Central Staff News

The HCM Benefits Department is launching Tuesday Talks: Achieving Your Retirement Goals for the school year. This new initiative provides district employees with essential knowledge and resources to prepare for a successful and secure retirement.

Diverse and engaging events

On select Tuesdays each month, the HCM Benefits Department will host a variety of retirement-focused events to cater to different learning preferences and schedules. The program may include:

• Virtual seminars—Convenient online sessions providing employees with information and resources for retirement.
• In-person seminars—Interactive face-to-face sessions providing employees with information and resources for retirement.
• Lunch and Learns with Trusted Capitol Group—Informative lunchtime sessions providing guidance on Social Security, Teacher Retirement System benefits, retirement savings, and more
• Special seminar with TRS—A comprehensive seminar in March featuring insights from TRS

Topics Covered

Seminars will cover a range of critical topics to help employees prepare for retirement, including but not limited to:

• Steps to Retirement—Detailed guidance on the essential steps to take as you approach retirement
• Retirement Service Award—Information on how to receive payment for accumulated local days
• Retirement Savings Accounts—Insights on different types of retirement accounts and how to maximize retirement savings.
• Eligibility and more—Understanding the criteria for retirement benefits and other important considerations

How to participate

Due to space constraints, the HCM Benefits Department encourages all employees to frequently check the Benefits website for the latest event details and registration information. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so employees must sign up early to secure a spot.

Here’s how to stay updated and register:

1. Visit the Benefits website—Regularly check for updates on upcoming events.
2. Register for events—Employees may sign up for the seminars that fit their interests and schedule.
3. Mark your calendar—Employees may add the event dates to their calendar, so they don’t miss the event.

For more information and to register for upcoming events, please click here or email retirement@dallasisd.org.

As Dallas ISD celebrates National Principals Month during October, Toni Molina, principal at James S. Hogg New Tech Center, reflects on what her legacy as principal will be and how that legacy is the impact she can make on others. 

“I always look at our students and tell the staff that every day they come in, they’re part of somebody’s history,” she said. “As educators, we don’t see it like that because we’re in the thick of it, but that is what we’re doing. We’re changing somebody’s history every day we show up.”

Molina speaks from experience. A graduate of Dallas ISD, she credits her education—and the opportunities that came with it—with changing the trajectory of her family’s life.

“The first teacher I can actually recall is my first grade teacher, Ms. Welsh,” she said. “She really made me feel safe, given the background I came from—we were very poor and I didn’t always feel like I belonged. I never felt like that in her classroom.”

Molina started school at Gabe P. Allen New Tech Academy (formerly Gabe P. Allen Elementary School) and graduated from Moisés E. Molina High School.

Her parents got their GEDs. Now, two of her children graduated from Molina High School, and her youngest daughter is a freshman at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

“Our legacy is different now,” Molina said. “We have a Hispanic man who graduated from college. He’s the first from my maternal side of the family to do that.”

Growing up, Molina wanted to be an accountant. But she quickly realized her heart was leading her on a new path that would take her back to Dallas ISD to be a teacher, and eventually, a principal.

“I had some office jobs, but they weren’t for me,” she said. “When I got out of high school, I started working at a private school as a pre-K teacher. I liked the pace of it, and I liked helping people.”

Molina thought about all she had to overcome and the teachers who helped along the way, as well as the impact they had on her life, and realized that teaching was where she needed to be. After obtaining the teacher certifications, she started her tenure in the district at Gabe P. Allen. 

Now, as principal at Hogg, Molina finds ways to foster traditions with her students that she hopes will one day become part of the school’s legacy. For example, drawing from her experience being active in sports, Molina strives to promote Hogg as one big team.

“One thing I always ask is ‘What are we?’ and ‘What represents us?’” she said. 

“Good morning, Razorbacks” is how Molina greets students every morning to emphasize not only the school’s mascot but also what it represents. 

“This year, we’re really focused on what the characteristics of a razorback are,” she said. “If you ask our students, it means we’re resilient, we’re tenacious. We don’t give up.”

Olivia Rodriguez is a staple at the café in the Dallas ISD’s Linus Wright Administration Building, where she has worked since 2017 after years of working in a school cafeteria, where she forged connections with the community and the students because to her, food means family and culture. 

Rodriguez joined the Food and Nutrition Services Department in 2014 at Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa, M.D. Elementary School. One of her favorite things about working there was the connection she forged with the students who visited the cafeteria daily. 

“The students would always sing to me when it was my birthday,” said Rodriguez with tears welling up in her eyes. “The children come up to you and hug you.” 

While she misses the school, she finds that working in the administration building allows her to meet people from all over the district and also spend more time with her own children, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez is originally from La Moncada, a municipality of Tarimoro in the state of Guanajuato. While she has been in the United States for almost two decades, she said she carries the memories of her hometown and country in her heart always. 

“On September 27, it will be 19 years since I took that leap of faith and left my family and friends to start a new life here,” she said. Since leaving Mexico, Rodriguez has established roots in the city and Dallas ISD—her three children, ranging in ages from high school to elementary school age, attend district schools. 

Keeping her Mexican culture alive is something Rodriguez strives for in her family. Her children speak Spanish, and she and her family often sit down at the table to enjoy traditional dishes. She loves to cook chicken mole with rice.

“I don’t have a special recipe because I always make it more or less remembering how my mom used to make it, because she doesn’t make it anymore,” she said. 

Rodriguez doesn’t have a written recipe, because she learned how to make mole from her mom, adding her own personal touch to it. She just knows how much of each ingredient the dish needs—tanteando (estimating the measurements), she said. 

One of the things she remembers fondly about Mexico is the celebrations they had in her hometown of La Moncada. 

“On Sept. 16, Mexico’s Independence Day, we would participate in parades, where the schools and the community would walk together in unity,” she said. 

Rodriguez said there were school bands called la banda de guerra in the parade where they would march in unison with percussion instruments and cornets. She participated in the band as well as danced folkloric music from her state of Guanajuato. There was also the student banda de viento, which was a more traditional band, different from the banda de guerra with instruments like the trumpet, trombone, tuba, saxophone, and so on. 

She recalls the memories of the excitement of preparing for such celebrations. Her school and community would get together on Sept. 15 for the traditional Grito de Dolores at midnight, which represents the historic event that happened in Dolores, Hidalgo, when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang a church bell and gave the call to arms that began the Mexican War of Independence. 

Rodriguez said that it’s important that her children and others know about their rich cultural history because it gives them a sense of belonging and pride, all of which contributes to their self esteem. 

One of Rodriguez’s wishes for her children and the children of the district is that they fulfill their dreams and stay safe always, she said. As far as her own dreams, she hopes to return to Mexico someday after her children are grown and she has retired. 

Human Capital Management’s Employee Relations department is pleased to announce a series of fall training sessions designed to equip central administration supervisors with essential tools and strategies for effective conflict resolution and performance coaching. Training dates and times are listed below.

Topic: Conflict Resolution

Date: Oct. 1 (two sessions)

Location: Linus Wright Administration Building, Training Room 300

Times: 10-11:30 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.

 Sign-Up Genius

Topic: Performance Coaching

Date: Oct. 24 (two sessions)

Location: Linus Wright Administration Building, Room 1211, 12th Floor Training Room

Times: 9:30-11 a.m. and  2-3:30 p.m.

 Sign-Up Genius

Supervisors who wish to attend one of these sessions must sign up through the links provided. Space for each session is limited. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact HCM Employee Relations at (972) 925-4026.

Dallas ISD’s Benefits Department is giving the boot to breast cancer by partnering with Susan G. Komen for the 2024 Race for the Cure, an impactful event dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer. And all team members can help!

The race will take place starting at 8 a.m. with an opening ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19, at The Campus at Legacy, 5360 Legacy Drive, Plano, 75024. Dallas ISD employees can register to join the district team or can sponsor someone who has already registered to participate in the race for the cure. Those who registered by Sept. 22 will receive a free t-shirt. To register, click the team link: Team Dallas ISD. For more information on how to participate, download the flyer.

Proceeds from the race will be used by the Komen Foundation to fund breakthroughs that give more time to everyone in their fight against breast cancer; to provide care that ensures all have access to quality screening, diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer; to offer patient support, treatment assistance, even childcare and transportation services; to support everyone, no matter where they are in their breast cancer journey by providing a safe place to share, grieve, support and find strength to move forward; and to be advocates, fighting for government funding and critical patient support and research.

As the school year progresses, it’s a good idea to be mindful of prioritizing cybersecurity. The district’s Educational Technology Department has some important tips to help you protect your data, devices, and district resources.

1. Refrain from using the same password for personal and work accounts. Ensure that your work and personal accounts have different, strong passwords to safeguard your information.
2. Don’t leave devices unattended. Lock your device before walking away from it
3. Avoid public Wi-Fi to access district resources. Public Wi-Fi networks, like those at coffee shops, are convenient but not secure. Connect to Dallas ISD VPN for a secure connection.
4. Back up your teaching curriculum. Routinely transfer your teaching materials to cloud services such as OneDrive or Google Drive. 
5. Reach out for help. Contact the Dallas ISD IT Department or Help Desk if you need any technical assistance such as passwords. 

You can contact the Dallas ISD Educational Technology Department at 972-925-5630 or via email at ITServiceDesk@Dallasisd.org.

With a little over a month left before the Nov. 5 election, and a few days left to register to vote, it’s a good time to make sure you have the necessary ID required by state law to present at the polls and that all your information is up to date.

Election officials will accept several types of official documents as identification:

• Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS
• Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• U.S. military identification card containing the person’s photograph
• U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
• U.S. passport (book or card)

State law requires election officials to determine whether the voter’s name on the identification provided matches the name on the official list of registered voters. After a voter presents their ID, whether it’s an acceptable form of photo ID or a supporting form of ID (if applicable), the poll worker will compare it to the official list. If the name on the ID matches the name on the list of registered voters, the voter will follow the regular procedures for voting.

If the name does not match exactly but is “substantially similar” to the name on the official list, the voter will be permitted to vote as long as the voter signs an affidavit stating that the voter is the same person on the list of registered voters.

If a voter possesses an acceptable form of photo ID but does not have it at the polling place, the voter will still be permitted to vote provisionally. The voter will have six days to present an acceptable form of photo identification to the county voter registrar. Alternatively, a voter who possesses an acceptable form of photo ID but does not have it at the polling place may choose to leave the polling place and return before the close of the polls on election day with said acceptable form of photo ID to, if the voter would otherwise qualify, vote a regular ballot at that time.

A voter who has moved and wants to update their registration with their new address can do so online before Oct. 7. Those who move to a new state, must register with the state they moved to.

If you update your county of residence, your voter registration in your current county will be cancelled. Your voter registration information will be updated to the corresponding county of your new address. Visit https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager to make the changes online. If you have questions about the process, visit this FAQ section.

Once the change has been made, the voter will receive a new Voter Certificate in the mail within 30 days of submitting a change through this service. If you submit changes less than 30 days prior to an election, you must vote at your current polling location. To use this service, you need your:

• Current Driver License or ID Card
• Social Security Number
• Voter Registration Card VUID (Voter Unique Identifier) Number may be obtained from your County Voter Registrar.

Maria Tamayo has built her legacy and found her home as lead custodian at Maria Moreno STEAM Academy, where she has worked for the last 28 years. Her children also have been part of the Dallas ISD legacy attending Moreno and later graduating from district schools.  

To recognize the hard work it takes to have the schools and facilities in tip top shape and bring awareness to the dedication of custodians like Tamayo, schools throughout the country celebrate National Custodian Day on Oct. 2. 

“When I arrive at my school every morning, I feel at home,” Tamayo said. “I like the staff, the community, and the kids. They are like my family, and I feel as if I’m arriving at my second home.” 

Tamayo said she is honored by the welcome she receives from everyone from students, cafeteria staff, administration, teachers, and other team members on a daily basis. What she likes most about her job is making sure the school is spotless and making it a space where children can feel safe. 

“It’s more than just doing a cleaning job,” she said. “It’s also giving  that sense of security to the children,” she said. “[The floors are] kind of my forte—stripping the floors, waxing them and making them look like mirrors.”

Before coming to the district nearly three decades ago, she worked in a restaurant long hours and weekends, which was not conducive to raising a family. She applied to work for the district on a Wednesday, and by Monday she was on the job. What Tamayo originally thought would be a temporary position turned into a permanent one. At the time, she was even pregnant with her youngest daughter. 

Tamayo started as a substitute custodian in the administration building’s previous location and was soon offered a permanent job at Moreno where she has stayed ever since. 

One of the driving forces for working for the district was her children. Tamayo could take her children to school, since they attended Moreno, and she felt her job was a better fit for the wellbeing of her family. What she didn’t anticipate was how much she was going to love her job – one that she takes pride in and where she has built lifelong friendships. 

In her years of work with the district, Tamayo said that one of the things that has helped her overcome challenging moments is to approach things with patience and dedication, as well as trusting herself and her abilities. 

“Everyone has difficulties. We have to leave our problems at the door once we are at work,” she said. “Children can sometimes go through challenges, but it’s up to us to be strong for them in order to provide them with a safe space.”

One of the Core 4 tenets that Tamayo lives by is Friendly: Make Memorable Moments. Students who have since graduated and now have children of their own who attend Moreno often go up to Tamayo and share their fond memories of her. 

“Sometimes, I see a student who looks like a former student, and then I realize the former student is now a parent,” she said.

Tamayo is a person with many talents and interests. She is an avid traveler, having visited different countries and continents. She also loves nature and outdoor activities, crocheting, cooking, and baking. She takes pride in her homemade tortillas, which she learned to make from her mother. Having her table filled with food, and gathering around the table with her grown children, and their families is one of the biggest joys of her life. 

She has worked with four principals who have been very supportive. Her biggest wish is to have a happy retirement and for one of her team members to take her position as lead custodian at the school. She also hopes to leave a lasting impression, a legacy. 

“When it’s someday time for me to retire, I want to leave on a beautiful note, to be remembered as the one who brought cookies, or had a word of encouragement, or offered a shoulder to lean on to team members. I want to be remembered as a kind person who cared for others,” she said. 

One can argue that music teacher Andrés Rodriguez is a renaissance man. Among his many roles is teaching modern band and drumline, being the esports coach at his school, hosting a podcast, and performing as a professional musician who emphasizes learning about the richness of Hispanic culture.

His path began when Rodriguez  joined the orchestra and choir in his elementary school and continued his music education into his high school years. Rodriguez currently teaches pre-K through fifth grade at Arturo Salazar Elementary School, where he has been since 2020. Although he was active in music growing up, being a music teacher wasn’t originally on his radar. 

That didn’t happen until he was studying psychology at Tarrant County College and became a marching tech at his high school, which encompassed volunteering his time and helping  the new kids out with marching, he said. While helping the older students develop  leadership skills, he discovered that he was quite good in this role and enjoyed it, he said.

He went on to study at the University of North Texas, which is known for having a top rated music program. Rodriguez’s primary instruments are tuba and drums, but can play and teach multiple instruments. 

Rodriguez, who is Mexican American, makes sure students are empowered by helping them learn about their rich cultural heritage, something that he said is very relevant at Salazar where the majority of students are Hispanic.

“Teaching the culture of our people and incorporating it into the western way of learning music is very important because some of my students don’t speak English,” he said. “Some of my students are ESL students, and being able to learn a song, whether it be Spanish or English, is something that everyone can do.”

Rodriguez feels that incorporating culture, such as that of Hispanics, is a way for students to connect to each other, and celebrate their uniqueness. It is a way to empower students by connecting to their heritage, he said. “I feel like that helps grow the culture, the respect for where you came from or where your family came from,” he said.

Rather than losing their identity, Rodriguez likes to celebrate the uniqueness of his students. Not only do students learn different songs, they learn the history behind it. An example would be teaching the history of where songs such as “La Raspa” or “La Cucaracha” come from. 

“Most of the students have heard of them, but what is the historical significance behind the songs?” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez started as a teacher at Dallas ISD during COVID and used his talents to create YouTube videos to keep his young students engaged. He also has won grants to help fund the needs of his music program, which includes a modern band program and a drumline. Thanks to grant funding, his students have marching band instruments. 

“We learn all of the things that you would learn in a high school drumline, but at a place where the kids can really understand and develop themselves,” Rodriguez said.

One of Rodriguez’s accomplishments was being a top three finalist in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s 2024 Music Teacher of the Year Award. While Rodriguez is not currently teaching strings in his classes, he said the DSO judges likely felt a connection to him teaching students ukulele because of the strings and the hand positioning—things that musicians of orchestra instruments do. Besides the grants, awards, and accolades, Rodriguez knows that the importance of music goes deeper.

“You have music literacy,” he said “You are learning the  values  of notes and all of the key nuances of music. But before students do that, they need to learn how to read to learn lyrics, and they have to know math because you do a lot of counting in music.” 

Rodriguez plans to continue challenging his students and developing these young musicians, but mostly he hopes they will become leaders who will go out into the world with confidence. 

National IT Professionals Day, observed annually on the third Tuesday in September, is a time to recognize and appreciate the dedication of those who safeguard the digital world. At Dallas ISD, the Information Security team is formed by a group of professionals committed to protecting the district from ever-evolving cyber threats.

Led by Security Manager Tommy Pigeon—who has already made significant progress in improving the district’s approach to cybersecurity in the 10 months he has been with the district—the team has redefined, prioritized, and managed security risks in the education sector.

“Creating sustainable and secure IT solutions to enhance the classroom experience for our students drives my team each and every day,” Pigeon said. 

The team is structured into three specialized vertical sections, each playing a crucial role in fortifying Dallas ISD’s cybersecurity landscape:

• Architecture and Engineering: This section is responsible for the design and implementation of secure systems across the district.
• Threat and Vulnerability Management: Focused on identifying and mitigating potential security risks, this team ensures that any abnormalities in data or district assets are promptly addressed.
• Privacy and Compliance: This team works diligently to protect employee and student data by overseeing data sharing agreements and ensuring that all vendors comply with district and educational standards.

One of the key projects currently being spearheaded by Security Architect Sean Sheridan and Security Engineers Jose Gonzalez and Daniel Akwei is the implementation of cloud security and data loss prevention measures. These efforts are critical in enhancing how applications and data are securely handled within the district.

Since last year, the Threat and Vulnerability Management team has expanded, with Brandon Nerios and Adrian Villanueva joining Jennifer Le as information security analysts. Their combined expertise have strengthened the team’s ability to detect and address security risks more effectively.

Maria Macias and Christian Thomas, who lead the Privacy and Compliance team, play an essential role in managing data agreements and ensuring vendor compliance with district policies and standards. Their work is vital in maintaining the integrity and security of our district’s data.

Information Security’s work extends beyond their technical expertise as they regularly interact with stakeholders, including principals and concerned parents. The team’s flexible approach, aligned with the district’s Core 4 values, ensures that needs and concerns are addressed with professionalism and care.