Central Staff News

Dallas ISD’s Racial Equity Office is starting a series of community conversations across the district so stakeholders can share concerns about inequities within Dallas ISD and partner with the district to effect changes.

The first community conversation will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at L.G. Pinkston High School.

The Racial Equity Office also will host a series of film and theater showings throughout the school year. The aim of the series is to host conversations related to racial, socioeconomic and educational inequities for students, families and community members. Attendees will watch a movie or theater production followed by a discussion led by students of the youth chapters of the League of United Latin American Citizens and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The goal is to encourage participants to engage in sometimes uncomfortable discussions that challenge their thoughts, beliefs and perspectives.

The film/theater series will launch at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy with the Cara Mia Theater production of “Ursula,” a play about the journey of a 7-year-old girl separated from her mother after seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. As she waits for her asylum request to be processed, she reflects on the difficulties she is leaving behind in Honduras and the new reality she is facing. This showing is intended for audiences 12 years and older.

First impressions are mental snapshots we take when encountering a person for the first time. Those snapshots are based on how we act, talk, dress, and how we present ourselves. By today’s standards, anyone who has all of these components working together in their favor are often seen as having the “it” factor. For celebrities, it’s what helps them build their fan base or followers. For everyday employees, it’s what we embody that helps us make a good first impression with customers, internally and externally.

People may not remember the color of your shirt or the exact words you say, but they will remember your attitude and how you present yourself. Projecting a positive attitude and presentation is a sure way to make a good and long-lasting impression.

Take a quick “it” factor self-assessment:

• Positive demeanor—are you courteous and friendly in your approach?
• Positive image—does the way you dress reflect success and pride in yourself and your job or is a makeover needed?
• Positive focus—do your actions show that you are committed to doing great work that is effective and helps accomplish the goal?
• Positive approach—do you demonstrate a genuine willingness to find a solution to help your customer, or, at the very least, work toward the best solution?

The fastest way to increase customer loyalty is by improving the quality of customer interaction, and that begins with making a good first impression. New customers will develop an impression about Dallas ISD in their first seven seconds of interacting with you. Let’s make the most of those seven seconds. Here are seven things to check:

• Cleanliness (self and workspace)
• Knowledgeable
• Professional (attitude and dress)
• Friendly
• Helpful
• Courteous
• Responsive

As we continue to improve our customer service, remember to focus on delivering remarkable Core 4 service.

Hundreds of individuals and organizations from as far away as Lubbock stepped up to directly help Dallas ISD schools, students and families affected by a devastating tornado. Dallas ISD is overwhelmed and grateful for the donation of supplies for classrooms, sports equipment, gift cards for teacher materials, and help to families affected by the natural disaster.

Thank you!

The list of donors so far includes:

• Hundreds of individuals
• Numerous donors who have purchased items from the Amazon wish list
• Amazon
• Hamon Charitable Foundation
• Thomas Jefferson Alumni Association
• Michael’s
• Credit Union of Texas
• Allstate
• Staples
• Texas Rangers Foundation
• NEC Corporation
• Builders FirstSource
• Office Depot
• United to Learn
• Briggs & Freeman
• Dallas Stars Foundation
• FC Dallas
• Highland Park ISD Dad’s Club
• Keller ISD
• Boots & Badges of The South Plains (Lubbock)
• Riverside Church Butterfly School
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
• Dallas Mavericks Foundation
• Just Say Yes
• Central Market
• Parkland Hospital
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Texas Instruments

A number of individuals, businesses and organizations have also donated their time at schools where students displaced by the tornado damage are now attending classes and have offered to continue to support the district through volunteer efforts, including Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, Colleyville ISD teachers, T-Mobile, Microsoft, Home Depot, AT&T, Allstate, and State Farm.

District staff and their families are welcome to attend free classes offered at Frazier House, an initiative of the Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. Community Outreach Center in partnership with Dallas ISD. Frazier House is located on the first floor of the former Julia C. Frazier Elementary School. It offers multiple services in one building partnering and collaborating with other community nonprofits, service organizations and the Dallas ISD. This shared space offers access to educational, social services, job skills training and job placement opportunities for Frazier House clients.

Classes for November include topics such as:

Nov. 5—Cash Flow, Collateral and Leverage Class, 3-4:30 p.m. (if interested in attending or learning more, email info@zwhjcoc.org)

Nov. 14—Lunch & Learn with Trevor Noel, “Introduction to a Business Plan,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nov. 18—LinkedIn & Medicare 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., must register with Senior Source at (214) 823-5700

Nov. 21—Lunch & Learn with Attorney Antonio Glenn, “The ABCs of Business Entities,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

All activities and programs are at Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. Dallas, TX 75210. For more information about these activities, email info@zwhjcoc.org or visit https://www.zwhjcoc.org. Dates and activities subject to change.

Dallas ISD offers professional development for central and campus staff through a variety of opportunities.

Central staff

Ignite and Unleash Potential Through Talent Conversations 

Audience: Supervisors, Managers, Directors

One of the fundamental roles of a leader is to recognize and unleash the talents and strengths of others.  Talent conversations play a vital role in engaging employees and influencing their performance and development if done effectively and often enough.  This session will provide tools to prepare for and facilitate effective talent conversations.

Results Focused Leadership: Goals and Check-ins

Audience: Supervisors, New Managers, Managers, Directors

Discover how check-in meetings make it easier to manage day-to-day work of the staff and ensure it is connected to big picture goals that impact results.

Campus staff

The Language, Literacy, and Social Studies departments cordially invite teachers to The Language, Literacy, and Social Studies Fall Conference 2019. This year’s theme is “Empowering Students Through Disciplinary Literacy.” The organizers are actively seeking attendees who wish to learn about how to best implement strategies to empower student voice and ownership of student learning.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Bryan Adams High School. Teachers may register by clicking here. Registration is required for attendees. Keynote speakers for the conference include Dallas ISD Chief of Teaching and Learning Dr. Ivonne Durant and national literacy expert Pam Allyn. Professional development credits will apply towards Future of Learning hours. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

David Ybarra was working at Wing Stop before joining Dallas ISD’s Operation Services as a groundskeeper.

“I wanted something more than a job,” Ybarra said. “I wanted a good, stable and dependable career with benefits that I could grow in.”

At age 19, Ybarra had to quickly learn the new career path and craft he signed up for. And while Ybarra admits that there were times he doubted himself over his work challenges and responsibilities, they only helped him thrive.

“It took the right leaders in the Operations Division to help me grow,” Ybarra said. “They shared their knowledge and experiences with me so I could find the solutions to challenges.”

Fast forward 10 years, and Ybarra, who has a child enrolled in Dallas ISD, is now the Interim Supervisor at the Northwest Grounds Division.

“It’s a great journey being a part of the district,” Ybarra said. “Now as a supervisor, I get to help and advise new incoming leaders who will one day grow into a bigger role like I did.”

Ybarra credits his peers and supervisors for helping him achieve the role he has today. But he added that it would not be possible without internal ambition and perseverance.

“Dallas ISD is like a big door, and once you open it, there are so many other doors of opportunities in which you can grow into,” Ybarra said. “But you just have to have the patience and strive to learn above all.”