Thomas Jefferson Tribune
"WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT!"
THE WEEK OF AUGUST 21-25 , 2017
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PRIORITY PLAN
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION
CAMPUS CLIMATE AND CULTURE
NEW MISSION, VISION & CORE VALUES
MISSION:
The TJ Feeder schools embrace high quality learning opportunities which honor the unique strengths and diverse needs of all Scholars.
VISION:
The TJ feeder schools will be the premier feeder to attract and educate all Scholars to positively impact our community and world.
CORE VALUES:
Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Integrity
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS IN OUR FEEDER
Happy Birthday to the following individuals!
- August 6-Michael Jackson-Sudie Williams Principal
- August 21-Irma De La Guardia-Stephen Foster Principal
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR..........
Leaders,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our new principals for a great start to their first Professional Development session with their staff as the principal for their campus. Both Mrs. De La Guardia and Mr. Burak presented themselves as 'pros'. The enthusiasm that both had displayed in their session was affirmation that they were the right individuals for the principal job and member of our AWESOME TEAM. Great job!
Principal of the Year Nominations from our feeder has been sent out. Each of you have the opportunity to vote for the Elementary and Secondary principal whom you think embodies what our feeder is all about. The top two candidates will have a run off to determine the top candidate for each category that will represent our feeder moving on to the district level. Good luck!
PEI Checkpoint #1 meetings have been completed. Thank you for being prepared for our meetings and being able to articulate your goals and the alignment regarding your CIP's to your goals.
Also, as you all are aware, we will experience a solar eclipse on Monday. Although the event will begin around 11:40 am, reach its maximum around 1:10 pm, and conclude around 2:39 pm, we would like for you to ensure transparency with your volunteers and the staff during the Neighborhood Walk. In order to ensure staff and volunteer safety, remaining protected from high temperatures and the potential risk of the damaging effects of sustained viewing of the sun during the eclipse, is key. Ensure you discuss this with all staff /volunteers involved. You may also want to discuss with your teachers that this would be a great lesson to cover with our students next week and allow them a second viewing of the solar eclipse in action via a link provided by NASA. Experiencing this event from inside the building will allow our students to have a front row seat to the viewing of the eclipse.
Last and foremost, please ensure that you thoroughly read this newsletter as it has pertinent information regarding updates, action items and resources.
I look forward to visiting all the campuses next week as you continue with your Professional Development sessions on your campuses.
Here's to a great week of Professional Development!
Ms. Torres
Thomas Jefferson Executive Director
Foster Elementary Engages Staff and Faculty in PD
Cigarroa ES Makes their Campus Vision, Mission, and Goals a Top Priority
Joe May Staff Engage in ProActive Behavior PD
Deputy Chief, Brian Lusk Offers Words of Encouragement to Feeder Campuses
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Monday, August 21, 2017
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS. DE LA GUARDIA!
- Neighborhood Walks 9:00-11:00-Ms. Torres at Walnut Hill
- List of all PLC’s on your campuses this year and dates/times of meetings-DUE in Google folder Today!
- Campus PD Day
- ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners Window BOY Aug. 21-Oct. 13
- Student Enrollment 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
- Last day for Annual Benefits Enrollment
- Attendance ‘Plan of Action’- to ensure calling in procedures are done accurately and called in on time-DUE in Google folder Today!
- Campus PD Day
- Student Enrollment 8:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
- Executive Directors (TJ, Hillcrest, & W. T. White) Planning Meeting w/Abagail Williams 11:30-1:30
- First day/week of school arrival and dismissal protocol to ensure that ALL students are accounted for and dismissed to parents/guardians-DUE in Google folder Today!
- Campus PD Day
UT Dallas Jindal Scholars Program @ Haskell-1st Floor (2:30pm – 3:30pm)
- Student Enrollment 8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday, August 24, 2017
- Campus PD Day
Welcome Back Day
Campus Leadership Designees Deadline (see July 27th WAIP)
- Student Enrollment 8:00am – 4:00pm
Friday, August 25, 2017
- Teacher Prep Day
- Last Day to Acknowledge PEI Checkpoint #1 in Cornerstone
REVISED DISTRICT TESTING DAYS
In order for schools to best utilize Monday, Feb. 19th, School Leadership moved the common assessment window to Feb. 12-16, but did not move the ED Feeder pattern meetings due to spring budget meetings. The feeder pattern meeting for February is noted in your handbook.
COMMON ASSESSMENT BLUEPRINT UPDATES
- Elementary Math blueprints found only on TEKSResource System and through Evaluation and Assessment reflect the most current information
- 6th and 7th grade Math blueprints are not accurate and should be updated and reloaded on TEKSResource System and through Evaluation and Assessment by Friday, August 17, 2017.
School Leadership will continue to communicate any updates regarding common assessment as soon as they are notified by Teaching and Learning.
CAMPUS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (CEOP)
This year, the CEOP is due to the Office of Emergency Management, via email submission, on September 8th, 2017.
The Drill log for the Fall Semester is due to the Office of Emergency Management, via online form submission, on November 10th, 2017.
The Drill log for the Spring Semester is due to the Office of Emergency Management, via online form submission, on March 9th, 2018.
Like last year, you will no longer submit a printed copy to Emergency Management, you will only complete the PDF and then submit it via the included submit button. Please ensure that you only submit your CEOP through the submit button, as failure to follow this procedure may cause your campus plan to be missed during processing. Scanned versions on your CEOP will not be accepted due to loss of functionality.
There is a big change this year as it pertains to the Drill Log submission. Unlike in years past where you would submit a paper copy of the drill log, you will now complete an online form. This form can be found here. You will complete this form after you have completed both of your drills. This will be sent out again as we get closer to the deadlines for submission of the Drill Log, as well as it can be found on the website of Office of Emergency Management.
As a reminder, the attachments can only be opened and completed in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat.
APEI-ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE
A portion of the upcoming AP professional development sessions will address APEI. Dates will be provided in the near future.
APEI Phase 1 is now available in Cornerstone. Important Note: Principals will receive an email notification to approve APEI goals and confirm the conference once the AP has completed their task for Phase I.
For additional information on APEI Phase 1, please visit the APEI section of the Excellence Initiative page by clicking here.
Additional resource links below:
APEI Website
APEI Specific Goal Selection Info
APEI Evaluation Calendar
APEI Performance Rubric
2017-2018 APEI Video Training (must be logged in to Google using DISD credentials)
ROTARY CLUB TEACHER FINALIST
On August 16, The Rotary Club of Dallas honored its 2017 Dallas ISD Service Above Self Award Finalists. CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. Scully from Stephen Foster Elementary for being awarded 2nd place for this honorable award.
Hundreds of DISD teachers applied for this award. Mrs. Scully submitted a rigorous application and engaged in a face to face interview. Finally, a panel of Blue Ribbon Rotary members made the final decision and Mrs. Scully came in 2nd place. We are so proud of you Mrs. Scully! Thank you for representing our feeder with pride.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Tim Shriver served as a great keynote speaker for our district as an advocate for Social Emotional Learning. His speech was videotaped and added to our YouTube Channel. This will allow you to be able to access the video for PD on your campuses should you choose to do so. Please utilize the link to view the video. https://youtu.be/CUXuuEj-uQ0
NEIGHBORHOOD WALK-MONDAY, AUGUST 21st
Just a reminder to ensure that all the logistics have been covered for your Neighborhood Walks. Some items to remember are:
- Are there specific assignments for our volunteers?
- Are your teams set up whether they are teams walking or working on the indoor team for breakfast and lunch or working in the office answering phones?
- Who will be setting up the welcome table?
- Has the staff been divided to visit their grade level only? Are they aware of what to say when they visit the homes of our students?
- What time should everyone begin the walk?
- Is there a plan in place for serving breakfast and lunch and if so, who will be in charge of that task?
- Is everyone aware of the dress code for this day?
What is your plan to ensure that our volunteers know that you appreciate their support?
There are many other questions that you may have thought of and have already answered, however, just ensure that your plan is solid.
Please send Mrs. Rosas and myself all your campus pictures for our Thomas Jefferson Newsletter.
Thank you in advance for your leadership in this endeavor to bring back our DISD students.
CAMPUS TRAFFIC ISSUES
Police and Emergency Management are available to go out and help schools come up with a traffic plan to address any issues with traffic flow prior to the start of school. Below is the link to request assistance.
TI-nspire SUPPORT
Campuses requesting TI-nspire SUPPORT, please visit the Texas Instrument website and click under professional development tab. There are free webinars and tutorials which are very helpful and easy to follow. Feeder wide professional development is coming soon!
DISTRICTWIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS FOR PRINCIPALS
In preparation for this year’s Districtwide Advisory Committee (DAC), we are seeking nominations of principals to serve on the DAC for the 2017-19 school years (members serve staggered two-year terms). The DAC operates in an advisory capacity to the Superintendent and consults on the district’s educational goals, objectives, and major initiatives. Members of the DAC will attend monthly meetings beginning in October and concluding in April (see attached for meeting calendar) and will serve alongside elected teachers, central-level staff, and business and community representatives.
To nominate yourself and/or principal peers to serve on the DAC, please complete the nomination form here by 5 PM on Friday, September 1st. Each principal can submit up to three nominees. Following submission of nominee names, we will ask all nominees for their consent to appear on the ballot and then will send a final ballot out to all principals to vote the week of September 4th.
If you have any questions about the election procedure and/or the DAC, please email Ashley Bryan at abryan@dallasisd.org.
Thomas Jefferson Collegiate Academy
Francisco Medrano MS
CAMPUS LEADERSHIP DESIGNEE
School Leadership provided a memo related to leadership designees in the WAIP during the week of July 27th. The memo called for campuses to determine designees such as test coordinator, 504 Chairperson, CLT members, etc. Currently only 51 campuses have complete the form. Please work on completing the form no later than Thursday, August 24, 2017. The deadline is soon approaching. The link to complete designees is provided below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ifN8Yid3oNfVQjwaWwASA7pg4odPaQ0HhnxrLcVayCA/edit#gid=0
PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT UPDATE AND RESOURCE FILES
The links below provide resources to campus principals to conduct proactive behavior management training.
Elementary PBM Files
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bqbg5ZO0OPLVEQzMDNRbUtQWVk?usp=sharing
Secondary PBM Files
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bqbg5ZO0OPLWThZRzIycDA5NUk?usp=sharing
Also, if you are still needing to attend the PB training, please bring your laptops to access your student discipline data, more specifically, your campus offense description data AND your Spring 2017 Climate Survey.
TEACHING AND LEARNING SURVEY
Please ensure to take the Teaching and Learning survey link below. Teaching and learning would like principal feedback for the sessions presented to you last week
GOOGLE DOCUMENT DUE DATES
Reminder that the below items are due on the Google drive on the due dates listed.
CLICK LINK:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B209u7bpw7A9Z3RPRXZvUDcwVHM?usp=sharing
CULTURE RUBRICS FROM NORTH STAR
As we focus on ensuring our feeder has positive climate and culture, please click the link below to utilize any climate/culture rubric that you may want to utilize with your staff. Below is the link for use of any of the Culture Rubrics:
http://tntp.org/assets/tools/NSA-USI_School_Culture_Rubric_TSLT_3.12.docx
SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER
Currently there is a vacancy for the Special Education Campus Support Supervisor for our feeder. Until the vacancy is filled, Kimberly Wheeler will be the contact person.
The information below lists the staff that have been assigned to the Thomas Jefferson feeder.
Karen Carreon – Campus Support Specialist
Sandra Meek – IE Coach (Evaluation)
Dana Eckles – SLP Coach (Speech)
Laura England-SLP Coach (Speech)
Tara Caskey - Behavior Support
Martha Blount-Itinerant Teacher
Ginny Beatty-Itinerant Teacher
COMPLIANCE VIDEOS
LEARNSTORM
LearnStorm is six-week learning challenge designed to help your classes practice skills, build growth mindsets, and earn fun prizes for grades 3-12.
Sign up opens on August 15th!
Schools with at least three teachers who have classes that completed all six LearnStorm levels will be eligible to apply for the LearnStorm School Grand Prize. The School Grand Prize will include national recognition and a fun school rally.
Grand Prize applications will open after the challenge begins on September 12. Check back then for more information!
Join in to celebrate all student learning and growth. Click on the link below to sign up on August 15th. The challenge starts September 12th and ends on October 20th. I highly encourage EVERYONE to try this on their campus.
UPCOMING DATES & REMINDERS
AUGUST
28--First Day of School!
SEPTEMBER
1-Deadline to submit Principal Nominations for DAC
4-LABOR DAY! NO SCHOOL!
8-CEOP email Submission is due TODAY to the Office of Emergency Management
NOVEMBER
10-Drill Log for the Fall Semester is due TODAY via email submission to the Office of Emergency Management
MARCH
9-Drill log for the Spring Semester is due TODAY via email submission to the Office of Emergency Management
2017-2018 TESTING CALENDAR
STEPS TO A DATA-DRIVEN CAMPUS
All in Learning
Based on research and the best practices of ALL In Learning schools that achieved profound gains, we've boiled down 3 Steps to a Data-Driven Campus for schools that want to turn around or strive to go from good to great. It's easier than you think!
It starts in the classroom.
Step 1
Daily, daily, daily!
Most teachers already ask questions during lessons by calling on students, asking for a show of hands, etc. Unfortunately, these methods are subjective, data-weak, and dreaded by many students.
Instead, ask 3-5 on-the-fly questions during each lesson using clickers. It doesn't require extra preparation or grading, provides powerful data, and gets every kid's participation!
Check out this video for some easy ways to do it:
Daily data with Clickers combines the power of Formative Assessment and Student Engagement and gives teachers great benefits, like:·
- Knowing, as they teach, if students are “getting it.”
- Spotting misconceptions and re-teaching in the moment.
- Avoiding wasted time on a concept the class already understands.
- Getting every student participating without embarrassment.
- Reducing discipline problems.
- Adding daily data to an ongoing standards-based progress monitor.
Admins report that this has been the most impactful practice they've put in place because of the immediate instructional feedback and student engagement. Additionally, teachers that daily engage and assess students the most lead the campus and district in student growth.
Reality Check: Getting "Buy-In"
We know many teachers already feel too busy and overwhelmed. To them, this may just look like another one of those initiatives from on high that doesn't support or help them and just drains teaching time. And some are nervous about data from past experiences when data was too late or vague to impact student growth and just laid blame on teachers.
They haven't experienced using easy-to-gather, helpful data to address class and individual misconceptions immediately, while concepts are fresh, and the sense of control and peace of mind it gives. They haven't seen how it will actually make life better.
So, who can blame some of them for waiting to see how serious their admins are about it before they honestly try it? And we know many admins are hesitant to come across like they are "forcing" them to do it.
What We've Seen Work Every Time
The schools that get the fastest growth and outstanding gains are the ones where leaders get excited and lead teachers in a data-driven culture, making sure these practices are supported, and using the frequent data continually. Some admins start small with one team for a few weeks to get the hang of it and others dive right in with the whole school. Once teachers see the ease and the time they save, they love working smarter not harder. They have more time and control and they see students succeeding. They never want to go back to how it was before.
Need more confidence this will really work? We'd be delighted to connect you to teachers and admins who are doing it -- let us know! For now, here's a little testimonial video with some educators' experiences:
Want more ideas on being data-driven daily? Check out this article: 7 Ways to Use ALL In Learning for DDI
Let us know how we can help and if you need anything to make this practice a success at your campus!
After you teachers get comfortable with this step, take it to the next level and get teams working together.
Step 2
Weekly, weekly, weekly!
Data-driven teams do a short, shared assessment each week by selecting a couple (1-2) of standards and asking 3-4 questions on each standard to measure mastery. They can grade with clickers, bubble sheets, or student devices and the data is automatically collated into colorized PLC reports. No grading at night or over the weekend. No data crunching. This allows them to:
- Take turns creating and sharing the assessments.
- Produce common assessment data to look at weekly with their team.
- Get consistent team summative data at regular, short intervals for progress tracking.
- Provide feedback to students as the assessment is graded instantly.
- Focus on shorter, chunked assessments and "bite-sized" goals.
When teams establish this weekly rhythm around shorter assessments, they are
proactive and responsive in their interventions. They are equipped to address
students’ needs as soon as problems arise.
Once your teams are producing data together, move on to the next step and unleash
the data guru within all your teachers.
Step 3
Analyze and Act on the Data
With Steps 1 and 2, teachers fix problems on the spot with quick checks during class and teams collaborate on quick data cycles. Whether the data was collected for formative or summative purposes, the end result is that teachers and teams will:
- See fresh, bite-sized, actionable data.
- Isolate student strengths and weaknesses by standard.
- Recognize which instructional strategies work best.
- Correct misconceptions while they are fresh and way easier to fix.
- Move students into and out of intervention faster.
- Track each student's trajectory and mastery over time.
- Save lots of time and feel more empowered and in control!
We think you're going to see the attitude toward data become positive. Collaborative instead of evaluative. Helpful (even necessary) rather than a burden.
So, discover your inner data guru with some short videos!
Teachers: This video shows teachers simple, quick ways to interpret and apply the data:
Teams: This video shows how PLCs and data teams can look at the data together:
Admins: This video shows how admins can see useful campus data:
Everyone! Seeing trajectory and mastery over time with the progress tracker:
By simply dragging and dropping sessions into the Progress Tracker, you can isolate class and student performance by standard over time!
THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- Thomas Jefferson High School: Principal, Sandi Massey
- Francisco Medrano Middle School : Principal, Theresa Sigurdson
- Edward Cary Middle School: Principal, Ben Dickerson
- David G. Burnet Elementary: Principal, Sonia Loskot
- Leonides Cigarroa Elementary : Principal, Douglas Burak
- Tom W. Field Elementary: Principal, Shondula Whitfield
- Stephen C. Foster Elementary: Principal, Irma De La Guardia
- Joe May Elementary: Principal, Israel Rivera
- K.B. Polk Elementary: Principal, Misty Rathermund
- Julian T. Saldivar: Principal, Chaundra Macklin
- Walnut Hill Elementary: Principal, Robert 'Chase'McLaurin
- Sudie Williams Elementary: Principal, Michael Jackson
Thomas Jefferson High School
Franscisco Medrano Middle School
EDWARD CARY MIDDLE SCHOOL
David G. Burnet Elementary
Leonides Cigarroa Elementary
Tom W. Field Elementary
Stephen C. Foster Elementary
Joe May Elementary
K. B. Polk Elementary
Julian T. Saldivar Elementary
Walnut Hill Elementary
Sudie L. Williams Elementary
Marelenise Phillips-Roberts
VACANT
Erica Rosas
Trustee Edwin Flores District 1
Trustee Marshall District 2
Trustee Miguel Solis District 8
DISD GOALS
- All students will exhibit Satisfactory or above performance on State assessments. Students below Satisfactory performance will demonstrate more than one year of academic growth
- Dallas ISD schools will be the primary choice for families in the district
- The achievement gap by race, ethnicity and social economic status will be no greater than 10 percentage points on all academic measures
- 95% of students will graduate. Of the graduates, 90% have qualifying scores for community college, college, military, or industry certification
- 95% of entering kindergarten students are school-ready on a multidimensional assessment
- All students will participate in at least one extracurricular or co-curricular activity each year.