District in Pictures
August 16, 2019
#BeBold Motto Drives New 2019-2020 School Year as Doors Opened Thursday
Twenty-seven WFISD schools welcomed students August 15 for the first day of school. Six schools will be led this year by new principals: Booker T. Washington Elementary’s Angela Rooney; Crockett Elementary’s Jesse Thomas; Cunningham Elementary’s Donna Martin; Milam’s Gena Ayers; Southern Hills’ Kacy Hunter and Zundy Elementary’s Becky Hernandez. Pictured here: Fowler Elementary students climb the steps to school Thursday, scuffing through confetti. Staff members popped off confetti when they opened the doors Thursday at 7:30 a.m. to celebrate the launch of a new school year. This year's district motto: #BeBold
Burgess Elementary is WFISD's First School to Simultaneously Achieve Three Prestigious Distinctions
Kate Burgess Elementary is the first school in Wichita Falls ISD to achieve three of the most prestigious distinctions simultaneously for programs implemented in its classrooms. Burgess is a Seidlitz 7 Steps National Showcase School, a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School, and has earned Levels 1, 2 and 3 from the Marzano High Reliability Schools initiative – a laborious feat of dedication. “The certifications are humbling, but they are just an outward sign of the internal change that has happened at Kate Burgess,” said Burgess Principal Jeff Hill. “The campus has been transformed thanks to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful staff.” The Seidlitz honor shows that Burgess specializes in learning strategies; Capturing Kids’ Hearts reflects good manners and connections; three levels of Marzano accomplishments affirm safety, teamwork and teaching skills among staff members.
WFISD Welcomes New Hires with 157 Attending New Teacher Orientation
On August 1, 157 new hires gathered at the Career Education Center for several days of orientation and training. The program included one technology day that placed participants in groups based on interest and tech ability; another day offered a pick-and-choose smorgasbord of seminars for both elementary and secondary teachers.
Fan Fest Celebration Launches 2019-2020 School Year with 750 Free T-shirts
WFISD’s tradition of launching the school year with a celebration that highlights its sports teams, supporting cheerleaders and band members played out Wednesday, August 7. Hundreds of WFISD fans gathered at Memorial Stadium for Fan Fest, the District’s inaugural event of the new school year. As tradition calls for, the District distributed 750 free Fan Fest t-shirts. Emcee Tobin McDuff introduced coaches and athletes to the crowd while fans cheered for the high school athletes at three high schools representing football, cross country, volleyball, tennis, soccer, cheerleading and dance teams. A combined band with musicians from all three schools provided the evening’s rousing soundtrack. Thank you to this year's sponsors: Anderson Ranch Graphics, Jeremy Roberts State Farm Agency, Capital Farm Credit, Texas Roadhouse, American National Bank & Trust, Texoma Community Credit Union, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, and KFDX-TV3.
Community Gives ‘Swap and Drop’ Tax Ratification a Resounding ‘Yes’ in June Election
Community members knew a good idea when they saw it. In a June election, they gave an overwhelming “Yes” – 83.17 percent “for,” 16.83 “against” in 46 precincts -- to lower the tax rate and maximize state funding for maintenance and operations projects. With that approval, board members will reduce the Interest and Sinking tax rate by 18 cents, reducing the total tax rate from $1.22 to $1.17, a drop of 5 cents. Overall, the resounding community approval on the “Swap and Drop” channeled $1.4 million more in state funding to the District. House Bill 3 legislation may also compress the District’s tax rate further, increasing benefit to the community.
Pay Hikes Usher in New School Year
For the 2019-2020 school year, starting pay for new teachers will rise to $48,780 and raises for teachers/counselors/nurses/librarians will range from $5,580 to $9,030, depending on level of experience. Teachers who have taught 20 years and up will receive a pay hike of $9,030. The decision came in the August 8 school board meeting when board members adopted the balanced budget in a unanimous vote. The 13 percent to 17 percent pay hikes were fueled by an increase of $26.6 million for WFISD in state aid. House Bill 3 required that WFISD allocate $5 million to educator raises; WFISD doubled that to $10 million. The move addresses a severe teacher shortage throughout the state, with the intent of making WFISD a premier district that will attract and keep the best talent at all levels. Board members will address pay raises for non-campus based personnel next week. Pictured here: Fowler Elementary staff.
WFISD Receives Letter Grade “B” from State
At this time last year, WFISD was celebrating that, for the first time in more than eight years, all its elementary schools achieved the Texas Education Agency’s “Met Standard” accountability designation. But now that accountability system is so 2017-2018. This year, an all-new TEA accountability system is in place. It condenses a vast amount of individual school test data into one letter grade per school and district to reflect the state’s perception of 2018-2019 performance. “The greatness of WFISD rose from a 78-C to an 83-B,” announced Superintendent Mike Kuhrt at the Back to School Rally, pictured here. Individual WFISD schools received their letter grades on the first day of school, August 15.
11th Annual ‘Project Back-to-School’ Roundup Provides 5,000 Backpacks Filled with School Supplies
There were 69 vendors on hand – and many WFISD staff members – at Project Back to School Roundup, held Saturday at the MPEC. Volunteers distributed thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies and provided vendor fairs to serve families with eye and dental exams, immunizations, and more. The event’s goal is to supply students with key services they need to return to school. Students at Burgess, Lamar, Scotland Park, Booker T. Washington and Zundy receive their Roundup backpack and supplies at school. Pictured here: Barwise Middle School staff set up a table to welcome and assist children and their families. Project founder and director is Cheryl Ritchie.
Back to School Assembly Welcomes Educators Back
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood at the Back to School Assembly August 9 when emcee Ward Roberts hung up his coat, donned a sweater and put on his tennis shoes as he assumed the identity of Mr. Roberts – in honor of Fred Rogers, or “Mr. Rogers.” The assembly for WFISD’s 2,000 employees featured addresses from Superintendent Mike Kuhrt (“Be bold!”), Elementary Teacher of the Year Britney Prickett (“How can I be better?”), and Secondary Teacher of the Year Debbie Pepper (“Our kids need our positivity.”) Pictured here: Administrators’ faces were flaunted on cardboard masks in a rousing cheer for the new school year.
Denver Alternative Center Opens at Former Harrell Site
Over the summer, the Denver Alternative Center team moved its 17 staff members up the street – from its former location at 1823 5th Street to the former Harrell site at 3115 5th Street. “All staff members are located ‘in’ the building, which means students don’t have to go outside,” said Denver Principal Linda Nichols. The former facility had portable buildings outside the main building. “We do have more space at the new location with wider halls, higher ceilings and windows. Some walls have been removed, some added and all rooms painted. It is nice to see an old building being brought back to life,” said Ms. Nichols. “This building looks and feels more like a school than the former facility,” she said. “The additional space for morning check-in is a welcomed change.”
Career Education Center Corals a Painted Horse
Now when you enter the Career Education Center, you’ll be greeted by a painted horse statue. Students in Tandy Roberts’ class designed its decals; the CEC’s auto collision students topped it with a clear coat of lacquer. Painted horses around town like this one are part of The Mane Event, a public arts project of Leadership Wichita Falls that launched in 2007. You can find more than 50 painted fiberglass horses decorated by local artists around town – and now at the CEC.
WFISD Teachers of the Year Honored at Region 9 Banquet
On August 1, Region 9 honored WFISD Elementary Teacher of the Year Britney Prickett and WFISD Secondary Teacher of the Year Debbie Pepper and other Region 9 teacher winners at a special luncheon. WFISD Superintendent Mike Kuhrt joined them. Pictured here, left to right: Mr. Kuhrt, Ms. Prickett, and Ms. Pepper.
Fain Elementary Teacher Critiques 230 STAAR Questions as part of Austin-based Committee
Fain third-grade math and science teacher Harley James participated for two days this summer on the STAAR Item Review Committee in Austin, and she invites you to do the same, if you’re interested. “I think everyone should serve on the committee at least once to see how decisions are made and to speak up for your kiddos!” she said. Her group worked through 230 problems in two days. Find applications to participate on the Texas Education Agency website; TEA covers costs.
West Foundation Elementary Gets New ‘Little Free Library’
West Foundation Elementary librarian Janice Howard set up an outdoor “Little Free Library” at her school. As is typical of such libraries, anyone can take books from it or add books to it. “So fun!” said West Foundation Principal Kimberly Smith.
Rider High School Senior Goes to NASA
Rider High School senior Katherine Parham participated in NASA’s Texas High School Aerospace Scholars Online Program that led to an exciting summer opportunity. She performed so well in the online program that she went on to be included in an all-expense-paid summer visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she joined other students to help plan a mission to Mars.
Marzano High Reliability Certifications Awarded to Seven WFISD Schools at June Summit
Seven WFISD schools received their Marzano High Reliability Certifications at a Mini Summit held June 25-26. Burgess Elementary received Level 3; Barwise Middle School, Franklin Elementary and Haynes Northwest Academy received Level 2; Booker T. Washington Elementary, Cunningham Elementary and Kirby Middle School received Level 1. Pictured here: Haynes Northwest Academy staff members with Principal Lori Apple (holding certificate).
WFISD Schools Prayed Over by First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls
First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls is making prayer a back-to-school tradition. As they have done in past years, they sent teams to WFISD campuses to conduct prayer walks, praying for student and teacher needs and for safety for all. Pictured here: Prayer for Kirby Middle School.
Read 2 Learn Summer Reading Camp Tutors, Entertains Students at Southern Hills Campus
Southern Hills Elementary hosted the 5th Annual Read 2 Learn Summer Reading Camp in July. Sixty-five students – 1st through 4th graders – attended the 12-day camp that began July 15 under the coordination of Laura Wetzel. Twenty-five volunteers assisted with activities. The program drew in 12 visiting educators, including a snake-handler from River Bend Nature Center (pictured here), KFDX’s weatherman Kevin Selle, and spokespersons from the Fire Department, Food Bank and Fit Body Boot Camp.
Franklin, Burgess, Haynes Teachers Learn the Secrets of ‘Fast Llamas’
Teachers who are assertive, deliberate, organized, engaged and courageous in the classroom are “fast llamas.” That’s how Doug Curry, who gave a day-long training on August 8 to elementary staff of Franklin, Burgess and Haynes, describes effective teachers. He compared them to a herd of fast-running, strong llamas who outrun the maneuvers of tigers (students). Students prey on weak llamas, he warned. He taught teachers the secrets of fast llamas: The deliberate “call to attention,” body language that includes an element of weird and mystery, the “quick turn” to correct students, short cue words, the Small Pause, The Teacher Look, special eye maneuvers, and a passion for consistency and routines. “I don’t want your students to be 100 percent comfortable with you,” said Mr. Curry, speaking to teachers at Colonial Church. “Your student is not your friend. I want them to be 97 percent comfortable and 3 percent “Don’t-mess-with-him-he-didn’t-take-his-medicine-today.”
Lamar Elementary Gifted Supplies, Red Lobster Lunch
A United Regional leadership team asked Lamar Elementary staff members if they could provide school supplies for the school, so Lamar administrators circulated a list to school staff. They listed wishes for markers, hand sanitizer, folders, pencils and tote bins. Dreaming big, PE Coach Kyle Redding asked for youth golf 9-irons. The URHCS department fulfilled all wishes, delivering supplies to Lamar Elementary Principal Amanda Garcia and At-Risk Coordinator Kaycie Taylor on August 8. Later that same day, Red Lobster’s General Manager provided a Red Lobster lunch for Lamar Elementary staff members to kick off the school year. Later, New Jerusalem Church Pastor Angus Thompson even delivered a load of extra backpacks to Lamar to help out.
Family Feud Contest Enhances Purchasing Training
Ward Roberts, Director of Innovation and Advanced Academics, engaged principals and secretaries in a few rounds of Family Feud to bring purchasing training to life on July 25.
Zundy Elementary Introduced New Teachers, Staff One by One on Facebook
Zundy Elementary staff built excitement for the first day of school by posting introductions and photos of new and returning teachers on Facebook in special “Spotlight” posts. Posts began in July. For example, one post announced the return of Melanie Lindsay, who returns to Zundy after a move to South Carolina. She will join the 5th grade team and teach ELAR. Daily posts also featured Brooke Alderette, Zundy’s newest special education teacher; Melissa Pennington, a first-year diagnostician, and new art teacher Krista Kaspar. Pictured clockwise from top left: Ms. Lindsay, Mrs. Pennington, Ms. Alderette, Mrs. Kaspar.
Hirschi High School Student Earned Finalist Nod for Community Hero of the Year
Hirschi High School’s Daimarqua Foster was a finalist for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football/Chicken Express’ Community Hero of the Year. He competed against Pampa’s Tucker Bridwell, Whylie East’s Dylan Deere, Aubrey’s Luke Sciba, Tivy’s Karson Valverde, Tomball Christian’s Derek Gill, and Hallsville’s Blake Trainor.
Hirschi High School JROTC Cadet Represents Texas at American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.
Sonya Ganeshram, Hirschi High School’s JROTC cadet battalion commander and International Baccalaureate student, represented Texas at the American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation 2019 leadership sessions in Washington, D.C. Sonya, a cadet lieutenant colonel, is one of two seniors who represented Texas. She is the 2019 ALA Girls Nation President Pro Tem. For seven days, ALA Girls Nation senators held mock Senate sessions, requiring them to write, caucus and debate bills, campaign for elected office and elect an ALA Girls Nation president and vice president.
2018 WFISD Grad Wins Nationals at SkillsUSA for Post-Secondary Students
A former WFISD student and state champion is still competing with his IT knowledge and experiences gained in high school. Erik Syck, a 2018 WFISD graduate, won Nationals at SkillsUSA in Waco for post-secondary students in Information Technology Services. This is the same competition that he competed in successfully one year ago when he became a state champion as a WFISD senior. Today he is a sophomore at Texas State Technical College. To win the top spot in nationals means he is adept at the skills tested by the ITS competition: computer troubleshooting, customer service, networking, interviewing, security policies, computer maintenance and upgrades. His career plans are still unclear, said his former instructor David White. “I just know it will involve something in Information Technology,” said Mr. White. One year ago, Erik had placed 7th in the nation in ITS at SkillsUSA.
High School Credit Recovery Staff Help 91 Percent of Students
About 150 students enrolled in WFISD’s high school credit recovery program this summer, with most tackling more than one subject. In all, 91 percent of students who participated went on to earn a total of 270 credits in just three weeks. They completed required coursework and are now on track to graduate on time. Students completed their self-paced curriculum on a web-based program called Odysseyware. “Each course has multiple certified teachers who take time out of their vacations to work with these students. It really shows the resolve of our staff in WFISD,” said Jeff Davis, assistant principal for the recovery program. “To say the high school credit recovery staff did an amazing job would be an understatement.” Linda Nichols led the effort as principal.
Cunningham Elementary Teachers Train Fellow Educators at Conference
Cunningham teachers Morgan Kennedy and Tara Arias traveled to El Paso to train early childhood educators from across the state at the 21st Annual Academy for Teachers of Young Children. The conference trains professionals who work with infants through five-year-olds, with or without disabilities. The conference is hosted by Education Service Centers in Regions 9, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19.
WFISD Teacher Shocked When Stranger Purchases $400 in School Supplies for Her
Barwise Middle School 8th grade reading teacher Megan Flores is like other teachers: She shops for her classroom during the summer. She regularly pays for new supplies that sometimes add up to thousands of dollars. When she joined a Facebook group, Support a Teacher, she gifted a few things to fellow teachers and hoped some might help her, too. “It was just nice to see other teachers rooting for each other,” she said. A week later, the idea to purchase a teacher’s entire supply list was trending on Twitter as #clearthelists, with even celebrities taking part. So, at the encouragement of a friend named Alicia, who was posting lists and tagging friends, Mrs. Flores posted her list to Twitter. Within two hours, Alicia’s friend Brandon Willeford – a Nebraskan with a tie to Texoma – spent more than $400 to clear Mrs. Flores’ list. Mr. Willeford, the son of teacher parents, grew up in Wichita Falls. Pictured here: Mrs. Flores writes notes to her students on their desks with new chalk markers, just one of the many supplies purchased by Mr. Willeford. “I was beyond thankful,” she said.
Another Year of Collaboration through #WFISDchat Launched Monday
School hadn’t even started yet, and WFISD teachers were already sharing teaching and classroom ideas via Twitter chats at #WFISDchat on Monday nights. This week, Rider High School teacher Heather Preston led the chat, asking questions like “What is something new you’d like to try this year?” and “What is a personal or professional goal you have this year?” Next week’s chat focuses on “Strength in Numbers – The Power of Supporting Others,” and will be moderated by Booker T. Washington 3rd grade ELAR teacher Destini Stahr.
First Student-built Career Education Center House Still for Sale
The student-designed, student-built, student-advertised house created during the past two school years by students at the Career Education Center went on sale to the community after its completion in May. The 750-square foot, energy-efficient house with one bedroom and one bath has been the focus of its own commercial and was featured in the Parade of Homes in June at an asking price of $47,500. The home was built to be used as a small mother-in-law home or deer lease. All proceeds from its sale will return to the school to build another house in a new, two-year cycle. An auction for the house held Tuesday did not draw a fair price, so the house remains on the market.
WFISD Behavior Interventionist Spray Paints #BeBold at Iconic Site
When Dave Caroll, WFISD behavior intervention paraprofessional, visited Amarillo last weekend, he paid a visit to Cadillac Ranch – the well-known car graveyard -- with spray paint in hand “because that is what you do when visiting that iconic site,” he said. “It came to me kind of quickly after arriving to paint #BeBold onto one of the Cadillacs and post it to Twitter.” Dave “Mr. Dave” Caroll is based at Fowler but travels to all schools within the district to help children.
District in Pictures Told 950 of Your Stories Last Year
In its third year of publication, District in Pictures (the e-newsletter you are reading here) featured 950 stories of WFISD teacher and student accomplishments in its 37 weekly issues published during the 2018-2019 school year. That’s up from 622 stories published the prior year. Have we featured you? We’d like to! Send us a note about your creative, challenging projects, honors, strategies and news of what’s working in your classroom or department. Email with a photo to Ashley Thomas at athomas@wfisd.net or Ann Work Goodrich at awork@wfisd.net.
Crockett Elementary Students Greeted on First Day by Chalk Talk
Crockett PTA members covered the long front sidewalk to Crockett Elementary with chalk drawings and puzzles to greet students on the first day of school. Pictured here, Crockett Principal Jesse Thomas talks with a curious student about the chalked puzzle as the student heads into school.
Burgess Elementary Students Walk the Red Carpet
Thumping music greeted Burgess students as they walked up the sidewalk on the first day of school. They hugged a giant Cow – the Chick-Fil-A mascot – and posed for pictures at one of two picture stations. Their principal, Jeff Hill, wore his best black tuxedo with tennis shoes and carried a microphone that he used to interview students and welcome them as they headed inside.
Crockett Elementary Teacher Takes 'BeBold' to Heart and Births Her Baby on First Day of School
“The first day of Year 7 started off a bit differently this year,” tweeted Crockett Elementary Instructional Coach Mariah Sutherland Thursday. “#BeBold and have a baby on the first day of school!” Elizabeth June arrived as if she were trying to be on time for school – at 7:53 a.m. She was 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 19 inches. #BeBold is WFISD’s new mantra for the school year.
#IAMWFISD
District in Pictures is a weekly publication developed by the WFISD Community Relations department. If you have events, recognitions or classroom activities taking place on your campus that you would like us to cover, please let us know by emailing Ashley Thomas at athomas@wfisd.net or Ann Work Goodrich at awork@wfisd.net. We would love to include you in our weekly district news. (Please know that we will do our best to cover every story idea submitted but it may not be possible to include everything every week due to time constraints.)
Email: athomas@wfisd.net
Website: www.wfisd.net
Location: 1104 Broad Street, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
Phone: (940)235-1004
Twitter: @WFISDschools