Central Staff News

A free interactive, online workshop is open to Dallas ISD educators and administrators to promote the success of immigrant and refugee students.

Teachers, administrators, librarians and volunteers can go here to register for free. The workshop—Immigrant Student Success: Strategies and Tools for K-12 and Adult Educators—will be held July 10–11 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

The workshop will explore how to:

• Integrate immigration into the curriculum;
• Build relationships with immigrant students, families and communities in perilous times;
• Use storytelling to educate all students on immigration;
• Empower both teachers and students;
• Create more welcoming classrooms, and more.

Dallas ISD Racial Equity Office established the Multicultural Studies and History Advisory Council.

This group will serve as an advocacy council for creating multicultural studies, experiences and opportunities for student and adult voices to be heard, engaged and expressed in education. This council will support the Racial Equity Office in its efforts to engage various sources from literature to oral history in an effort  to educate and celebrate a variety of cultures.

“This council marks a powerful moment in the history of Dallas ISD. We are excited to engage people from many different ethnic groups and cultures to empower all children,” said Leslie Williams, Deputy Chief of Racial Equity Office

Participates in this advisory council were from different educational entities from across the city of Dallas which included non-profits, local universities, Dallas County Community Colleges, arts community, film makers, artist,  faith-based organizations and more. Dallas ISD Racial Equity Office is creating a number of specific collective impact models that will serve as collaborative opportunities to engage Dallas ISD from a variety of different entry points.

“History comes from a variety of societal and cultural viewpoints. Therefore, it is critical to understand the historical context that has shaped the lived experiences of people of color,” said Jamila Thomas, Director of Racial Equity Office. “Equally important, is the opportunity to celebrate a variety of cultures that represent the beauty of diversity. If we can exemplify how students should value their individuality while celebrating those who may look, sound and experience life different, we can create a beautiful mosaic of educational spaces.”

Following the dissolution of Dallas County Schools, Dallas ISD Student Transportation Services is taking on the responsibility for student transportation for the 2018-2019 school year.

Employees who hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL), or who are willing to obtain the necessary credentials to drive a bus, are asked to complete a brief survey to express their interest in serving as a driver. The assignment requires a commercial driver’s license and participation in mandatory training in addition to normal job responsibilities. Compensation will be provided for the additional work. Please respond to the survey by close of business Monday, May 21.

Student Transportation Employee Survey

Based on survey responses, Student Transportation Services will follow up with employees who are willing to serve as drivers to provide information about credentials, hours of service, compensation and other related details.

Dallas ISD is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week May 7–12, and it’s an opportunity to recognize the tremendous work district educators do every day.

We need your help to give these educators the recognition they deserve!

Have good photo or a story about your favorite Dallas ISD teacher? Email it to thehub@dallasisd.org, or post the photo or story to social media with the hashtag #ThankATeacher and tag us on Twitter (@dallasschools), Facebook (@DallasISD) and Instagram (@DallasISD).

Are you a business offering a special discount to teachers this week? Email thehub@dallasisd.org, and we will share the best deals for teachers throughout the week.

Dallas ISD is home to thousands of highly qualified and certified teachers, and this is a week to thank them for helping students discover their potential.

Dallas ISD is redesigning its school leadership structure to foster and support professional learning networks.

The current structure groups campuses together by feeder patterns, which includes elementary, middle and high schools. While there will still be feeder pattern meetings in 2018-2019, the new structure aligns schools by grade levels. This means, for example, that elementary school principals will have opportunities for more meaningful interactions with fellow elementary school principals.

“Fostering professional learning networks among our campus leaders, while also matching the skill set expertise of our personnel, is a more effective way to boost student achievement,” said Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde.

Go here to see the new leadership structure.

Early voting started Monday, April 23 for the District 9 seat on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees.

Incumbent Bernadette Nutall, Justin Henry, Edward Turner and Ona Marie Hendricks are running for the seat that represents South Dallas and parts of Downtown Dallas, Pleasant Grove, Deep Ellum, Uptown and East Dallas.

District 1 Trustee Edwin Flores and District 3 Trustee Dan Micciche are running unopposed in the election.

To find early voting polling locations and other information about the May 5 election, visit the Dallas County elections website.

There are just a few more days for Dallas ISD employees and students to donate for scholarships that help deserving Dallas ISD seniors of all races attend college.

The Dallas ISD United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Workplace Campaign ends on April 16.  Dallas ISD campus employees can donate to the campaign by contacting their campus or department’s UNCF representative. Learn more here.

This is the top of the current leader board of which high school feeder pattern has contributed the most donations:

• Samuell: $3,412.34
• W.T. White: $2,648.61
• Central Department: $813.25
• Skyline: $750.00
• Carter: $625.00

Funds raised by each campus will be used as scholarships for the graduating students of the high school within the feeder.

The Texas Library Association’s (TLA) Annual Conference wrapped up on Friday, April 6, in Dallas, and included representation from Dallas ISD.

More than 20 Dallas ISD school librarians presented professional development sessions and district librarians introduced 12 session speakers at the at the conference, which is the largest statewide librarian conference in the U.S. There were an estimated 7,000 librarians from universities, public school districts and public libraries in attendance.

A team of Dallas ISD campus and central staff employees learned how they can lead the effort to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) students feel safe and supported in the district.

More than 30 Dallas ISD employees attended the training held March 27 at the Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. The training is part of a partnership agreement between Dallas ISD and the Resource Center, a leading LGBTQ service organization in North Texas.

The Resource Center and Dallas ISD are working together to implement a training support program inclusive of LGBTQ issues. The program is modeled after the “Out for Safe Schools” implemented by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The Dallas ISD employees that attended the March 27 training will later train fellow team members on how to support LGBTQ sutdents. The employees will also wear badges identifying them as allies with LGBTQ students.