Staff News

Married for 16 years, Elena and David Bates are Dallas ISD Darlings. Their love story began while both worked at Thomas C. Marsh Middle School and led and supported student groups and community partnerships.

David began his career in Dallas ISD in 1999 as a Leadership Cadet Corps Instructor at Marsh Middle School, athletic coach and campus leader. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and currently serves the district as Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance and Facility Services/Construction Services Support

Elena joined Dallas ISD as an English as a Second Language teacher at Marsh Middle School in 2000. Elena transitioned to W.T. White High School, where she served in several roles. She later returned to Marsh Preparatory Academy as an assistant principal in 2015 and was later selected as W.T. White Principal in 2016 where she remained until her move to current position in the Office of Transformation and Innovation.

Laney Bates, their 13-year old daughter, attended Everette L. DeGolyer Elementary and Marsh Middle School, now named Thomas C. Marsh Preparatory Academy.

“Dallas ISD Is Home for us because we are invested in the success of our district,” said Elena. “The district’s highs and lows are personal to us.”

Their personal commitment to the district shows on their daily work. Elena is a key team member for the launching and opening of Public School Choice schools, offering more learning experiences to students throughout the district.

David’s work is visible every day in all schools, as him and his team are responsible for the maintenance and operations of schools and central office buildings. David led a team of unsung heroes who quickly took action in clearing schools in the north and northeast Dallas areas affected by a tornado in October 2019, so students could return to class quickly.

“We have countless memories and experiences that we have shared through service to others and have seen the reciprocity as others have poured into us and our daughter,” said David. “Through our years of service to Dallas ISD school communities, we have built lasting relationships with colleagues, students, and their families. We are honored to call Dallas ISD our HOME!”

Are you and your significant other Dallas ISD Darlings? Share your This Is Home to Dallas ISD Darlings story by sending an email to: thisishome@dallasisd.org.

When it comes to cafeteria food and allergens, MealViewer offers peace of mind. Food and Child Nutrition Services’ newest app for school meals offers allergen alerts. Once parents create their students’ profiles, the allergen feature will automatically generate alerts to parents and students notifying them when an allergen is present on the menu. This cuts down on uncertainty and potentially dangerous situations.

Download the MealViewer App today at https://schools.mealviewer.com/district/dallasisdtx.

For special dietary modifications for school meals, parents must fill out a Dietary Request Form.

Maintenance and Facilities Services supports learning by maintaining the physical environment that allows teachers to teach and students to learn. The Maintenance and Facility Service teams ensure that all district facilities:

1. Function properly in terms of building systems.
2. Provide the necessary indoor environment that is conducive to academic success; and
3. Create a welcoming atmosphere because of their aesthetic appeal.

Through the Theory of Action Standards of Service, the MFS team services include but are not limited to the following for all campuses across the district:

• Addressing routine maintenance work orders as requested by campuses and facilities.
• Preventative maintenance and inspections of district facilities and systems.
• Inspections, repairs, and service of the district’s building envelopes.
• Identifying any maintenance risk on equipment, such as but not limited to chillers, boilers, pumps, cooling towers, ground sources heat pumps, and rooftop units.
• Installing, maintaining, and repairing ventilation and various air condition systems and equipment
• Installing and maintaining all the electrical and power systems which include the Main Distribution Panel (MDP) or switchgear, transformers, breaker panels, disconnects, conduit, cable, wiring, lighting, outlets, connected equipment, lighting controls, etc. within Dallas ISD schools and facilities.

Campuses interested in these services can work with their Lead Custodian to submit a work order through SchoolDude.

Teeth are among the body parts that are most used by people of all ages, and they deserve attention, and good dental health starts as soon as the teeth start to come out.

United Health Care has some tips to keep your children’s teeth healthy from the beginning:

• When your child’s teeth first appear, brush them twice daily with a soft toothbrush or wipe with a washcloth or soft gauze
• Make their first dental appointment at about age 1
• At age 3, add a pea‑sized dab of fluoride toothpaste and continue to brush their teeth twice a day
• Floss when teeth start touching
• Limit sugary snacks and drinks
• Provide meals from the five basic food groups
• Take your child to the dentist regularly and ask about sealants and fluoride supplements

These activities will not only help keep your children’s teeth healthy, but they will also teach them about the importance of having good dental hygiene and not skipping on visits to the dentist as they grow up.

Most insurance covers two regular screenings per year for people covered. Check out dental insurance and benefits provided through Dallas ISD for more information.

For many people, dealing with the changes they have had to make because of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about levels of stress and anxiety they had not experienced before. It is normal to experience a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and grief, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Self-care is key to dealing these unexpected emotions.

Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact, according to the NIMH.

Here are some tips the agency’s experts compiled to help people get started with self-care:

• Get regular exercise.Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
• Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated.A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Also, limit caffeinated beverages such as soft drinks or coffee.
• Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
• Try a relaxing activity.Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy such as journaling.
• Set goals and priorities.Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.
• Practice gratitude.Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down at night or replay them in your mind.
• Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
• Stay connected.Reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.

Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you. In addition, although self-care is not a cure for mental illnesses, understanding what causes or triggers your mild symptoms and what coping techniques work for you can help manage your mental health.

For other ideas for healthy practices for your mind, body, surroundings, and relationships, see the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Wellness Toolkits.

*Source: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Dallas ISD is committed to building a culture of exemplary customer service throughout the district based on the tenets of Core 4—Focused, Fast, Flexible, and Friendly. Trainings are being conducted at all schools and departments to ensure that all staff are familiar with these tenets that guide the delivery of professional, high-quality service to our customers, whether they are students, parents, community members or colleagues. Have you been to training?

If you have, you will have learned that Core 4 culture tenets are rooted in the district’s principles of racial equity and cultural responsiveness, comprehensive accountability, responsible use of resources, and collaboration. The redesigned approach to Core 4 includes a rubric that will easily guide employees in their everyday work to achieve the exemplary level of service that is the culture of Dallas ISD.

The goal of the relaunch of the Core 4 culture tenets is to have every Dallas ISD employee participate in a training to get to know the new rubric and expectations by May 14. Once employees participate in the training conducted by Core 4 ambassadors, they will need to complete an online assessment to help us track participation and gauge the level of understanding of the tenets and the rubric.

If you have questions or need help with a training, contact tuwallace@dallasisd.org.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) encompasses systems and procedures to help each child achieve success. The MTSS framework is preventative in nature by providing all students with immediate support and offering campus personnel procedures and guidelines to assist students in the areas of academics, language, and engagement.

Through the Theory of Action Standards of Service, the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) department provides training and support with implementation of the MTSS framework including:

Universal Screening – Universal Screening is the process of assessing all students to identify those who may experience lower than expected academic outcomes. NWEA MAP Growth is the universal screener which consists of brief assessments that measure critical skills in reading and mathematics.  Screening is conducted three times during the school year. Beginning of Year (BOY), Middle of Year (MOY), and End of Year (EOY).

Root Cause Analysis – Root Cause Analysis is a structured team process that assists in identifying underlying factors or causes of an adverse event. This process supports campuses with treating the cause, not just the symptom.

MTSS Interventions – A variety of interventions are available on the website to assist campuses with creating intervention plans for students to address areas of concerns for reading, mathematics and engagement.

The MTSS team collaborates closely with many partners to provide optimal implementation support to individual campuses as well as central departments.  For more information, visit the MTSS Department website, www.dallasisd.org/mtss which includes several useful resources and upcoming professional development opportunities.

For additional information, contact Miranda Madden, director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, at mmadden@dallasisd.org.

Getting regular exercise is important for overall health, but did you know that getting your blood pumping is also good for your eyes?

Reducing the risk of glaucoma

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology studies, those who engage in consistent physical activity are less likely to develop glaucoma and other eye diseases. Glaucoma is a known complication of diabetes, and exercise can have a definite effect on the disease and the development of glaucoma among those dealing with the disease.

For those already diagnosed with glaucoma, exercise has been shown to reduce its effects. Even moderate exercise, such as briskly walking three times a week can improve the blood flow to the retina and the optic nerve, possibly reducing eye pressure and lessening glaucoma symptoms. Combining a vision care plan and regular exercise can make living with glaucoma significantly easier.

Exercise tips

Lowering your risk of vision problems, improving existing glaucoma, and increasing your physical activity doesn’t take much. These are three things you can choose from to add vision-friendly exercise:

• High Intensity Training (HIT) at a moderate intensity for 20-30 minutes, three times a week
• Go for a bris walk with your dog, and if you don’t have a pet, go by yourself
• Do a virtual yoga class

Be sure to reach out to your health care provider to get approval before you begin an exercise program.

With data showing how critical the prenatal to age 3 period in a child’s development is for educational success, Dallas ISD is launching an effort to connect young families with high quality early learning opportunities—Project Legacy 2050.

During Wednesday’s State of the District, Superintendent Michael Hinojosa talked about Project Legacy 2050 as one of the key future initiatives for Dallas ISD. Brain development, social and emotional skills, and language and literacy development happen as soon as a child is born. Those skills play a big role in a child’s future success. With the help of a coalition of partners, Dallas ISD wants to expand early learning opportunities to younger children to get them pre-k ready.

“We want to make the experience of raising children easier for families by connecting them with partners and places that offer crucial services for the development of our youngest children,” Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova said.

Investing in an initiative like Project Legacy 2050 will help Dallas ISD and other school districts in three areas:

• Education – a child’s life sets an early cognitive foundation for the rest of life;
• Economy – parents can work while their children are receiving high quality childcare, which will impact the economy in a positive way;
• Equity – high quality childcare would be more accessible to low-income students of color, particularly in communities at a higher disadvantage.

District leaders have begun conversations with community partners, superintendents from districts in Dallas County and urban council districts to form a coalition to support Project Legacy 2050. The coalition will advocate, support and mobilize high quality early learning for children prenatal to 3 through services and resources needed for their early development, including housing, transportation, health, and childcare.