Central Staff News

Three Dallas ISD schools are among only 26 in Texas nominated for the 2020 National Blue Ribbon School award: Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College High School, and Edward Titche Elementary School.

The U.S. Department of Education awards the Blue Ribbon recognition to schools where students perform at very high levels or where exemplary progress is being made toward closing achievement gaps.

Edward Titche Elementary School
Titche Elementary Principal Damien Stovall said he is still in disbelief about the Blue Ribbon nomination. After constantly being rated as one of the state’s lowest-performing campuses and facing closure in 2017, Titche Elementary underwent a tremendous transformation.

“To go on this incredible journey with our amazing students, staff and parents is not something I can put into words,” Stovall said. “We are changing the mindset not just of this school, but of the entire community.”

Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College High School
Lassiter ECHS earned its second Blue Ribbon nomination in six years. Principal Michael St. Ama said the Blue Ribbon nomination is a testament to the school’s culture and community support.

“This group of students is so motivated to work hard and be successful, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “We push our teaching and our focus to ensure our students achieve on the highest level.”

Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy
Longfellow Principal Lorena Hernandez said the school, which last earned a Blue Ribbon award in 2014, promotes student leadership at every opportunity.

“We are building leaders, not just students who excel at academics,” Hernandez said. “And this Blue Ribbon recognition lets our students, teachers, and families know that our commitment to excellence has paid off.”

Nominated schools must now complete a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education. Announcements of the national award winners will be made in September 2020. Schools that receive the award will be recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Looking at her family health history, Gaynel Jackson saw the writing on the wall, and a year ago decided to make heart healthy changes in her life.

Her father died at an early age from complications from diabetes, and her mother passed away suddenly. Several other relatives—including her grandparents and siblings—have diabetes or high blood pressure. Jackson, a certification coordinator with Dallas ISD Human Capital Management, knew that to avoid these serious health issues, she needed to make different choices.

While her cholesterol and blood pressure were within the acceptable range, both were one the high end and had been creeping up the past few years. Dieting had not been working for her, and last February during American Heart Health Month, she had an epiphany about what she needed to do.

“I had a wake-up call,” Jackson said. “I needed to lose weight. I needed to do something else. What I had been doing out there by myself wasn’t working.”

Jackson chose to join a doctor-led weight loss program, taking advantage of the convenience of the Flexible Spending Account offered as a benefit to district employees to cover the expenses. She met regularly with her doctor, learned about nutrition and exercise, and participated in group sessions for support and encouragement.

“It was the best investment I have made,” she said. “It kickstarted a whole new way of looking at how I eat, how I move. Now I think about everything I eat and the future effect it will have on me.”

In addition to making better food choices—like replacing the candy and sugary snacks on her desk with fresh fruit—she started walking several days a week for 15 minutes. She now walks for an hour at least three days a week and has started participating in the free Tuesday afternoon exercise sessions offered at the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building. Gone are the days of the 44-ounce sweet teas; she only drinks water.

While she has lost more than 40 pounds, her goal was never to simply lose weight. She wanted to be healthy—heart healthy. Her cholesterol and blood pressure are down, and she feels better and more energized.

“It has changed my whole world,” Jackson said. “I’m not dieting; it’s a whole lifestyle change. Little bitty changes in what you eat and how you move can transform you.”

Jackson will be wearing red Friday, Feb. 14, to show her support for American Heart Health Month and to encourage others to think about their food and lifestyle choices, too.

Keep up with your blood pressure

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, but 80 percent of heart attacks and strokes are preventable. To raise awareness about heart health Dallas ISD Benefits and Health Services departments are teaming up to offer free blood pressure screenings for staff in the lobby of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building:

• Feb. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Feb. 27 from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

For questions, contact Benefits at (972) 925-4300.

School counselors have a tremendous impact on helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

That is why the American School Counselor Association has designated Feb. 3-7 as National School Counseling Week. The week is meant to focus public attention on the unique contributions of school counselors within U.S. school systems. School counselors are helping students become better humans, every day. Thank your counselor today #schoolcounselor #NSCW2020.

To learn more about National School Counseling Week, visit www.schoolcounselor.org/nscw.

By introducing Let’s Talk!, Dallas ISD is launching a new way for community members and staff to engage with the district. Let’s Talk! is an online customer service and communication tool that is now available on the district’s website.

Through Let’s Talk! anyone can submit a question, comment, concern, suggestion or compliment 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any device connected to the internet and receive a prompt response. The goal of Let’s Talk! is to build stronger relationships, identify opportunities for engagement, and spot potential concerns before they occur. Let’s Talk! also offers unique features to help the district improve its customer service.

In the first phase of the Let’s Talk! rollout, community and staff will be able to connect with Student Transportation Services, Enrollment, the Call Center, Parent Advocacy and Support Services, Special Populations, and Bilingual ESL Parents. Connecting with these departments to get answers is just a click away.

To address such topics as paychecks, short pay, payroll benefits, PTO, vacation, compensation, contracts, benefits and more, staff can click on the Call Center.

Central staff have access to a variety of sessions for professional growth during February. All sessions are available through Cornerstone.

The 5 Languages of Workplace Appreciation—In today’s workplace, it is crucial for employees to feel valued. Join us to learn more effective ways to show appreciation.

Multiple Generations at Work—This session will identify the multiple generations in the workplace and formulate a better understanding of their specific needs and motivations. Language skills to effectively communicate and collaborate will be discussed.

Results Focused Leadership: Developing People and Feedback—Effective development and feedback are management tools that yield results whether you are a new or an experienced leader.

Ignite and Unleash Potential Through Talent Conversations—If done effectively, talent conversations play a vital role in engaging employees and influencing their performance and development.  This session will provide tools to prepare for and facilitate effective talent conversations.

Because all learning is social and emotional, the Social and Emotional Learning department is offering multiple professional development sessions for credit during the spring.

Session topics for the spring include Culturally Responsive Teaching, Self-Care, Question Formulation Technique, and Creating an Engagement Intervention Plan. For session descriptions and to formally register, staff is encouraged to visit Cornerstone. Don’t forget your laptop.

The professional development sessions are offered as part of the work the SEL department does to build the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that both students and adults need to be successful in school, work, and life. They include things such as knowing and controlling your emotions, teamwork, understanding others, making positive choices, and resilience.

The SEL team directly supports approximately 150 campuses with building positive relationships, implementing engaging student practices, and creating opportunities for social and emotional learning for both students and adults.

If you have questions about the training, contact Kevin Kerr at kkerr@dallasisd.org or (972) 925-8951.  For more information about the sessions, download the flyer or visit Cornerstone.

A difficult customer can rattle even the most patient and composed employee. Learning how to effectively work through these somewhat exasperating interactions will give you the confidence and ability to resolve almost any issue.

Be mindful. Customers may be difficult to deal with for several reasons that have nothing to do with you. They may be upset because something was mishandled, frustrated about a delay in handling a request, impatient with the response time, or maybe they are simply having a bad day. You just happen to be the person standing in front of them at that time. We have all been there. Regardless of the reason he or she is upset, how you handle the situation can determine whether the customer remains a customer.

When a customer complains, look at it as an opportunity to improve. It’s not always easy to know what to say or how to handle customers who are upset, but here are four key steps to start with:

1. Remain calm and composed—take a deep breath, smile, and then respond.
2. Assure the customer you are here to help.
3. Listen carefully with empathy.
4. Stay positive, and don’t take it personally.

The next time you come face to face with a challenging customer—and you will—use these Core 4 steps to help gain and maintain control of the situation for a better resolution.

Heart disease claims the lives of 2,200 people each day—making it the leading killer of Americans. That is why during February, American Heart Month, people are encouraged to take steps to improve their heart health.

Studies have shown that 80 percent of cardiovascular disease may be preventable with education and action. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big impact when it comes to heart health. Show your heart some love by practicing these three tips:

• Stop smoking–One year after you quit, you cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50 percent.
• Get active–Walking 30 minutes a day can lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
• Eat smart–Adding salmon, nuts, berries and oats—a few of the heart “superfoods”—may help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

Another way to fight heart disease is to be aware of the symptoms of heart attack and stroke:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest. Most often, it starts slowly with mild pain or discomfort.

Shortness of breath. This can occur with or without chest discomfort and may involve coughing or wheezing.

Other possible signs of a heart attack or stroke may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Support heart health awareness by wearing red on Friday, Feb. 14. Visit the American Heart Association webpage at https://www.heart.org/ to learn more.

Sleek, modern furniture, inviting art and a popular salad bar greet staff and visitors at the newly inaugurated Café @ 9400.

While the café—located in the lobby of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building— currently has some of the same choices as the food cart it replaced last week, it will eventually offer visitors a variety of hot and cold entrees for breakfast and lunch.

The café is expected to house a working kitchen and a chef. It will also have a component that connects what students are learning in the classroom with a real-life experiences, said Michael Rosenberger, executive director of Food and Child Nutrition Services, which runs the café.

FCNS is partnering with schools to use vegetables grown at campuses in the café, he said. It will also provide students in culinary arts programs real-life experience by having intern in the café. For staff, the café is a place where they can eat, take a break, and recharge their devices.

“We want you to come here, be happy, have amazing healthy food and amazing beverages, and have a moment to relax,” Rosenberger said.

More than 1,700 students from 125 schools embraced their inner trolls to tap into their creative thinking and problem-solving skills for the Student Activities Destination Imagination Winter Blitz Workshop earlier this month.

Students and their sponsors—with the help of the Student Activities staff “trolls”—came together for a day of fun and experimentation in preparation for the regional, state and global competitions. The 215 Dallas ISD teams used everyday materials with imagination, creativity and bold choices to conquer challenges.

The workshop teaches team members to work cooperatively in practice for the competitions, said Angie Nuno, coordinator in Student Activities.

Destination Imagination incorporates creative thinking, hands-on problem solving, the arts, engineering and teamwork in a nurturing environment.

“The Winter Blitz Workshop is always an exciting and fun event for Student Activities,” Nuno said. “It provides an opportunity for students to explore their creativity with instant challenges that force them to solve problems using their imagination.”

More than 300 teams from Dallas ISD schools are expected to compete at the Dallas Regional Destination Imagination Tournament to be held Feb. 29 at Emmett J. Conrad High School.

“With one of the largest DI programs in Texas, Dallas ISD always has more than 25 teams qualify for the state competition,” said Sharla Hudspeth, director of Student Activities. “The DI program has grown tremendously over the years because it motivates our students to seek solutions to life challenges, working together as a team.”

Watch a video of the Winter Blitz Workshop.