SUPERINTENDENT FOCUSES ON FWISD FAMILY CONNECTIONS IN NEW MESSAGE
“Family plays an important role in Fort Worth ISD every day – and in many ways,” says Superintendent Kent P. Scribner in his spring video message to teachers and staff.
Watch his message and count the ways, including a family connection that may surprise you. Remember to watch to the very end!
Like healthy families, our schools strive to be places where everyone feels safe and supported.
NEW RESIDENCY PROGRAM TARGETS DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WHO ASPIRE TO BECOME CERTIFIED TEACHERS
Who: Current Fort Worth ISD employees who have college degrees but do not have teaching certificates and who aspire to become certified teachers.
What: The launch of a new partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education for the 2018-2019 school year will establish a Teacher Residency program for current degreed paraprofessional and support staff. Candidates who are accepted into the program will be placed on a District campus and work toward earning their Texas teacher certification and a master’s degree.
When: Application deadline is May 4
For more information: Contact Jerry Moore at Jerry.Moore2@fwisd.org or by calling 817-814-1950 or visit the Relay DFW Residency website.
Current Fort Worth ISD employees who want to make a difference in children’s lives by becoming a teacher have a new path to attain that dream. The District has entered into an innovative partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education for the 2018-2019 school year to establish a Teacher Residency program for current degreed paraprofessional and support staff. Candidates who are accepted into the two-year program will be placed on a targeted District campus and work toward earning their Texas teacher certification and a master’s degree.
Relay is an accredited national nonprofit institution of higher education serving teachers and school leaders across the country. They offer degree programs, professional development and unique learning experiences for teachers, principals, college students and members of the public.
The District teacher residency program will be flexible and affordable for participants. Classes are two nights a month and one Saturday a month. Tuition is $3,250 for each year of the program. Residents will be paid a salary of $30,000 for the first year of the program. They will be hired as teachers of record for the second year with a full first year's teacher’s salary.
The application deadline is May 4. Employees interested in this program are encouraged to visit https://relay.edu/ for additional program details and to apply.
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 recently married, and now I need to change my name with the District. How might I go about that? Any estimates on how long the change will take to affect my email address with the District?
Signed,
Newlywed
Dear Newlywed,
Thank you for your question. I reached out to Max Ates, senior officer of payroll, benefits and risk management, and he had this to say on the matter: “Thank you for inquiring about the process to update your name on your records at Fort Worth ISD. You must first change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Once you receive an updated Social Security card (not the receipt from the SSA) with the correct name, you must complete the Name Gender Change Request Form located on the FWISD website under Compensation and Employee Records Department.
After the form is received and processed by Employee Records, it could take up to 48 hours for the system to change your email account to display the updated name. However, your active directory account/login will remain the same. If a change to the login information is desired, a footprint request through the Division of Technology must be completed. If this is requested, it is important to know and understand that this change will affect all systems you have access to and sign on to. Some of the logins that could be affected that are not managed by FWISD include, but are not limited to, Focus, Transfinder and Kronos.
The Employee Benefits and Payroll departments are notified by the Employee Records Department once a name change is completed. A new employee badge can be secured by visiting the Central Calling office.”
Thanks again for your question, Newlywed, and thank you Mr. Ates 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.
A very important message for district employees
View this 2017 Wired.com story on how to avoid phishing emails.
Teacher Applicants Get Sneak Peek at District with Bus Tour
Who: Approximately 130 pre-screened and registered teacher applicants to Fort Worth ISD
What: Teacher applicants will take a bus tour of Fort Worth ISD, visiting schools, meeting campus staff and getting an inside look at the District they hope to join
When: Tuesday, May 1, with registration at 8 a.m., boarding buses at 8:45 a.m., and departing at 9 a.m. to fulfill the itinerary for the day
Where: Registration and boarding at Wilkerson-Greines Athletic Center, 5201 C.A. Roberson Blvd., Fort Worth 76119
To be considered for the bus tour: Fill out a teacher application to begin the screening process
About 130 pre-screened and registered teacher applicants will spend a day becoming familiar with Fort Worth ISD during a special bus tour of the District. This tour will give teacher applicants an exclusive opportunity to get an inside look at schools and classrooms while they are still going through the application process.
The Human Capital Management (HCM) Department is hosting the tour, which begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1. Three buses will depart from Wilkerson-Greines Athletic Center. The first bus will visit elementary schools. The second bus will visit elementary and middle schools. The third bus will visit middle schools and high schools.
Interested educators must complete an online application and pass a screening process before they can receive an invitation to participate in the tour.
Executive Director of Talent Acquisition and Development Dr. Yassmin Lee said schools have also been intentionally selected for stops on the tour.
"The purpose of this event is to nurture the relationship between applicants and high-need campuses,” she said. “Participants will engage in conversations with campus ambassadors, principals, and recruiters as they visit our campuses most in need."
Talent Management Coordinator Melissa Rodriguez said the tour is now in its second year. This special event provides teacher applicants with opportunities to learn about the District.
“This is a personal approach to open our doors and show the great things happening in our community. It also allows the opportunity for administrators to answer specific campus questions,” she said. “With this tour, HCM intends to engage in a different, out-of-the-box manner, providing a face-to-face experience with our administrators. We strive to connect applicants with the inside of Fort Worth ISD.”
Talent Management Coordinator Shalunda Corzine said campus ambassadors will greet each bus upon arrival to begin the personalized tour.
“A campus ambassador is a staff member, not necessarily a teacher, who is profiled by the campus administrator,” she said. “An ambassador excels in what they do, represents their campus well, exemplifies Fort Worth ISD, is a positive influence on all students and staff, and increases awareness of the amazing things happening in the District.”
Campus tours provide information and details about the District while showcasing the unique culture and environment of each campus. The tour supports the District mission of preparing all students for success in college, career and community leadership by providing an innovative way to attract, engage and hire the best teachers.
Prospective candidates who want to be considered for the bus tour must complete an online teaching application to begin the screening process. Should they fulfill the minimum invitation requirements, applicants will receive an email with a link to RSVP including the official invitation with further details. The deadline to apply and be considered for the tour is April 27.
Prospective candidates can begin the process by visiting the online application page.
Tell A Friend: FWISD Is Hiring
Do you know someone looking for an opportunity to grow professionally and also help cultivate the next generation? If so, their future just might be with Fort Worth ISD.
Tell your friends and family that the District’s Human Capital Management Department is hosting multiple teacher career fairs throughout the spring and summer. A career fair appealing to new and experienced teachers and auxiliary personnel -- including cafeteria, maintenance and custodial workers -- is slated for June.
Prospective employees are encouraged to apply at www.fwisd.org/careers to be considered for an opportunity to attend the invitation-only events.
For people looking for a challenging career where they can grow and develop, Fort Worth ISD is the place to be.
“We’re looking for people with a servant’s spirit to come 'back to school' and work to provide learning opportunities for kids,” said Carlos Mendoza, HCM director of staffing.
The following career fairs are scheduled:
Prospective candidates invited to attend the career fairs will receive a digital invitation with the date and location of the event. The invitation requires a response of whether the candidate plans to attend the fair. Once it’s confirmed that the candidate will be attending, they will receive a link with information on available vacancies.
Those invited and making plans to attend the career fairs are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of patience and resumes.
And, one more thing.
“Bring your A-game,” said Diana Perry, campus staffing coordinator.
At career fairs targeting teachers, principals and District leaders will conduct on-site interviews and potentially hire eligible candidates on the spot.
For more details on the hiring process and the necessary documents needed for background checks, call 817-814-2717.
New Teacher Spotlight: Ereca Garcia
Ereca Garcia, a first-year kindergarten teacher at David K. Sellars Elementary School, is always looking for ways to motivate her students.
Support provided to new teachers through the new Teacher Academy and networking gatherings allow her to brainstorm strategies and bounce ideas off other new teachers while also obtaining advice from experienced educators.
“We share ideas on how to deliver the lessons,” Ms. Garcia says. “I would say if you’re a teacher who’s considering Fort Worth ISD that you can get a lot of support here, and there’s a lot of resources.
In this video, Ms. Garcia shares what support as a new teacher means to her.
Ms. Garcia is a Fort Worth native who decided to become a teacher so that she could support students struggling with language barriers in learning how to speak English.
“I know that I serve a purpose and it’s to have each student learning,” she said.
Preparations are underway for multiple, invitation-only FWISD career fairs that will be hosted throughout the spring and summer. If you believe that your future is in a FWISD classroom, apply today at www.fwisd.org/careers for a chance at being invited to one of the District’s upcoming events.
For more details on the hiring process and the necessary documents needed for background checks, call 817-814-2717.
Submit Your 2017-18 Highlights for the FWISD Annual Report
Work is now underway on the 2017-2018 Fort Worth ISD Annual Report.
Department heads were recently asked to Give Me Three -- submit their top three highlights or significant stories for the current year.
Now, FWISD campuses, it’s your turn. Submit your best stories, accomplishments, or anything especially memorable from the 2017-18 year to Rebecca Slack, special projects coordinator, at rebecca.slack@fwisd.org. The Communications Department will consider the ideas for the next annual report.
The report, which shares the District’s story with the entire community, will be distributed throughout the school year to business, community organizations and others.
Need inspiration for what to submit? View the latest annual reports here.
FWISD’s Jennifer LaBoon Named TLA President
Jennifer LaBoon, Fort Worth ISD’s library technology coordinator, is the newly elected 2018-2019 Texas Library Association (TLA) president.
Her one-year term leading the 6,500-member association began at the recent TLA Conference, hosted April 3-6 in Dallas.
“Libraries are places where people of all ages and all walks of life can learn, create, and connect in powerful and innovative ways that impact our communities,” Ms. LaBoon said in a recent TLA statement. “As a member-driven association, TLA is at the heart of these connections, striving to be both responsive and proactive in meeting the needs of the dynamic Texas library community.”
TLA, the nation’s largest state library association offers an array of advocacy, continuing education, research and public relations services to public school, academic and special libraries throughout Texas. Over the course of her term, Ms. LaBoon is focused revamping the association’s strategic plan, increasing membership, attracting “new and diverse audiences,” identifying ways libraries can engage and impact their local communities, planning the association’s annual conference and rallying members to advocate for libraries during the 2019 Legislative Session, according to a TLA statement.
Over the years, Ms. LaBoon has lead “legislative and advocacy efforts for TLA and the Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL), a TLA division,” according to TLA.
Her education career spans 26 years, 20 of which have been as a school librarian. She has worked for the Fort Worth ISD 26 years and has served as the District’s library technology coordinator for 12 years.
FREE ATHLETIC MEDICAL EXAMS SET FOR MAY 5
Free medical examinations for Fort Worth ISD middle and high school students interested in participating in athletic events during the 2018-2019 year are slated for Saturday, May 5, at the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, 5201 C.A. Roberson Blvd.
Students taking a District athletic course or in interscholastic athletics are required to take a medical exam.
The comprehensive exam will be conducted by local physicians and specialists.
All students taking part in this event must ride District buses from their home campus. Transportation schedules will be posted at each campus as the day approaches. No drop-offs or pickups will be allowed at Wilkerson-Greines to ensure student safety and security.
An UIL Pre-participation Evaluation-Medical History/Physical Examination form, which can be obtained at a student’s campus, must be entirely completed and signed by a parent or a legal guardian for the exam to be performed. The completed and signed form must be brought by the student or their coach to board the bus to Wilkerson-Greines.
Students must wear athletic gear such as shorts, a T-shirt and athletic shoes, and if applicable, their eye glasses or contact lenses to the exam.
Students can also obtain athletic participation forms by visiting www.fwisd.org/athletics.
FWISD Finalizes Early College High School Calendar
The 2018-2019 Early College High School calendar is finalized.
Trustees approved the calendar at a recent Board of Education meeting.
The school year will officially begin Thursday, August 16, for students adhering to the calendar, and the year will conclude Friday, May 24.
The calendar includes the following important dates:
- Labor Day, Monday, September 3
- Thanksgiving Break, Monday, November 19-Friday, November 23
- Fall Semester Ends, Friday, December 14
- Teacher Prep, Monday, December 17- Wednesday, December 19
- Winter Break, Thursday, December 20-Friday, January 4, 2019
- Teacher Prep, Monday, January 7, 2019
- Waiver Day, Tuesday, January 8, 2019
- Spring Semester Begins, Wednesday, January 9, 2019
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 21, 2019
- Spring Break, Monday, March11- Friday, March 15, 2019
- Last Day of School, Friday, May 24, 2019
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2019
- Teacher Prep, Tuesday, May 28-Friday, May 31, 2019
View the complete calendar here.
Recently, FWISD set its other school calendars for the 2018-2019 year. The following calendars are available on the District website:
FWISD JROTC TOUR HONORS AMERICAN, MILITARY HISTORY
Members of the Fort Worth ISD JROTC are on the East Coast this week for a military history tour that will take them to national museums, battlefield parks, memorials and monuments in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
From Sunday, April 22 to Thursday, April 27, a group of JROTC students will tour historic sites honoring American heritage and U.S. military history. Among sites on the tour are Valley Forge, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center Museum, Gettysburg, the Smithsonian African American Museum, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, national mall memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.
“This is a unique trip for selected students,” said Lt. Col. Richard Crossley, Jr., FWISD JROTC program director. “We use the staff ride protocol to give students a greater understanding of our military heritage and the significance it’s had on our country.”
Known as the Experiential Staff Ride, the tour examines the role and use of the U.S. military on the nation’s social, cultural, political, economic and technological development.
The tour will be documented by FWISD through a series of video blogs and photos that you can find here.
Enjoy!
Day 1
FINAL REVIEW CEREMONY RECOGNIZES FWISD JROTC/JCC CADETS FOR HARD WORK
Fort Worth ISD praised the hard work of its cadets at its annual JROTC/JCC Final Review, held Friday, April 20, at Farrington Field.
The capstone ceremony is a culmination of hard work and accomplishments made by cadets throughout the 2017-2018 school year, and it acknowledges the students’ leadership development. Loved ones and distinguished guests looked on as cadets were awarded for their student achievement and as cadets who’ve excelled scholastically were presented with scholarships. Patriotic and service organizations also presented awards to select high school JROTC and middle school Junior Cadet Corps students at the ceremony.
Those in attendance, who braved the windy, 55-degree weather applauded the cadets for their accolades.
Col. Michael Stinnett, the reviewing officer and special guest at the ceremony, called the FWISD JROTC/JCC program among of the finest he’s seen. Col. Stinnett oversees the national U.S. Army JROTC program and spent a week observing the program leading up to the April 20 ceremony. Along with Lt. Col. Richard Crossley, Jr., FWISD JROTC program director, and others, he saluted the corps groups as they marched past him during the Pass-In-Review portion of the ceremony.
Col. Stinnett said that the awards received by FWISD students at the ceremony was indicative of their hard work.
“Job well done,” he said.
Superintendent Kent P. Scribner in remarks at the ceremony called the District’s JROTC/JCC program “a tremendous example of civic leadership” that best exemplifies the FWISD mission of preparing all students for success in college, career and community leadership.
For years, FWISD has hosted its JROTC/JCC Final Review ceremony which promotes citizenship, patriotism, community service and highlights this country’s heritage and values.
The District’s JROTC program, founded in 1915 with 100 students, is one of the oldest in the country and is FWISD’s premiere citizenship program. About 2,000 cadets currently participate in JROTC/JCC programs across 15 District campuses. Of the participating cadets, 99 percent graduate high school.
View the full photo gallery.
#Thankyouthursday
FORT WORTH ISD STUDENTS TOUR CTE-RELATED BUSINESSES
Fort Worth, Texas – Fort Worth ISD high school students gained valuable first-hand career experience during field trips to several local businesses. The excursions offered students from South Hills, Dunbar, Diamond Hill-Jarvis, North Side, O.D. Wyatt, and Trimble Tech high schools a unique glimpse into construction, engineering, and architecture careers.
The tours were facilitated by The PROCEDEO Group, the District's Capital Improvement Program Manager, and the FWISD Department of Student Engagement. The field trips paired students enrolled in specific career and technical education (CTE) or STEM courses with related businesses.
O.D. Wyatt students started their tour at the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA's active construction site. Employees of construction firm Con-Real explained their various roles and duties as students observed the ongoing work at the new I.M. Terrell Academy. Students were joined by school board trustees Tobi Jackson, Christene Moss, and T.A. Sims.
Students also visited Con-Real’s corporate office in Arlington, TX where they participated in a round of "speed learning." Students briefly met employees and learned about jobs such as superintendent, project manager, and marketer.
While in Arlington, students met the Texas Rangers Executive Vice President of Business Operations, Robert Matwick. This opportunity allowed students to view the Rangers' new stadium that is currently under construction.
Other businesses toured by Fort Worth ISD students included: KAI Texas, EJES, Inc, Byrne, Multatech Construction Services, and Con-Real constructions.
Thank you, PROCEDEO, for partnering with Fort Worth ISD to ensure that our students are prepared for college, career, and community leadership.
EARTH DAY RECAP
In honor of Earth Day, volunteers from St. Luke's in the Meadow Episcopal Church recently read to students Meadowbrook Elementary School.
On full display
Fort Worth ISD’s Advanced, Accelerated and Innovative Learning Department recently hosted its annual Enrichment Showcase at Wilkerson Greines Athletic Center.
Elementary students identified by the District as gifted and talented presented long-term projects to the community that they’ve created throughout the current school year.
Here's some photos from the event.
Professional Learning Opportunities
Learning Model Awareness Sessions
National Arbor Day, Friday, April 27
Mexican American College Education employee giving campaign, March 28-April 27
Joint and General Election Day, Saturday, May 5
2018 Fort Worth ISD Career Fairs are being scheduled for later this spring. Apply to the www.fwisd.org/careers 2018-2019 Teacher vacancy pools to be considered for an invitation.
District Teacher of the Year awards dinner, Wednesday, May 9, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Under the Sea with Fort Worth ISD: The Great Summer Migration, Saturday, May 19, Seaquest Interactive Aquarium Fort Worth at Ridgmar Mall
2018 Graduation Dates, Friday, May 18- Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Visit the Inside FWISD blog on Mondays for a look at The Week Ahead.
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.