Staff News

Mia Witt didn’t know why she got summoned to the principal’s office earlier this month, but some of her students thought it was funny.

Witt, a special education inclusion teacher at Onesimo Hernandez Elementary School, is the first recipient of a quarterly $250 recognition provided by Carter Financial Management. The effort will spotlight and thank dedicated teachers by providing funds for them to spend in their classrooms. The award is coordinated by the district’s Partnership Services and Special Education departments.

Parents, community and staff were encouraged to identify nominees that demonstrate qualities of a distinguished special education teacher, setting high standards and demonstrating commitment for improving outcomes for students who receive special education services in Dallas ISD.

Witt graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and studied Elementary Education at UNT.

“Ms. Witt goes above and beyond what is expected of a teacher,” said teacher Danielle Wegman. “She seeks out challenging students and goes the extra mile to engage them in their learning and help them conquer challenges outside of school as well. She sought out the challenge of joining an ACE school because of her love for transforming the lives of disadvantaged students. During her time at Hernandez ACE she has worked well outside the prescribed hours of tutoring to even ride the bus with her students to prevent fights.”

Teacher Dora Griffin said Witt helps her students from the minute they walk into Hernandez until the minute they leave to go home.

“She knows every student on campus by name, even the gen ed students,” Griffin said. “She helps motivates and encourage every student to be and do his or her best.”

Campus staff have until May 15 to apply for the Grants for Innovative Teaching program.

The Junior League of Dallas provides the grants of up to $2,000 to fund innovative learning projects. Teachers, librarians, principals and assistant principals can apply for the grants.

Apply here!

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7–12, and, to celebrate, multiple Dallas businesses and restaurants are offering special discounts to our tireless classroom educators.

Tacos Y Mas

Tacos Y Mas has deals going on for teachers all week. Teachers need to show a valid teacher ID to redeem. See the flyer here. The deals are:

• Monday: Free street taco
• Tuesday: Free churo
• Wednesday: Free drink
• Thursday: Free tortilla soup
• Friday: Free nachos

Raising Cane’s

Teachers who show their ID can receive a free box combo on Tuesday from 3­–8 p.m. See the flyer here.

Chipotle

Teachers, faculty and staff who stop by Chipotle with their faculty ID on Tuesday from 3 p.m.–close can get a buy-one/get-one-free burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos. The deal is only valid in-restaurant.

Cicis

Teachers with a valid ID can enjoy a free buffet at Cicis on Tuesday. Get the coupon here.

Designer Shoe Warehouse

Designer Shoe Warehouse is offering Dallas ISD employees 20-percent off regular priced items and 10-percent off clearance items on Thursday, May 10 from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. DSW has locations at the Preston Center Pavilion, 9335 Westchester Drive, and The Shops at Park Lane, 8160 Park Lane. See the flyer here.

Snuffers

In honor of teacher appreciation week, Snuffers is offering all teachers 15 percent off their meals from May 7-11. Go here to see a list of Snuffers locations.

JCPenney

JCPenney is offering Dallas ISD teachers and staff a re-usable discount card redeemable in-store or online. All district employees are welcome to use the coupon available through the staff email announcement. The coupon is valid through July 31.

Online purchases

65-percent off select original and regular priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || 30-percent off select sale and clearance priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || Extra 15-percent off select furniture, mattresses, housewares, floor care, custom blinds and shades. **Standard Exclusions Apply

In-Store Purchases

 60-percent off select original and regular priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || 30% off select sale and clearance priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || Extra 15% off select furniture, mattresses, housewares, floor care, custom blinds and shades. **Standard Exclusions Apply

Email thehub@dallasisd.org to add any other deals to this list!

Young Women’s STEAM Academy hosted the Dallas ISD AVID Model Showcase on April 23 where more than 50 educators gathered to learn and see best practices about AVID hands-on.

The showcase experience included Dallas ISD Trustee Jaime Resendez, Deputy Superintendent Israel Cordero, Deputy Chief Stephanie Elizalde, and a few others who came to support AVID and share a few words of inspiration.

The showcase experience included classroom observations and a chance to speak with experienced AVID teachers, administrators, and students.

Dallas ISD is celebrating 16 years with the AVID program and is thrilled to have two AVID National demonstration schools in the district, T. J. Rusk Middle School and A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School. As the program continues to grow, it is adding more campuses and working hard to show student achievement through proven data.

Tamika Stevenson and Ebony Palmer, AVID District Coordinators, work daily with campuses to make sure the four domains of AVID are met: Instruction, Systems, Leadership, and Culture.  AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

“I have a degree in the STEM field and have always valued the importance of training young women in the areas of STEM,” said Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde.  “As educational leaders it is critical  that we to teach our young women three C’s – Competence, Courage and Compassion, and it is clear today that the young women at this school are truly being led by example.”

A national group named Dallas ISD’s alternative certification teacher program as one of the top 10 programs in the country.

The Dallas ISD program prepares college graduates and career changers to become top-tiered teachers in the district. The National Council on Teacher Quality in April ranked the Dallas ISD teacher certification program in the top 10 out of 129 similar programs.

“With the high number of new teachers in the workforce, particularly in schools with large populations of traditionally underserved students, it is imperative that programs provide prospective teachers with the proper support to become effective first-year teachers,” said Kate Walsh, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality.

The Dallas ISD Alternative Certification program is currently accepting applications for future teachers. Go here to apply and learn more.