Staff News

Antonio Verduzco began his leadership journey, and his 24-year career with Dallas ISD, the way many educators do, in the classroom, sharing a love for learning with his students. After his early days as a teacher and more than a decade as a school principal, Verduzco has now stepped into a new role as director of Student Activities, expanding his impact to student experiences across the district.

“As a teacher, I was able to impact the 23 kids in my classroom. As an administrator, that impact reached hundreds of students,” Verduzco said. “Now, I’m in a position where I can potentially impact more than 130,000 students. It’s a full circle moment to be here.”

Verduzco began his career in 2001 as a bilingual teacher at Margaret B. Henderson Elementary School, where he served for five years before transitioning into campus leadership. He went on to be the assistant principal at what is now the Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence Middle School and Kleberg Elementary School. Later, he became the principal of what is now known as Julius Dorsey Leadership Academy, followed by B.H. Macon Elementary School.

He credits much of his growth to the mentorship and support of vertical team executive directors who invested in his leadership potential. Today, he is passing on that same encouragement and guidance to his team in student activities.

“I try to be present at every event,” he said. “The former director was the epitome of this program. We saw him at every event, and that’s the commitment I have tried to continue this year.”  

As director of Student Activities, Verduzco leads 12 districtwide student programs alongside six coordinators and three managers. Together, they create opportunities for students across Dallas ISD to discover their interests and talents through activities such as student publications, chess, cheer, academic UIL and debate.

Through these extracurricular competitions, Verduzco is encouraging students to have fun and develop courage in gaining new interests, something he said can positively enhance academics beyond these competitions.

Pulling from his 16 years as a principal, he brings a passion for developing connections and strengthening relationships across campuses to his new role. He is committed to helping schools strengthen their campus activity programs and coordinates complex district competitions throughout the year, especially during the spring semester.

“It all starts with connections,” Verduzco said. “You make connections with your students, then with teachers and staff, and then with parents. We often say, ‘It takes a village,’ and that’s our village—the parents and the community around us. That’s where you build trust and strong bonds needed to make a difference for students.”

Following in the footsteps of longtime director Leonidas Patterson, who retired in August, Verduzco is continuing a hands-on servant leadership style, a personal hallmark that has earned him recognition across the district.

While serving as principal at B.H. Macon Elementary School, Verduzco was named the district’s 2021-2022 Principal of the Year. Earlier in his career, he was a Campus Teacher of the Year. He said the lessons learned, relationships built, and experiences from those years continue to shape the leader he is today.

A Dallas native, Verduzco graduated from Skyline High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. His love for family and his growing passion for education ultimately led him back home to Dallas ISD to become a teacher. Since then he has completed a master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, as well as a master’s in bilingual education and a doctorate in educational leadership from Southern Methodist University.

For Verduzco, every program, competition, and student milestone is a reminder that leadership is most meaningful when it creates opportunities for students. The Student Activities Department has already engaged more than 17,000 students in competitions this fall alone.

“We get to provide opportunities for our Dallas ISD students to participate in any kind of extracurricular or co-curricular activity,” he said. “It’s beautiful to see the impact we make on kids. That’s what matters most. It always comes back to serving the students.”

One of the most important rites of passage in a young person’s life is the ability to do mental math without conscious effort. Children begin training for this process, known as automaticity, in the first grade and continue through elementary school. But as curriculum coordinators visit classrooms throughout the district, they’ve identified a recurring challenge: students lack the immediate recall of basic facts necessary for higher-level problem-solving, according to Aaron Daffern, director of mathematics in Academic Services. 

“It used to be that there was this false dichotomy: you either memorize everything but don’t understand what it is, or you go to the other extreme and just explore, but you aren’t very fast,” he said. “Education tends to swing both ways, but there’s no reason why you can’t have both. Sometimes [exploration] comes at the cost of your facts; we want to be able to do both.”

To balance memorization with conceptual learning, Academic Services introduced Math Magic this past fall—an initiative designed to help students develop automaticity in basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. Mastery of these facts frees up valuable cognitive resources, enabling students to engage with complex concepts instead of being bogged down by calculating basics. 

“If all of my mental energy is spent trying to remember what eight plus seven is, there isn’t much space left to figure out whether I should even be adding or subtracting,” Daffern said. “We noticed there was an opportunity to increase that fluency through our walks this year.”

Implementing the magic

To tackle this, Math Magic provides a progression of standards-based benchmarks for first through third grades. First graders aim to master addition and subtraction facts up to a sum of 10, second graders within 20, and third graders turn to multiplication facts within 100—each step aligned to TEKS state standards.

Knowing that timed tests can sometimes feel daunting, the district designed Math Magic to be high-structure but low-stress. The program is built on a series of six milestones, following the natural progression of the curriculum—starting with easy zeros and ones before tackling the “boss levels” of sixes, sevens, and eights, Daffern said. To keep energy high, the program uses “gamified” incentives, including immediate feedback, candy, and a T-shirt prize once students have completed all six milestones.

Banners at each campus track classroom accomplishments and create a sense of healthy, inclusive competition.

“Every school has received a progress banner featuring grades first through third with six milestone circles each,” Daffern said. “Once 80% of a grade level masters a specific skill—such as doubles in addition or zeros and ones in multiplication—the school covers that circle with a checkmark, thumbs up, or their school crest.”

Promising results 

Initial feedback from schools, such as Richard Lagow Elementary School, has been promising, underscoring student excitement and ownership. As Daffern noted, “Kids were so excited. They were competing against each other, and they were monitoring their own progress—‘I missed eight last time, but I only missed four this time.’”

Beyond the classroom, one of the most heartening results of Math Magic has been parent engagement. While modern math strategies can sometimes feel “new” or confusing to parents, a math fact sheet is a universal language. These practice sheets—available as Google Docs—can be sent home, empowering parents regardless of their own math confidence. 

“One suggestion we give teachers is to send these Google Docs sheets home. As a parent, I might struggle to help with third-grade math if it’s been a while since I was in school, but I know how to use a practice sheet to help my child memorize facts,” Daffern said. “We wanted to provide a resource that parents can access without needing to teach—they can simply use a timer, quiz their child with flashcards, and provide support at home.”

Teachers have been given not only the tools but also the latitude to fit the initiative into their unique classroom cultures. Most teachers recall timed tests as a familiar format, making Math Magic an “extra resource” that fits seamlessly into daily routines.

“Our goal was to make this as self-explanatory as possible. While new curricula like Eureka or Carnegie require extensive training, these are essentially timed tests—a format most teachers are already comfortable with,” Daffern said.

Teachers sharpen their tools

While students focus on Math Magic, teachers are also sharpening their own tools through the Math Teacher Collaborative. The Math Teacher Collaborative brings educators together to build their content knowledge and instructional practices, ensuring that teachers feel confident teaching both the basics and advanced math concepts.

“Last year, we launched a three-day training for 40 high-priority campuses to deepen teachers’ understanding of math content,” Daffern said. “Since many elementary teachers may specialize in reading or are new to math, we focused on the full progression of skills. We had kindergarten teachers work through fifth-grade math, and fifth-grade teachers explore kindergarten concepts, ensuring everyone understands how the curriculum builds and where their students are headed.”

While the impact will be measured anecdotally this year—tracking T-shirt requests and drawing on teacher and principal feedback—the hope is that the combination of structure, fun, and clear goals will ensure fewer students “fall through the cracks.” 

“Students have struggled with this for a while. It’s very much like reading; if a student is reading on a third-grade level in high school, they can’t access those texts and won’t be able to do any of their coursework in high school English,” Daffern said. “Rather than trying to fix these gaps in middle or high school, we are placing the emphasis where it belongs: in first, second, and third grade.”

While the immediate goal is better scores on standardized tests like the STAAR, the long-term vision is about confidence. By the time these students reach middle school and are allowed to use calculators, they will have the foundational “number sense” to know if a calculator’s answer even makes sense.

“Kids enjoy this because they like being able to test themselves. It provides immediate feedback, and that opportunity for incremental growth is what really helps. You don’t actually have to motivate kids that much—they naturally like learning, and Math Magic provides it in bite-sized pieces,” Daffern said.

For most people, a drop in temperature means grabbing a coat. For Duran Hargest, director of Fleet Services, it also means mobilizing a team of 56 technicians to ensure that over 1,000 vehicles—including nearly 900 school buses and a new fleet of 17 electric buses—are ready to hit the road.

Electric buses

This is the first year the district will experience winter with electric buses, Hargest said. While Texas isn’t known for extreme cold, the unpredictability of the weather means the department must prepare for anything from icy roads to power outages. Hargest noted that while temperatures rarely drop below freezing for extended periods, cold snaps can reduce EV battery range by 5-15%.

“Cold weather can affect our EV buses, particularly with battery performance and heating demands,” Hargest explained. “At 32 degrees, I expect our EV buses to lose about 5 to 15% of battery power.” 

To mitigate battery loss and keep buses on the road, Dallas ISD employs battery thermal management systems.

“Our buses are equipped with a battery thermal management system, which runs coolant through the battery cells to keep them cool in the summer, and that same coolant is used to warm the batteries up during the winter,” Hargest said. “It’s a big help when the real freezing weather arrives.” 

When temperatures dip into the sub-zero ranges, Fleet Services adapt routes or substitute diesel buses as necessary, according to Hargest.

Summer mode vs. winter mode

For the hundreds of diesel and gasoline buses, however, the preparation is less about software and more about chemistry. Every fall, Fleet Services switches to “winter gasoline,” which is designed to ignite more easily for cold starts. Yet even traditional diesel and gasoline fleets demand preparation to be ready for winter.

“All refineries switch from summer to winter fuel,” Hargest explained. “Winter gas helps with cold starts and resists gelling.” 

The department works with vendors to ensure on-site fuel tanks and buses receive anti-gel and water-treatment additives, keeping engines running through all weather conditions.

Hargest pointed out that most people don’t realize school buses don’t have a simple thermostat like a car, which allows them to regulate temperatures in no time at all.

“Every Thanksgiving break, we take our school buses and change them from ‘summer mode’ to ‘winter mode,’” Hargest said. “We actually have to go underneath the hood and turn valves to disable the AC system and enable the heaters. It only does one or the other—we can’t switch from heat to AC at any moment. When spring break rolls around, we switch them all back.”

Mobilizing the team

Winter fuel is only one part of the equation. When an ice storm looms, Hargest is the first to watch the radar. Even if the district is closed to students, his fleet technicians are classified as essential personnel.

“I’ll meet with my team or send a text: ‘The district might be closed, but I need personnel to come in.’ We go to the service centers to de-ice driveways, put out salt for traction, and ensure the centers are ready for when schools open back up,” Hargest said. “On mornings with lighter frost, technicians arrive an hour early to jump-start any buses that might struggle in the freezing air.”

Maintenance is a team effort, and every 5,000 miles, every bus undergoes a comprehensive preventive check—fluids, brakes, lights, even first aid kits. Yet the key behind this team effort is the partnership between drivers and mechanics.

“Drivers rely on us to keep the buses ready, but we also rely on them to report any issues—like low tire pressure—before routes begin. It’s a team effort,” Hargest pointed out.

The challenge of infrastructure

Hargest, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and an Army veteran with 26 years of mechanical experience, is a fan of the new EV technology—mostly because of the low maintenance. 

“No oil, no fuel to worry about; I just have to put tires and brakes on it,” he said. Yet he is still realistic about the hurdles, especially as they pertain to infrastructure.

While some service centers are fully “future-proofed” with enough high-capacity chargers, others require ground-up electrical upgrades. Expansion is methodical, and each step is evaluated by contractors to ensure the district can meet current and future charging needs. 

The transition to electric is still in its early stages. The drivers are learning the buses, and the buses are learning the drivers, Hargest said. Regenerative braking, route planning, and cold weather driving all affect range and reliability. Extensive staff training and clear communication protocols are integral to adapting to these changes.

A mission for the whole district

Dallas ISD’s fleet operation goes beyond just transporting students. Whether it’s repairing a police cruiser’s flat tire or switching a bus to “winter mode,” Hargest sees his department as the backbone of the district.

“My team supports the whole district—from HVAC and maintenance to IT and the police department,” Hargest said. “We’re a fairly new department, only a few years old, but our aim is exceptional customer service for everyone.”

Central team members who are new to the district, never had a headshot taken, or are simply due for an updated one can now schedule a time to get a professional headshot from the district’s photographer. 

This quarter there will be two separate days available between 8 and 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 13 and 14. Each session will be held at the Linus D. Wright Central Administration Building, 9400 N. Central Expressway, Fifth Floor, Suite 583. Choose the date and time that best suits your schedule. 

Updates to Quarterly Headshots

We’re adapting and improving our process to better serve the district’s growing photography needs. Here’s what’s new:

• Professional headshots will now be offered once per calendar quarter.
• To reduce early morning backups, we’ll offer pre-signups with a larger time window so arrivals are spread out and lines are shorter. 
• There will be a deadline to sign up. For these initial quarterly headshot sessions, please sign up by midnight on Sunday, Jan. 11.
• There will be no walk-ins. To keep the line as orderly as possible, you must sign up for a time spot prior to the scheduled dates.

Who can participate:

• Central team members
• Campus principals (not available for assistant principals)
• Executive directors
• Associate superintendents
• Chiefs and deputy chiefs
• Board of Trustees members

Important Notes:

• The signup system will now include a link after you sign up to add your date and time to your Outlook or Google calendar. 
• Each session lasts about one minute. Multiple shots will be taken for your selection. 
• One image may be selected for retouching, and the selection needs to take place before you leave the session. 

SIGN UP HERE:  CLICK HERE

For questions, email photography@dallasisd.org.

The application window for the $20,000 William H. Cotton Scholarship from the Credit Union of Texas is now open. 

The $20,000 scholarship is awarded to a Dallas ISD professional educator seeking a post-baccalaureate degree or certification to enhance their career in the field of education for the benefit of the Dallas ISD community and students.

The William H. Cotton Scholarship was established by the Credit Union of Texas to honor the legacy of William H. Cotton for his 46 years of dedication and service to the district and the credit union. 

To apply by March 31, you should meet the following criteria:

1. Must be a CUTX member with a checking account or a loan product prior to submitting an application.
2. All accounts at CUTX must be in good standing.
3. Must be a district employee in a professional assignment.
4. Must continue to be employed by Dallas ISD in a professional assignment throughout the course of the scholarship.
5. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.

These eligibility requirements must be met throughout the term of the scholarship. CUTX employees and their immediate family members, as well as board members and their immediate family members, are not eligible for this scholarship.

Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the educational institution chosen by the applicant. Continued disbursement of scholarship funds requires a grade of a C or better in all graded courses and passing in a pass/fail course. Prior to the beginning of each semester and disbursement of scholarship funds, scholarship recipients must complete the CUTX Scholarship Questionnaire.

Scholarship funds may be disbursed in varied increments each semester as needed, but the total value of the scholarship is not to exceed $20,000. Scholarship funds will be available for a maximum of seven years.

Those interested in the scholarship can find information and apply at https://www.cutx.org/community/cutx-cotton-scholarship by March 31. Or you can download the flyer.

The HCM Benefits Department is keeping the end-of-year spirit alive by adding new employee discounts to the Employee Discount Program. With more than 300 deals already available, and more on the way, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season. 

Employees are encouraged to unwrap the savings by visiting the Benefits webpage to explore discounts in categories like auto, travel, entertainment, retail, and more.  

Great Wolf Lodge: Enjoy exclusive winter activities at Snow Land at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, included with your stay when you book through Jan. 6. 

Holiday at the Arboretum: Stroll through the dazzling 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Receive a buy-one-get-one-free admission with your Dallas ISD identification. 

Fort Worth Zoo: Plan a visit to the zoo and enjoy discounted tickets using company code DISD202202.

Seaworld: Create family memories at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, included with park admission through Jan. 4.

Dallas Zoo: Step into the magic of Dallas Zoo Lights! Get Dallas Zoo lights tickets now, through Jan. 4.

Stanley: Grab your holiday gifts with Stanley because teachers can save up to 40% off.

For more information, please contact the Benefits Department via email at benefits@dallasisd.org or phone, 972-925-4300.

As the district heads into the winter break, Dallas ISD librarians, teachers, and other team members have curated a special reading list, ideal for those cozy, dark winter evenings.

For many, reading is one of the few times they truly manage to disconnect. In a world where people are constantly multitasking, the simple act of reading forces one to slow down. When holding a physical book or an e-reader, the distractions of emails and social feeds fade away. 

Reading offers a powerful avenue to escape, to learn new philosophies, and to gain empathy by walking in the shoes of others. The experience can be relaxing, fun, and even stressful, but it’s a “good stress,” as the emotional stakes belong entirely to the characters, not to the reader.

FICTION: Literary masterpieces and classics

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong 

Summary: This radiant novel begins with a life-altering moment on a New England bridge. Hai, a young man ready to end it all, is unexpectedly talked down to by an 80-year-old woman with dementia. As he becomes her caretaker, they forge a deeply moving, unlikely friendship. It is a breathtaking story about the “invisible” people in our society and how the strangest connections are often the ones that save us.

 

 

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Summary: Often cited as Steinbeck’s magnum opus, this masterpiece of American literature is currently trending on BookTok, proving that great writing is timeless. Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, it follows the destined rivalry of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—as they reenact the fall of Adam and Eve. It is a big, beautiful, and essential read that wrestles with the ultimate human question: Do we have a choice between good and evil?

 

 

FICTION: Adventure, mystery and fun

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

Summary: A unique mystery thriller narrated by…a pony. Penny (the pony) is reunited with his owner, a girl who grew up in the “less affluent” stable, to help her clear her name after a horse trainer is murdered. It is Knives Out meets Black Beauty—a distinct, funny, and surprisingly touching whodunit that is perfect for escaping reality.

 

 

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Summary: Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no memory, only to realize the sun is dying and he is the only one who can save it. The catch? He’s a middle school science teacher. This is the ultimate celebration of competence, showing how patience, the scientific method, and teacher skills can save the world. (Pro Tip: The audiobook narration is legendary!)

 

 

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Summary: A superbly written adventure set in 1954. Two friends escape a juvenile work farm and hijack an 18-year-old’s road trip, steering him away from California and toward New York City. It feels like a classic American road trip movie—spirited, charming, and filled with literary quality that makes the pages fly by.

 

 

 

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Summary: A heart-pounding page-turner about a bookstore owner in Acapulco who is forced to flee instantly from a cartel. She and her 8-year-old son become migrants, riding “The Beast” (trains) north to the US border. It is a story of a mother’s ferocious love and the terrifying reality of leaving home.

 

 

 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Summary: A sweeping, emotional tribute to the unsung female heroes of history. It follows a nursing student who joins the Army Nurse Corps in 1965 and follows her brother to Vietnam, only to return to a country that wants to forget she was ever there. It is a “big” story that will completely absorb you for days.

 

NONFICTION: Psychology and education

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Summary: Haidt connects the dots between the rise of the smartphone and the decline in youth mental health. It validates what every teacher has seen since 2010, but more importantly, it offers a hopeful, concrete roadmap for how we can reclaim childhood (and our own focus) in 2026.

 

 

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink

Summary: Pink uses science to prove that “timing” isn’t an art, it’s a science. He explains why students test better in the morning and provides the scientific formula for the perfect nap (the “Nappuccino”). It is the practical, self-improvement guide we all need for Winter Break.

 

 

 

The Wager by David Grann

Summary: From the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, this narrative nonfiction reads like a thriller. A British ship wrecks in the 1740s, and when the starving survivors finally return to England, they accuse each other of mutiny and murder. A gripping look at human nature and the stories we tell to survive.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES: Holiday and audio

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone

Summary: The mandatory “holiday cheerful” pick! Lexie and Theo—total opposites—are forced to run a travel agency together during the holidays, taking them to snowy slopes and festive markets acrossEurope. It is cozy, romantic, and full of travel vibes.

 

 

 

Harry Potter: The Complete Series (New Full-Cast Audio Productions)

Summary: These brand-new productions feature over 100 actors, a full musical score, and Dolby Atmos sound effects. It’s like listening to a movie with your eyes closed—the perfect way to “re-read” a favorite while you fold laundry or drive to visit family.

Across the district, schools and departments hosted events to benefit the community, a school, or families making the end of year celebrations a little better for others. They shared these efforts below. 

Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

Booker T. Angels is an annual event coordinated by the Student Council and the Parent Teacher Student Association at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Each year, the students, team members, and families of the school adopt five families who need assistance from H.I. Holland Elementary at Lisbon. The Conservatories (academic, dance, music, theatre, visual arts), along with the PTSA, and Student Council have joined efforts to help support our Booker T Angel Families. The party, which included crafts, pizza, and gift giving,  took place on Dec. 15 at H.I. Holland Elementary.  

David G. Burnet Elementary School

The effort involves giving 19 students in second and third grades a gift of their choice and a gift card as well as other small stocking stuffers before their winter break. The tradition has been in place since 2023 when the students were in kindergarten, first and second grades. Teacher assistant Jesele Perez, who did the first gifting, got assigned again with these students and is doing it again by saving up money of her own, finding sponsors through connections, getting each students’ hobbies and interests. Perez grew up in the same neighborhood as the students, so she knows and has experienced the struggles first-hand on what most low-income families go through during the holidays. She believes that no student should go without a gift during the holidays. With the help of friends who are Dallas ISD graduates, she made it happen and now each and every student in second and third grades will receive a gift and a gift card. Perez and her friends all had fun while working on this project since they knew this is benefitting students that are currently living in the same neighborhood they all grew up in. She hopes this small project positively impacts these students, encourages them to keep up the good work and also give back to the community.

Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School

The fifth grade is sponsoring a Christmas Pet Food Drive.  Toy drives and food drives during this season are common, but those for pets are usual, so the school decided to spread the joy to animal adoption centers.

Trinity Heights Talented and Gifted Counseling Department

This year, the school decided to do a canned food drive. We came up with the idea because so many families have had reduced benefits, job loss, and experienced homelessness. The women’s shelter benefitted from our donation of over 500 canned goods.

Special Services

Listening to KRLD Radio on her way to work, Patricia Ann Washington heard them doing a Radiothon for Make A Wish Foundation. Being a licensed social worker, she is familiar with this organization, so she made a donation. 

Dual Language Department

Each year during Christmas, the department hosts the adopt-a-family outreach event. It’s that special time of the year when the department comes together to support and uplift students and their families. These families are new incoming families to the district that enroll through the International Welcome Center.

Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern

We are a choice school that has a unique economic make up. We are 50% economically advantaged and 50% economically disadvantaged. The school  decided to start our own version of the angel tree called Kwanzaa Kindness. Our families have the option to be a sponsor or sign up if they need help with gifts during the holiday season. The kindness of our sponsors brings joy and hope to families during this holiday season.

Victor H. Hexter Elementary School

Hexter continued its tradition to put up an angel tree for families in need.

Albert C. Black Jr. STEAM Academy

The National Elementary Society students donated 730 canned goods to the For Oak Cliff Community Food Pantry for Thanksgiving and made Veterans Day cards for the veterans at the Dallas VA Medical Center as community service activities. Our cheerleaders marched in the South Oak Cliff Veterans Day parade to the Dallas VA Medical Center that benefited the veterans at the hospital.  

Larry G. Smith Elementary School

The school holds a House Food Drive Competition as an initiative designed to encourage schoolwide participation in helping the community while building teamwork and friendly rivalry among the houses. The effort involves collecting non-perishable food items over a set period of time, with each house competing to donate the most. Students and staff work together to promote the drive, bring in items, track totals, and raise awareness about food insecurity. The idea grew out of a desire to combine community service with school spirit. We noticed that students participate more enthusiastically when there’s a sense of teamwork and competition, so we adapted the traditional food drive into a house-based challenge. We also looked at past service projects and identified that food drives had consistently high engagement, making it a perfect fit for a house competition. 

The primary beneficiaries are local families in need, who receive the donated food through our partner food bank, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church. However, the competition also benefits students who gain experience in leadership, organization, and community empathy. It strengthens house identity, encourages collaboration, and promotes awareness of food insecurity. 

While the competition has been successful, we did face a few challenges: Ensuring consistent participation: Some houses were initially less engaged, so we added reminders, incentives, and student-led promotions to boost involvement. Coordinating collection points and finding space to store and sort the donations required careful planning.

We developed a system to count items to ensure all houses were judged equally, regardless of the types of items donated. Despite these challenges, the House Food Drive Competition has become a meaningful and motivating way for our school community to make a positive impact.

Buckner Terrace Montessori

Our efforts stem from a commitment to serve families in the Buckner Terrace community who experience food insecurity. Through our partnership with the North Texas Food Bank and Children’s Health, we organize regular distributions of food boxes directly from our campus. The idea grew out of conversations with families, staff, and community partners who identified consistent access to healthy food as a major unmet need. By collaborating with established organizations, we are able to provide high-quality, nutritious food in a way that is safe, reliable, and dignified for the families we serve. This initiative benefits children, their families, and individuals in our surrounding neighborhood who face food disparities. Many of our students rely on school meals for consistent nutrition, so offering additional support helps ensure they have the resources they need even when they are not in school. The outreach also strengthens community relationships by connecting families with broader health and wellness resources. One challenge we encountered was coordinating logistics; ensuring we had enough volunteers, managing distribution flow, and storing food safely before events. We also needed to develop communication strategies so families knew when and how to access the support. Despite these challenges, the partnerships and the dedication of our staff and volunteers have allowed us to build a dependable program that meaningfully addresses food insecurity in our community.

Dallas ISD Police Department

Police officers and other employees continued the tradition of their annual toy drive this year. They kicked off the effort with a taco luncheon where donors could drop off toys or cash. The toys were handed out to students at select schools this week.

Margaret B. Henderson Elementary School

This campus food drive had one goal:  to ensure that different aspects of our low-income community felt supported going into the holiday season. It started with giving to the North Texas Food Bank, supporting their ongoing mission to fight hunger across the region. The effort then expanded to directly serving Henderson families who were identified by teachers based on need, resulting in four families receiving complete Thanksgiving meals, including turkeys!

The school also helped four individuals experiencing homelessness close to the campus by providing instant, ready-to-go meals to offer immediate care and support. In the midst of connecting with community partners, it also connected with a church that shared that four families attending their congregation were facing financial crises, so the school sponsored those families with full meals and turkeys as well. Altogether, 221 pounds of food were donated to a local food bank, and approximately 50 individuals across nine families, plus four unhoused community members, benefited from the campuswide effort. There were challenges, but the gratitude from every family and unhoused individual we were able to support made every moment worthwhile. They expressed how thankful they were that our school community saw them, cared for them, and made sure they were not forgotten. Moments like these remind us that compassion is powerful, and Henderson is a place where kindness always finds a way to show up.

Skyline High School Special Education

Every year, the soccer coach and players do a community service project for the holiday season. This year, the Reinhardt Ram Soccer players joined the effort to help provide lunches for those less fortunate in the East Dallas Community.

Lida Hooe Elementary School

The Girls on the Run Club hosted a community drive to collect items for people who are experiencing displacement in the community. Items include snacks, water, blankets, gloves, socks, handwarmers, and other items. 

Martha Turner Reilly Elementary School

Our holiday food box initiative involves assembling and distributing boxes of non-perishable food items and seasonal staples for families experiencing financial hardship. The effort began after identifying an increased need through counselor referrals, campus check-ins, and community feedback. Based on these indicators, the school developed a strategy and coordinated with Reilly cheerleaders to gather donations and organize volunteer support for packaging and distribution.

The school also hosted our annual giving tree, a tradition that supports families who may be facing challenges during the holiday season. The school counselor gathers wish lists from students, and the staff and community come together to provide meaningful gifts for children. This initiative reflects the true spirit of the season—compassion, generosity, and connection. It is an opportunity to uplift one another and ensure that every child experiences the joy and warmth the holidays can bring.

W.H. Adamson High School 

W.H. Adamson High School’s 17th Annual Toy Drive, “Santa’s Workshop,” is held in the spirit of paying it forward. The Adamson Leopards Parent Teacher Organization members, students, and staff are involved in planning the annual toy drive. Adamson’s former community liaison began the tot drive for families in need 16 years ago. Each year since 2008, Adamson hosts more than 200 families, giving presents to about 400 children. The Adamson Band plays live Christmas ensembles, members of the choir sing holiday tunes, the Leopardettes Drill Team meet and greet families as they walk in, and families get to enjoy the event and have photo ops with Santa Claus. Our school would like to give thanks to the Adamson Alumni Association, Adamson PTO, Adamson Athletics, Oak Cliff community partners, as well as Alma Rodriguez and JC Puebla for continuing to make this event possible every year! 

Eduardo Mata Montessori

This October, Eduardo Mata Montessori was excited to participate in Sock-tober, a month-long sock drive to support the community. Socks are the most requested clothing item at homeless shelters, and together we can make a difference by collecting new socks of all sizes for those in need. At the end of the drive, all socks collected were donated to a local shelter.

Winnetka Elementary School

Our wonderful and hard-working PTO will give out toys to each of our scholars in all grade levels.

Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy

The Sudie Williams National Junior Honor Society hosted the third annual canned food drive. Inspired to make a real change in the community, the school came together and donated a total of 6,516 cans. Students also started a coin drive during carpool which raised an additional $681 dollars.

Communication Services

During the holidays, Communication Services says happy holidays with toys, books, clothing and other items for students. The department, which includes Digital, Social,  Internal, Translations, Creative Services, Call Center, DSTV, and Media Services, adopted a classroom at B.H. Macon Elementary School and another at Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School and bought gifts for students based on their needs and wants. This tradition was started by Translation Services, and for the past three years, the whole department has embraced it.

Even while schools are out for winter break, help is always available. Whether you have questions about your benefits, need health support, or just someone to talk to, we’ve got you covered.

From Dec. 22 through Jan. 2 the district will be closed for winter break, but your benefits are still there for you and so is help. Even when offices are closed, assistance is just a phone call away.

Benefits Call Center
Call 972-925-4000 and select the appropriate option:
• Option 1 – Benefits Administration
• Option 2 – Leaves Administration
• Option 3 – Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Benefits Call Center will be Closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 2.

Non-Emergency Health Support

If you are a TRS ActiveCare participant, you can access medical support anytime through Teladoc.

It’s important to know that you must set up your Teladoc account before using the service. To register, you’ll need:
• Your name
• Date of birth
• BCBS Member ID

Visit the Teladoc website or use the mobile app for access.

Flexible Spending Accounts/Health Savings Account

If you have questions regarding your HSA/ FSA, contact Zynera at 855-572-7200 or visit: https://zynera.summitfor.me/. Zynera is available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Zynera will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25. When you call, you will need your FSA/HSA card number, name, and date of birth. If you visit the website, you will need your name, date of birth, social security number, or employee ID.

 Need Emotional Support?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or facing challenges, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available 24/7 to provide confidential support.

Call 972-925-4000, Option 3 or access support through:
• Website: Telus Health
• App: Telus Health One

To log in, you’ll need your district email, username, and password.

Natasha McLaurin’s passion for supporting students has led to an award-winning counseling program at Buckner Terrace Montessori that focuses on social emotional learning and guides students as they begin discovering new possibilities for their future.

As an elementary school counselor, McLaurin takes on the unique task of making college and career readiness meaningful for young students. While in high school, students often focus on life after graduation, McLaurin said the goal at elementary school is to help students learn how to dream.

“We want them to dream of all the possibilities of who they can be and not take anything off the table,” she said.

Through two campuswide initiatives, McLaurin has found creative ways to support students as they explore who they are and who they might become.

One of those initiatives, This is My Story, is a weekly activity McLaurin has led since she started working at Buckner Terrace. Each week, a teacher or administrator shares a personal story about their journey into education. Whether an educator followed a direct path or arrived through multiple careers and life experiences, students can hear these stories on College Mondays.

“It’s a wonderful way to bring a personal touch to discovering college and make it more tangible,” McLaurin said. “Students can connect the reasons why people go to college to adults they know and see every day.”

Another key program she began is the school’s Character Board, which highlights students who demonstrate integrity and strong character in the classroom and with their peers.

“We are a Montessori campus, so our goal is for students to be intrinsically motivated and proud of themselves without external rewards,” McLaurin said. “But we also know they’re kids, so we find small ways to encourage them.”

In her six years with Buckner Terrace, McLaurin has grown alongside the campus through major transitions, including the pandemic and recent building renovations. She said each shift brought new lessons that prepared the school for its current moment of working toward national recognition through the American School Counselor Association.

McLaurin’s dedication recently earned her the Lone Star School Counselor Bronze Award, the first step toward silver and gold recognition through ASCA and the Lone Star School Counselor Association. Through a data-driven application process, McLaurin documented how the counseling program supports students’ academic, social and personal development.  

“There’s no way you can earn this award by doing everything on your own,” McLaurin said. “With the help of other teachers, our campus is deeply rooted in social-emotional learning and in building community, culture, and climate.”

Since earning her bachelor’s degree from Southern University, McLaurin has spent 22 years with Dallas ISD. Originally from New Orleans, a city known for its warmth and hospitality, she brings that same energy and enthusiasm into the halls of Buckner Terrace. These attributes are an essential part of the counseling program’s strong sense of community.  

For the past four years, Buckner Terrace has been recognized as a No Place for Hate campus. The student-driven program promotes inclusion and respect. Through this initiative McLaurin helps students set the tone for a school culture rooted in belonging and compassion.

“Counselors are the heart of the school,” she said. “I’m most proud of the way we’ve been able to focus on inclusivity, empathy and treating others the way you want to be treated.”