Staff News

Dallas ISD art teachers are incredibly talented, but did you know that many of them are also working artists? You can see just how talented they are in a special exhibit at the Music Hall in Fair Park

The HeArt of Teaching is a joint collaboration by Dallas ISD, the Dallas Education Foundation, and Dallas Summer Musicals that highlights the talents of nearly 60 district art teachers. Their works of art will be on display  until Oct. 23. Admission is free (though a valid ticket to the State Fair of Texas is required through Oct. 17).

A fundraiser culmination event celebrating our teacher-artists will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25. All artwork was donated and will be available for sale with proceeds benefitting the Dallas Education Foundation to support the district’s mission of accelerating student success. Registration information can be found at futureofdallas.org/event2021

Seasonal flu mimics many of the same symptoms of COVID-19, which can make it difficult for patients and providers to tell the difference between the two illnesses. Getting a flu shot is an important step we can all take to protect ourselves and our families.

Dallas ISD will provide access to convenient walk-up flu shot clinics for employees at a variety of times at campuses, central office and service centers. Flu shot clinics will be available through Dec. 10 at various locations. To find the date, time and location most convenient to you, please visit https://www.dallasisd.org/fluclinics. We recommend that staff register as soon as possible.

Flu vaccines are free for employees enrolled in TRS-Active Care insurance, other medical insurance plans and Medicare.

The district and the flu s will be taking extra steps to ensure employees feel safe while receiving a flu shot.

If you have questions or concerns, please call 972-925-4300 or email benefits@dallasisd.org.

Dallas ISD is going pink for the entire month of October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Several activities and opportunities to learn more about breast cancer, early detection, and treatments are planned throughout the month.

You can show your support for breast cancer survivors and their families by wearing pink one day the week of Oct. 11-15. And if you choose to wear pink, you can also wear jeans! A department or campus can pick one day to Pink Out or let individual employees choose their day, keeping in mind meetings and activities that might require more professional attire.

In keeping with COVID safety protocols, the Benefits Department will be distributing pink masks to central and campus staff. District employees to add a Breast Cancer Awareness pink ribbon graphic to their signature line for the month of October.

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and about 2,100 men are diagnosed every year. If you are a survivor or someone in your family is a survivor, share your story by emailing staffnews@dallasisd.org using the subject Dallas ISD Goes Pink. Submissions will be shared throughout the month.

For more information and resources about the district’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month efforts and resources visit www.dallasisd.org/breastcancerawareness.

Breast Cancer Awareness Tip

Will eating vegetables and fruits lower the risk of cancer?

Some recent studies suggest that a higher intake of fruits vegetables may have a helpful effect on the recurrence of breast cancer. Because other studies have shown a correlation between increased risk of breast cancer and higher index of body fat, increasing the number of fruits and vegetables in your diet is always a good idea. Fruits and vegetables are not only great sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber that nourish the body, they are also helpful aides in weight control because they are filling without adding a lot of calories to a meal. Make sure you add at least one fruit and vegetable to each meal and try to make your choices colorful to get the widest range of nutritional benefits.

Dallas ISD and community partners are offering booster shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to those who qualify Saturday, Oct. 2.

The COVID-19 Pop Up Clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Townview Magnet Center, 1201 E. 8th St.

It’s important to note that the booster applies only to the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine and only to people 18 and older who meet the eligibility requirements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend booster doses for recipients of the Moderna or J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines at this time. Mixing and matching vaccine brands is not currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or recommended by the CDC

Who should get the booster shot?
Here is the list who should get the booster dose at least six months after receiving the second Pfizer shot:

• Individuals 65 years of age and older
• Residents of long-term care settings
• Individuals 50-64 with underlying medical conditions
• Individuals 18-49 with underlying medical conditions and those 18-64 who live or work somewhere that puts them at high risk of getting COVID if the personal benefits outweigh the personal risks

Who hasn’t been faced with a sudden change in direction for a project or encountered an unexpected obstacle to completing a crucial task? Being flexible—striving for the yes—is key to success and also one of the core tenets of the culture that guides how we approach our work in Dallas ISD.

Flexibility is a basic component of problem solving. Whether it’s finding the best way for a student to understand a lesson, helping a parent find the right resource to address a need or providing support to a campus at a crucial time, focusing on ways to fix issues by both developing solutions and helping alleviate conflict are key to successful interactions with each other, with students and with families.

In Dallas ISD, we will do whatever it takes to meet the needs of our students, families and employees. We eliminate barriers and embrace innovative problem-solving. Through the district’s culture tenets, employees have the flexibility to adapt to “on-the-ground” situations and create an environment that is truly responsive to needs and creates positive experiences.

Flexibility within the district’s culture tenets means:

• Anticipating the needs of others and pursuing equitable solutions that are thoughtful and considerate of the feelings and perceptions of others
• Collaborating and/or compromising to arrive at a common solution that is mutually understood
• Consistently communicating with all involved to generate new solutions
• Explaining the rationale for change and practicing sensemaking for all parties involved

Following these practices shows a desire to help and to put your knowledge, expertise, and creativity to work to create an exceptional experience for all. While the way an organization functions is framed by rules and laws, it doesn’t have to lead to rigidity in how we approach solving problems and helping others. Every interaction is different. Being able to adapt, pivot, and find a solution within the rules is key to maintaining a culture that is open to innovation, equity and acceptance.

Employees can find and download their Confirmation of Benefits Statements for the annual enrollment period that ended Aug. 23 in the Benefits Enrollment Portal. This year, the document will not be mailed to employees’ home addresses. To find and download your confirmation, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Log in to the Benefits Enrollment Portal:  https://benefits.dallasisd.org.

Step 2: From the Employee portal home page, go to Manage Your Forms & Documents and click on View Details. This will take you to the Statements page.

Step 3:  Click on the Annual Enrollment (Sep1, 2021) to view your 2021 Annual Enrollment Confirmation Statement

If you have questions, or need assistance, please call 972-925-4300 or email Benefits@dallasisd.org.

Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy and Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early College High School at Mountain View have earned National Blue Ribbon School status for the second time in less than a decade.

National Blue Ribbon status is one of the highest U.S. Department of Education recognitions for campuses where students perform at very high levels or where exemplary progress is being made toward closing achievement gaps.

Both campuses are among the first Early College High Schools created by Dallas ISD. Each early college high school partners with a higher education institution to offer students the opportunity to earn credit for both high school and college courses. College tuition fees are waived, allowing students the possibility of earning an associate degree or up to 60 hours of college credit—which can be applied toward a four-year degree—upon high school graduation.

“Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy and Trinidad Garza Early College High School have a history of success for all students no matter the demographics, academic background, or income status,” said Cheryl Nevels, executive director of Dallas ISD’s P-TECH & Early College Programs. “The goal of increasing college attendance for historically underrepresented scholars is being realized through the rigorous coursework, the culture of excellence, and the firm academic foundations these campuses are providing. Preparing scholars to achieve college and career success is second nature for these campuses. They truly believe that every child can achieve if provided the chance to do so each and every day. We are honored that two of our early colleges received national recognition, once again, for being among America’s most successful schools.”

The Gilliam Collegiate Academy partners with Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus to develop students from minority and low-income communities into scholars who excel at college work. The collegiate academy was able to earn National Blue Ribbon status in 2014 and again this year because of their focus on college access and success has remained unchanged since the campus opened in 2008, said Gayle Rodgers, the campus’ inaugural and current principal.

Housed inside the Dallas College Mountain View Campus, Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early College High School offers a supportive academic program that blends high school and college work. Garza ECHS first earned National Blue Ribbon status in 2015 when current principal, Macario Hernandez, was an assistant principal. Hernandez said the school’s biggest strength is a culture of acceptance, inclusion and unity, which hones excellence, motivation and creativity in both his students and staff.

Central Staff leaders, the HCM Central Staff Leadership Development team encourages you to transform your leadership by learning and practicing key skills during October and November with a series of engaging sessions.  All sessions are aligned to one of the four performance evaluation domains in the CMS and CSEI systems. Sign up in Cornerstone for any of our upcoming live facilitated online learning sessions that take place select Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m.

Mindset in the Workplace – Oct. 5 or 12

Providing Actionable Feedback – Oct.19 or 26

Multiple Generations at Work – Nov. 2 or 9

The 5 Languages of Workplace Appreciation – Nov. 16

While the content is tailored to leaders, anyone can participate. Registration for each session closes the day prior to the session, and those registered will receive a link to join the session. You can attend one or all the sessions.

Thanks to a team collaborating and working together, Dallas ISD has successfully eliminated a backlog of about 2,000 unprocessed referrals for Special Education services.

Nearly 400 Dallas ISD employees have worked since late May to process the backlog.

As part of the district’s ongoing commitment to educate all students, last spring, Dallas ISD discovered the backlog of about 2,000 unprocessed evaluations and referrals for Special Education services. The program is one of the district’s fastest growing areas.

To process the backlog, the Dallas ISD Special Education team reached out by phone, email and in-person to connect with every family with an unprocessed evaluation or referral. Parents then decided whether to consent or decline a student evaluation for Special Education services. The district has up to 45 days to complete the evaluation after the parent consents but is working to complete evaluations much sooner.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, but it’s amazing how a team with a common vision, goal and deadline can race to the finish line together and pick each other up along the way,” said Gena Koster, assistant superintendent of Special Populations.  “We are committed to not only processing the backlog, but also to revising processes, inputs, and expectations that have led to this problem.”

Dallas ISD has partnered with Stetson & Associates, a nationally recognized firm that supports special education departments across the country, to help redefine the district’s processes and procedures.

Koster added that the district will diligently work to ensure such a backlog never happens again.

“We’ve turned the first corner, but we still have room to grow and improve,” Koster said. “But thanks to a team that is dedicated to helping meet every student’s needs, we are confident that we will ensure all of our students CAN!.”

To learn more about the backlog, visit www.dallasisd.org/spedforward.

For a year and a half, they have been at the frontline of Dallas ISD’s efforts to keep staff and students safe from the spread of COVID-19, often working shorthanded, on weekends, and late into the night. Through it all, the district’s 948 custodians have exemplified the core tenets of the district’s culture—fast, flexible, focused and friendly. Celebrate National Custodian Day by saying thank you to the custodians at your campus or department.

While this year, the Oct. 2 celebration falls on a Saturday, any day is good to thank the men and women who have embraced the additional duties of constantly disinfecting high-touch areas, spraying at least once a week to kill the virus on surfaces, and stepping in any time additional cleaning is required. And when the city was paralyzed by an unprecedented freeze, some of them even slept at their campuses to prevent damage.

When the pandemic started, they eagerly learned new skills to disinfect their schools and buildings, distributed thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment, and set up clear plastic partitions to help combat the spread of COVID-19 and welcome students back to the classroom. This in addition to their regular duties of sweeping, mopping, cleaning, taking out the trash, troubleshooting repairs, keeping track of work orders and the general running of the buildings to which they are assigned.

“They are doing a lot of the heavy lifting behind the scenes,” said Aaron Stephens, assistant director of Custodial Services. “Everybody is doing what they need to do to meet the needs of keeping students and staff safe.”

A testament to their focus and flexibility is the fact that they have been instrumental in keeping schools running through tornadoes, arctic freezes and pandemics, said David Bates, assistant superintendent of Maintenance and Operations. Bates also boasts of a 4 percent vacancy rate and high morale among custodians despite the challenges presented by the current situation and credits the department’s 12 supervisors for making this happen by keeping the culture tenets in the forefront.

“Custodians have been through the ringer,” he said. “But when we had to get schools ready in the shortest summer ever for 100 percent face-to-face instruction, they did it. We had three school opening dates and not one issue.”