Thomas Jefferson Tribune
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5-9, 2018
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PRIORITY GOALS
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION
CLIMATE AND CULTURE
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR..........
Distinguished Leaders,
As I have visited campuses this week, it is apparent that principal leaders are focusing on what is important, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT! Continue to keep your focus in each classroom and coaching your leadership team on what good instruction looks like and sounds like. Coaching your leadership team on effective feedback is also key. As I have referenced to several of you, the 6 Steps to Effective Feedback in the Leverage Leadership book Chapter 4, it is evident that the way you give feedback makes a difference on how the leadership team and teachers own the feedback and put into action. The key is to probe and not provide answers, to hold the leaders/teachers accountable.
When visiting classrooms, be intentional and listen to
- What type of tasks are being done by scholars?
- Are they high level tasks?
- What is the teacher doing?
- What is/are the scholar/scholars doing?
Principals and the leadership teams have a great opportunity on the upcoming February 19 District Campus Professional Development day, to get in front of teachers. Be sure to structure this day around the HIGHEST leverage points that will assist in moving the instruction for each of your campuses. Exceeding targets should be everyone's focus and the goal can only be done if EVERYONE is focused on the HIGHEST leverage points of the individual campus. Ensure to review the School Performance Framework with your staff. How does your campus plan on moving to the next level to gain more autonomies?
I look forward to seeing everyone at our Pre-Budget meeting next week with Mrs. Weber. Please come prepared to review your budget and allocations with Mrs. Weber. Do ALL of your pre-work before Thursday as there will be NO changes of additional allocations. I can not approve above formula staffing for anyone. If you receive ANY additional allocation that will be based on the programs on your campus and those departments allocating those allocations for your campus. Mrs. Weber nor I have the control to change the formulas or add allocations.
It was great to see all our feeder leaders attend The Leader in Me Dallas Symposium. From lessons regarding growth mindset, behaviors and high trust in leaders and the Change Theory, I am more than confident that ALL our feeder leaders are even more inspired than before to continue change.
Covey says it best, "Change starts with me!" We enter this profession not as a job or career but as a calling. In any successful school, we have to lead not just through compliance but through empowerment. The following choices we make affects our mission as educators:
- rebelling or quiting
- malicious obedience
- willing compliance
- cheerful cooperation
- heartfelt commitmet
- creative excitement
As always, have an awesome week LEADING, COACHING, TEACHING ,LEARNING AND MAKING ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS!
THE TJ FEEDER IS IN IT TO WIN IT!
Ms. Torres
Thomas Jefferson Executive Director
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Monday, February 5, 2018
- Think Tank Meeting w/Deputy Chiefs-Ms. Torres @ 8:00 a.m,
- Cary MS Campus visit w/ED and AF's-PLC's in Action @ 9:30 a.m.
- Tom Field Campus visit w/ AF's @ 8:00 a.m.
- ED and AF Planning/Feeder Expectations Meeting 1:00 p.m.
- Reading AF Meeting w/Hillcrest and WT White AF's @ 3:00 p.m. 2nd floor-Dr. Ramirez's office
- Cigarroa Campus visit w/ED and AF's
- Burnet Campus visit w/AF's
- Saldivar Campus visit w/AF's
- Math AF/CIC Training @ Hulcy A.M. or P.M.
- Arlington Park Campus visit w/Mr. Little, Mr. Ramirez @ 11:00 a.m.-Ms. Torres
- AIA Leadership Team Meeting w/Mr. Cordero @1:30 -NCX 13th floor
- Cary MS Unpacking TEKS PD w/ED and AF's @ 4:00 p.m.
- Joe May Campus Visit w/Ed and AF's
- New Principal Meeting w/ED @ Joe May Conference room -8:30 a.m.
- New Assistant Principal Meeting w/ED @ Joe May Conference room-9:30-11:15 a.m.
- Sudie Williams campus visit w/ Reading AF
- Medrano MS Campus visit w/ED Reading AF
- Medrano MS Campus PD w/ED and AF's @ 3:40 p.m.
- Math CIC Training @Hulcy A.M. or P.M.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
- Happy Birthday Mrs. Whitfield
- Stephen Foster Campus visit w/ED and Math AF
- Pre-Spring Budget Meetings@ NCX 14th floor conference room #36-12:30 -5:00 p.m.-( Principals please refer to your schedule)
- Reading AF/CIC Training @ Hulcy A.M. or P.M.
- Cary Campus Visit w/ED and AF's
- TJ ECHS visit w/ED and AF's
- Jiv Daya Soft Deadline
- Immigration Panel Information Session to be held at Mountain View College 5-7 PM
CAMPUS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Mrs. Massey did an excellent job of breaking down our Feeder/Campus Key Actions and State Standards in a power point that I sent you last week. You may use that as a model while working on your Campus improvement Plans after conducting your Campus Needs Assessments.
THOMAS JEFFERSON PRE-SPRING BUDGET MEETINGS
Below is your scheduled time to be able to come and work with Brittany regarding your Spring Budget meeting that is scheduled on February 8, 2018. The only campuses that are receiving allocations are Elementary campuses who will be receiving 1-2 allocations for an AP(’s) that will be coming from the Middle and High Schools and/or Special Ed. Units placed on your campuses for next year.
Please ensure you are on time to your Pre-Spring Budget meetings so that you can have any question answered prior to the February 13 Spring Budget Meeting.
These conferences will be held at NCX-14th Floor conference room #36.
THOMAS JEFFERSON SPRING BUDGET MEETINGS-FEBRUARY 13, 2018
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PATTERN MOY ISIP UPDATED REPORT
JIV DAYA FEEDER GRANT OPPORTUNITY
The Jiv Daya Foundation was established in 2002 in Dallas, TX by Dr. Viny Jain and his wife, Kanika Jain. The StEP initiative began in 2011 with small sets of Kindle Paperwhite e-reader devices donated to individual classrooms. By 2013, the tablet technology developed such that Kindle devices could be used in all subjects - not just for reading.
The primary goals of StEP are to:
· Provide access to digital tools in under-resourced settings
· Harness technology to support innovative and individualized teaching
· Prepare young students for the digital dimension
The Jiv Daya Foundation works with the feeder and school sites for one academic year. During this year, they will train administration and teachers in device usage, device management system, and digital resource usage. All training is required. After one academic year of partnership, sites are expected to self-maintain program and continue usage of devices.
The Foundation strongly believes that all campuses have unique technology needs and should have unique goals tailored to those needs.
A team has been selected to lead and submit the grant application for the feeder, however we will need your support to meet the deadline. Please be on the lookout for emails, Google forms, and documents that we will be using to collect and gather data to complete the application process once again.
This is our year! I am more than certain we will get this grant because our scholars deserve it! Let's think positive!
JIV DAYA FOUNDATION MODEL
POWER SCHOOL TRAINING
As you are aware, we are moving to Power School system where we will be able to do so many things and use one system instead of many to find information, data, create student scheduling, etc. CRC’s, Instructional Coaches, AP’s, teachers, and Principals will need to be trained on the system. This system will be used to schedule students when returning from summer vacation in July. Chancery will NOT be used for this purpose, therefore, if your CRC’s/Data Controllers are not attending trainings to be well versed in the system, your campus will be having difficulty with enrolling. I highly recommend that you inform your teams of the upcoming trainings being held at NCX Building.
There is Mandatory Elementary Principal training upcoming that must be attended based on the feeder day. Please refer to the table below. Registration through Cornerstone is required.
SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATES
In the effort to ensure total transparency and communication regarding upcoming changes in the Special Education department regarding next steps in Destination Access, I wanted to inform you how this may affect some of your campuses. The goal is to move all the students that belong to the TJ feeder back to the TJ feeder. This does not necessarily mean to the home campus. That would occur in a couple of years. Below, is a table that I created to communicate the changes that were given to me on Friday by Tanya Browne and the Special Education department. If you are NOT mentioned in the table below, your special education special programs will remain the same as you have this year.
EXTRACURRICULAR PARTICIPATION
Principals should encourage an increase in participation in extra-curricular. Students’ participation in extra-curricular activities should be inputted by the designated Activities Coordinator. While our end goal is every student participating in at least one activity, we must reach our yearly goal as we work toward 100%. Extra-Curricular activities serve as 5% of the School Performance Framework that determines campus autonomies.
For this year, we must reach the following:
- High School – 69%
- Middle School – 64%
- Elementary – 54%
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PATTTERN KUDOS
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER LEADERS AT THE LEADER IN ME POSING AT THE DALLAS SYMPOSIUM
THOMAS JEFFERSON ECHS P-TECH-NEW GROUP OF P-TECH MENTEES
We are excited about our new group of Mentees! Last year we completed the semester with fifty-five mentees with our industry partners. This semester, we will begin with sixty-two students. Our scholars engaged in several team building exercises where we discussed our four core values of Global Citizenship, Leadership, Self-Direction, and Creativity. The students enjoyed their orientation and are excited about the workforce readiness skills that they will receive during their sessions this semester. I have attached pictures and dates for your enjoyment.
ROUGH RIDERS VISIT JOE MAY!
On Monday, January 29, 2018, Frisco’s Rough Riders catcher Jose Treviño stopped by to visit Joe May scholars along with VP of Community Development Breon Dennis. The visit was short, but the message was clear - your dreams come true through hard work and lots of practice...DREAM BIG!
CARY MIDDLE SHOOL
CARY TRANSITION CAMP
'STAAR' BUCKS WRITING CAMP
CARY LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE LEADER IN ME CONFERENCE
'UNITED TO LEARN' FULL NETWORK MEETINGS FOR TJ ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS
THOMAS JEFFERSON ACHIEVE 3000 MOY UPDATE
TEI NEWS
April --Student survey administration
Students in grades 3-12 complete surveys during one class period
MAY -JUNE-- Mid May Teacher roster verification process
Teachers verify students to be included in calculation of student achievement metrics
May 11th--Teachers submit SLO GoalAccomplishment in Schoolnet
Administrator approves, scores, and completes by May 18th
May 18th-- Last day to enter extended observations, summatives, and SLO scores into Schoolnet
Summatives may be completed after a minimum number of spot observations and the extended observation are conducted May 21st – June 4th
CAREER MANAGMENT SYSTEM-MID YEAR REVIEW WINDOW OPENS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
GET YOUR 5th SIX WEEKS RLA CURRICULAR RESOURCES HOT OFF THE PRESSES!
Great news!! All 5th six weeks curricular documents have been posted on TRS and Curriculum Central. You can also access them on the 2017-18 Suggested Curricular Resources document linked here. Please let me know if I can assist you in any way. Spread the word!
STAAR ELAR PD Available!
2018 Spring Professional Development for RLA Grades 3–12
bit.ly/spring18RLAPD
Feb. 5 5:00–7:00
Where Are the Questions? Developing Effective Questions for Text Sets
Feb. 12 5:00–7:00
Just in Time for the 5th Six Weeks
Feb. 15 5:00–7:00
Supporting Students with Conclusions and Inferences on STAAR
Feb. 19*8:30–11:30
Close Reading as a Scaffold for STAAR
Feb. 19* 1:00–4:00
Supporting Students on STAAR: Active Reading Strategies & Inferences
STEM MATH ELEMENTARY PD
STEM MATH SECONDARY PD
DALLAS ISD STEM SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
Click on the calendar link above to access the PD dates.
2017-2018 DALLAS ISD DISTRICT-WIDE TESTING CALENDAR
Dallas ISD Year At a Glance Testing Schedule
UPCOMING DATES & REMINDERS
FEBRUARY
12-16 New dates-District wide 4th Six Weeks Common Assessments (TRS Version)
14- Dine and Develop T.J. Feeder Reading and Math CICs @ Cigarroa 11 am-1 pm
23-Title I Requisitions due today
28-Dialogue with School Leadership @ 7:30 a.m.-Joe May Elementary
MARCH
5- Thomas Jefferson Feeder Teacher Collaborative Planning (Gr. 3-8 and 9th Algebra I) @ Cary 3:30-5:30 pm
9-Drill log for the Spring Semester is due TODAY via email submission to the Office of Emergency Management
27-Math AF TOT for CIC Content Training
29-Reading AF TOT for CIC Content Training
MARSHALL MEMO #721
PLCs at Their Best and Worst:
In this article in All Things PLC Magazine, Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, Thomas Many, and Mike Mattos describe what happens in the most effective PLCs:
- Same-grade/same-subject teacher teams get frequent and timely information on their students’ learning on key standards from common assessments they developed.
- Teachers use the data to identify the strengths and weaknesses in their individual practice.
- The team identifies areas of the curriculum where students are struggling and names individual students for follow-up intervention and enrichment.
- Teachers compare their students’ results, pinpoint the most effective practices, identify team PD needs, and adopt ways to improve their collective capacity.
- Teachers measure progress toward team goals.
- The team compares its assessments with district, state, and national assessments.
DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, Many, and Mattos then describe some weaknesses they have observed in some schools’ PLC work:
- Considerable lag time getting assessment results to teachers;
- Assessment data presented in ways that aren’t helpful;
- Teacher reluctance to share their individual results with colleagues, preferring to look at aggregate performance across groups;
- A desire to eliminate questions on which students did poorly;
- Data analysis seen as a bureaucratic task primarily to satisfy “downtown;”
- Assessments used primarily to report on student progress; teachers teach, test, and hope for the best as they move on to the next unit.
- Not using the analysis of results to improve professional practice;
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
Tamieka Porter
Lisa Maia
Erica Rosas
Trustee Edwin Flores District 1
Trustee Dustin 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.