THE SUBScriber
MARCH 2020 SUBSTITUTE NEWSLETTER
It is crazy to think that we are just three short months away from summer break! The spring semester is often times the most hectic of the two semesters with state testing looming around the corner and students anxious for summer break. Please note that all substitutes are required to accept a minimum of 5 assignments per month in order to remain active in the pool. Please help us reach our goal by logging into the Absence Management system to ensure all classes are covered in the absence of the teacher. Thank you for continuing to serve the students in Dallas ISD!
FREE SUBSTITUTE NEWSLETTER from STEDI.org
While we will continue to publish our monthly newsletter containing important information regarding our district as well as best practices and tips, it's always nice to have input from another source. SubSuggestions is a FREE monthly newsletter from the Substitute Teaching Division (STEDI) which provides research-based training materials and services specifically for substitute teachers. The monthly newsletter provides you with tips and ideas to improve your classroom management skills, increase professionalism, and share filler activities.
Simply click here to sign up for the FREE newsletter and ongoing advice and tips will be delivered to your inbox each month!
CELEBRATE WITH READ ACROSS AMERICA!
On March 2nd, schools across the nation will be celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday with Read Across America which encourages everyone to read and acknowledge the power of reading. Check out some of the Dr. Seuss themed material you can use in your classrooms on March 2nd at Seussville.
The Substitute Office suggests one other resource website that can positively impact student learning. With the busy RTI (Response to Intervention) and testing prep season (STAAR, EOC, ITBS, TELPAS, etc.) take a minute to check out the following resources.
TeacherSherpa - This website makes it simple for teachers to create classroom materials. This site is filled with thousands of teacher created materials that are both eye-catching and able to reinforce instruction. This is a teacher share site that is inspirational and easy to use. It provides unlimited downloads for all grade levels in all curriculum areas.
Remember,
"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!
ACTION REQUIRED: EMPLOYEE POLICY AND COMPLIANCE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In compliance with state and federal laws, Dallas ISD requires that all employees complete an Annual Policy and Compliance Acknowledgment at the beginning of each school year.
Using your EAD username and password, Substitute employees must log into https://elearning.dallasisd.org/moodle/course/view.php?id=3305§ion=1 to access, review, and acknowledge compliance with the following:
Employee Handbook
Annual Employee Notification of District Policies
Conflict of Interest Notice
State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Reporting Notice
Confidentiality Requirements
For more time and flexibility to review these documents, employees can read them by clicking on the links above before logging into the application.
HELP US REACH OUR MARCH FILL RATE GOALS!
We are always striving to improve in the Substitute Office! One of our goals is to improve the monthly average fill rate for the month of March. Last year, the average monthly fill rate was 70% for all teacher absences across the district. We have three working weeks this month and we are striving to have a monthly average fill rate of 80% or above. We can't do this without YOU! In order for us to achieve this goal, we need to roughly have 800 substitutes working on a daily basis. Also, Monday and Friday are days with the highest number of absences so remember to keep that in mind when accepting assignments. We know this is an achievable goal because we have consistently seen an improvement in our fill rates throughout the month of February. Let's help make sure all students in the district have a teacher in front of them every day!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPRING BREAK!
With schools being closed March 16th - March 19th for Spring Break, the Substitute Office would like encourage you to check out some of our local attractions. The following list is just a few of our attractions that are either free or offer an educator discount.
Explore ancient fossils at the Perot Museum: You have a few more weeks to behold Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind before it closes on March 22. The exhibit features two specimens, Karabo and Neo, who are here all the way from Johannesburg, South Africa. Dated at roughly two million years old and 250,000 years old, respectively, don't miss your last chance to get up close and personal with these treasures. More information on Origins is here. Additionally, drop off the kids for a few hours at the Perot's Discovery Camp, where they'll dig into topics such as marine biology and chemistry. Pop over to El Fenix while your little scientist soaks up some knowledge.
Learn about the art of sculpture during Spring Break at the Nasher: Make your way to the Arts District to take advantage of free admission from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the week of March 17-22. In celebration of 2020 Nasher Prize Laureate Michael Rakowitz, enjoy programming designed for the whole family, including the Resist/Release and Barry X Ball exhibits in town until April. Over Spring Break, students can participate in artistic projects onsite while being inspired by the Nasher's impressive collection of modern art. More information is here.
Snap photos of majestic animals at the Dallas Zoo: For young ones who don't want to take the week off from learning, the zoo offers single-day camps for kids in pre-K up to fifth grade throughout Spring Break. Registration gets them a tour of the zoo, special animal encounters, games, and crafts with friends. Even if you don't attend a Wild Adventure Camp, the zoo is a perfect spot for making memories. Feed one of the zoo's nine giraffes before watching a bird show or encountering the cheetahs. Find daily schedules and ticket information here.
SUBSTITUTE CAMPUS COORDINATOR LIST
Each campus has a set person or people who work with the substitute population. It may be an Office Manager, an Assistant Principal, or a Financial Clerk. This coordinator is in charge of handling substitute assignments, classroom placements, and most importantly time sheets. On the substitute webpage there is a link to the substitute campus coordinator for each campus. Please refer to this list anytime you have questions regarding your assignment or payment for that specific campus.
It is a common misconception that the Substitute Office handles payroll for substitutes. Each campus (typically the office manager) is in charge of submitting time sheets to payroll for all assignments worked on their campus. If you ever believe there is a discrepancy on your paycheck, please be sure to reach out to the specific campus you took your assignments at.
Below is a link to the substitute webpage where you can find the Substitute Campus Coordinator Contact List.
2019 - 2020 BI-WEEKLY PAY PERIODS AND DATES
Transparency around compensation is something that is very important to us, and we want you to have every resource available to plan your finances. Click the link below for the 2019-2020 pay schedule.
ID BADGE POLICY
Make sure you wear your District ID Badge at all times on campus, as some facilities will not let you enter without it.
The ID badge policy is for the safety and security of our district's children. It is a way to identify who should/should not be on our campus at all times. If you need a replacement badge please come to our office on the 14th floor at 9400 N Central Expressway Dallas, TX.
FORGOT YOUR EAD USERNAME/PASSWORD?
Employees who have forgotten their EAD username and/or password can visit the Dallas ISD Password Portal at http://password.dallasisd.org.
If employees still have problems logging into the application or have other technical difficulties, they should submit a Remedyforce ticket at http://remedyforce.dallasisd.org/ or call the IT Service Desk at (972) 925-5630.
INFORMATION UPDATE
If you wish to update any information (such as phone numbers or addresses) make sure you log into your Oracle account to do so. All district information including Absence Management (AESOP) is pulled from Oracle, so if you want to make any changes you will need to do it through the Oracle portal. Use the steps below:
1. Log in to Oracle at https://goo.gl/HDKwcv
2. Click the "DISD Employee Self-Service" folder under the "Main Menu"
3. Click the "Employee Self-Service" folder
4. Click the "Human Capital Management Information" folder
5. Click the "Personal Information" link
6. Browse the field you would like to change and click "update"
7. Follow the prompts and enter in the required information
8. Click "Submit"
FOCUS ON CAMPUS SUPPORT
Substitutes, we need your help with accepting assignments at one of the following campuses below to ensure all classes are covered in the absence of the teacher.
ADAMSON HIGH SCHOOL
ANN RICHARDS MIDDLE SCHOOL
BAYLES ELEMENTARY
BETHUNE ELEMENTARY
BURLESON ELEMENTARY
CARR ELEMENTARY
CEDAR CREST ELEMENTARY
CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY
COMSTOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL
DADE MIDDLE SCHOOL
FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
GARCIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
KENNEDY CURRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
LANG MIDDLE SCHOOL
LONG MIDDLE SCHOOL
MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
MEDRANO MIDDLE SCHOOL
PIEDMONT GLOBAL ACADEMY
SAMUELL HIGH SCHOOL
SAN JACINTO ELEMENTARY
SEAGOVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
SPRUCE HIGH SCHOOL
TASBY MIDDLE SCHOOL
TITCHE ELEMENTARY
WILMER HUTCHINS ELEMENTARY
ZUMWALT MIDDLE SCHOOL
REMINDER OF REASONABLE ASSURANCE INFORMATION
By submitting this form, I am hereby requesting re-enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year as an instructional Substitute employee in the Dallas Independent School District. I understand that continued enrollment, as a substitute employee requires that I comply with the rules, regulations and policies of the Dallas ISD. I am aware that this enrollment procedure does not represent application for full-time permanent employment.
I understand that continued enrollment, as a substitute requires a yearly criminal record check. I do hereby agree, consent and direct a person or entity maintaining information in any form relating to my criminal history to release all such information in any form relating to my criminal history to release all such information upon the request of the Dallas Independent School District.
I do further agree and permit the Dallas Independent School District to obtain any law enforcement source or entity information relating to my personal background, my moral character and my fitness to instruct students or work in an environment with students of the Dallas ISD and do hereby expressly direct that any such person or entity release such information upon the request of the Dallas ISD.
I do hereby release, discharge and exonerate the Dallas ISD, its agents or representatives and any person or entity furnishing information from any and all liability of every kind arising therefrom. Information will be kept in a separate file.
I accept this document as the Dallas Independent School District's means of informing me of reasonable assurance of substitute in Dallas ISD for the 2019-2020 school year. I furthermore understand that substitute employees are "at will" employees and as such, have no property rights in employment.
This serves as notice of reasonable assurance of continued employment in the 2019-2020 school year on the same substitute basis that existed during the past school year. By virtue of this notice, please understand that you may not be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits drawn on school district wages during any scheduled school breaks including, but not limited to, the summer, fall, winter, and spring breaks. This assurance is contingent upon continued school operations and will not apply in the event of any disruption that is beyond the control of the District (i.e., lack of school funding, natural disasters, court orders, public insurrections, war, etc.).
This is not an employment contract. Your continued employment is on an at-will basis. The District may terminate at-will employees at any time for no reason or for any reason not prohibited by law. At-will employees are free to resign at any time for any reason or no reason. DPB (LOCAL), DPB (REGULATION)
HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT - SUBSTITUTE STAFFING TEAM
Cynthia Lule, Substitute Staffing Specialist
· Major Responsibilities: Creating Substitute Profiles
· Email: clule@dallasisd.org
Celina Ibarra, Substitute Staffing Specialist
· Major Responsibilities: Creating Substitute Profiles
· Email: ceibarra@dallasisd.org
Lamar Dinkins, Substitute Coordinator
· Major Responsibilities: Absence Management, Substitute Communication, AABS Reporting
· Email: ldinkins@dallasisd.org
Brandy Nealy, Substitute Facilitator
· Major Responsibilities: Substitute Training, Materials & Resources Policy, TWC & Reviews Incident Reports
· Email: bnealy@dallasisd.org
Shenise Tyler, Substitute Staffing Manager
· Major Responsibilities: Substitute Office Policy, Project, Work & Substitute Supervisor
· Email: shtyler@dallasisd.org
Contact us at substitute@dallasisd.org
Substitute Office
Email: substitute@dallasisd.org
Website: www.dallasisd.org/substitute
Location: 9400 North Central Expressway Suite 1400, Dallas, TX, 75231
Phone: (972) 925-5420