Central Staff News

Katrina Phillips has been the sponsor for Skyline High School’s Common Cents campaign for the last six years, but this year was a special one for her and the school. The Skyline students who participated in the program raised a record almost $15,000 for several area nonprofits.

“It is inspiring to watch the kids because they take the lead on it,” said Phillips, Student Senate sponsor and government teacher. “Over the time the raise the money, their lives change, your life changes. It’s a competitive process, but it’s also about charity and giving to others.”

While the schools that participate in Common Cents raise money in different ways, Skyline taps into its homecoming court to raise the money among family and friends. Each student who wants to run for a homecoming court position must raise at least $100, but some go well beyond that minimum—senior Princess Fulcher raised more than $6,500.

“These are amazing kids,” Phillips said. “More than one of these students takes at least three Advanced Placement classes, participate in athletics, are in clusters and academies, and several have jobs where they work more than 20 hours a week.”

This year, the 37 schools that participated in Common Cents—a program that has been in the district for more than 20 years—raised almost $51,000 for 44 nonprofits in the community, which ranged from animal rescue organizations and physical and mental health advocacy agencies to those that offer legal immigration assistance and help for victims of domestic violence. The handed the checks to the nonprofits at a special ceremony Feb. 25.

Another group of students who stood out this year were the Common Cents participants at Thomas Jefferson High School. Despite the challenges they have faced this year after their school was damaged in October by a tornado and they were displaced to West Dallas, the students raised $450 for outlastyouth.org, a nonprofit that helps LGBTQ homeless youth.

“After the experiences with the tornado, how it affected us and how many people came to help us, the least we could do was stay focused on our goal and give back and impact the world,” said senior Marysol Ortega.

To grow its own leadership capacity, Dallas ISD is offering a “Grow Your Own” College Fair for central and campus staff who would like to start or complete a college degree either to become a teacher or advance their career in the district.

The fair is designed for those interested in learning how to complete degree requirements to finish a bachelor’s degree, how to gain a master’s degree in education or business, how to become a certified, credentialed teacher in the State of Texas, how each different program offers a unique pathway depending on qualifications, and how to access financial aid.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. representatives from Dallas County Community College District, Ana G. Mendez University, the University of North Texas at Dallas, Texas Tech University, and TeachDFW will be on-site to talk about those subjects and answer individual questions.

TeachDFW will give away two $250 scholarships to staff who register for and attend the event. You can register here.

These higher education institutions also will offer presentations and host breakout sessions where others will share their experiences obtaining a degree.

The college fair will take place in the lobby of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building, 9400 N. Central Expressway.

For questions, email joslopez@dallasisd.org.

Families can register now for the Saturday, March 7, Read for Me literacy event.

In addition to enjoying an international festival celebrating diverse cultures through activities, tasty snacks, and performances, families will get free books from the more than 10,000 that will be given away at this interactive, multi-cultural literacy experience. Read for Me is designed to instill a love for books and reading in students, parents, and community members.

Read for Me will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at W.H. Adamson High School, located at 309 E. 9th St. In addition to the book giveaways and activities, families will enjoy free breakfast and lunch. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in traditional cultural attire. Register for free today.

Thanks to the Charles Schwab Foundation, teachers on Donors Choose can take advantage of a 2X match on all donations to financial literacy projects. That means a $20 donation will become a $40 donation.

DonorsChoose.org is approved and recommended for use by staff, and all district donations processes and policies apply, including those for technology and fixed assets.

How teachers can qualify for the match offer:

• Create a project requesting financial literacy resources for students.
• Keep total project goal under $600, including taxes, shipping, fees, and the suggested donation to support DonorsChoose.
• Select Financial Literacy as their subject area, which can be found under the “Math & Science” category.
• Teachers may post multiple projects for this Match Offer; however, they can only receive up to $3,000 in matched donations across projects.

Dallas ISD staff are working to stay heart healthy, and they shared some of what they are doing through last week’s poll in The Beat.

“Stairmaster! And lots of pacing around my classroom.”

Eating right and joining a gym were also popular responses. Others included meditation, prayer and keeping a positive attitude to keep their hearts healthy.

Others have made big life changes.

“I’m trying my best to have a better heart’” one staff member shared. “I have completely changed my lifestyle by forming better and healthier eating habits; being more active!”

Another quit smoking and now tires to “get in 5-10 miles of brisk walking weekly. I eat lots of vegetables, fruit and small amounts of meat (try to avoid dairy and sugar. Try.”

Keeping track of blood pressure levels is also a healthy heart habit.

According to studies from the National Institutes of Health, about one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, but many don’t realize it. Great news: high blood pressure is preventable and treatable. Early diagnosis and simple, healthy lifestyle changes can make a difference.

Blood pressure is affected by time of day, exercise, the foods you eat, stress, and other factors, so it can vary. But most current guidelines, according to the NIH, recommend aiming for a systolic pressure below 140.

If you are wondering about your blood pressure, the Benefits and Health Services departments have teamed up to offer blood pressure screenings from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the lobby of the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building.

Dallas ISD teachers, instructional coaches, counselors and media specialists who meet certain guidelines can accept a position at another campus for the following school year during the open transfer period.

Starting March 6, Human Capital Management will begin accepting principal recommendations. Eligible employees must apply online using their EAD login at www.dallasisd.org/careers using the internal openings link. Employees who do not apply will not be eligible to participate. The deadline for principals to submit a recommendation for the open transfer period is 11 :59 p.m. April 10.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for an open transfer, employees must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a valid Texas Teacher Certificate in the requested subject-area vacancy and meet TEA/SBEC Certification Standards for the position
• Must not be on a growth plan or have an unsatisfactory rating on the most current evaluation
• Must not be entering their fourth year of an Alternative Certification Program
• Must not be identified for non-renewal at the end of the current school year due to performance and/or misconduct
• For instructional coaches only—must receive approval from recommending campus executive director

Human Capital Management will send email notifications of approval/denial throughout the open transfer period. These notifications will be sent to the employee along with the current and receiving principal. Transfers are not final until an approval email notification has been sent from Human Capital Management. All notifications will be completed by April 24.

Starting April 11, transfers will need to follow the administrative transfer guidelines. If you have any questions about the open transfer process, please contact HCM at (972) 925-4200 or humancapitalmanagement@dallasisd.org.

Volunteers and partners enrich the educational experience of students in schools throughout the district. April—National Volunteer Appreciation Month—is a great time to celebrate and thank them.

The district will recognize the many partners and volunteers who provide support and services to our schools, teachers and students District Volunteer and Partners Awards Program at the end of April.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

• Volunteer of the Year for Student Support
• Volunteer of the Year for Classroom Support
• Volunteer of the Year for School Support
• Outstanding Business Partner
• Outstanding Non-Profit Partner
• Outstanding Faith Based Partner
• Outstanding P-TECH Industry Partner (Collegiate Academies Only)

But we need your input. The deadline to submit all nominations is Monday, March 2.

Nominations forms are available in a fillable pdf and Microsoft Word format which can be accessed at Volunteer and Partner Nominations Forms.  Go to the file named VPS Nomination Forms and click on the triangle.  Attached is a listing of criteria for each award to assist in completing the nomination.

Additional information if available from Partnership and Volunteer Services at (972) 925-5440, volunteer@dallasisd.org or partners@dallasisd.org.

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.