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Mark Wagner, a multiskill maintenance team member, was standing beneath a tree after helping set up the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Albert C. Black Elementary School in case he was needed during the event when Chief Operations Officer David Bates asked if the maintenance crew had water.  

Several people in the audience were overheating due to the temperature that day and the sun shining overhead, including a little girl who came to take shelter in the partial shade of the tree. Wagner’s team did not have any water on hand, so Wagner headed straight to a nearby 7-Eleven to fix the problem.

“I went, got water and came back, and that was it,” he said. “It was nothing I wouldn’t do for anyone else.”

While Wagner saw his actions as just another way of doing his job, Pamela Lear, deputy superintendent of Staff and Racial Equity, witnessed his fast, flexible customer service at the groundbreaking ceremony and decided to honor him for stepping up.

District leaders have been handing out special Dallas ISD lapel pins to commend team members who go above and beyond, and Lear presented Wagner with one not long after the event. 

“It was an honor to be recognized,” Wagner said. “I have been in Dallas ISD for 10 years, and I like it all. It’s nice to see an issue that needs to be taken care of and make it right.” 

Wagner said he will continue to strive for the yes and act with urgency for all as he works with his team to resolve campus work orders, repair flooring, build walls and office spaces and more. 

“We always try to be professional and fix any problems that need to be taken care of,” Wagner said. “We can’t always fix things immediately, but within a few days, we try to get the jobs done. Over the years, we’ve done a lot of good work and I enjoy that.”

Calling all Dallas ISD educators! The Junior League of Dallas’ Grants for Innovative Teaching 2023-2024 application period for unique and creative projects is now open.

All Dallas ISD educators are eligible to apply for funding up to $2,500 for innovative teaching projects for all grade levels and subjects. 

The Junior League of Dallas is seeking projects that reach beyond traditional curriculum. Examples include incorporating technology in a new way, addressing an issue or weakness in students’ understanding in a creative way, offering students experiences beyond those provided in a typical school day or enhancing engagement through hands-on or experiential learning. 

Visit the following link and follow the simple steps to apply or to obtain more information: https://www.jldallas.org/grants-for-innovative-teaching/. The application deadline is April 17. Applicants will be notified no later than July 2023 if their application has been accepted or rejected.

Can you recognize a phishing email right away? These scams are more and more common and can often be hard to spot without being constantly vigilant. Sometimes they seem to come from sources you know or trust. Dallas ISD’s Information Technology is here to help by sharing tips to recognize these scams and avoid being phished.

• Look out for spelling and grammar errors
• Don’t click on links or attachments you aren’t familiar with
• Is the sender a legitimate source/contact?
• Be aware of unsolicited emails that ask for personal information
• Don’t download files that you did not request or are expecting
• Use/request materials via Google Drive or SharePoint from peers instead of having to download file attachments
• Avoid clicking/opening on OneNote (Example: file.one) attachments

If you think you or a member of your team is experiencing a privacy matter involving student data or any kind of cybersecurity incident, please submit a ticket immediately and ask that the ticket be routed to the Security Team. 

If you are thinking about furthering your education, don’t hesitate to apply now for the 2023 William H. Cotton Scholarship, worth $20,000, for Dallas ISD educators who want to pursue post-graduate degrees. The deadline to submit the completed scholarship application is March 31.

The scholarship was established by Credit Union of Texas to honor the legacy of Cotton’s 46 years of dedication and service to Dallas ISD and the Credit Union of Texas. It is awarded to one district educator or administrator seeking to pursue continuing post-baccalaureate education, including certifications, to further their career in the field of education for the benefit of the Dallas ISD community and its students. Cotton was a long-time principal and administrator who was also the first African-American president of the Dallas School Administrators Association. He retired in 2000 as an associate superintendent.

Who is eligible?

• Applicant must be a CUTX member with a checking account or a loan product prior to submitting an application. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
• Checking account, and all other accounts at CUTX, must be in good standing. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
• Must be a full-time or part-time Dallas ISD faculty or administrator. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
• Must be intended to further your career in education and serve the Dallas ISD community during the course of the scholarship term. Eligibility requirements must be met annually for renewal.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• All required attachments must be submitted with your application (see below).
• CUTX employees and family members of CUTX employees are NOT eligible for this scholarship.

 The rules

• Incomplete applications or those missing any required documents will not be considered.
• Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.
• Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the educational institution. Continued disbursement of scholarship funds requires a grade of C or better in a graded course and passing in a pass/fail course.
• The scholarship value will be awarded in increments of $5,000 per semester over a period of four semesters.

For more information about the scholarship and to apply by March 31, visit https://www.cutx.org/community/cutx-cotton-scholarship.

Thinking of retiring this year? Dallas ISD will pay you cash for your unused local days. The deadline to submit your intent-to-retire date in Oracle Self-Service is noon on April 14, 2023. 

The more days you have remaining when you retire, the higher your award. Employees who notify Human Capital Management by entering their intent-to-retire date in Oracle Self-Service by the deadline can receive a flat daily rate of pay for any unused local days accrued by July 31. 

The exact rate to be paid will be determined upon calculation of all the participants’ remaining local days (calculated by July 31) for the year. There is no cap to the number of local days paid, and there is no time in service requirement.

Remember, retiring employees must enter their retirement date in Oracle Self-Service no later than noon on April 14 to be eligible for the award. Those who do not enter their separation date in Oracle Self-Service by the deadline will not be eligible for the award.

If you have additional questions, contact the Benefits Department at (972) 925-4300.

Kindergarten teacher Jimmie Pickering was inspired to become an educator after advocating for her youngest son, who had learning challenges, and seeing him flourish as a student in Dallas ISD. 

Her passion for closing learning gaps and helping children become college and career ready convinced her to join Elisha M. Pease Elementary School, an Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) school, seven years ago. Now she is encouraging other teachers to take the leap to an ACE campus during the open transfer period. 

“I’ve heard people say it’s hard. It’s not hard,” Pickering said. “If you have a passion for student success, ACE is where you want to be. You get to learn what rigor looks like. You get to learn depth of knowledge and how to bring that out of your students.”

The open transfer period allows eligible teachers, counselors and media specialists to accept a position at another campus for the following school year. During the open transfer period, current principal approval is not required, although best practice would be for the team member to inform their current principal of their desire to transfer.

To be eligible for an open transfer, team members must meet the following criteria: 

• Hold a valid Texas Teacher Certificate or hold a valid District of Innovation Certification Waiver in the requested subject-area vacancy and meet TEA/SBEC Certification Standards for the position 
• Must not be entering their fourth year of an Alternative Certification Program 
• Must not be identified for non-renewal at the end of the current school year due to performance and/or misconduct

Pickering started out at Pease Elementary as a substitute teacher and has worked hard to pursue excellence in the classroom ever since. She recently became her campus’ 2022-2023 teacher of the year, something she credits to her personal and professional development through the ACE model. 

She has helped countless students close learning gaps through tiered small group instruction and targeted resources, and she said she loves seeing them go from not being able to write their names to reading books with confidence.

“Along with your education, ACE grows your heart, because you are always asking, ‘What can I do? How can I make my students great?’” Pickering said. “You want to do that, and you see each one of your colleagues wanting the exact same thing. It’s a culture of happiness, of joy, of togetherness, and it’s good.”

If you are interested in pursuing a new opportunity for growth, apply online using your EAD login at www.dallasisd.org/careers using the internal openings link. The Human Capital Management team will email notifications of approval/denial throughout the open transfer period. Transfers are only final once an approval email notification has been sent from Human Capital Management. All notifications will be completed by May 5, 2023.

“Don’t be afraid of ACE campuses,” Pickering said. “If anything, you need to flock to them because they’re going to provide you with the resources and the professional development that you need, not only for yourself to grow you as an educator but to grow your students and close gaps.”

Good nutrition should be a part of an everyday plan for a healthier lifestyle. In March, Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services is highlighting the importance of making informed food choices and developing good eating and physical activity habits as part of National Nutrition Month.

The good thing is that being healthier doesn’t require huge changes. Below are small changes that could make a big impact not only on our health but on our world.

• Eat more plant-based foods: Choosing more plant-based protein foods such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and tofu instead of animal-based protein foods is one way to reduce your carbon footprint and eat healthier. You can participate in “Meatless Mondays”.
• Buy locally and in season: Saves fossil fuels used for long-distance transport and food is likely fresher and may taste better, cost less, and retain more nutrients. In addition, it supports local farmers.
• Reduce packaging: Buy foods in bulk to reduce the amount of plastic, paper, metal, and energy that goes into manufacturing the packaging. If possible, choose containers that can be reused and recycle materials such as glass, metal, paper, and plastic.
• Choose reusable bags: Opt for reusable grocery bags, such as totes or used paper and plastic bags from previous visits. This can lessen the impact of plastic bags that often end up in landfills and pollute fresh bodies of water and oceans.
• Save water: Water could become our scarcest resource. When using a dishwasher, don’t rinse the dishes beforehand, and run the dishwasher only when it’s full. Don’t use running water to defrost frozen food. Plan ahead instead and thaw it in advance in the refrigerator or microwave.
• Decrease amounts of garbage: Avoid using disposable plates, cups, etc. Try composting some of the food waste. Fruit and vegetable scraps can be used to nourish your garden.

Healthy eating is important at every age. This can be done by offering your family a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified alternatives. When shopping for groceries, choose foods and beverages that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. 

Children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly all have different requirements for the number of calories and protein; however, the overall goal remains the same—to eat balanced and nourishing meals that include foods from each food group. 

Below are some tips to increase healthy eating for the whole family.

• Plan your meals: To reduce any stress at mealtimes, plan out meals before the week starts. Include easy and quick dishes and even leftovers for those busy days.
• Serve a variety: Include choices from each food group for a balanced meal. This includes fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy in meals and snacks throughout the week.
• Cook together: With adult supervision, children can get involved in cooking and putting together a meal. You can assign tasks to children to help, while also teaching food safety.
• Connect at mealtimes: Sit down together for a meal and “unplug” from technology such as phones, laptops, television, headphones, etc. This encourages more interaction and focuses on each other. It also increases mindful eating habits such as eating slower and chewing more, listening to our satiety cues, and engaging all senses.

Dallas ISD team members interested in attending the Dallas Cup can receive up to two complimentary tickets. Dallas Cup, the oldest international youth soccer tournament in the United States, will take place on Sunday, April 2, at Cotton Bowl Stadium. The tournament begins at 12:30 p.m. 

To get your two free tickets, click here. Use promo code DISD. 

Below is the tournament schedule:

12:30 p.m. – FC Dallas Girls ECNL 05/04 vs. Australian School Girls

3:00 p.m. – São Paulo FC (BRA) vs. Fulham FC (ENG)

5:00 p.m.  – Welcome World Parade

6:30 p.m. – Boys Gordon Jago Super Group – Real Madrid vs. CF Monterrey

For more information, visit www.dallascup.com. 

For Deana Williams, Tammee Sandle and Leandrie Gabriel—members of the award-winning school counseling team at Dr. Frederick Douglass Todd Sr. Middle School—empowering their community is always the priority. 

This can happen in different ways like providing guidance to students, hosting parent conferences, teaming up with their school’s social worker and other local partners, assisting test coordinators or supporting their administration team. 

“I always say we’re flexible,” Williams said. “Although this is a small campus, we have a lot of needs. We fill in the gaps.”

Each member of the counseling team is dedicated to a specific grade level, which they follow through the students’ transition to high school. Currently, Sandle works with sixth-grade students, Williams works with seventh-grade students and Gabriel works with eighth-grade students. 

The setup helps them get to know their students on a deeper level and show up where they are needed most. Sandle said some members of their community experience homelessness, so they work together to get and clean uniforms and ensure the students have the resources they need through two “Love Closets.” 

With one “Love Closet” in the counseling suite and another in a campus gym, students can access hygiene products ranging from underwear to soap and deodorant, as well as care bags with supplies and positive affirmations. 

“We stay up to date on the resources students may need on a daily basis,” Sandle said. “Those are my success stories, because I’ve had a lot of students who may have been homeless and who have needed them.”

Their passion, hard work and dedication enabled them to earn the 2021-2022 Dallas ISD Trailblazer Award as a “dynamic counseling team” for the effective implementation of their comprehensive school counseling team. Sandle said they are proud of the work they have done and continue to do to ensure their students’ academic, social and emotional health and well-being.

“As a counselor, you touch so many areas of school and education, and you can actually see that your words are impacting students’ lives,” Gabriel agreed. “You’re there for the good and the bad, counseling parents and students as well as teachers at times. It is a challenging job, but it’s rewarding, and we’re thankful to be recognized for who counselors are and what we do.”

Being a woman leading a successful athletics department for a large school district that has earned several state titles is not the norm. But Silvia Salinas, the first female executive director for the Dallas ISD Department of Athletics, stands out not just for these accomplishments, but also for creating a positive culture that uplifts future leaders.

Salinas believes in making sure the 1,200 coaches and over 150 events team members who work directly with students are the department’s focus. This year, that focus has led to South Oak Cliff High School’s football team and Justin F. Kimball High School’s basketball team winning state titles.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure our coaches are feeling respected, valued and have everything they need to be successful,” Salinas said. “When you have people who are thriving, and feel loved and respected, you are going to have better, healthier people in front of kids.”  

Salinas has worked for 29 years in education, and 25 of those years have been at Dallas ISD. She first came to the district in 1996 and worked at Skyline High School where she taught math and coached cross-country/track and field. She left the district for two years to coach and earn a master’s degree at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La. She then returned to the district in 2000 and became the assistant director of athletics in 2004. She’s served in her current role as executive director of athletics since 2019.

As the leader of the athletic department of a large district, do you see more women taking on leadership roles in sports administration?

Nationally, the percentage of women being in our roles is not high, but in the DFW area, there are quite a few women who are in leadership roles. What I encourage our female coaches to do is to be leaders wherever they are. They don’t have to have titles to lead. When granted the opportunity and being in this chair as the first female executive director of athletics for Dallas ISD, I have the responsibility to do things right and set a good example, so doors are open for women who come after me. 

What accomplishment are you proudest of?

I am most proud of earning my doctorate degree. I started the program in 2009, while working as the assistant director in athletics.  I defended my dissertation and graduated in December of 2013 from the University of North Texas with a degree in higher education. 

What advice or words of encouragement would you give your younger self or someone following in your footsteps?

In track and field, I wish I knew what I know now as a coach because I think I would have been a better athlete. But my journey is my journey and I don’t have any regrets. I’m just proud of the journey. I would encourage myself to make connections along the way, meet more people, learn their names, because you never know when you’re going to cross paths with them again. I did a little bit of that, and that’s how I ended up coaching at the college level. I made connections as an undergraduate student and an athlete. I would encourage myself and others to continue making those connections and not be afraid to take chances. 

What helps you persevere during hard moments?

My faith. I must keep centering myself with that. I must remind myself not to take things personally, which is hard, because I’m very personally invested in my work, otherwise I wouldn’t be here for this long. But I think when it comes to challenges, I must step away from it, recenter myself, and just lean on my faith. It’s always good to have a friend or colleague to help you stay grounded and work to make the right decisions for our students and our department. 

What drew you to the field of education?  

My mom and my grandparents really pushed education. I was lucky. I grew up in the Hispanic community, and I was very blessed that my grandparents pushed education. It didn’t matter what happened, but I was going to finish my degree. I already knew I was going to do that. And seeing my mom work in her passion, inspired me to do the same. No matter what I chose to do, I was going to do it with full effort and passion. I always loved learning and I kept my focus on that. My family gave me the foundation, and that kept pushing me to keep achieving things that I wanted to do.

What is your favorite memory at Dallas ISD? 

We have a lot of great memories. Most people would say it’s about the wins and the championships, and all those are very special and very memorable for me. For me it’s more when a coach or a student thanks me for inspiring them or helping them or giving them advice. It’s more of an intrinsic feeling that I get from a thank you or a note when someone comes back after a few years and says ‘you really helped me with certain things.’ Just the one-on-one conversations are what’s memorable for me.

I remember those things. I want to help coaches, and I want to help our students, and it’s not going to be an easy journey each time, as hurdles are going to come our way. COVID – you can’t forget that. And having to lead in a year like that, that was so unprecedented, was challenging. I was leaning into my faith because I was thinking, “How do I lead coaches and kids through this?” I had to step in front of people to lead them through the unknown. We may not have all the answers but we’re going to get through this together, and just encourage people to keep going and to hopefully see the other side of it.