Fort Worth ISD Hires New Teachers “On The Spot” : Watch the Video! | Talent Management Announces Auxiliary Hiring Incentives, Next Hiring Event | Gold Seal Application Deadline For First Round Of Placement This Weekend | FWISD Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week | FWISD’s Dr. Lisa Langston To Complete NIAAA Presidency, Be Awarded NFHS Citation | Free Digital Stream Of ‘The Nutcracker’ Available To FWISD Third-Grade Classes Through Dec. 17 | Elder MS Students Participate In NASA Pilot Program | Two More Fort Worth ISD Redsitricting Town Hall Sessions Set Before Winter Break | Photo of the Week | View more stories throughout the week on the Inside FWISD Blog

Gold Seal Application Deadline for First Round of Placement This Weekend

The Fort Worth ISD 2022-2023 Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice application window for the first round of placement closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12.

Learn more about Gold Seal programming and apply today at www.fwisd.org/choice.

Applicants who submit their applications by the deadline will be admitted to Gold Seal schools and programming by a computer-generated lottery. Families will be notified via email in 2022 when lottery results are ready to view.

It is extremely important that parents have an active email address prior to starting the application process. District employees submitting applications for their own children may use their active directory login.

Students who are not admitted to their first choice Gold Seal program will be placed on a waiting list for that choice unless the choice is Arlington Heights Dance, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, or I.M. Terrell Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts. Applicants not identified as eligible through the screening process for Arlington Heights, YWLA or I.M. Terrell will be placed on a waiting list for their second choice if not assigned to the second choice.

As of Thursday morning, more than 3,750 student applications were already submitted.

Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice give families the power to choose an education that matches their students’ interests, learning style, and college and career dreams. Most openings are for incoming kindergarten, sixth, and ninth grade students. However, there may be a few spaces open at all levels.

These individualized pathways are based on college fields of study and in-demand, lucrative careers. Programs include industry-driven P-Tech academies, automotive technology, cybersecurity, cosmetology, and fine arts, just to name a few. Gold Seal Early College High Schools allow students to earn enough college credits to earn not only their high school diploma, but also their associate degree tuition-free!

The District hosted a virtual information session about Gold Seal programming on Dec. 2 that’s available for on-demand viewing at www.fwisd.org/choice. Also available for viewing on the website is the Gold Seal catalog, Frequently Asked Questions, and overview videos about Gold Seal programming, all in English and Spanish.

People with additional questions about Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice are encouraged to submit them via Let’s Talk.

FWISD Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week

The Fort Worth ISD is joining the global community in observing the 21st commemoration of Inclusive Schools Week, Dec. 6-12.

This annual international event, observed the first full week in December, celebrates schools’ efforts at “providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference and other factors,” according to the Inclusive Schools Network website, sponsor of Inclusive Schools Week. The 2021 theme is “Rebuilding Our Inclusive Community Together.”

To celebrate Inclusive Schools Week, the FWISD Special Education Department has provided free inclusion resources to campus principals. FWISD schools are also encouraged to announce the week on their electronic messaging or campus marquees and answer phones this week using an Inclusive Schools greeting.

“This event … provides an opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss and initiate practices to further ensure schools continue to improve their goal of successfully educating ALL students via inclusive practices,” Janice Carter, FWISD executive director of Special Education Services, wrote in a recent memorandum to campus principals. “By celebrating Inclusive Schools Week in FWISD, the school and greater communities will have the opportunity to collaborate to strengthen our commitment to inclusive education, extend previous successes, and redirect our talent, time, and energy to improve outcomes for all students and families.”

Other observances planned for the week include acknowledgement of Inclusive Schools Week on the Special Education website. Visual arts projects are also planned by the Fine Arts Department at FWISD elementary schools.

Recently, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker wrote a letter of support for FWISD’s Inclusive Schools Week observance.

“The educators of the Fort Worth Independent School District recognize that each child has a unique way of learning, excelling as teaching is tailored to their unique abilities and interests. By their efforts to make our schools and classrooms high-performing and comprehensive, the educators and families of the Fort Worth Independent School District are working to build a stronger more inclusive community,” Mayor Parker wrote. “The progress made by our schools to forge an inclusive learning environment enhances the overall success and efficacy of diversity and inclusion in the City of Fort Worth.”

For additional Inclusive Schools Week information, visit the Special Education Department website or call 817-814-2830.

FWISD’s Dr. Lisa Langston to Complete NIAAA Presidency, Be Awarded NFHS Citation

Dr. Lisa Langston, Fort Worth ISD Director of Athletics, is officially concluding her term as National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association president this week-- and she will be honored with a national recognition.

Starting Friday, Dec.10, and continuing through Tuesday, Dec. 14, Dr. Langston will preside over the 52nd National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Conference, hosted in Denver, Colorado, as well as the association’s annual meeting, delegate assembly, and board of directors meeting. At a Monday, Dec.13 luncheon, she will be presented with the National Federation of State High School Citation. Dr. Langston is among 16 high school athletic directors receiving the award, which recognizes outstanding athletic directors for their interscholastic athletics contributions at the local, state and national levels.

“Dr. Langston’s service to the organization has been groundbreaking in many ways. She is the consummate professional and was elected to lead the NIAAA during one of its most trying times,” said Todd Vesely, FWISD Athletics Department executive director. “She has been exceptional and well deserving of the NFHS Citation!”

In 2020, Dr. Langston took the helm as president of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a 13,000-member organization. Throughout her term, she adopted the theme “Embrace” for the NIAAA Board. She was hopeful that members would become successful by living out the theme that great leaders, no matter what comes their way, embrace challenges, opportunities and conflicts.

For more than two decades, Dr. Langston has served as an athletic administrator. She’s been with the FWISD about three decades, the first five years as a head girls basketball coach and physical education/ health teacher before becoming an administrator. In 2019, she was presented with NIAAA’s State Award of Merit, recognizing her dedication to high school and middle school athletics.

In 2018, Dr. Langston served on the University Interscholastic League Ad Hoc Committee on Reclassification and Realignment. Also, in the same year, she partnered with the InSideOut Initiative to establish the FWISD’s Coaches Academy, which brought together more than 300 coaches for two days of professional development focused on how coaches and athletic coordinators impact student-athletes. The academy has become an annual event.

Upon being selected the NIAAA president-elect in 2019, Dr. Langston said she counted the recognition a personal honor that modeled a message she shares with athletic coordinators and coaches in the Fort Worth ISD – don’t limit yourself.

“I’m not in this position without the District. It starts with the leadership here believing in my leadership,” Dr. Langston said in 2019. “Part of being in leadership is influencing and inspiring others.”

Free Digital Stream of ‘The Nutcracker’ Available to FWISD Third-Grade Classes Through Dec. 17

Fort Worth ISD teachers and their students are invited to register for a free digital livestreaming of “The Nutcracker” through Dec. 17.

Limited registration space is available here for this exclusive offer. “The Nutcracker” digital stream is provided to FWISD third graders at no cost by the Children’s Education Program of Performing Arts Fort Worth at Bass Performance Hall and Texas Ballet Theatre. Classes are encouraged to contact their campus music teacher before registering to avoid duplicate registrations.

Teachers approved to stream the production will receive unique login credentials from Bass Hall.

For additional information, contact Christina Avila, FWISD Visual and Performing Arts executive director at 817-814-2620 or email christina.avila@fwisd.org.

Elder MS Students Participate In NASA Pilot Program

Science students at Fort Worth ISD’s J.P. Elder Middle School recently completed a series of STEM-related projects as part of a nationwide NASA pilot initiative.

The six-week program, which began in October, is NASA SPARX Challenges and Competitions. SPARX stands for Sparking Participation and Real-world experiences in STEM. The course culminates with students receiving a certificate for completing the program and watching an online event featuring Astronaut Frank Rubio. Students at Elder plan to watch the event’s replay.

Weekly, Elder students, under the direction of science teacher Luke Boughfman, are receiving hands-on experience completing a series of activities that revolve around the Artemis missions. The next Artemis mission is an uncrewed launch slated for February 2022. NASA intends to make history through the Artemis program by landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon by 2024.

Mr. Boughfman learned about the pilot SPARX program while attending Liftoff, a recent NASA-sponsored professional development program for educators. He jumped at the chance to bring SPARX to Elder. “It was fun to tell the students that we were working on a project involved with NASA,” Mr. Boughfman said.

Through interactive, problem-solving challenges, students engage in lessons about space exploration.

Student experiments have included launching a rocket made from a balloon and communicating through a string, a big hit for students at Elder.

“It was an amazing experience to witness as a teacher,” Mr. Boughfman said. “They have also gotten to learn about the Artemis mission to the moon, and they are excited to see the launch on TV in February.”

The experience is rewarding on several levels. Not only have the students enjoyed working on a new set of challenges each week, the lessons learned will hopefully benefit classes across the country going forward.

“I was hoping to get some ideas to help engage the students,” Mr. Boughfman said. “It has surpassed my expectations and [I] have loved doing it. Of course, it has added some extra work to do, but it is worth it to get to help NASA in a pilot program and make it even better for future teachers.”

Mr. Boughfman intends to sign J.P. Elder up for SPARX programming next spring and said he’s hopeful the school will be accepted to participate in more challenges.

Teachers interested in learning about NASA classroom resources like SPARX are encouraged to apply for the next Liftoff event, a NASA-sponsored professional development program for educators. The application deadline is March 7, 2022.

TWO MORE FORT WORTH ISD REDISTRICTING TOWN HALL SESSIONS SET BEFORE WINTER BREAK

Join the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education-appointed Redistricting Committee for its two final in-person community town hall sessions discussing redistricting to school board single-member districts in 2021.

Four sessions were held earlier this fall: two each online and in person.

The community is invited to participate in the final two in-person sessions this year, slated for 6 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, December 15, Dunbar High School Auditorium, 5700 Ramey Ave., 76112
• Thursday, December 16, Riverside Middle School Auditorium, 1600 Bolton St., 76111

Each decade, the Fort Worth ISD participates in a redistricting process of its single-member Board districts to guarantee equal voter representation. This is determined through equal or equivalent population counts based on the most recent U.S. Census data. During the redistricting process, Board single-member districts are redrawn to reflect population growth or decline or any other demographic changes.

Town hall participants will have opportunities to ask committee members questions and comment on the redistricting process at each event.

Learn more about the redistricting process and its committee members online at fwisd.org/redistricting.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Fort Worth ISD hosted its 2021 Racial Equity Summit IV: Achieving Excellence in the Face of Adversity this week. The four-day hybrid event kicked off with an invitation-only opening session, Saturday, December 4 at Texas Christian University, that included a FWISD student panel discussion. View more photos from the opening session here.

Share your story ideas, successes, calendar items, photos, questions and feedback with us at Inside@FWISD.org. Content submissions are due no later than 10 a.m. Fridays for the next edition. Check the Inside FWISD blog, www.fwisd.org/insidefwisd, regularly updated throughout the week with additional content and features.