New Construction Recommended for YMLA
Students at Fort Worth ISD’s Young Men’s Leadership Academy may not have to travel far to reach a much-anticipated new campus.
That’s because, pending approval by the Board of Trustees, the new school will be built at the existing, historic site.
Superintendent Kent P. Scribner announced Tuesday, January 15, that he will recommend that the current YMLA campus at 5100 Willie Street undergo a complete renovation and will be ready in time for the 2020 school year.
The work will include adding another 15,000 – 20,000 square feet to the 67-year old building, for a total of approximately 108,000 square feet. New additions will include state-of-the-art science labs, more classrooms and a new gymnasium. The work will preserve the school’s traditional-style auditorium, which is central to YMLA’s revered daily assemblies.
While the District had considered the option of building elsewhere, the constraints of a proposed two-and-a-half-acre site did not work with the District’s plans nor did it fit the timeline for a new YMLA campus.
“After lengthy consideration, we came to realize the best place for a new YMLA is right where it has been all along,” said Dr. Scribner. “We pledged to voters who approved our 2017 bond projects that we would utilize funds and resources in the most effective way possible for our students. This plan does exactly that.”
In addition to the major renovation and additions, the 10 acres surrounding the present YMLA will also provide a more generous application of square footage for a gymnasium and will allow for the development of outdoor areas and generous, on-site parking.
“Executing our plans at the existing site will give us more bang for the buck on the existing campus with very little disruption -- and make something great for the surrounding community,” said Barry Brock, program director for PROCEDEO. PROCEDEO is a joint venture group that is managing the District’s 2017 Capital Improvement Project.
The project will also honor the history of the location, which has been the site of a Fort Worth ISD school since 1927. In 1952, the present building opened as Dunbar Elementary-Junior High School. The two-story, yellow-and-red brick International-influenced structure eventually became the original Dunbar High School. The school was named for African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Fort Worth Technology Conference Pre-Registration Ends Friday
Educators are encouraged to register for the 14th annual Fort Worth Technology Conference by Friday, January 18, to secure a box lunch and conference prize.
The event, slated from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 26 at Southwest High School, is free for all Fort Worth ISD educators. Pre-registration admission is $35 for out-of-district attendees and $40 at the door.
Hundreds have already registered to attend, according to conference organizers.
Make plans now to be part of an invigorating event that promises to offer practical technology tools educators can take back and immediately implement in their lesson plans and administrative tasks.
“The Fort Worth Technology Conference isn’t about the technology. It’s about teacher and classroom transformation,” said Dr. Becky Navarre, assistant superintendent of technology for the Division of Academics. “There’s a session for everyone at FWTC to meet you where you are in the technology integration journey. There’s no hidden agenda here; the objective is to learn and grow in our craft to make a better tomorrow for our students.”
For more details, visit www.fwisd.org/fwtc.
Memo: Memorial Day Is a Workday for 240-Day Employees
The following communication is from the Policy and Planning Department:
MORE THAN 100 COMPLETE FWISD’S PARENT UNIVERSITY
The Fort Worth ISD is preparing to recognize more than 100 parents Thursday, January 17, for completing the District’s Parent University program.
A combined ceremony for parents from FWISD’s Manuel Jara, Greenbriar, Bonnie Brae, Diamond Hill, Woodway, and M.G. Ellis elementary schools and the World Languages Institute is set for 5 p.m. at J.P. Elder Middle School, 709 N.W. 21st St.
Superintendent Kent P. Scribner, who will give the commencement address, will be joined by Mayor Betsy Price, FWISD school chiefs and principals, Board of Education trustees, and other special guests to celebrate the latest Parent University class. J.P. Elder’s Mariachi Estrella Tejana, under the direction of Imelda Martinez and Jesus Pineda, will perform prior to the ceremony’s start, and the Junior Cadet Corps from Elder will present the colors at the event.
Research shows parent involvement is critical to a child’s motivation and academic achievement.
For 13 weeks, parents participated in courses including Parent Leadership Academy, which includes an earned credit from Tarrant County College. Parent University is now in its sixth year.
Graduates are expected to give testimonials about their Parent University experience at the ceremony.
A reception and photo opportunities will follow the graduation in the J.P. Elder cafeteria.
Paschal Wins Fort Worth ISD High School Whiz Quiz
Student Excellence on Display in Three Nights of Competition
Paschal High School took home the big trophy Wednesday in an evening of intense and entertaining competition. Paschal defeated Arlington Heights High School for the championship in the 2018-19 Fort Worth ISD High School Whiz Quiz finals.
“We are so proud of the work, the dedication, and the fun that go into Whiz Quiz, which starts start early in the fall,” said Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent Scribner. “These young competitors exemplify what we’re about in Fort Worth ISD – preparing all students for success in college, career and community leadership.”
Earlier in the evening, Paschal topped the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences (TABS) in the first semi-final. In the second semi-final – the nail-biter of the night – Arlington Heights defeated the Young Men’s Leadership Academy in a tiebreaker.
The Southwest High School Jazz Ensemble entertained between matches, and Gold Seal Advanced Media Program students took part in the live production. The District streamed the matches and aired them live on Spectrum 192 and AT&T U-verse 99.
On Tuesday night, McLean Middle School won the middle school finals. Daggett Montessori earned the Sixth Grade championship.
Kroger sponsored a culinary segment in which Trimble Technical High School Gold Seal culinary students prepared gourmet snacks for the live audience. Pizza Snob provided dinner for the student production crew.
FWISD Student Groups to Participate in All Western Parade
Six Fort Worth ISD high schools are slated to participate in the Fort Worth Stock Show’s All Western Parade, Saturday, January 19 in downtown Fort Worth.
Music groups from Benbrook, Diamond Hill-Jarvis, North Side, South Hills, Trimble Tech and Western Hills are expected be part of the parade processional which will begin at 11 a.m. at the corners of Weatherford and Main streets.
Drawing an annual crowd of more than 100,000 spectators, the All Western Parade, held the first Saturday of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, is a unique event with multiple wagons and horses but no motorized vehicles.
For more details, visit http://fwssr.com/all-western-parade.
FWISD Student Groups to Participate In 34th Annual MLK Parade
Six Fort Worth ISD high schools are slated to participate in Fort Worth’s 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, Monday, January 21 in downtown Fort Worth.
Music groups from Diamond Hill-Jarvis, Dunbar, Eastern Hills, Paschal, Southwest and O.D. Wyatt high schools are expected to march in the parade which begins at 11 a.m. at Ninth and Commerce streets and ends with a rally from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Sundance Square Plaza. Click here for more details.
The parade is just one of multiple events being held around the city in observance of the federal holiday.
Prior to the parade at 9 a.m. at the corner of Main and Ninth streets, the city will unveil the Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Trails marker.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the City of Fort Worth MLK/Juneteenth Employee Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee will host the 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration. The theme, One Night With A King, honors Dr. King’s 1959 visit to Fort Worth, according to a city press release. During that visit, Dr. King was hosted by Veda Phillips Felder, an educator, author, civil rights leader and 1928 alumna of I.M. Terrell High School. The celebration, which will take place at the Fort Worth Convention Center, will also include a panel discussion on Ms. Felder’s work, according to the city.
The District is closed Monday, January 21 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up for FWISD’s MLK Community Service Day
There’s still time for Fort Worth ISD campus principals and administrative staff to sign up for the District’s inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Day.
The District needs approximately 40 campus principals and central administration employees to volunteer a couple hours Monday, January 21 assembling care packages and distributing those bundles along with meals to approximately 200 homeless individuals just outside downtown Fort Worth. From December 17 to January 16, the District collected socks, hats, gloves and nonperishable food items that will be distributed in the care packages.
Employees must sign up through Voly, the District’s online volunteer management system, to participate.
Assembly of the donated items is slated to take place from 8-10 a.m. Monday, January 21, at the FWISD Central Administration Building, 100 N. University Drive. To sign up, click here.
Meals and care packages are being distributed from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at the Fort Worth Safe House, 1505 E. Lancaster Ave. Sign up to serve here.
The service event is one of two FWISD employees and students are leading this school year. Students are slated to participate in service projects this spring on Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day, Monday, March 25, 2019.
For more details, contact Mia Hall, FWISD’s executive director for its Equity and Excellence Division and organizer for the employee service day, at 817-814-2339 or email mia.hall@fwisd.org.
FWISD to Close Jan. 21 in Observance of MLK Holiday
The Fort Worth ISD is closed Monday January 21, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
The District will resume normal business and class schedules on Tuesday, January 22, 2018.
On the third Monday in January, the nation observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, established to honor the preacher, author, civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. He is most notably known for his “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at the 1963 March on Washington in Washington, D.C.
Since 1994, the U.S. Congress has commemorated the holiday as a national day of service, encouraging Americans to participate in service projects within their communities.
On Monday, the District will host its first Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Day. Approximately 40 campus principals and central administration employees are expected to distribute meals and care packages to approximately 200 homeless individuals just outside downtown Fort Worth. The service event is one of two that FWISD employees and students are leading this school year. Students are also slated to participate in service projects this spring on Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day, Monday, March 25, 2019.
RETIRED WYATT COACH INDUCTED INTO TEXAS TRACK AND FIELD HALL OF FAME
Lee Williams, a retired track and field coach from Fort Worth ISD’s O.D. Wyatt High School, is part of the 10th Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame class.
Mr. Williams, who worked for FWISD more than 40 years, was among eight inductees enshrined at a ceremony Friday, January 11, 2019, at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine.
The legendary coach joined the Fort Worth ISD in 1976, working his first few years at McLean Middle School, followed by a year stint at North Side High School. In 1979, he joined the O.D. Wyatt staff.
Throughout his career, Mr. Williams coached 52 All-American athletes, runners to 15 district championships and two state championships in 1998 and 2002.
In 1998, he coached four sprinters who set national records in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, one of which holds the record today and the other which was just broken in 2018.
Mr. Williams is a recipient of the Track and Field Coach of the Year for the state of Texas presented by the National Federation of Coaches among several other accolades.
Read more about Mr. Williams in this recent Fort Worth Star-Telegram article.
DRESSED FOR SUCCESS
Williamson-Dickie Outfits Trimble Tech HS Students with Backpacks, Clothing for School Competitions
Some Trimble Tech students are dressed for success thanks to Fort Worth’s Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company.
Career and Technical Education students received backpacks and “competition” clothing bearing the school logo at special assemblies on Friday, January 11. The gifts celebrated a new partnership between the District and the company.
Superintendent Kent P. Scribner, Principal Omar Ramos, and District 9 School Board Trustee Ashley Paz all spoke at the event, where students modeled their impressive new Williamson-Dickie professional wear.
Dickies is outfitting students in several of Trimble Tech’s CTE programs. These uniforms may be worn at school or at competitions.
Auto collision and auto technology students will receive Dickie’s shirts; welding students will get new welding work pants (jeans). And, in the spring health science technology and culinary arts students will be gifted respectively with new scrubs and new chef coats and hats. Other CTE programs will also receive uniforms with logos during the spring semester as well.
The donations are part of Williamson-Dickies’ “Purpose Commitment to the Community” program.
View more photos from the assemblies here.
Express Yourself
AHHS Dancers Create Choreography in Four-Day Residency with Renowned Gibney Company
Gibney, a New York-based dance company, recently took up a four-day residency with dancers at Fort Worth ISD’s Arlington Heights High School.
Amy Miller, a senior company director at Gibney, conducted master classes and two choreography workshops with Heights dancers during her visit, January 9-12. Classes focused on dance technique. In one particular choreography technique workshop, dancers created dance movements based on social justice issues.
“This is an enormous deal to have such an amazing company come work with our dancers,” said Rachel Wade, AHHS dance department director. “This organization focuses not only on cultivating talented dancers, but socially-minded artists that use their work to positively impact their community.
“We are really thrilled to provide this opportunity for our kids.”
Founded by Gina Gibney, the company’s chief executive officer and artistic director, in 1991, Gibney is a renowned art and social justice dance company with two New York locations that include 23 studios and five performance spaces. For more information on the company, visit gibneydance.org.
View more photos from the four-day residency here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ask Elsie is a column where Chief Financial Officer Elsie Schiro tackles employee queries, or in areas outside her purview, asks other District leaders to answer them.
Dear Elsie,
I’m at teacher assistant. We are allowed two 15-minute breaks throughout the day and a 45-minute lunch. Can we take one of the breaks with our lunch making it an hour? Do I get to decide what time I want to take a 15-minute break throughout my workday?
Thanks!
Confused TA
Dear Confused TA,
Thank you for your question. I reached out to Max Ates, senior officer of payroll, benefits and risk management, regarding your question and here’s the response: “Each full-time FWISD employee is required to work eight hours per day. On the Texas Workforce Commission website (https://twc.texas.gov/news/efte/flsa_does_and_doesnt_do.html), you may view the following: ‘The FLSA does not require:
Optional employee benefits and payroll practices not required under any law - this category includes such things as:
1. Breaks - although some states require breaks, Texas and most other states do not - federal law has no break requirement, other than OSHA rules about restroom breaks for sanitation purposes (see https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=22932&p_table=INTERPRETATIONS) - the only exceptions are found in special regulations relating to highly hazardous occupations such as high-altitude steel erection workers or nuclear plant workers - most companies do allow some sort of breaks, however, in their policies.
a. Breast-pumping / nursing breaks - these are unpaid breaks - under the 2010 health care reform bill, new FLSA section 207(r)(1) requires employers to give non-exempt nursing mothers reasonable break times to express breast milk, or if children are allowed in the office, nurse their infants, during the first year after the baby's birth (for more information, see "Nursing Mothers" in this outline).
b. "Coffee breaks" (rest breaks) are paid, since they are regarded as promoting productivity and efficiency on the part of employees and thus benefit the employer - 20 minutes or less in duration.
c. "Smoking breaks" - smoking breaks are not required under Texas or federal law, are in the same category as rest breaks (see above), and may be controlled in any way with appropriate policies.
d. "Lunch breaks" are unpaid - defined as 30 minutes or longer for the purpose of eating a meal - employee must be "fully relieved of duties" during the meal break - if employee is answering phones, filing, or otherwise working while eating, the "break" is counted as regular work time.
2. Premium, holiday, and weekend pay - this is extra pay for unusual hours, such as "double time" or "triple time" pay for working extra overtime or during times when most employees take off - this is not required under any law, but is often a matter of supply and demand, i.e., whatever is necessary to get employees to be available at unusual times.
3. Shift differentials - defined as higher hourly pay for second or third shifts, as opposed to the normal hourly rate given to workers on the daytime shift - as with "premium pay" above, this is a function of supply and demand.
4. Raises - not required under state or federal laws, unless the minimum wage is increased on either the federal or the state level. However, even though raises are not required, withdrawing a raise that has previously been promised could give an employee good cause to quit. Important: once a raise goes into effect, the employer must pay it until it is withdrawn - it may be withdrawn only prospectively, never retroactively - a retroactive pay cut will always violate the law.
5. Pensions - pension or retirement plans are not required - however, keep the "1000-hour rule" in mind in case you have a pension plan and any workers who work at least 1000 hours in a 12-month period.’
FWISD Regulation states: All employees are expected to work an eight-hour day.
Nonexempt full-time employees will work a minimum workday of eight hours; 40 hours per week. Nonexempt employees at the administration and satellite offices have a set work schedule of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one-hour lunch period, thereby completing an eight-hour workday. The lunch period is not work time and is not paid. Some nonexempt employees at the campuses to include: teacher assistants, secretaries, clerks, campus monitors, library support technicians, deaf interpreters, cafeteria managers and substitutes that work in these positions will work an eight-hour day, scheduled by school, to include a 30-minute paid lunch period. Because most nonexempt employees at campuses are “on-call” during lunch periods, the employees working while schools are in session will be compensated for their lunch periods. All employees are paid based on a 40-hour week. Therefore, employees must physically work 40 hours before they are eligible for any additional pay.
Two 15-minute breaks are allowable if time permits during the day. Breaks are NOT required under FLSA. Employees cannot leave early in lieu of taking breaks. Also, breaks cannot be adjacent to lunch breaks to create a longer lunch break; there must be coverage for all positions at all time.”
Thanks again for your question Confused TA and thank you Mr. Ates for your response.
Elsie
Dear Elsie,
What is the district's philosophy on academic dishonesty? In my past, I've not allowed students to redo an assignment when they were caught cheating. There is nothing in the grading guidelines saying that is allowed or not allowed. Shouldn't students have consequences if they decide to be dishonest? I have students who get caught looking on someone else's paper and respond with "Oh well, I'll just retest later." What is everyone's thoughts about high schoolers and academic dishonesty?
Amanda Briggs
Dear Ms. Briggs,
Thank you for your question. I reached out to Dr. Raul Peña, FWISD’s chief of elementary schools, Cherie Washington, chief of secondary schools, and Charles Carroll, chief academic officer, your question and here’s the response: “ Board Policy EIA (LOCAL) states: ‘A student found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall be subject to grade penalties on assignments or tests and disciplinary penalties in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.’ Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorized communication between students during an examination. The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or another supervising professional employee, taking into consideration written materials, observation, or information from students.”
Thanks again for your question Ms. Briggs, and Dr. Peña, Mrs. Washington and Mr. Carroll for your response.
Elsie
Direct your questions to Inside@fwisd.org and put the words "Ask Elsie" in the subject line. Please close your letter with your preferred signature as you wish it to appear in the column. When there are multiple queries on the same subject, we will select the one that is most representative of the subject. We will try to answer as many questions as possible.
Please bear with us as we have a backlog of Ask Elsie questions and are responding to questions as soon as we can.
YMLA Wins FWISD's December FAFSA Challenge
Congratulations to the Young Men's Leadership Academy for having the highest percentage of students completing the FAFSA application for the month of December.
Principal Rodney White received a banner to recognize the achievement at the Secondary School Principals Meeting on Thursday, January 17.
In October, the District launched its FAFSA campaign, #StartHereGoAnywhere, which encourages graduating seniors to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
From October through April, students who apply for FAFSA will receive a T-shirt and be entered into monthly drawings for prizes. The school with the highest percentage of students completing FAFSA monthly will receive a banner to display outside its campus.
Click here to learn more about the campaign.
AAIL SPOTLIGHT
The following communication is from the Advanced, Accelerated, and Innovative Learning Department:
In an effort to celebrate excellent employees and share best practices, the Advanced, Accelerated, and Innovative Learning Department will “spotlight” outstanding individuals and schools. This week’s AAIL Teacher Spotlight is Doreen Hernandez, a fifth-grade math teacher at Oakhurst Elementary School.
Campus Teacher of the Year Selections Due Friday
One day remains to submit selections for the 2018-2019 Campus Teacher of the Year award.
An online form with the honoree’s name must be submitted to the Department of Community and Strategic Partnerships by 5 p.m. Friday, January 18.
The Campus Teacher of the Year award recognizes exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled teachers whose work inspires students, colleagues and the community.
Nominees must be employed a minimum of three years with the Fort Worth ISD and have a minimum five years of teaching experience overall. Eligible candidates must be full-time, certified Pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade teachers in good standing who intend to continue teaching with the District the 2019-2020 school year and meet other eligibility requirements. School librarians and counselors who teach students four hours a day may be nominated, however, administrators are not eligible.
The 2018-2019 Campus Teacher of the Year recipients will be recognized at an after-school reception in April. Campus honorees are encouraged to apply for the District Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced this May. A District honoree, each from the elementary and secondary school levels, will receive a $5,000 honorarium, and eight semifinalists will receive $1,500 cash awards.
For more details, contact the Department of Community and Strategic Partnerships at 817-814-2971.
Impacting Lives Now and In the Future
Though Heartbreaking, It’s the Reason This Educator Continues Teaching
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next few weeks, Inside FWISD will feature profiles and individual acceptance speeches from Fort Worth ISD’s 2018-2019 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence.
Teaching can be cruel for an elementary school teacher but not for the reasons some may think, says Ashlie Duncan, the Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math and Science.
Saying goodbye to students at the end of a school year is never easy, the Sam Rosen Elementary fourth-grade teacher said. However, Ms. Duncan teaches, she says, because she wants to impact the lives of students she instructs now and in the future.
“It is cruel because you’ve spent your life every day with these adorable human beings. You’ve labored relentlessly to help them be successful in school and prepare them for life,” Ms. Duncan said. “You love them and treat them like your own children. Then all of a sudden, the last day of school comes and they are now someone else’s students officially.
“It is heartbreaking, and however, I do this every year. And why? Because even when they move on, they are still my students, my kids.”
Ms. Duncan obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from Midwestern State University and a master’s degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She’s been part of the Fort Worth ISD for 14 years. In her classroom, Ms. Duncan strives to embody the words of the late poet, Dr. Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said … but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
View Ms. Duncan’s teaching chair acceptance speech from November 14, 2018 in its entirety below.
Leake on Becoming an Educator: ‘My students have not reached their full potential, yet’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next few weeks, Inside FWISD will feature profiles and individual acceptance speeches from Fort Worth ISD’s 2018-2019 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence.
In 2007, Bradley Leake was living under a bridge without a place to call home.
More than a decade later, he’s the Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Middle School STEM and a prime example of what can occur when a person has someone that believes in them.
At the age of 37, Mr. Leake made the decision to return to college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction both from the University of Texas. Mr. Leake, a math teacher at McLean Middle School, has been with the Fort Worth ISD for more than four years.
“I believe we live in a world of yets,” he said. “Some have not felt the pain of losing a loved one, yet. Some have not been homeless, yet. But I became an educator because I believe my students have not reached their full potential, yet.
“People believed in me, and as an educator, that’s why we love what we do. To all the students that feel different and alone, I get it. That was me, but being different is a good thing.”
Teaching students to love the problem-solving process is what Mr. Leake believes is his most important role as a teacher.
View Mr. Leake’s emotional acceptance speech from the 2018-2019 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence Luncheon in its entirety in the video below.
Picking Up on Everyday Things
Peters Says Students Are Always Listening
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the next few weeks, Inside FWISD will feature profiles and individual acceptance speeches from Fort Worth ISD’s 2018-2019 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence.
As an educator, Jeff Peters seeks to be a positive role model for his students inside and outside the classroom, he says.
“I help my students to become the best citizens they can be,” said the Blue Zones Project Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health and P.E. “I aim and inspire students that they will have the inspiration to strive to do whatever they want to do with their lives.”
It’s not always an easy task though. In his acceptance speech for the 2018-2019 teaching chair award, the Rosemont 6th Grade physical education and wellness teacher shared the story of one of his students who he thought he was not reaching. After several attempts, Mr. Peters felt he was getting nowhere, but then something changed.
“Even when you don’t think students are listening to you, they pick up on the everyday things you teach,” he said.
Mr. Peters joined the Fort Worth ISD more than five years ago. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education and kinesiology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
The P.E. teacher often tells his students that they will most likely struggle before they find success, but emphasizes that losing is OK because if they continue practicing, they will find success both in class and the real world.
View his teaching chair acceptance speech in its entirety in the video below.
M.L. Phillips ES, Kirkpatrick MS Recognized with December Webby Award
The websites for M.L. Phillips Elementary School and Kirkpatrick Middle School rose to the occasion when it came to featuring stories and images of giving back to the community during the holiday season.
This week, principals from the two schools were presented with the coveted Webby Award trophy for the month of December during elementary and secondary principals’ meetings, Wednesday January 16, and Thursday, January 17, at the Professional Development Center. The winning schools will keep the Webby Award trophy for the next month and receive a Kroger gift card for campus use.
"We saw a lot of outstanding tributes to the many community partners in our diverse District," said Thomas Ketchersid, FWISD’s web communications coordinator. "Our winners this month really stepped up by publishing powerful images of their community partners at work on their campus, stories about the good work being done, and heartwarming messages of thanks."
Distributed monthly by the FWISD Communications Department, the Webby Award recognizes campus websites that engage families, students, alumni and the community at large. Elementary and secondary campus websites that best complete the monthly challenge are recognized with the award at principals’ meetings.
For more details or assistance with your campus website, visit www.fwisd.org/websitetraining or email web@fwisd.org.
ES Leadership Recognizes Campuses for Phenomenal Learning Communities
The Fort Worth ISD Elementary Schools Leadership Department has recognized campus principals whose schools exhibited phenomenal learning communities” within the last month.
Executive directors with the Elementary Schools Leadership Departments recognized seven campuses for their efforts in December building strong learning communities. Principals were awarded certificates at an elementary schools principal meeting, January 16.
The schools recognized for phenomenal learning communities are:
Sagamore Hill
Worth Heights
Maudrie M. Walton
Carter Park
DeZavala
South Hi Mount
Carroll Peak
FWISD SOCIAL MEDIA TIP OF THE WEEK
The following communication is from Kiana King, FWISD's social media coordinator:
Find campuses that have an engaging social media presence to be your "social media goals." Engaging accounts consistently post student photos and graphics with descriptive captions. Reach out to those campuses for information on their tools or applications. Great examples of #FWISD campus social media accounts are:
High Schools
Diamond Hill-Jarvis
Paschal
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Young Men’s Leadership Academy
Trimble Tech
Southwest
Western Hills
World Languages Institute
Middle Schools
Daggett Montessori
J.P. Elder
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Young Men’s Leadership Academy
World Languages Institute
Kirkpatrick
Elementary Schools
Leadership Academy at Mitchell Boulevard
Leadership Academy at John T. White
Daggett Montessori
Leadership Academy at Como
J.T. Stevens Elementary School
Mary Louise Phillips
Waverly Park
Bill J. Elliott
North Hi Mount
Sam Rosen
Sagamore Hill
South Hi Mount
Springdale
Glen Park
Waverly Park
Fire Drill for Administration Building Set for Friday
The following communication is from the Safety and Security Department:
Professional Learning and Innovation Opportunities
Elementary Professional Learning Opportunities
Secondary Professional Learning Opportunities
Professional Learning Opportunities with Education Technology, Register in Eduphoria
Parent University Graduation, January 17
Trimble Tech High School Presents: Both Sides of the Story monologues, January 18
Billy W. Sills Lecture Series: "A Vision: The Trinity River Project," January 19, 2019
Fort Worth Stock Show All Western Parade, January 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School), January 21
FWISD MLK Community Day of Service, January 21
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, January 21
Regular Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. January 22, Board Meeting Room
South Hills High School Theatre Presents: Over the River and Through the Hills, January 25-26
Show Choir Invitational, January 25 at Southwest High School
Fort Worth Technology Conference, January 26, 2019
Registration for ESL classes begin, January 28
FWISD District Spelling Bee, January 28-30
Share your story ideas, successes, calendar items, photos, questions and feedback with us at Inside@FWISD.org. Check the Inside FWISD blog, www.fwisd.org/insidefwisd, regularly updated throughout the week with additional content and features.