News

World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, is an opportunity for students, families and staff across Dallas ISD to focus on protecting and improving mental health and well-being. This year’s theme is “make mental health and well-being for all a global priority,” and the district is encouraging everyone to check in with their mental health and intentionally practice self-care. 

Everyone experiences daily stressors, so it is especially important to learn the signs that may indicate an ongoing mental health concern and to pay attention to repeated thoughts and feelings. The following symptoms may be indicators of mental illness when they are experienced for prolonged periods of time:

• Sudden mood changes
• Decreased sense of confidence 
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Withdrawing from relationships
• Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
• Loss of interest in regular activities 
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
• Feeling sad or down 
• Paranoia, delusions or feeling detached from reality 
• Experiencing exhaustion or fatigue
• Difficulty coping with minor problems and daily activities
• Thoughts of suicide

In addition to performing regular check-ins, self-care is a key practice when it comes to maintaining overall well-being, especially for those who may be feeling overwhelmed. Join us in dedicating time to mental wellness by incorporating one or more of these positive habits into your day or week: 

• Do a simple stretching routine. Something as quick as taking a moment to relax your jaw, neck and shoulders can make a difference. 
• Switch off your phone for an hour. Try moving it to another room or turning on “airplane mode” or “do not disturb.”
• Make a playlist of cheerful songs and press “play” whenever you could use a pick-me-up. 
• Get in touch with a friend you have not seen for some time. 
• Organize a friend or family game night and bring out all your favorite board games or video games. 
• Carry a water bottle, and make sure to stay hydrated when you find yourself struggling to concentrate or are feeling extra tired.
• Keep a gratitude journal. 
• Be gentle with yourself, especially on your hardest days. Select a few self-affirmations, and speak to yourself with the same care you would show your friends and family. 
• Spend time outside every day. Even if you only have energy for a few minutes, the fresh air will do you good. 
• Every time someone compliments you, make a note in a journal or on your computer. On bad days, their words may lift your spirits. 

For anyone who is struggling, help is available. Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or mental health care provider with questions and concerns. If you are experiencing a crisis, get immediate support by contacting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in English or Spanish at 988, or by accessing the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., by calling 1-800-950-6264, texting “HelpLine” to 62640 or emailing helpline@nami.org. 

Dallas ISD staff can also take advantage of Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program by LifeWorks. The confidential, secure platform has countless resources available online for free, including on-call counselors who are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Reach out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000, or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information. 

You matter, and so does your mental health and well-being. Take some time to reflect on how you are doing, and prioritize yourself and your needs. And remember: You are never alone. 

*Sources: LifeWorks and World Health Organization

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Dallas ISD’s Information Technology is sharing tips to stay safe online. This week, Avoid Being Phished:

• STOP and think if you are expecting the sender’s email
• Hover over links to verify if it’s from a trusted source
• Don’t respond to unsolicited emails that ask for personal information
• Be super cautious before clicking or downloading attachments
• Don’t be tricked by what appears to be an urgent message
• Remember: If something is too good to be true in appearance, it probably is too good to be true in reality

National Cybersecurity Month has been celebrated since 2004 led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) in a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally. 

This year’s theme—See Yourself in Cyber—shows that everyone is part of cyberspace and that it’s up to each person to make smart decisions to keep important information safe. 

Every year during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Dallas ISD highlights the importance of screening mammograms and other prevention measures as part of its overall wellness initiatives. This year, in honor of the national theme “Together we Rise” we are asking breast cancer survivors and those who have shared the journey with them to share their stories by emailing staffnews@dallasisd.org.

Dallas ISD in partnership with UT Southwestern is also offering the opportunity for staff to get screening mammograms in the health center’s mobile units on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Skyline High School. Screenings will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and require appointments. Annual screenings are recommended for women beginning at age 40.

What you need to know:

• UT Southwestern Medical Center accepts most major insurance plans. Please check with your health insurance provider to see if UT Southwestern is in network.
• The UTSW Mobile Mammography Unit is designed for routine screenings. If you have any breast problems, please consult your physician.
• Patients must wear a mask.
• Each patient will wait in the Mobile Mammography Unit’s dressing room until called by the technologist.
• All patient care areas will be sanitized between patients.
• It’s recommended to wait 4-6 weeks after your COVID-19 vaccination for your mammogram screening.
• Please call 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710 to schedule your appointment.

Oct. 15

https://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/17649/Skyline HS 10.15.22.pdf

Dallas ISD is hiring for key central staff positions that support schools and student success. If you want to make the transition to central staff or are looking to further your career, take a look at the positions highlighted here. 

REO Project manager

The Racial Equity Office is looking for a data-savvy individual to prepare presentations for the Board of trustees, district and community stakeholders. Do you hold project management experience with a focus on strategic planning? Do you have the ability to analyze risks and track project performance? If so, apply to be a  Project Manager III, Racial Equity Office. 

Specialist II, Custodial Staffing

Do you have experience working in a fast paced environment, supporting multiple projects at a time? Are you looking to transition to Human Capital Management to support HR activities? The Specialist II, Custodial Staffing role may be the transition you’re looking for. This is an entry level position, where you will serve as the point person that processes employees through the hiring process.  

Manager I, Alternative Certification

Do you have a passion for leading district programs that further the overall success of our students? Do you hold experience developing and implementing training for your direct reports? Are you able to support overarching goals and a global vision while maintaining focus on crucial details in daily functions? The Alternative Certification department is seeking an enthusiastic individual for their Manager I, Alternative Certification vacancy. Apply now!

During the 2021-2022 school year, Dallas ISD allocated $10 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds for tiered campus support to mitigate learning loss due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The funds were provided for schools to “implement their own unique acceleration and intervention plans” and to “strengthen campus-specific initiatives,” said Derinda Hunter, the director in School Leadership who led the initiative. The funding proved to be successful, and the budget was increased for the 2022-2023 school year. According to Hunter, 239 schools received a total of approximately $12.6 million by the end of August to support their learning recovery and acceleration efforts. 

To determine the amount of funding each campus obtained, schools were tiered based on need for additional support according to numerous predictors, including equity related factors, student achievement and campus climate data. Tier three schools—which had the greatest need for additional support—received $80,000 each, while tier two schools received $55,000 each and tier one schools received $35,000 each. Some of the most common purchases included instructional supplies and resources, software and technology accessories. Funding was also used to acquire new furniture to facilitate small-group learning and increase engagement. 

About 65 percent of tier three schools—the campuses receiving the most funding—and 60 percent of tier two schools used 70 percent or more of their funds last year, leading to exciting results.

“The big success that we have seen was those campuses that spent 70 percent or more of their funding last year moved one or two letter grades,” Hunter said. “Our schools are clearly dedicated to seeing how they can help our students during this time.”

Given the positive impact that the ESSER grant program has had on student outcomes, funding for tiered campus support will continue for the 2023-2024 school year. To learn more about how Dallas ISD is using ESSER funds to support learning recovery and acceleration, visit https://www.dallasisd.org/esser. 

Dallas ISD’s Custodial Services teams are committed to creating a clean, healthy environment for students across the district, and we are thanking them by highlighting their efforts in honor of National Custodian Day on Oct. 2. 

Maria Ceja—the lead custodian at Greiner Middle School and one of the district’s more than 900 custodians—has called Dallas ISD home for the past 26 years. She arrived with 20 years of experience working with adults, but when she came to Yvonne A, Ewell Townview Center, she quickly realized she had a passion for supporting students. That passion only grew when she moved to  Margaret B. Henderson Elementary School and then to W.W. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, where she has spent the past decade. 

“I absolutely love the students,” she said. “Many of the students at Henderson Elementary come to Greiner, so I know everybody. They look at me like I am their aunt or their grandma, because I know them and I know all their families.”

Ceja is intentional about supporting each and every student, especially those who may be struggling to stay in school. 

“I always stop to talk to them,” she said. “I tell them, ‘I need to see you in class, and I need to see you at graduation.’ When you make it there, bring me a graduation invitation. And they do. A lot of them come back and invite me to their high school and college graduation ceremonies.”

 Serving as a custodian in Dallas ISD requires being fast, focused, flexible and friendly, and Ceja imparts those lessons to her team every day. Their schedules are often busy, as each custodian oversees 20-25 classrooms and has limited time to spend in each one, but Ceja said it is all worth it to create the kind of environment for students that she would want for her own family members. 

Aaron Stephens, assistant director of Custodial Services, could not agree more. 

“Custodial Services’ ultimate goal is to provide the safest environment for our students and to eliminate any distractions that could impede learning,” he said. “It’s very hard work, but we have an amazing staff whose teamwork is driving us forward. Thanks to them, we have been able to make a huge impact at all Dallas ISD schools.” 

Help us show appreciation for custodians across the district by: 

• Telling them “thank you,” whether it is in person, through a handwritten note or on social media. 
• Helping them out in small ways by keeping your workspace clean and throwing out any trash you see around your department or campus. 
• Hosting an appreciation event to thank them for their service and get to know them better. 
• Nominating them so they can be recognized by @TeamDallasISD for their hard work or a recent accomplishment. 
• Collecting and delivering thank-you notes from staff or students to brighten their day. 

“The most important part is the students,” Ceja said. “I really take pride in what I do to help them learn, and I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.” 

Interpreters around the world are celebrated annually on International Translation Day on Sept. 30 to pay tribute to the work they do in facilitating dialogue and creating understanding and cooperation. Dallas ISD is home to a small but mighty team of 25 dedicated Translation Services professionals, and they are going to great lengths to transform student lives across the district. 

“It’s very rewarding,” said Adriana Cabeza, a supervisor with Translation Services. “Many times it doesn’t feel like work—it just feels like we get to help. When we arrive at different schools, it’s so welcoming because everyone is happy to see you. The staff is happy and the parents are excited that we are there, because they know we are going to help bridge that language gap.” 

Dallas ISD’s Translation Services team has expertise in American Sign Language, Arabic, Burmese, Chin, French, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili. They provide the following services to staff and district students/families: 

• Interpreter hotline—Interpreters operate a telephone-based tool available Monday through Friday to bridge the language gap between school staff and limited English-proficient parents. 
• Document translation—Interpreters translate brochures, curricula, handbooks, letters, manuals, emergency messages and more to increase parent involvement and understanding. 
• Interpretation—Interpreters attend regular sessions including ARD meetings, community events, parent/teacher conferences and workshops to provide efficient translations for families. 
• Academic tutoring—Interpreters work with some groups of students who are new to the country to orient them to school practices and expectations and assist them with language learning. They usually meet with the same students twice a week for a few years until the students are ready to be independent. 

Interpreters covered an average of 4,000 meetings last school year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this number was even higher because the whole district depended on online meetings to communicate with parents, said Ivette Weis, translations director. The work is nonstop, since after regular hours, the interpreters continue to provide services at evening school and community meetings.

Their schedules may be busy, but the team meets students and parents where they are to make  Dallas ISD feel like home in any language. Whether they are helping Special Services connect a student to resources, working with a campus nurse to communicate that a student is feeling sick and needs to be picked up or alerting a parent to an attendance issue, they are making a difference. 

“It’s so important to get information to parents,” said Alejandra Granell, translations specialist. “I remember going to schools early on in the nine years since we’ve started, and we’d have zero parents there. Now, I go to schools, and I have parents that I started with in elementary school that recognize me when they reach high school because they’ve come to the meetings, and then they spread the word that interpreters are available.” 

“You feel so good after a meeting is done and you were able to help,” Cabeza agreed. “It’s very fulfilling.” 

Dallas ISD appreciates all the Translation Services team members who are working tirelessly to make memorable moments and provide equal access to all students and families. The district is home thanks to efforts like these! 

Pictured above: Translation Supervisor Alejandra Rios

The weather is starting to change and cooler days setting in signal the start of flu season, and Dallas ISD is offering staff the opportunity to prepare for it with a series of flu vaccination clinics. 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 clinics in various locations in the district through Dec. 10. 

Anyone can get the flu, and serious problems related to it can develop at any age, but some people are at a higher risk of developing complications, such as people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years of age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people in these high-risk groups and those who live with them get the flu vaccine as soon as possible in the fall. 

Flu shots are free to Dallas ISD staff who are insured through TRS-Active Care plans. To register for the clinic nearest to you, visit www.dallasisd.org/fluclinics.

On Tyler Street in Dallas’ Bishop Arts neighborhood sits a little store chock full of cultural nostalgia for Mexico. From leather goods to pottery, houseware, clothing, and jewelry, Heritage Collective DFW aims to elevate Mexican artisans. The store is owned and operated by the family of Elba Munoz, who – in her day job – is a longtime administrative assistant in Dallas ISD.

Although Munoz was born in California, her Mexican roots run strong and deep. And the store is a reflection of the love she holds for her parents’ birthplace.

“Both my parents were born in the beautiful colonial state of Guanajuato,” she says. Her father was hired at age 17 in the immigration program called braceros, which brought millions of Mexican guest workers to the states to work. “My dad was a humble and hardworking man,” Munoz said. “He was proud to say that he worked to bring food to the American table.”

Elba was born in Salinas and she and her sister spent their early years in the nearby town of Watsonville, a major population center for migrant workers, before moving back to their parents’ hometown in Guanajuato.

“In our U.S. school, we were caught between two cultures and two languages,” Elba said. “When we tried to speak Spanish, our native language, the teachers made us wash our mouths out with soap. My father decided that was not something he wanted us exposed to. So he decided to take us back to Mexico, and my mother stayed with us there while he came back and forth to the states to work in the fields.”

After attending private school in Mexico, Elba grew up and married Alberto Munoz, from her family’s hometown of Leon. They moved back to California, staying there a few years until the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 convinced them to seek more stable ground.

Lifelong career in Dallas ISD     

“When we arrived in Dallas in July of 1991, my oldest daughter, Montserrat or “Monsie,” was turning four years old, and it was time for her to go to pre-K,” Elba said. On registration day at Travis Elementary (now Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted), Monsie’s teacher asked if Elba could stay and help her communicate with the other parents, most of whom were Spanish speakers. “She asked me to volunteer, and of course, I said yes. That was my first experience with Dallas ISD.”

It was the beginning of a lifelong career for Elba in the Dallas school district – first working in Parent Involvement, then in a campus office as Computerized Records Controller, and later as office manager and administrative assistant in several departments. Currently, she is an administrative assistant in Communication Services, marking 29 years this month as a proud employee of Dallas ISD.

Dallas and the district have become home. But the family treasures their legacy in Mexico, and the store in Bishop Arts is a way to honor their homeland. With both her husband’s family and her own involved in the leather industry in Guanajuato state, Elba and daughters Monsie, Melissa and Kathy, created an online store in late 2019.

A family affair 

“We started going to Mexico to bring back artisan-made, handmade products to sell. Everything you find in our little store is made in Mexico,” Elba said. “From chocolates to shoes, to buckles, chairs, clothing, bags, jewelry, pottery and home decorations, it is all made in Mexico.“

“These are all things inspired by the people we love and cherish in Mexico,” said daughter Melissa, who takes turns with her parents and siblings to operate the store as a family affair. “The store is a generational legacy. It’s been such a blessing.”

From the online business, still active at www.heritagecollectivedfw.com, the family opened a small shop across the street from the current location, later expanding to their present home where every item evokes a taste of Mexico. Home goods and artisanry made in Leon and in San Miguel de Allende, also in Guanajuato state, can be found in every corner.

It’s a little bit of Mexico right here in Dallas. As one customer said recently, “I just walked into your store and I felt like I was back home again.”

For Hispanic Heritage month, the store is holding the following events:

• On Sept. 17 and Oct. 1, “Celebrating Us” Popup markets will celebrate local Latinx/Hispanic vendors.
• On Friday, Sept. 23, a Mexican artisan will be teaching a jewelry-making class at the store, with materials that she will supply.
• On Oct. 7, the store will host Loteria Night, similar to bingo night, complete with tacos, drinks, and games.

“We want to bring recognition to other businesses who haven’t yet opened their own stores,” Melissa said. “We are all about helping each other and the community.”

Procurement Services is inviting all Dallas ISD staff to participate in their monthly lunch and learn events. These trainings are especially relevant to office managers, coordinators, administrative assistants and specialists. 

With your participation, you will learn new procurement information, including:

• End-user resource guide
• Procurement dashboard
• Procurement website
• Bid process
• Supplier information
• How to complete an SOW
• What is an RFP, RFQ and RFI?
• How to look up awarded vendors
• What is an awarded vendor versus an approved vendor?

Each training will occur the first full week of each month on Wednesdays from 1-1:30 p.m. For a full list of training dates and the Zoom information, visit https://bit.ly/3TFAiRi.