Central Staff News

At 5 p.m. today, Aug. 17, the window to enroll for your benefits for 2023-2024 will close. If you want to make changes or enroll in a Health Savings Account or a Flexible Spending Account, you must do it before the deadline. 

To change your benefits, visit Dallas ISD’s Benefits Portal at benefits.dallasisd.org. For step-by-step instructions on using the Dallas ISD Benefits Portal, refer to the 2023-2024 Benefits Overview Magazine. The guide includes instructions on logging on to the portal for the first time.

Forgot your password? Click on the “Forgot password” link on the home page and reset it by answering the challenge questions you set up when you first accessed the portal.

Still have questions or need help? Call the Benefits Call Center at (972) 925-4000. English- and Spanish-speaking representatives can assist you on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The new school year is here, and it is a joy to see team members and students back on Dallas ISD campuses. The beginning of any school year is an exciting time, but it can also bring with it some stress and challenges as people adjust to new schedules. 

If you need a little inspiration to boost your spirits and keep your mindset on a positive track, maybe these 10 quotes can help. 

1. “I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.” —Jenny Han
2. “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” —Albert Einstein
3. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela
4. “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” —Oprah Winfrey
5. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” —William Butler Yeats
6. “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” —Malala Yousafzai
7. “Don’t be afraid to start over. It’s a new chance to rebuild what you want.” —Unknown
8. “Dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them.” —Josie Bissett
9. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ―Mahatma Gandhi
10. “Yesterday I was clever, so I changed the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” —Rumi

Transitions can be difficult, but you are not alone. Get additional support through Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. 

This confidential, secure platform has free counselors available 24/7 for all Dallas ISD team members and their dependents. All you have to do is reach out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000, or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information. 

Your mental health and well-being are crucial, so do not hesitate to get the support you need this week. 

Sign up to receive important news and information on your phone.

Make sure you are set up to get texts about emergencies, important events, and information from Dallas ISD like weather closures, districtwide deadlines, news and more. There are two simple steps:  

STEP 1

Go to Oracle and look for the section for personal information. Enter your  main contact cell phone number in the Home field.

STEP 2

Using the cell phone whose number you provided, opt-in by texting Yes to the 67587 short code number. 

Questions? Email schoolmessenger@dallasisd.org.

Dallas ISD teachers are invited to apply for the Dallas Retired Teachers Association’s Classroom Assistance Grants. These grants are awarded to Dallas ISD teachers who, on a daily basis, demonstrate commitment to public education and students through the creation of programs, events, or other learning platforms.

The Dallas Retired Teachers Association will award $750 grants to four Dallas ISD school teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. The application period will be open from Monday, Aug. 21, to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Applicants may apply individually, as a group/team, or as a school. If you apply as a group/team or as a school, please designate someone to lead your grant application process and serve as the contact person to receive any related correspondence from the Dallas Retired Teachers Association.

Classroom Assistance Grant Eligibility:

• Applicants must be Dallas ISD school teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.
• All applications must include a handwritten signature of the school principal expressing approval of the project.

How to apply:

• Download the application at www.trta.org. 
• Click on District Local Chapter: Dallas Retired Teachers Association.
• Download Application.
• Complete and submit the application by scanning and emailing the application to rosalb97@sbcglobal.net or by U.S. Mail.
• The application and required documents must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

The Dallas Retired Teachers Association Grant Review Committee will review all grant applications. The four grant recipients will be announced on Friday, Nov. 10, via email, the DRTA website, and Facebook. Recipients may be asked to participate in a survey or video after receiving the grant money.

Dallas ISD has earned two noteworthy financial reporting awards for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. 

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded the district a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This is a prestigious national award recognizing that the district’s ACFR conforms to the highest standards for state and local government financial reports.

The Association of School Business Officials awarded the district a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award. The  award certifies that the district’s ACFR substantially conforms to the principles and standards of financial reporting as recommended and adopted by ASBO. 

These awards are the highest form of recognition that can be earned in the areas of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The attainment of these awards demonstrates the district’s ongoing commitment to implementing effective financial practices and reporting transparency. 

In the five years Ashley Marshall has been managing her small team in the Homeless Education Program, she has seen countless examples of students’ lives being transformed for the better by the program. 

During the 2022-2023 school year, Marshall said about 4,300 Dallas ISD students were coded as homeless, which could mean they were sleeping in hotels, cars, or shelters. The HEP team not only works alongside those students to ensure they have uniforms, hygiene supplies, and backpacks, but they also reach out to the students’ families to provide them with education and additional support. 

Marshall said her favorite memories come from seeing the impact they make, even when it may “feel small.” 

She recently worked with a senior who was living in a shelter in Fort Worth and was not connected with his mother. Marshall and the student developed such a positive connection that he began sending Marshall and one of her teammates photos of his accomplishments, from his artwork to his football trophies.

“I feel like I am his mom, and now he can say, ‘These are two women who can be proud of me when my mom is not here,’” Marshall said. “Our students just want someone to look at them and say, ‘I see you, and I’m going to help you try to get through this.’ That means so much to them.”

The effect Marshall and her team have had on students and their families over time is incalculable.

“I’ll be the person that cries right away when I tell some of the stories of the kids and the families we’ve helped,” Marshall said. “I don’t think anyone really understands until you have a mom saying you are the first people who have tried to help her. They’ve been trying to get along in daily life and make it through, and we are the ones who help them do that.”

Marshall’s passion and commitment never waver, something that her colleagues see and appreciate. 

“Ashley is one of the most caring, knowledgeable, thinking-outside-the-box, and going-the-extra-mile type of people I know,” said Yadira Coggins, a case manager with the Homeless Education Program. “She has carried and grown this program throughout her years of service. Because of Ashley’s empowerment and growth mindset, our team has done incredible things when working with our students and families experiencing a homeless crisis situation.” 

While Marshall is proud of her team’s achievements, she said the work is never finished. The most important message she wants to spread to the Dallas ISD community is awareness of the Homeless Education Program and the resources available to students and families in need. 

To find a list of emergency resources and learn more about the Homeless Education Program, visit  https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/954. 

Six junior and senior Dallas ISD students had the opportunity to experience leadership in a new way thanks to Human Capital Management and the Call Me MISTER® program.

The students traveled with HCM team members to the Call Me Mister Leadership Conference that took place this July at Clemson University. During the trip, the students had the opportunity to engage in a range of leadership workshops, seminars, and networking sessions hosted by the program. Because Dallas ISD is the only school district to partner with the Call Me Mister program, district students were able to build strong bonds with college students and other like-minded individuals from different backgrounds.

Through Call Me Mister and a partnership with the University of North Texas at Dallas, students from Dallas ISD high schools will have the opportunity to receive mentorship and support to become teachers. Dallas ISD is the first public school in Texas to offer this program to high school students. 

The Call Me MISTER®— Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role-models—program was developed 22 years ago at Clemson University to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader, more diverse background. Call Me MISTER® and Diverse Male Educators Destined to Teach, Hope, Respond, Inspire, Value and Empower (THRIVE) are UNTD’s programs to attract males from diverse backgrounds into the teaching profession.

Theresa Davis, manager of Health Services’ Teen Pregnancy and Parenting program, goes above and beyond to lead a team of nurses and social workers who help pregnant or parenting Dallas ISD students continue their education without interruption. 

They provide students with social and community health services, parenting skills and counseling, job readiness and career counseling, child care assistance, and more, and Davis said the results have been incredible to see.

One of her favorite success stories is that of a student who got to attend her dream university with help from Davis and her team. 

“Most of our students are either pregnant or parenting, so they’re doing double duty,” Davis said. “They’re trying to achieve their academics successfully while taking on a dual role, so it was a big deal for a student in our program to achieve valedictorian at her campus.” 

The valedictorian received a full-ride scholarship from The University of Texas at Austin, but Davis said the student had always envisioned herself at SMU. So Davis worked with the high school campus’ interdisciplinary team of counselors to help the student apply for several scholarships and make her childhood dream come true. The student went on to become a first-generation college graduate in her family.

Davis—a proud graduate of Skyline High School, Prairie View A&M University and The University of Texas at Arlington—has spent the past 29 years in the district, with a decade leading the Teen Pregnancy and Parenting program by example. She said she is “proud” of her team and the “daily positive impact” they make every day, and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. 

“Theresa is an exemplary leader,” said Jennifer Finley, executive director of Health Services. “She is professional, well-spoken, and motivates her team to support students to the best of their ability. During her many years of service, she has been met with challenging and serious situations. In every instance she has handled the situation with grace while putting others at ease.” 

For Davis, it all comes down to her passion for supporting students.

“Assistance matters,” Davis said. “We take a nonjudgmental stance and show students that we care in their day-to-day lives. If their personal and home life is not in order, it will affect their academic achievement, therefore we start with the home, and we help take care of any of those personal needs that help accelerate their academic success and well-being.”

To learn more about the Teen Pregnancy and Parenting program, visit https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/26548. 

Education Technology is the new name for the district’s technology department. Educational Technology is committed to providing efficient and effective technologies that enable innovation and enhance the student learning experience with a focus on simplicity, security, scalability, and excellent customer support. Their team members provide services to schools, departments, students and their families.

Transportation Service Centers are being redesigned. The redesign—including renovations of the facilities with additional restrooms, air conditioning, ventilation systems, outside lighting and other safety features—will redistribute buses to the Lawnview, North Dallas, and Kleberg service centers and the service center located at 2419 Cockrell Ave. The relocation of the centers will be done in phase and will start in December 2023. 

Dallas ISD team members were all over the map this summer, from travels to Puerto Rico, Belize, Nigeria, Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, and various countries in Europe, to New Zealand and all over the United States, they all made new memories. From family and friend reunions close to home and overseas, to cross-country travels—team members were living their best lives. Because there were a lot of great vacation stories, we are sharing them in two parts. 

Adventure seekers, anniversaries, and celebrations

Stephany Cortes Rogel, a teacher at Rosemont Upper: I attended the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and it was absolutely exciting. This was my first World Cup and my first time on this side of Earth. Every match I attended had its own story. Attending the best Women’s World Cup was a great experience, and I can’t wait to share it with my soccer girls team at Rosemont Elementary.

Felicia Shaw, an office manager at City Lab High School: I celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary in Jamaica. I enjoyed everything, especially parasailing for the first time. I felt like I was on top of the world! I even have a video taking-off and I recorded while in the air.

Paola Gomez Agudelo, a manager in the Alternative Certification Department: During our summer break, I traveled by myself to San Pedro Island, Belize. I’m a certified open water diver, so I had the opportunity to dive at the Hol Chan Reserve in Belize. This was a very special trip because it was my first trip by myself to a country I have never been to before. When I went to find out about scuba diving trips, they told me I could go and feed the nurse sharks at the Hol Chan Reserve. I thought they were going to be enclosed, but to my surprise, they were all around us. My first encounter ever with sharks was exciting.

Stefany Ramirez, a teacher at Larry Smith Elementary School: I celebrated my bachelorette party in Cancun, Mexico. I enjoyed spending time with my closest friends and frolicking on the beach. All-inclusive resorts are always a must and so is quality time with friends.

Reunions

Mark Olateju, a teacher at Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy: I traveled to the United Kingdom for a week and reunited with cousins that I had not seen in several years. I was surprised by the number of Americans in London! It reminded me of another American city like New York!

Maria De La Luz Garcia Villalobos, a teacher at Hotchkiss Elementary School: I visited family and friends at my hometown, Tampico, México. I got to see my 84-year-old mom, family and soulmate friends who I’ve known since about 1979. My mom didn’t know about my visit, and I covered my identity. I changed my voice, my name, and wore sunglasses and a mask and pretended I was an old, forgotten friend. It was so funny because she didn’t recognize me. When I let her see my face, it was so emotional. We held each other, cried and laughed at the same time. My sister recorded the moment. It was unforgettable!  

Terri Scott, a nurse at Wilmer Hutchins Elementary School: I spent time with my grandsons and traveled throughout Texas for family get-togethers. My grandsons live in Idaho, they are 7- and 6-years-old. The oldest, Liam, is autistic and the apple of my eye. The youngest is Conner, and he would make my life so hard trying to pronounce dinosaurs’ names like therizinosaurus. Conner was constantly sneaking in to see what scary movie we were watching. On his last attempt, he shoved open the door and yelled, “Conner’s back baby ’cause you’re part of my peeps!” No idea where he got that from but we died laughing.

Leah Richard, a teacher at Justin F. Kimball High School: I spent  time with my 85-year-old mother in Corpus Christi. We had an amazing time, and the smile on her face spoke volumes. My favorite part was experiencing a boat ride with my mom and the joy and excitement we had. I learned you can overcome anything. I never dreamed of me getting on a boat. Now I’m planning a cruise to Cozumel next summer.

Family Vacations

Amanda Gomez, a data controller at George Peabody Elementary: My favorite thing about traveling was spending much needed time with my family. We went to Disney World, Disneyland, took a cruise to the Bahamas, traveled to New York and back to Orlando. The kids learned a lot about cultures and how privileged they really are.

Megan Johnson, a teacher at Skyline High School: I visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Mayan ruins, swam in a cenote in a cave, and enjoyed the beach in Tulum, Mexico. I spent a week vacation with my family in Tulum and learned that the best vacations are spent with family and friends. There is nothing like family time!

Genevra Buchanan, a teacher at Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary School: I spent the first week of my summer vacation on a four-day Caribbean Cruise with my 83-year-old mother. It was her first time ever on a cruise, first time ever leaving the United States, and first time leaving the south. Being able to give her that experience meant the world to me. She complained about the long lines to get on the ship, all the walking was a bit much for her but when she found her niche in the casino, all was good in her world. Let’s just say her first cruise paid off!

Thank you to everyone who filled out the call for submissions. We enjoyed hearing about your travels. Make sure you check out the second round of vacation memories next week.