have been working tirelessly for our students this year but will also give us an advantage in recruiting staff to fill existing vacancies in our campuses and departments,” said Robert Abel, acting chief of Human Capital Management. “We know everyone from teachers to maintenance and bus drivers have been giving it their all to help create a learning environment in which our students can be successful, and we wanted to recognize their efforts and tell them they are valued.”

For those employees who are part of an excellence initiative, the total amount of the incentive will be based on their upcoming earned 2022-2023 effectiveness level (TEI, PEI, APEI, EDEI) or 2021-2022 CSEI evaluation rating. (See chart for retention incentive by effectiveness level and CSEI evaluation rating.)

To accommodate changes in assignments and salary schedules, employees who receive a promotion for the 2022-2023 school year and have no effectiveness level or CSEI evaluation rating in the new position will receive a retention incentive tied to their prior effectiveness level CSEI evaluation rating. For example, if a Proficient III assistant principal becomes a principal in an elementary school for the 2022-2023 school year, the incentive would apply to the previous position’s earned effectiveness level.

For eligible staff who are not on an excellence initiative the amount of the incentive will be the same across the board.

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Conforme Dallas ISD continúa recuperándose de los efectos de la pandemia, la seguridad, bienestar y retención de nuestro personal altamente calificado es una prioridad. El distrito implementará un incentivo de retención para empleados—ya sea que estén basados en las escuelas o sean parte del área central—para el año escolar 2022-2023.

Los fondos de ESSER serán utilizados para pagar este incentivo de retención de empleados.

El personal que regrese para el año escolar 2022-2023 recibiría este incentivo de retención de empleados, el cual se incluirá en los pagos de salario de los empleados en tres entregas. La primera—de $500—se incluiría con el pago de salario de septiembre para dar la bienvenida al personal al año escolar. El resto del incentivo se incluiría en los pagos de salario de diciembre y de mayo. Los empleados de medio tiempo o tiempo parcial también podrán recibir el incentivo de retención de empleados aunque la cantidad dependerá de las horas de su posición. Por ejemplo, un empleado cuya posición es .5 recibirá la mitad de la cantidad correspondiente mientras que un empleado cuya posición sea .75, recibirá 3/4 de la cantidad de incentivo correspondiente.

“En un mercado tan competitivo como el que tenemos, este incentivo de retención no solo nos ayudará a conservar en el distrito el excelente personal con que ya contamos y que ha estado trabajando arduamente por nuestros estudiantes, sino que también nos proporcionará una ventaja al reclutar empleados para las vacantes que tenemos en nuestras escuelas y oficinas centrales”, dijo Robert Abel, jefe en funciones de Human Capital Management. “Sabemos que todos, desde maestros hasta empleados de mantenimiento y choferes de autobús, han estado dando todo de si mismos para crear un ambiente de aprendizaje en el que nuestros estudiantes puedan tener éxito y queremos reconocer sus esfuerzos y decirles que los valoramos”.

Para aquellos empleados que son parte de una iniciativa de excelencia, el total del incentivo dependerá del nivel de efectividad que hayan recibido para el año 2022-2023 (TEI, PEI, APEI, EDEI) o el rango en la evaluación CSEI del 2021-2022. (Vea la tabla de datos arriba para la cantidad del incentivo por nivel de efectividad o rango de evaluación de CSEI.)

Teniendo en cuenta cambios en posiciones y salarios, los empleados que hayan recibido una promoción para el año escolar 2022-2023 y no tengan nivel de efectividad o rango de evaluación en CSEI en su nuevo puesto recibirán el incentivo que corresponda a su nivel o rango previo. Por ejemplo, un asistente de director que sea Proficient III y que sea promovido a director en una escuela primaria para el año 2022-2023 recibirá el incentivo de retención que corresponde al nivel de efectividad recibido en su puesto anterior.

Para los empleados que llenan los requisitos y que no son parte de una iniciativa de excelencia, la cantidad del incentivo de retención de empleados será la misma.

El incentivo de retención no contará para propósitos de TRS y estará sujeto a retención de impuestos.

The Assessment Department has created videos detailing how to navigate the embedded tools and accommodations within the STAAR Online Practice Test. Students should have multiple opportunities to become familiar and comfortable with the online testing platform prior to the STAAR testing window and are encourage to explore the practice test at least four times before the upcoming testing dates.

• Cambium Tools Tutorial #1: Setting Preferences Link: https://youtu.be/3z6oEnb5VnU
• Cambium Tools Tutorial #2: Navigating the Student Interface Link: https://youtu.be/ZlHqgDW2uAg
• Cambium Tools Tutorial #3: Global and Context Tools Link:  https://youtu.be/8B3S_TWL848
• Cambium Tools Tutorial #4: Content and Language Supports Link:  https://youtu.be/9MIvzpa-SUo

Timeline for upcoming STAAR testing:

• Prior to Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 – December EOC Re-testers should have
• Prior to Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 – December EOC Re-testers should have multiple opportunities to explore the STAAR tutorials before testing.
• Prior to Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 – Emergent Bilingual students should have
• Prior to Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 – Emergent Bilingual students should have multiple opportunities to explore both the STAAR and TELPAS tutorials.
• Prior to Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 – ALL students should have multiple opportunities to explore the STAAR tutorials in preparation for STAAR Field Tests.

STAAR and TELPAS online tutorials/practice test links

• Practice Test Login (Click Sign In < select grade level < select test < choose
• Practice Test Login (Click Sign In < select grade level < select test < choose settings < click begin)

Guide to Cambium Practice Tests for STAAR and TELPAS

Akash Patel, who teaches Spanish at Ignite Middle School, was recently elected to the highest office in the country for foreign language teachers. Patel will serve the next three years as president-elect, president and immediate past president of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Patel’s main focus will be on addressing the foreign language teacher shortage. In his role as leader of the national organization, he will advocate for equitable access to foreign language certification, support the teaching of multiple languages in elementary school, and address state legislatures to push for foreign language teacher representation in the states’ educational agencies.

Patel is in his fifth year in Dallas ISD and his seventh teaching. Originally from India, he speaks six languages and has visited over 60 countries. His passion is connecting students with others from around the world and creating empathetic global citizens. In 2018, after the passing of his twin brother, Anand “Happy” Patel, he and Dallas ISD’s World Languages Director Amy Anderton created the nonprofit Happy World Foundation Inc. to promote global citizenship education, cross-cultural understanding and citizen-to-citizen diplomacy in schools and communities worldwide.

For more information about ACTFL, please visit www.ACTFL.org.

During its regular monthly briefing, which takes place earlier this month because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Board of Trustees will consider several items and reports from district departments. Under consideration this month are name changes for several schools as well as several reports.

Superintendent’s Report:

• ESSER Progress – Group 1B Activities
• Extra-Curricular Progress
• iLearn Prep
• Operation Connectivity
• Central Staff Excellence Initiative
• Operation Comeback

Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Quarterly Report, FY 2021-2022, Quarter 1

Consider and Take Possible Action to Authorize, Negotiate and Enter Into Agreements with Recommended Pool of Vendors for Early Learning Home Visiting Programs and Services for Districtwide Use (Not to Exceed $5,000,000 Over Five Years Including Renewal Options / General Operating/Special Revenue/Bond Funds)

Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Waiver to Board Policy CW (LOCAL) and Approval of the Renaming of Herbert Marcus Elementary School to Marcus Leadership Academy

Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Waiver to Board Policy CW (LOCAL) and Approval of the Renaming of Julius Dorsey Elementary School to Julius Dorsey Leadership Academy

Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Waiver to Board Policy CW (LOCAL) and Approval of the Renaming of Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School to Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy.

Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Waiver to Board Policy CW (LOCAL) and Approval of the Renaming of Oliver W. Holmes Humanities Communications Academy to John Lewis Social Justice Academy at Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Waiver to Board Policy CW (LOCAL) and the Naming of a Future Site Currently Referenced as the Downtown Project that will House Multiple Schools to be Named Nolan Estes Plaza

Throughout her 24-year career at Rosemont Elementary School, art teacher Kellie Lawson has built invaluable partnerships with local art institutions that further her students’ experience. She has even mentored a student who later became an art teacher at her own campus.

Lawson teaches every single fourth- and fifth-grade student at Rosemont Lower, and every middle school student at Rosemont Upper who chooses visual arts as an elective returns to her classroom.

“I don‘t think I’ve ever met a child who didn’t love making some kind of art at some point,” she said. “Art connects with every subject. Art reflects what’s going on in history. Art and mathematics go hand in hand. There are so many great fields where students can use their love and knowledge of art and their artistic ability to work and do well. I really try for my students to make that connection.”

For middle school, she teaches Foundations and Studio Art, where students practice various forms of art, from sketching and design projects to ceramics and sculpture. Lawson’s class serves as a good foundation for students who continue working on improving their visual arts skills and fine arts in high school.

The Texas Art Education Association—an organization that focuses on promoting quality visual arts education in Texas— recently awarded Dallas ISD the TAEA District of Distinction award, which recognizes districts for outstanding leadership in promoting the arts in their district and community. Every year, Lawson’s sixth- through eighth-grade students participate in the TAEA’s Junior Visual Arts Scholastic Event, where students showcase and explain their work to judges and compete against other talented young artists.

“This is a tremendous recognition of the talented student and teacher artists throughout the Dallas ISD. Designation as a TAEA District of Distinction places Dallas ISD’s Visual Arts program in the top 4% of school districts in the state,” said Tim Linley, executive director of Academic Enrichment & Support for Dallas ISD. “Our school district is the largest one, by far, to have earned this recognition. Here in Dallas, we’ve always known that our student and teacher artists are simply the best. Now the rest of the state knows it, too!”

A pillar of the community

After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s in architecture, Lawson worked as an architectural designer. In 1997, she was working part-time out of her home and was also volunteering as PTA president at Rosemont, where her two children went to school.

The Rosemont art teacher at the time had to move to another state, and the principal asked Lawson if she could sub. She decided to volunteer, and after falling in love with the job, she earned her teaching certificate and has been teaching at Rosemont ever since.

“I have students whose parents were in my art club, way back when I first started,” she said. “But, by far, the most impactful moment was when a third-grade teacher who started with us last year came to visit me in my classroom when he was interviewing. I have some pictures of him when he was acting goofy, wearing a box on his head, and having fun in my art club. His students think it’s so funny that, like them, he was a kid at Rosemont!”

When she first started teaching, she had the opportunity to feature her students’ work at the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. From that point forward, her students’ work was featured in the building every year. And when the original building changed ownership, she spoke with the managers of the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, which agreed to hold a yearly exhibit of student work.

Rosemont has also developed an important partnership with the Nasher Sculpture Center. The museum tailored a program for Lawson’s students called GROW, where a group of second-grade students visit the sculpture center together, multiple times, until fifth grade.

“I live in the neighborhood,” Lawson said. “I live five minutes away from Rosemont. It’s my community. I’ve been in North Oak Cliff since 1985, and now I’m seeing this new wave of kids of my former students. It’s great!”

Robert Abel has been named acting chief of Human Capital Management. As deputy chief of HCM, he has overseen several areas of Dallas ISD’s human resources, such as central and campus staffing, employee relations, benefits, HRIS, background checks, certification, employee records, and substitutes. Abel has also served as one of the leads in the district’s ESSER Implementation and Improvement Committee, overseeing the allocation of millions in federal funds. Abel brings more than 20 years of experience in education to his role as acting chief.

During his four-year tenure with the district, Abel has served on a variety of local and regional committees and task forces. Prior to coming to Dallas ISD, Abel was division director of High Schools/Support Services at Irving ISD, where he supervised all aspects of the district’s five high schools, newcomer center, alternative education programs, career development center, and other areas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Education from The University of Texas at Arlington.

Abel steps in as acting chief upon the recent retirement of Cynthia Wilson, who has served as chief of Human Capital Management for Dallas ISD for several years.

In Dallas ISD, we transform student lives, we have urgency for all, we strive for the yes, and we make memorable moments. These phrases make up the district’s organizational culture and guide the everyday tasks and actions of our work.

Whether it’s working with families to help them help their students be successful or assisting another department or school in resolving an issue, the district’s organizational culture—based on principles of customer service—provide a guide for behavior and expectations.

When it comes to students, in Dallas ISD we believe that students thrive, and every child, family, and employee is essential. We are solely concerned with what matters most—supporting students’ academic growth and overall well-being. That means communicating with parents and guardians about their students’ progress and providing support for families so they can be part of the student success team.

Whether providing a safe ride to school, nutritious meals, or ensuring access to benefits, timely information and competitive compensation, in Dallas ISD, we will do whatever it takes to meet the needs of our students, families and employees,

This can be accomplished with a sense of urgency, which means that whether we work on a campus or in central administration, we are responsive, accurate and accountable to each other. We seek timely solutions for all that support the district’s goals, mission and vision.

By working every day under our organizational culture to build respectful relationships grounded in professional communication, embracing the positive and expecting the best of each other, we can achieve the district’s vision and mission of being a premier urban school district that educates all students for success.

We are getting closer to the end of the year and the issuance of W-2s. Dallas ISD recommends that employees set up their W-2 form to be retrieved online.

This is faster and more secure than receiving a paper form, especially considering recent delays in mail delivery service. The guidelines to update your delivery for the form can be found on the Payroll Services website under Resources.

If you are already set up for online delivery, there is no need to do anything. You will be notified via email as soon as the forms are ready for access.

If you need help in updating your Oracle preferences, please send an email to notifypayroll@dallasisd.org and make sure you include the request in the subject box. Also include your contact information so you can receive the assistance you need.