2010-2011 Fort Worth ISD Annual Report

2010-2011 FO RT WO RT H IS D A N N UA L R E P O RT

M AK I N G

SECOND

E V ERY

C OU N T

T AB L E OF C ON TE N TS A Day in the Li fe I nsi de Cove r Letter fro m Wal te r D an s by 1 About Us 2 M a ki n g Every Se co n d Co u nt 6 Awards & Ho n o rs 8 Pro g ram Hi g h l i g hts 20 Stu d ent Su p p o r t 30 M a ki n g Every Ce nt Co u nt 36 Fi scal Res p o n s i b i l i ty 38 Di g i tal D i str i c t 45 Op eration al Su stai n ab i l i ty 46 M a ki n g Every Co n n e c ti o n Co u nt 48 Parent & Co mmu n i ty Par tne rs 50 Stu d ent O u treac h 55 Cou nting o n To mo r row 58 20 11-20 1 2 Prev i ew 60 Ou r Scho o l s 63

A DAY IN THE

LIFE It starts early and ends late at Fort Worth ISD. Every minute an opportunity to teach, guide and support. Every minute a chance to make a difference for a lifetime.

2:37

p.m.

immunizations

LIBRARY

IN THE

ONE TUTORING

OF ONE-ON-

ADVANTAGE

ELEMENTARY KIDS HIT THE PLAYGROUND RUNNING

4:16

p.m.

04

Students give a gift from the heart during a blood drive

6:43

questions about

0

p.m.

answers a mom’s

a.m.

02

12:21 p.m.

08

A school nurse

11:02

TAKES

1:14 p.m.

A group of friends opts to learn through lunch

09

A STUDENT

6:58 A.M.

Building

An honors assembly recognizes

ISD Administration

a.m.

10:56 a.m.

at the Fort Worth

8:17

An English teacher leads

9:29 a.m. a reading in the round

Teens stream toward class minutes after first bell

JROTC raises the flag

10

Band members tune up for early morning practice

01 students’ academic achievements

7:24 a.m.

11

DANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

3:16 P.M.

LAST BELL SENDS YOUNG STUDENTS HEADING TOWARD THE EXITS AND HOME

07

LEAP TO NEW HEIGHTS

05

8:12

p.m.

An athlete powers toward the goal line as night settles in

1

LETTER FROM WALTER DANSBY

Maybe that’s part of the reason we are moving toward great things at the Fort Worth Independent School District.

We have the plan for academic success and the metrics that will tell us how it’s working. We also realize there are just so many days, hours and minutes to teach students all they need to know, engage them in their learning, and send them off ready for college and career.

This report looks at how we are making every second count:

“ T

“

A LETTER FROM WALTER DANSBY

o achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.

the innovative directions we’re taking and the everyday things our students, teachers and staff do that contribute to success and set our District apart.

This report also shows how we are making every cent count – a responsibility made more urgent than ever by the state funding crisis. We managed to minimize the impact of the crisis on campuses. We kept teachers and parents up to date and answered their questions.

In doing so, we strengthened

- Leonard Bernstein, conductor and composer

existing relationships and created new ones.

Relationships are highlighted throughout this report, which shows how we are making every connection count.

A recent best-seller about successful businesses says teamwork provides the ultimate competitive advantage.

Our team is more than District employees. It’s also students, parents and the community working together and accomplishing many exciting things. Here’s a year’s worth for you to examine and enjoy.

Walter D. Dansby, Interim Superintendent

Melody Johnson resigned as Fort Worth ISD superintendent in May 2011, after leading the District for nearly six years. In June, the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education selected Walter Dansby, a 37-year veteran of the District, as interim superintendent.

1 MISSION

ABOUT US

2

TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN A COMPETITIVE GLOBAL ECONOMY

OUR VISION EDUCATING FOR LIFE

Ray Dickerson, President Juan Rangel, Vice President, District 8 T.A. Sims, Secretary, District 4 Carlos Vasquez, District 1 Tobi Jackson, District 2 Christene C. Moss, District 3 Judy G. Needham, District 5 Ann Sutherland, District 6 Norman Robbins, District 7

12

cabinet

members

three goals 1. Student Achievement 2. Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness 3. Family Involvement & Community Partnerships

NINE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

MARGARET BALANDRAN, Exec. Director, Bilingual & ESL; SHERRY BREED, Assoc. Supt., Elementary School Leadership; ART CAVAZOS, Chief of District Operations; KYLE DAVIE, Chief of Information & Technology; BARBARA GRIFFITH, Senior Communications Officer; JOSIE GUTIERREZ, District Steward; HANK JOHNSON, Chief Financial Officer; ROBERT RAY, Chief of Schools; SYLVIA REYNA, Chief of Administration; MARIA SANCHEZ, Assist.

Supt., Secondary School Leadership; MICHAEL SORUM, Chief Academic Officer; BERTHA WHATLEY, Chief Legal Counsel

60.5% HISPANIC

American

Thirteen percent

BILINGUAL/ESL

WHITE/ANGLO

11,501 Career & Technical Education

60,302

Economically Disadvantaged

Five thousand eight hundred

seventy-nine S p e c i a l

1 0 , 9 5 3

F O R T

ELEMENTARY

W O R T H

E M P L O Y E E S

Twelve percent professional support

EIGHT PERCENT

3.2% Campus administrators

I S D

Educational aides

28.9%

Full-time teachers

TWENTY-ONE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS

Auxiliary staff

46.3%

13 h i g h sch ool s

Twenty-four

SCHOOLS

middle schools

81

E d u c a t i o n

0.3 percent Native American 7, 6 9 8 G I F T E D & TA L E N T E D

22,985

African-

ASIAN/ PACIFIC ISLANDER

1.6% C ENT RA L A DMINIST RATO RS

3

ABOUT US

24.5%

1.8%

N E A R LY 8 0 , 0 0 0 F O R T W O R T H I S D S T U D E N T S

ABOUT US

4

AN A M ER I CA N HE RO U.S. Coast Guard Seaman

I

n 1980, a former Western Hills HS student made the ultimate sacrifice.

Apprentice William Flores was

stored. This allowed the jackets to Bobby Flores, was researching float to the surface. Flores and 22 his uncle on the Internet and

aboard a cutter that collided

other crewmembers went down

discovered the Coast Guard

with an oil tanker near Florida.

with the ship. Twenty-seven

planned to name a new cutter

As Guardsmen jumped into the

survived.

after him: the CGC William

water and swam away from the sinking cutter, Flores stayed

Ray Flores.

In 2000, the Coast Guard

behind to help injured and

posthumously awarded Flores the With Bobby and other family trapped shipmates. One of his last Coast Guard Medal, its highest members looking on, we added acts was to tie open the door of a locker where lifejackets were

honor. Last year, Flores’ 9-year-old William Ray Flores to the Fort nephew, Waverly Park ES student Worth ISD Wall of Fame.

Former Fort Worth ISD students on the Wall of Fame

BYRON CHAMBERLAIN (Eastern Hills, 1989) - NFL Pro Bowl player and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos

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Alumni added to wall in 2010-2011

Walter Dansby (Dunbar, 1969) – Fort Worth ISD Interim Superintendent whose long career with the District includes Deputy Superintendent for Operational Management and Human Resources, high school principal, head

SCOTT AND STUART GENTLING

basketball coach and teacher

(Arlington Heights, 1961) acclaimed artists and twin

ORMER LOCKLEAR (JENNINGS AVENUE SCHOOL) -

brothers who created “Of Bird

NATIONALLY FAMOUS BARNSTORMER AND SILENT FILM ACTOR

and Texas” folio

WHO INSPIRED THE 1973 FILM “THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER”

Yovani Gallardo (Trimble Tech, 2004) - pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, National League All-Star and National League Silver Slugger Award winner

Juan Hernandez (Arlington Heights, 1967) immigration expert and author

SEDRICK HUCKABY (O.D. WYATT, 1993) – ARTIST WHOSE PAINTINGS ARE IN THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART IN NEW YORK AND OTHER PRESTIGIOUS COLLECTIONS

WINDELL MIDDLEBROOKS (Trimble Tech, 1997) – actor made famous by Super Bowl ads; now starring in ABC’s “Body of Proof”

Ginger Rogers (Central High) – dancer/singer/actress who won the 1940 Best Actress Academy Award for her role in “Kitty Foyle”

(Arlington Heights, 1952) – Film & Television actor (“The Green

Van Williams Hornet” and “Surfside 6”)

ABOUT US

One Hundred twenty-nine

5

6

10

11

SEC making every

09

12 01

7

OND count

AWARDS & HONORS

8

P O LY P OW ER

T

he green invention of two Polytechnic HS students is generating a lot of talk and a lot of electricity.

Ignacio Ramirez Moreno and

Inexpensive and portable, the

dam on the Trinity River to test

Jairo Valdez developed a micro

Hydro Poly Generator, as it’s

their invention. It produced

hydroelectricity generator out

called, could provide electricity

enough electricity to power

of a salvaged alternator from

for areas of third world countries a laptop computer! that have none – an eco-friendly

an 18-wheeler. In doing so, they

were named Texas State Finalists solution to an international

Ignacio was also named a finalist

in the Siemens We Can Change

issue. Poly teacher Mike Beaupré

in the Siemens Competition in

the World Challenge.

took the students to a low-water

Math, Science and Technology.

RESULTS SHOWED THAT FORT WORTH ISD STUDENTS MET OR EXCEEDED THE STATE STANDARD ON 91% OF MEASURES TESTED.

1st grade national winner “On crazy sock day, she wore hilarious socks.

She told us to sock it to drugs. That means don’t do drugs.”

- Will Lourcey, Tanglewood ES 1st grader Will Lourcey told what he liked about his teacher, Melody Sample, and ended up the 1st grade winner of Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales essay writing contest. Will won a $500 savings bond and a family dinner at Olive Garden.

9

AWARDS & HONORS

NINETY-ONE PERCENT

2011 TAKS

11

UIL MEDALS WON BY PASCHAL HS SCIENCE TEAM PASCHAL’S 9TH/10TH GRADE TEAM WON THE STATE TITLE IN THE JETS TEAMS ENGINEERING COMPETITION AND FINISHED 3RD IN THE NATION. THE 11TH/12TH GRADE TEAM CAME IN 9TH IN THE NATION.

TWO

Students from W.P. McLean MS took their vision of tomorrow to Washington, D.C. for the national finals of the National Engineers’ Week Future City Competition.

4.5.2011 It’s a Boy! 4:30 p.m. a Santa Gertrudis calf, made his debut 80 lbs. Wrangler, on an April afternoon in the Arlington Heights HS 3 ft. Agriculture Barn. Senior Megan Burgess assisted Ag teachers Cody Davenport and Lindsey Fowler with the weighty delivery. Wrangler and Mama Annabelle are doing fine!

SOUTHWEST HS STUDENTS WON 1ST PLACE IN STATE UIL CONTESTS: MADISON CAMPBELL, ANCHORING ROBIN ELKINS, SPORTS REPORTING

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Students awarded scholarships from Chesapeake Energy Corporation

56 Thousand Dollars Amount each student receives annually for scholarships renewable up to four years: Silverio Canchola, Carter-Riverside HS • Katy Levee, Dunbar HS • Mayra Lopez, Trimble Tech HS • Abigail Rosales, Paschal HS • Raul Salas, Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS • Shanequiwa Sledge, Polytechnic HS • Angel Solorzano, Western Hills HS • Jasmine Washington, Dunbar HS

15

Students named TCU Community Scholars.

Each of the following students received full-tuition ($32,400/year) or full-ride scholarships ($43,940/year): Erika Alonso, Trimble Tech HS Payton Anderson, Dunbar HS Karli Beckner, Trimble Tech HS Jacqueline Chairez, Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS Jhala Criss, Trimble Tech HS Rozlin Draper, Trimble Tech HS Selina Lopez, South Hills HS

$20,000

AWARDS & HONORS

10

Horatio Alger National Scholarship awarded to Phonevimonh

Perfect attendance

Luangsouphom,

put an Arlington

Carter-

Heights HS student

Riverside

in the driver’s

HS, for the

seat. Students

university of

with no absences

his choice.

during a six-week

NINE

Andres Munoz, Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS

STUDENTS AWARDED

Thi Nguyen, Polytechnic HS

$5,000 HORATIO ALGER

Thy Nguyen, Dunbar HS

0 days absent

grading period had a chance to win a car. Freshman Jelani Russell picked the lucky key that started a 2000 Chevy Camaro donated by Petrie Automotive. Jelani

SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH

is not old enough to

Janette Quezada, Trimble Tech HS

THE BURLINGTON

drive, but will have

Cristina Rios, Trimble Tech HS

NORTHERN SANTA FE

Lourdes Paredes, South Hills HS

Raul Salas, Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS Micaela Scott, O.D. Wyatt HS

FOUNDATION.

the wheels to do so the minute he gets his license.

11

SENIORS NAMED

Merit Scholarships:

Sai Gourisankar, Paschal HS Chance Harper, Paschal HS Timothy Kuhnen, Paschal HS

SUPERINTENDENT SCHOLARS

920

TWO

students received university-sponsored National Merit Scholarships: Benjamin Cristol – Paschal HS Jackson Romine – Paschal HS

Scholarship offers to Fort Worth ISD students

22

Fort Worth ISD students advanced

to the state History Fair

TOTAL AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS

Entry in the Individual

$37,493 WAS RAISED BY FORT WORTH ISD EMPLOYEES FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE EDUCATION FUNDRAISING DRIVE TO SUPPORT 92 SCHOLARSHIPS.

Montessori’s Jeffrey Tullis won Outstanding Documentary category for “The Orchestra as Diplomat.”

Our Social Studies Department received the Project INSIGHT Teaching American History grant back in 2008. Since then, the TAKS passing rate of students instructed by grant teachers has risen

Students from William James MS took top honors at the Texas Junior Classical League competition.

$34.5 Million

competition. Daggett

1st place

14 percent.

German language students from Paschal HS and Southwest HS qualified for state German competition. They demonstrated their skills in culinary, art, grammar and cultural categories.

AWARDS & HONORS

109

3

students received $2,500 National

AWARDS & HONORS

12

CAR E E R SKILL S GET TO P SCOR ES

S

shined at SkillsUSA competitions.

Job Skill Demonstration, Southwest HS

DeUnta Stewart

Advertising Design, Trimble Tech HS

Advertising Design, Trimble Tech HS

Elizabeth Gonzalez

Jonathan Tejeida

State T-Shirt Design, Southwest HS

Graphics Communications, Trimble Tech HS

Grant Robinson

Nathaly Arambula, Madison Campbell, Lisa Le, Joey McReynolds

Broadcast News Production, Southwest HS

Broadcast News Production, Southwest HS

Technical Information, Trimble Tech HS

Madison Campbell

Broadcast News Production, Southwest HS

Advertising Design, Trimble Tech HS

Technical Education (CTE) programs

3rd Place Cynthia DeLaTorre

National: 2nd Place Nathaly Arambula, Madison Campbell, Lisa Le, Joey McReynolds

State: Best of Show Karli Beckner

tudents in Fort Worth ISD’s Career &

Laura Lopez Advertising Design, Trimble Tech HS

2nd Place Elizabeth Gonzalez

1st Place Jesus Aguayo

National T-Shirt Design, Southwest HS

Texas Pin Design, Southwest HS

Plumbing, Trimble Tech HS

CTE

STUDENTS

REAP REWARDS

Edgar Rojas Martin Urbina Collision Repair Technology, Trimble Tech HS

Edgar Resendiz

Ned Kemble, active in Future Farmers

Rozlin Draper and Erica Alonso, Health

of America at Arlington Heights HS,

Science Technology students at Trimble

received a $3,000 scholarship for his

Tech HS, received full scholarships to

participation in the Fort Worth Stock

Texas Christian University.

Show Calf Scramble.

Trimble Tech’s Jazmin Rodriguez is going Andrea Rodriguez, a Medical

pre-med at Cornell University in Ithaca,

Professions student at North Side HS,

New York. She will major in biology.

was awarded a research internship in the Department of Psychology at

Trimble Tech students Omar Arciniega,

the University of Texas Southwestern

Alfredo Fernandez and Martin Urbina

Medical School in Dallas. The award

received scholarships to the Universal

included a stipend of $2,300.

Technical Institute in Houston.

2

Outstanding Soloist awards: Charles Hall, Southwest HS; James Lockhart, Western Hills HS

THIRTY G O L D MEDALS

43

silver medals

NINE

THREE

Fort Worth ISD students excelled at state UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest for Choir, earning:

bronze medals

schools won UIL Choral Sweepstakes: Dunbar HS, Southwest HS and Wedgwood MS.

twenty-one middle school and high school bands received a Division I in UIL Concert and/or Sight-Reading Contest.

fourteen gold medals were won by orchestra

and Ensemble competition.

TWO

OUTSTANDING SOLOISTS

Trevor Cavallero, Southwest HS Aaron Pritchett, Paschal HS

4 300

and band members at state UIL Solo

high school bands earned a Division I at UIL Marching Contest.

students attended Fort Worth ISD’s 2nd annual Mariachi Spectacular de Fort Worth workshop. The conference featured mariachi legend Jose Hernandez.

13

AWARDS & HONORS

128

choir students, a record number, advanced to state UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest.

students made All-State Choir: Chris Solorzano and James Lockhart, Western Hills HS; Chelsey Payne, Dunbar HS; Harold Moon, Southwest HS.

TWO HUNDRED FIFTY

AWARDS & HONORS

14

3

high schools staged a hit with Jubilee

students showed and sold their work at the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival.

They earned a record $7,800.

Student winners in the 2011 Mayfest Arts Festival won cash awards totaling more than $500.

14

students advanced to state in the 17th Annual Texas Visual Art Scholarship Event (VASE) and 6 students won state medals.

Theatre. Students from Eastern Hills, Carter Riverside and Dunbar high schools produced and starred in “Shaking the Mess Outta Misery.�

eight students made area All-Star cast / 8 earned Honorable Mention.

4,000 high school and middle school students collaborated with Stage West Theatre to write, produce and perform a play.

were displayed by our young artists at the Elementary Art Show. awards: Arlington Heights HS and Western Hills HS advanced to area in the UIL One-Act Play competition.

one-act

fourteen

works

15

the Achievement Gap. A report released in December

recorded its greatest year-to-year gains in the All Tests

three

Taken category.

3

points for All Students (from 61% to 64%)

4

points for Hispanic (from 60% to 64%)

2010 by the Texas Education Agency shows the District

points for AfricanAmerican (from 50% to 53%)

points for Economically Disadvantaged (from 57% to 61%)

points for White (from 82% to 84%)

HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS

EXEMPLARY

Cesar Chavez Primary

Ridglea Hills ES

Burton Hill ES

Lily B. Clayton ES

Sam Rosen ES

George Clarke ES

Como Montessori

David K. Sellars ES

Riverside Applied

Alice D. Contreras ES

Seminary Hills Park ES

E.M. Daggett ES

South Hi Mount ES

Tanglewood ES

Daggett Montessori

South Hills ES

Van Zandt-Guinn ES

Clifford Davis ES

J.T. Stevens ES

Young Women’s

H.V. Helbing ES

I.M. Terrell ES

Dolores Huerta ES

W.J. Turner ES

McLean 6th Grade

Washington Heights ES

RECOGNIZED

Charles E. Nash ES

Waverly Park ES

Applied Learning Academy

North Hi Mount ES

Westcliff ES

Benbrook ES

Oakhurst ES

Westpark ES

Edward Briscoe ES

Hazel Harvey Peace ES

Worth Heights ES

Alice Carlson Applied

Carroll Peak ES

Learning Center

Leadership Academy

Learning Center

AWARDS & HONORS

F

ort Worth ISD continued to make progress toward closing

AWARDS & HONORS

16

TWENTY-FOUR Academic All-State students

3

The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) recognized the Western Hills HS boys and girls swim teams based on the teams’ average cumulative GPAs. The WHHS girls received the NISCA/Kiefer Gold Scholar Team Award with a team GPA of 3.854.

The WHHS boys also earned Gold status with a team GPA of 3.760. Both teams ranked 10th in the nation.

Who Went to

Western Hills HS swimmers made Academic All-American: Adam Dowell, Colin Hatch and Olivia Pacheco.

Student athletes awarded scholarships on National Signing Day

DABIN HWANG, A TENNIS PLAYER AT PASCHAL HS, WAS RECOGNIZED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE AS ONE OF THE COMPANY’S 50 TEXAS SCHOLAR ATHLETES. HE RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $1,000.

MICHAEL HARRIS, A SENIOR AT

STATE:

Track and Field

Basketball

Kameron Holmes, Arlington Heights HS

NATION FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL

Arlington Heights HS, Boys

Dominique Joiner, Southwest HS

FOOTBALL RUDY AWARD.

Travis Williams, Arlington Heights HS

Boys’ 200m relay team, Southwest HS

Charles Hill, Jr., Trimble Tech HS

(Wesley Harris, Robert Rhodes, Willie

DEMONSTRATE THE EXEMPLARY

Robinson, Demondre Williams)

VALUES OF FOOTBALL LEGEND

Demondrick Coleman, O.D. Wyatt HS

Football Marquis Jackson, Arlington Heights HS

TRIMBLE TECH HS, WAS ONE OF TWELVE FINALISTS IN THE

THE AWARD RECOGNIZES PLAYERS WHO BEST

DANIEL “RUDY” RUETTIGER.

Wrestling James Floyd, Paschal HS

Swimming

Claudia Morales, Trimble Tech HS

Julia Anderson, Paschal HS

Tishiana Covington, Trimble Tech HS

Griffin Neville, Paschal HS

Shala Jones, Trimble Tech HS

32%

Increase in participation in

cross country at District high schools since last year

More kicks for kids! Fort Worth ISD reinstated middle school soccer. Campuses installed goals and provided new uniforms and equipment for boys and girls teams.

JASON SABOTIN, who teaches Honors English III at Arlington Heights HS, was one of 40 teachers statewide selected as Best in Texas Education finalists in the 2011 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT LILY B. CLAYTON ES, IS THE 2010 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR. THE AWARD WAS PRESENTED BY THE TEXAS SCHOOL COUNSELING ASSOCIATION.

Lynne Gibbon, a teacher at North

Paschal HS

Side HS, was named the 2010 Outstanding

choir director,

New Teacher for Area 5 by the Texas Health

was selected

Occupations Association. She is a registered

as a 2010 Region XI Teacher of the Year by the

nurse certified to teach Health Science

Texas Education Agency. She was also selected

Technology Education courses.

as the District’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.

TOTAL PEAK

PEAK PAYS AGAIN!

FOUR THOUSAND, NINETYEIGHT DOLLARS

PAYOUT TO

Average award ($1,531 more

TEACHERS

than the previous year)

FOR THE 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR

$13,000 Maximum individual reward

The Public Educators Accelerating Kids (PEAK) Initiative delivered for a second year, accelerating academic growth and retaining teachers at traditionally hard-to-staff campuses.

And that was extra money in the bank for the many PEAK teachers who improved student performance.

AWARDS & HONORS

Mabel Chang and Dean Wilson, in Fort Worth ISD’s Vision Services, were awarded the Natalie Barraga Award. The award presented by the Texas Association for the Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind recognizes excellence in public school programs for students with visual impairments.

SHEILA LASHLEY,

17

AWARDS & HONORS

18

1

of the best!

Fort Worth is one of the nation’s “best cities for school reform,” according to a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. The report praised Fort Worth ISD for making great strides in the past five years.

PARENT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT The National Network of Partnership Schools awarded the 2010 Partnership District Award to Fort Worth ISD. The District’s Parent & Public Engagement Department coordinates several nationally recognized business and school partnership programs.

The 18th Annual Dr. Roy J. Brooks Living Legends Award went to two key Fort Worth ISD administrators: Deputy Superintendent Walter Dansby (now interim superintendent) and Chief Legal Counsel Bertha Whatley. The awards are presented to area citizens dedicated to community service.

Art Cavazos, Assistant Superintendent (now Chief of District Operations), received the Distinguished Professional Eagle Award from the Association of School Business Officials International.

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

one

3

Award of Excellence

Golden Achievement Awards – the National School Public Relations Association

SEVENTEEN Gold Star Awards – Texas School Public Relations Association

Kathryn Everest, Director of Guidance and Counseling, was selected to serve on the State Board of Educator Certification. The Board oversees the preparation, certification and standards of conduct of public school educators.

THE FORT WORTH ISD PURCHASING DEPARTMENT received the Award of Merit for Purchasing and Operations from the Texas Association of School Business Officials. The award recognizes the District’s commitment to following professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services.

19

helps principals improve achievement at low-performing schools. A.M. Pate was rated Academically Acceptable for three of the last four years.

PRINCIPAL PLUS

Beverly Fletcher, Director of Art

Fort Worth ISD was one of four districts in Texas invited to join

Education, was named National Supervision

the largest initiative in history to improve the performance

and Administration Art

of public school principals. Our District was selected by the

Educator of the Year

Alliance for Reforming Educational Leadership (AREL) at the

by the National Art Association.

George Bush Institute at Southern Methodist University.

AREL includes a nationwide network of experts working together to transform the way districts recruit, prepare and evaluate principals.

Patricia Rangel, Director of Early Childhood Education, received the Phyllis Jack Moore Professional Development Award from Camp Fire

2 grants to benefit libraries The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries awarded grants to the libraries at Oakhurst and Sam Rosen elementary schools.

Each library will receive up to $5,000 to expand, update and diversify its book collection.

USA First Texas Council.

MARTA PLATA,

The award recognizes

principal

a vital role in the nurturing

of Manuel

early childhood professionals who play and development of young children.

Jara ES, was named the

Georgi Roberts, Director of Health & Physical

2011 Woman of Distinction by Altrusa

Education, was named one

International, Inc. of Fort Worth.

of two winners of the new

Altrusa, a service organization

It’s Time School Summit Award. The award honors

focused on community needs,

Texas school leaders who

honored Plata for her contributions

are health champions

to her community and school.

in their communities.

The Summit is sponsored by the Texas Education Agency and ACTIVE Life.

AWARDS & HONORS

ERIKA MOODY, principal of A.M. Pate ES, was named School Turnaround Principal of the Year. The award included a check for $5,000. The School Turnaround initiative

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

20

THE POWER OF CHOICE

I

t is one of the biggest changes ever at Fort Worth ISD: Gold Seal Programs of Choice.

Students take classes of their choosing –

•

Four-year plans for each program

everything from Aviation Technology to Culinary

•

Three trajectories within each program to

Arts to Digital Graphics & Gaming. This engages

serve every student skill level.

them in their learning for greater success in school and increased readiness for college

AAIL formed Gold Seal committees at each campus

and career. Students can even earn licenses,

to help with decision making and implementation.

certifications and college credits.

Then came the task of spreading the word about Gold Seal programs far and wide – to all internal

This year, the District’s Advanced, Accelerated and and external stakeholders.

Innovative Learning Department (AAIL) laid the foundation for Gold Seal Programs,

The District’s Communications Department

a monumental task that involved developing:

strategized a marketing campaign that included

•

Three Gold Seal Programs at each school

a website, ads (print, radio and television), 15

21

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

informative videos narrated by celebrity alumni,

produced a video of the discussion for viewing on

automated phone call-outs, brochures, news

the District website.

releases, a Choices catalog, Facebook, Twitter, and more – in English and Spanish.

Our business and higher education partners are excited about the programs and are signing up to

Each campus held a Gold Seal open house for

support them with money, mentors and internships.

parents and students in the fall. These led up to a

We received 4,145 applications from students –

huge two-day Choices Expo where families came

outpacing the number of spaces available. At last

together under one roof to explore all programs

count, 2,908 students were enrolled in Gold Seal

at all schools. A highlight of the Expo was a

Programs for 2011-2012.

roundtable discussion between Fort Worth ISD Chief Academic Officer Michael Sorum and middle

Explore our many exciting Gold Seal Programs of

school students. The Communications Department Choice at www.fwisd.org/choice. and students in the Advanced Media Program

two hundred fifty-five

Identification Program, a tool that helps identify academically gifted

355 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN 627 DUAL CREDIT COURSES FOR THE FALL 2010 SEMESTER.

students. The search resulted in

high achieving juniors

in the Duke Talent

130 attended Navigating the

students participated

courses for the spring 2011 semester.

College Admissions Process,

221

students enrolled in 447 dual credit

a college readiness workshop.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

22

40

students qualifying for State Recognition

For the first time, the District tested all 8th graders for

and three students

college readiness. The testing was done through ReadiStep,

qualifying for

which helps students pinpoint early the skills they need

Grand Recognition.

to prepare for college. It helps teachers determine which students should be in Pre-AP classes.

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES VISITED WITH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS AT FORT WORTH ISD COLLEGE NIGHT. WORKSHOPS PROVIDED INFORMATION ON FINANCIAL AID, SCHOLARSHIPS AND ADMISSIONS.

23

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

4DAYS

ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS The Fort Worth ISD Leadership Academy put 9th and 10th graders on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington for four days during the summer. They toured the school, slept in a dorm and learned all about college admissions and financial aid. And perhaps best of all, they left with college-bound expectations.

6,045 AP exams were taken by District students.

high school and middle school students attended ACCESS Scholar Academies compared to 190 last year. The academies are designed to recruit new students into AP courses.

335 62

SCHOOLS COMPETED IN ACADEMIC UIL CONTESTS.

MORE THAN 500 AP students attended an AP Placement citywide study session hosted by the Office of Continuing Education at Texas Christian University.

campuses to determine

Bias Busters

how well the District

Faculties and staff attended

was doing at providing

workshops designed to change

academic opportunities for

preconceived notions about

A new report looked at all

all. Secondary campuses made especially high marks.

what gifted students look like.

As a result of the report,

Thanks to the “Perception of

elementary campuses will

Attributes Inventory,” more

now offer a new program of

students were nominated for

advanced academic services 2 ½ hours each week.

Gifted/Talented programs than in the past few years.

f o r t y - e i g h t Dare to Discover sessions over the summer provided hands-on, high academic classes for young students who like a good challenge and love to learn.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

24

“

Y

“

GIRL POWER

WLA is like a home away from home.

There are important lessons we learn and take away every day.

- Amani Gardner, YWLA 7th Grader

The District’s first single gender

Young Women, encourages critical The YWLA opened in August 2010

school, the Young Women’s

thinking, inspires confidence and

to 6th and 7th graders. It will add

Leadership Academy (YWLA),

develops the intellectual and

8th grade in 2011. The academy is

wrapped up an already successful social skills necessary for success located on the Near South Side first year with yet another

in college, career and life.

in a building that was completely

triumph: Exemplary status.

YWLA Principal Mia Hall likes to

renovated by the Fort Worth ISD

YWLA, a partnership with the

say the school addresses the

Operations team.

Foundation for the Education of

whole girl.

25

3,500

INVESTIGATIONS AT THE DISTRICT’S 228-ACRE

4,500

OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER (OLC).

conducted scientific investigations at the

STUDENTS CONDUCTED REAL-WORLD FIELD

teachers and students from

6th grade centers and middle schools Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.

Elementary lessons focused on basic science, ecosystems, life cycles and food chains. Middle school students studied man’s impact on the land and tested and analyzed water and soil samples. High school students learned about astronomy and conducted advanced soil and water quality testing. When the District’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps visited, lessons turned to map reading, survival, leadership and team building.

The Fort Worth ISD American Indian Education Program installed a Heritage Garden at the OLC. Students planted vegetables according to

SIX THOUSAND elementary students took part in outdoor field investigations at Pecan Valley City Park, Tandy Hills Natural Area and other Tarrant County locations.

Iroquois tradition. They took turns maintaining and monitoring the garden, recording temperatures, rain amounts, wind speeds and watering times.

Students living in community homeless shelters attended Red Canoe Adventures Day Camp where they conducted field observations along sections of the Trinity River.

1 , 5 0 0 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FLOCKED TO THE HANDS-ON, HIGHLYINNOVATIVE SCIENCE & MATH FALL FESTIVAL AT WILKERSON-GREINES ACTIVITY CENTER. STUDENTS EXTRACTED DNA FROM STRAWBERRIES, MADE THEIR OWN PERSONAL FLAVOR OF TOOTHPASTE, CREATED ATOM MODELS FROM GUMDROPS AND MUCH MORE.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

students participated in the Independent Research Fair, a year-long scientific project. Experiments included determining the amount of preservatives in fast food hamburgers, left brain/right brain research, and measuring electrolytes in sports drinks.

All 81 elementary campuses hosted a Family Math Night for students and parents. They put their math skills to the test with activities and games that can be played by the entire family at home. More learning fun was had at Camp Analytical, which was held on all elementary campuses for kids in grades 3 – 5.

OF ENVISION MATH SAW INCREASED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AT ALL ELEMENTARY GRADE LEVELS AND IN ALL DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS. THE ELEMENTARY MATH CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES PROBLEMBASED, INTERACTIVE LEARNING.

hundred

YEAR 3

THREE

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

26

14

STUDENTS TACKLED SUDOKU, TANGRAM PUZZLES AND OTHER MATH GAMES IN THE THIRD ANNUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL PROBLEM SOLVING COMPETITION. PRIZES WERE AWARDED – EVERYTHING FROM IPOD SHUFFLES TO DIGITAL CAMERAS.

talented math and science students received

a full year of college credit as part of the new Advanced Academic Immersion (A2I) program.

226 students

signed up for A2I Summer Acceleration.

6

secondary schools were added to the Algebra Readiness Grant initiative for a total of 14 campuses. Grant recipients designed, developed and implemented a comprehensive school improvement model for mathematics.

CERTIFIED BILINGUAL TEACHERS IN FORT WORTH ISD

“The goals of the project are to assist Fort Worth ISD to grow

A RENEWED GRANT FROM THE SID RICHARDSON FOUNDATION

their own teachers in bilingual education.”

GAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE TO DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

Dr. Rossana Ramirez,

STUDENTS CONSIDERING BILINGUAL EDUCATION AS A CAREER.

Project Director,

THE FUNDS WERE AWARDED TO THE FUTURE BILINGUAL TEACHERS

Future Bilingual

ACADEMY, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH

Teachers Academy

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THIS YEAR, 17 STUDENTS

at UNT

COMPLETED THE ACADEMY. THEY SPENT TWO DAYS ON THE UNT CAMPUS OBSERVING CLASSES AND TWO DAYS AT FORT WORTH ISD PLANNING AND DELIVERING LESSONS.

Our World Languages Department expanded

GERMAN STUDENTS AT PASCHAL, SOUTHWEST AND WESTERN

the popular Spanish

HILLS HIGH SCHOOLS HOSTED STUDENTS FROM PARTNER

Immersion program to include 2nd grade at Burton Hill ES and Morningside ES.

SCHOOLS IN GERMANY, EXPOSING THEM TO EVERYDAY LIFE IN FORT WORTH. OUR STUDENTS THEN TRAVELED TO GERMANY. THE EXCHANGE WAS PART OF THE GERMAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE GERMAN FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

The schools already offer the program in Kindergarten and 1st year, 3rd grade will be added. Curriculum is taught in Spanish 90 percent of the day.

new languages were added to the District’s Credit by Exams: Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese and Napali.

SIX

grade. Next school

MORE THAN 150 A record number of Fort Worth ISD students joined chapters of the National Spanish Honor Society and the National Junior Spanish Honor Society.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

578

27

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

28

of Pre-Kindergarten (PK) teacher trainings All PK teachers completed 40 hours of Center for Improving the Readiness of Children for Learning and Education (CIRCLE) professional development. Teachers were mentored each month on teaching strategies. A new tool for classroom observation

CAMERA READY

quickly became a favorite: video flip cameras.

Fort Worth ISD was the only urban district

EARLY CHILDHOOD COMPLETED THE

selected to be part of a professional

TWO-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

development video produced by the Teachscape

PK EARLY START GRANT.

company. The video showcased the District’s PK

OUR DISTRICT WAS THE ONLY

English Language Learner and English

LARGE URBAN DISTRICT AWARDED

as a Second Language classrooms to

THIS GRANT AND THE PK ENGLISH

highlight developmentally-appropriate

LANGUAGE LEARNER GRANT,

teaching strategies.

3X3 A United Way grant funded reading intervention three times a week at three elementary campuses: David K. Sellars, W.M. Green and Clifford Davis.

Teachers screened struggling readers and placed them in the appropriate level of intervention lessons. Teachers reported significant reading improvements.

DESIGNED TO MEET THE GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC NEEDS IN TEXAS.

four

Literacy Fairs

presented by our Secondary Literacy Department presented teachers with writing strategies for the classroom and tips for using new textbooks.

29

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Students who like math

I

“

“

A FUTURE IN MEDICINE

’ve actually seen a real brain, a real heart and real lungs – things I never thought I would do until high school or college. Every day I look forward to learning more.

such as:

- Alex Derrick, TABS Prep 8th grader not experienced until high school

and science love the Texas

•

Doctor

Academy of Biomedical Science

•

Pharmacist

Preparatory School (TABS Prep).

•

Veterinarian

A highlight of the program came

This exciting program opened

•

Emergency Medical

at the close, when students were

Technician (EMT)

presented with their own white

Forensic Scientist

lab coats.

August 2010 on the campus of Stripling Middle School, thanks to

•

or college.

a dynamic collaboration with the University of North Texas Health

The 74 8th graders who made

TABS Prep students going into to

Science Center and the University up the inaugural class spent

the 9th grade were eligible to apply

of North Texas.

four weeks in a summer bridge

to the Texas Academy of Biomedical

program prior to TABS Prep.

Science (TABS). The early-college

TABS Prep is a dream come true

The summer classes included

high school accepted 103 students.

for college-bound students who

hands-on lab activities normally

TABS opens August 2011.

want to explore careers

STUDENT SUPPORT

30

Forty-Nine students and their families attended the 2010-2011 I Dream, I Learn, I Win Family Summit. The annual resource fair and conference inspires and prepares students for college and career success.

444 volunteers descended on neighborhoods across the city for the 2010 Prevail to Graduation Walk.

The September walk targeted teens who did not return to school in the fall.

H E R E ’ S H O W T H E D AY A D D E D U P :

TWENTY-TWO the re-enrollment process the day of the walk

18

STUDENTS RETURNED TO SCHOOL THE DAY OF THE WALK

21

students made a commitment to return to school

students started

MORE THAN 80 CAME TOGETHER WITH STUDENTS UNDER ONE ROOF. THE 2011 HIRING FAIR HOSTED BY CTE WAS HELD IN JUNE AT WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CENTER. RECENT FORT WORTH ISD GRADUATES AND CURRENT STUDENTS SHOWED UP WITH RESUMES AND REFERENCES, HOPING TO LAND A FULL-TIME

MORE THAN 50 Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses are offered at Fort Worth ISD high schools and middle schools.

OR PART-TIME JOB. THE EVENT WAS SPONSORED BY THE FORT WORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE JOBING FOUNDATION,

All CTE courses are based on the 16 career clusters established by the U.S. Department of Labor and include everything from architectural design to

THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF ASSISTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE

broadcast journalism to cosmetology. Students learn the technical knowledge

SERVICES AND

and skills necessary to graduate prepared for entry into the workplace or

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

continued education.

academic performance of students with special needs is credited with helping the District meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

Fort Worth ISD was the only large urban district in Texas to meet AYP in 2010.

AYP is part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

350

athletes are registered with Fort Worth ISD’s Special Olympics program.

thirtytwo

The improved

volunteer coaches

worked with the athletes

FOR TARRANT COUNTY.

The Special Education Department held its first-ever District-wide training for all bus drivers and assistants.

They learned about student differences and how to handle behavioral incidents that might occur on the road between school and home.

STUDENT SUPPORT

PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS

31

Coordinator Program to include secondary campuses as well as elementary schools.

Coordinators lead school wellness teams, identify problem areas and coordinate wellness events to engage parents, school staff and students.

This year, more teachers walked with students at lunch, Zumba classes were held after school, and many elementary campuses hosted

5 Walking School Buses

the Local Wellness

THE WALKING SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM STARTED WITH ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LAST YEAR AND EXPANDED TO FIVE THIS SCHOOL YEAR. ON SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE WEDNESDAYS, CHILDREN WALKED TO SCHOOL TOGETHER FOR FUN AND PHYSICAL

Each month, Health & P.E. presented the Golden

Department expanded

Sneaker Award to a school that had “gone the

Our Health and P.E.

A “SHOE-IN?” extra mile” for wellness. Yes, the prize is an

Seven Hundred WALKERS HIT THE TRACKS FOR FORT Eighty-Eight WORTH ISD’S 6TH ANNUAL DISTRICT WALK.

actual bronzed tennis shoe.

STUDENT SUPPORT

32

ACTIVITY.

wellness fairs.

12 to Tango

9,161 STUDENTS

,

PROGRAM EXPANDED FROM 8

672 PA R E N TS

SCHOOLS TO 12. CHILDREN LEARNED

attended

BALLROOM DANCING AND EVEN

nutrition classes,

COMPETED – DRESSED TO THE

a collaborative

THE DANCING CLASSROOMS

NINES. CESAR CHAVEZ ES WON THE GOLD AT THE FINALS HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON.

effort with the TexasAgriLife Extension Agency.

2 X 7 = JAMMING TIME “Jamming Minutes,” this year’s District wellness campaign, was a hit with students. Twice a day for seven days in a row, they put down their pencils and exercised right at their desks. Schools that held Jamming Minutes at the morning bell had fewer tardies. Kids made an extra effort to get to school in time to jam!

After School time is active time – for learning, fitness and community service. Students in K-12, who might otherwise be at home unsupervised, participate in all kinds of activities that promote educational, physical and social development. Teachers say FWAS students attended class more often, met more homework deadlines and improved academically by the end of the year.

14,745

33

1,968

students participated in Fort Worth After School (FWAS).

STUDENTS RECEIVED FREE EYE EXAMS AS PART OF THE KIDS VISION FOR LIFE PROGRAM.

Eight Hundred Fifty-Eight received free glasses with frames of their choice.

The program was launched in September 2010, thanks to Essilor Vision Foundation, Alcon Foundation and other District partners.

students received dental services through a partnership with John Peter Smith Health Network and Cook Children’s Health Care System.

TWO

STUDENT GROUPS, UNITED HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL AND YOUTH FORUM FACILITATORS, JOINED TO FORM UNITED VOICES FOR CHANGE. ITS MISSION IS TO COLLABORATE IN ADDRESSING IMPORTANT CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY ISSUES, HELP BUILD A COLLEGE-BOUND CULTURE AT SCHOOLS, AND ENGAGE CLASSMATES IN LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.

19,499 Visits to Fort Worth ISD/ JPS School Based Health Centers Our School Based Health Centers bring much needed low cost, primary health care to students and their younger siblings. The fifth and newest center opens fall 2011 at Southside Church of Christ. The church leased the space to the District for $1.00 per year. The South Central Alliance of Churches also partnered in the center.

1 OF THE 100 BEST! America’s Promise Alliance named Fort Worth one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People.

The organization praised the partnership between the city of Fort Worth and Fort Worth ISD, and the many innovative and meaningful ways it supports and engages students.

STUDENT SUPPORT

More than 12,500

STUDENT SUPPORT

34

B SHARP Imagine the thrill of taking the stage and performing with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Students in the new B Sharp Youth Music Program at Como ES did just that, performing throughout the community.

program. Next year, B Sharp will include 2nd grade. The goal is to eventually serve K through 5th grade students, create an orchestra at Como and then expand the program to other Fort Worth ISD elementary schools.

THIRTEEN Fort Worth ISD schools served Breakfast in the Classroom.

We started Breakfast in the

B Sharp started at Como in October 2010 with 10 hours of weekly music instruction for 1st graders in the After School

B Sharp is made possible by the Goff Family Foundation and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Classroom last year with four schools. The response was so positive we quickly added nine more.

Breakfast in the Classroom is a hit with:

$580,154 FOR CAMPUS SECURITY The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Grant allowed the District to: • Complete security audits and assessments of all Districtowned facilities

• Provide more training at campuses to improve employee response to unexpected emergencies

• Increase community and parent education

Students and parents – because kids start their day with a nutritious meal without having to show up extra early Teachers and principals – because they had fewer students tardy and noticed fewer disruptions in the classroom

A COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES GRANT AWARDED TO BENBROOK AND FORT WORTH POLICE DEPARTMENTS HELPED PURCHASE AND INSTALL STATE-OF-THEART VIDEO SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT AT FORT WORTH ISD SCHOOLS.

35

www.fwisd.org

“forwarded 2 that pic was

the school half why

“

did I send that?

Need help? Talk to your counselor, teacher, administrator or any trusted adult on campus.

IT’S NOT OKAY

it’s not okay

What is sexting? Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones.

W

ith that message, Fort Worth ISD took student safety measures to a new level.

The District collaborated with

they or their friends are in need.

the Safe City Commission, Crime

First year highlights include:

Stoppers and Santa Fe Youth

• 13 billboards, an It’s Not

• The incorporation of suicide and bullying prevention lessons into curriculum

Services on a comprehensive

Okay website, Facebook and

• A “friends 4 life” button on

campaign to put an end to

video messages and posters

the It’s Not Okay web page

bullying, sexting, teen dating

for campuses that focused

and campus websites that

violence and sexual harassment.

on behaviors that can put

allows students to report at-

students at risk.

risk behavior anonymously

The It’s Not Okay campaign

• Safety and awareness

encourages and empowers

trainings for students

appropriate levels

students to make healthy

and staff

of response

decisions and ask for help when

• Policy changes to establish

STUDENT SUPPORT

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

36

CE making every

37

NT count

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

38

SAVINGS TO SAVE TEACHERS “She handed me a jar full

S

econd grader Maria Meneses drew national attention when she emptied her piggy bank.

didn’t want that to happen.”

of change and said, ‘This is

The story of a second grader’s effort to save teachers’ jobs

for you,’” said Diamond Hill

Superintendent Melody

quickly spread. Maria made the

Elementary Principal Ellen

Johnson assured Maria and all

news and put an unforgettable

Verreault. “She said she had

students the District was doing

face on the education

heard that teachers might be

everything possible to keep our

funding crisis.

cut because of finances and she great teachers and principals.

The Texas school finance crisis presented

ISD and other districts. Bills proposed in Austin called for massive cuts to education.

District officials implemented various strategies to minimize the impact on campuses. Through it all, we promised to be thoughtful and deliberate in taking action, to seek input and ideas, and to keep stakeholders engaged and well-informed.

THREE remarkable channels of communication came about as a result:

MAKE EDUCATION A PRIORITY WEBSITE (WWW.FWISD.ORG/ FUNDING) THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT LOADED UP THIS NEW WEBSITE WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON

204 “Ask Hank”

questions

SCHOOL FUNDING, A SHORT VIDEO EXPLAINING SCHOOL FINANCE, A LIST OF FORT WORTH ISD’S

Employees had their own questions

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND A CALENDAR OF

and concerns about jobs, incentive

OUR SCHOOL BOARD’S BUDGET WORKSHOPS.

offers and the like. To provide answers,

WE ALSO LISTED THE NAMES AND CONTACT

we created the hugely successful

INFORMATION FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY

“Ask Hank” column. Chief Financial

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.

Officer Hank Johnson received and read hundreds of e-mailed questions.

For questions that were similar, he

TWO HUNDRED MONEY-SAVING SUGGESTIONS

answered the best of the bunch.

The District plans to continue the column and expand it to include other administrators answering questions in their areas of expertise.

S TAT E F U N D I N G C R I S I S @ F W I S D.O R G IN ADDITION TO QUESTIONS, WE ASKED FOR SUGGESTIONS FOR SAVING MONEY AND REALLOCATING RESOURCES. THOUGHTFUL ADVICE AND IDEAS POURED IN, SHOWING HOW MUCH OUR EMPLOYEES CARE AND, IN MANY CASES, ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF OUR STUDENTS.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

unprecedented challenges for Fort Worth

39

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

40

24-year winning streak Fort Worth ISD’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report once again won awards for excellence from the Association for School Comprehensive AnnuAl FinAnCiAl report Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2010

Business Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association. The report has received

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

www.fwisd.org

the awards 24 years in a row.

Our financial management practices are right on the money.

They earned a Superior Achievement rating from the Texas Education Agency’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.

The Trinity Occupational Program, our workers’ compensation program, is getting high marks.

Actuarial reports show that net reserves (the amount to pay off all claims to date since 1986) have decreased by almost $6 million in the last five years. The program’s primary care and specialty physicians are committed to helping injured employees recover and return to work as

NEARLY $60 MILLION

IN GRANTS

soon as possible. The District added a convenient new feature this year: online injury reporting.

Fort Worth ISD aggressively pursued competitive funding opportunities to help meet financial needs.

Grant funds at work in the District include:

$565,500

United Way of Tarrant County, Middle School Initiative

Seventy THOUSAND United Way, Reading Initiative

Management for Schools

30DOLLARS Thousand

$70,000

National Endowment for the Arts, Wall Visions murals project

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fitness trails on elementary campuses

$370,074 State of Texas/State Energy Conservation Grants, design and installation of renewable energy systems

$19.5 Million Texas Education Agency, Texas Title I Priority School Program for school transformation and improvement

ONE

TARGET FOUNDATION, H U N D R E D PARENTAL T H O U S A N D INVOLVEMENT D O L L A R S ACTIVITIES

Fort Worth ISD was the only school district in Texas to receive the $1.6 million Teaching American History grant in 2010. The fiveyear gift provides professional development for 5th, 8th and 11th grade American History teachers at 113 District campuses.

$ 3 0 8 , 0 7 1 Downwinders at Risk/

Sue Pope Fund, hybrid diesel/electric box trucks

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

and Emergency

U.S.

Incentive Fund

Education, Readiness

Department

U.S. Department of

of Education,

$11,957,853 Teacher

$580,154

41

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

42

3,816 employees actively contribute to 403(b) and 457(b) retirement/savings programs administered through Region 10. Enroll online at www.region10rams.org.

THIRTEEN INTERN ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WERE HIRED AS PART OF THE ASPIRING PRINCIPALS PROGRAM, A COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES

Our Division of Technology, Human Capital Management and Business & Finance Departments all worked together to put

A RESIDENCY THAT INCLUDES RIGOROUS ADMINISTRATIVE CLASSES AND ON-SITE TRAINING.

pay advice information at employees’ fingertips. Employee Self Service (ESS) began with a pilot program in October and went District-wide in the spring.

ESS allows employees to go

183

TEACHERS ATTENDED CHAMPS, FORT WORTH ISD’S NEW CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM OFFERED TWO COMPONENTS: ONE FOR

online and update personal

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS AND ONE FOR SECONDARY TEACHERS.

information, review prior pay

ALL PARTICIPANTS LEARNED NEW SKILLS FOR KEEPING

records, check vacation and sick days, and access W-4 and W-2

STUDENTS ON TASK AND HELPING THEM ACHIEVE.

information.

56

SECRETARIES, CLERKS,

Fort Worth ISD adopted the

CAFETERIA WORKERS,

STEDI.ORG training model

BILINGUAL INTERPRETERS AND CAMPUS MONITORS

for substitute teachers.

PARTICIPATED IN EMPOWERMENT 2010.

Substitutes must take an

THE CONFERENCE FEATURED KEY-NOTE SPEAKERS

extensive online STEDI

AND WORK SESSIONS TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL AND

course and score 85 or

PERSONAL GROWTH.

better on the test.

TWENTY-THREE CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES EMPLOYEES BEGAN WORKING ON THEIR GED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE AND THE WOMEN’S CENTER.

43

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

FIT FORT WORTH

I

t all began when employees asked, “Why don’t you offer us the physical fitness programs you offer students?”

We listened – and looked at the

Health, Cook Children’s Hospital,

Among the FIT Fort Worth

statistics: two-thirds of Tarrant

and the University of North Texas

highlights:

County adults are considered

Health Science Center.

•

overweight or obese. This meant

136 businesses offered discounts on purchases,

parents and teachers - students’

FIT Fort Worth includes weight

including fitness club

most important role models

management, exercise and

memberships

– were themselves making

nutrition classes for employees.

unhealthy choices.

There is a continually updated

were taught by District

website (www.fwisd.org/FIT) that

staff at 10 locations

This was a big issue requiring

has links to dozens of resources

a big initiative – one that would

and tells about upcoming

promote healthy lifestyle changes wellness events. We coordinate

•

•

Weekly aerobics classes

1,590 flu shots were administered

•

4,848 pounds were lost

in the community as a whole.

monthly messages to the

in FIT Fort Worth weight

We launched FIT Fort Worth,

community from the District and

management programs!

a partnership with the City of

all FIT Fort Worth partners.

Fort Worth, Tarrant County Public

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

44

$11,151,500 CONSTRUCTION

Peace Elementary is the first new school completed under the 2007

SAVINGS AS OF APRIL 2011

Benbrook MS • John T. White ES • Jean McClung MS • Rosemont ES

TOTAL CIP BUDGET

HAZEL HARVEY PEACE ES

$50 million

BUDGET FOR

Capital Improvement Program (CIP). It opened under budget and on time in August 2010. Four more schools are on schedule to open August 2011:

$1.5 million renovation Glory days are back at Fort Worth ISD’s Farrington Field. A major renovation had the athletic field, which was built in 1939, looking like a champ again – just in time for football season. Improvements included new paint, artificial turf and a public address system. Locker rooms were refurbished and public restrooms were brought up to current accessibility standards.

The makeover was paid for by the $596.3 million bond package approved by voters in 2007. The bonds also funded improvements at Scarborough-Handley and Wilkerson-Greines athletic fields.

Connects

45

way to share information about students and communicate with parents: Connects. The system allows teachers to perform student-centered analysis,

200

miles

administration tasks and

PA R EN T P O RTAL OUR DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY PILOTED PARENT PORTAL IN 10 SCHOOLS. IT ALLOWS PARENTS TO MONITOR ATTENDANCE, GRADES, ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASS SCHEDULES – ALL FROM HOME.

LearnEd

real-time reporting.

OF CABLING RUNS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT ALL COMPONENTS OF THE DIGITAL DISTRICT – ENOUGH TO STRETCH FROM FORT WORTH TO AUSTIN!

We created LearnEd, technology to provide teachers and staff with many options for virtual professional development, including online courses, webinars, video conferences and traditional videostreamed meetings.

4,100

Number of handsets installed as part of the District’s new phone system The Division of Technology replaced all phones with a state-of-the-art Cisco Unified IP system. The old phones were no longer supported by the manufacturer.

Web 2.0

The District partnered with Google to boost student performance and facilitate learning. New Web 2.0 tools provide student e-mail, virtual document sharing, and other cutting-edge resources.

DIGITAL DISTRICT

Teachers have a whole new

$ 1 5 , 2 1 3 I N S U N - P O W E R E D S AV I N G S A new solar electric system at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center is projected to save the District $15,213 per year in utility bills. The majority of the costs was covered by grants and rebates from the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), ONCOR and TXU.

1,208,020 gallons and

15,300,000 KILOWATT HOURS AND $1,900,000

$4,845

Savings from May to August 2010 A new water management system at the Clark Stadium soccer fields has sensors that tell when and where to water. With a savings of almost $5,000 in the first few months, it won’t

ELECTRICITY AND COST SAVINGS FROM MULTIPLE ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES IMPLEMENTED DISTRICT-WIDE

take long for the District to recoup the $15,795 cost of the system.

A $227,000 grant from SECO will include wind turbines, a solar energy system and highly efficient LED/solar security lights.

ALL FIVE

OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

46

of our newest schools are examples of sustainable design. Energy management is just one element. Others components include: • • •

Optimizing land usage Locating the facility in relationship to community elements Enhancing the teaching and learning environment through acoustics, lighting and ventilation

school buses than any other district in the nation. This year, we expanded our green machine fleet

3

DIESEL/ELECTRIC HYBRID BOX TRUCKS Have you seen them? They say “Driving With Purpose” in big bold letters on

to include:

the side. The trucks were paid for by the

THIRTY

Downwinders at Risk/Sue Pope Fund.

HEAVY DUTY HYBRID BUSES

AND TRUCKS

=

EIGHTEEN

PERCENT BETTER FUEL ECONOMY

2 more diesel/electric hybrid school buses They are equipped with wheelchair lifts, a collaborative effort between District Operations and our Special Education Department. A grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act paid for the buses.

OUR BUSES HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE MEDIA, TOO. SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION NEWS MAGAZINE CALLED FORT WORTH ISD ONE OF FOUR DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY “GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO GO GREEN.”

OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

Fort Worth ISD has more hybrid

47

48

making every

CON N E

49

C T I ON count

PARENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

50

ART FOR ALL

A

rt brings people together.

In the case of the “Wall Visions”

expressed their dreams for

directed the project. Art teacher

project, it bonded diverse groups

careers and the fields of study

and muralist Jo Dufo served as

of students, educators and

offered through the District’s

the project coordinator, working

the community. “Wall Visions,”

Gold Seal Programs of Choice.

with art and media teachers from

funded in part by the National

Polytechnic HS students painted

Southwest, Polytechnic and the

Endowment for the Arts, included

the second mural at Campesinos

Advanced Media Program (AMP).

two larger-than-life murals and

Restaurant. It celebrates the

Local professional artists and

a video documentary of the

lives and achievements of

filmmakers provided guidance

whole process.

migrant farm workers. Students

and assistance. AMP’s “Wall

interviewed community elders in

Visions” documentary premiered

doing their research.

May 2011 at the Modern Art

One mural, by Southwest HS students, covers the west wall of

Museum of Fort Worth.

the Fort Worth ISD Professional

Beverly Fletcher, Fort Worth

Development Center. Students

ISD’s Director of Arts Education,

to the Math-Science Trail sponsored

by Chesapeake Energy and Texas Christian University.

1,800 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITIES TIED TO SUPER BOWL XLV, SUCH AS SLANT 45 AND SUPER

TWO THOUSAND

elementary schools sent 5th graders

students were designated RadioShack Scholars.

804

students received coveted Academic Sweatshirts for

earning a 3.8 GPA or higher their first two years of high school. Lockheed Martin underwrites the program.

SUNDAY HOPE WALK.

fifty

DONATED BY CHASE BANK WILL HELP FUND TWO GOLD SEAL THOUSAND PROGRAMS OF CHOICE AT POLYTECHNIC HS: ADVANCED MEDIA PRODUCTION & COMMUNICATIONS AND CULINARY ARTS.

dollars

IBM underwrote the Celebrate

30 more Adopt-A-School partners Our Adopt-A-School partners increased from 392 to 422.

The Vital Link program partnered 400 7th graders with

37 businesses for a week-long internship that

THREE

Workshops sponsored

by Freese & Nichols, Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford and Liberty Mutual

applied classroom lessons to real workplace situations.

Community Partners reception and an Adopt-A-School breakfast for principals and their business partners. IBM, Hillwood and Thomas S. Byrne sponsored a recruitment luncheon for Fort Worth ISD’s Gold Seal Programs of Choice.

53

DISTINGUISHED EMPLOYERS OF FORT WORTH TEENS encouraged student employees to earn good grades and stay in school. In 2010-2011, Distinguished Employers at nearly 200 locations positively impacted 2,000 students who work and go to school. The organization is a collaboration with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

STATE FARM FUNDED THE ELIMINATING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP SUMMIT. AFTER THE SUMMIT, 32 PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE TO CHURCHES ABOUT STRATEGIES THEY CAN USE TO READY STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER.

PARENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

THIRTY-SIX

51

1,129

FORT WORTH ISD EMBRACED SOCIAL MEDIA EARLY ON. BUT OUR AUDIENCES IN THAT ARENA GREW DRAMATICALLY IN 2010-2011, ESPECIALLY WHEN AN UNUSUALLY LONG SPELL OF BAD

Twitter followers (up from 400 a year ago)

WEATHER HIT IN JANUARY. WE ANNOUNCED SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND THE DISTRICT WEBSITE. OUR FACEBOOK AUDIENCE GREW BY THOUSANDS. OUR TWITTER FOLLOWERS ALMOST DOUBLED. WE HAVE GENERATED 1,341 TWEETS SINCE WE BEGAN

5,000

USING THIS SOCIAL MEDIA IN MAY 2009.

Facebook fans (up from 1,050 a year ago)

SEV ENTY

Videos produced this year by the Communications Department

H AV E YO U S E E N OUR CAMPUS WEBSITES L AT E LY ?

Total views of videos posted on www.fwisd.org To view videos or watch live Board of Education meetings, go to

THEY ARE TEEMING WITH ACTIVITY – ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND PHOTOS, THANKS TO OUR CAMPUS WEB MANAGERS. THEY SHARE POSITIVE NEWS, HELP BUILD CAMPUS CULTURE AND FORM IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS AND STAFF.

www.fwisd.org and click on Video on Demand. Our library of more than 330 videos covers District initiatives, student events, messages from administrators and much more.

2,293 BROADCAST

AND PRINAT

NEWS STORIES

FEATURING FORT

WORTH ISD

THIRTY

-TWO ParentLink messages sent per student

Eight Hundred Forty Contacts made with news reporters

ParentLink instantly delivered messages to parents about important school events and changes in school operations that might affect students. We sent a total of 26,304 messages to 2,546,390 contacts with a delivery success rate of 73 percent.

News releases researched, written and distributed to the media

416

90,408

PARENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

52

53

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS DAY OF SCHOOL A FABULOUS ONE FOR YOUNG STUDENTS. JASON’S DELI AT 6244 CAMP BOWIE BLVD. DONATED AN ENTIRE DAY’S PROCEEDS TO EIGHT SCHOOLS. EDWARD JONES FINANCIAL ADVISORS IN BENBROOK COLLECTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THREE ELEMENTARY

AFTER-SCHOOL STAR POWER Actor Matthew McConaughey

livin foundation” will fund

sported a Rangers jersey for

twice-a-week activities

the announcement of

geared toward health and

KINDERGARTEN” BOOKLETS TO

a new after-school program

wellness. McConaughey,

PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN

at Diamond Hill-Jarvis

a Texan, said he wants to help

HS. The Texas Rangers

teenagers lead active lives,

Baseball Foundation and

make healthy choices and

McConaughey’s “just keep

become great adults.

SCHOOLS. JPS HEALTH CLINICS DISTRIBUTED “COUNTDOWN TO

TO HELP THEM BUILD THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL START TO SCHOOL. WE ASKED:

265 TWO HUNDRED

pastors to encourage parents to visit their children’s schools on the first day

1,000 Visitors to the Billy W. Sills Archive Center People of all ages come to our Billy W. Sills Archive

FIVE

Thousand

DOLLAR

Center. They research, attend

honorariums were

lectures and simply take in

presented to 16 teachers

businesses to

the outstanding collection

chosen as the 2010-2011

grant flex time

of historic Fort Worth ISD

Academic Chairs for

memorabilia. Artifacts include

Teaching Excellence.

for employees to take their children to school

photographs that date back to the 1800s, 100-year-old graduation programs and hundreds of yearbooks.

PARENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CHIPPED IN TO MAKE THE FIRST

parent trainings were held at the new Parent Engagement Outreach Center.

The new center located at Rosemont 6th Grade Center provides parents with all kinds of educational resources, a

2

national award-winning programs,

ABRIENDO PUERTAS and PARENTS AS TEACHERS, provided hundreds of

parents with information and activities to help children succeed.

media library and computer stations.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund and McDonald’s sponsored Steps for Success, a day-long event to educate parents and students on how to prepare and pay for college.

A $100,000 grant from Target provided new ways for the District to connect with parents for student success: •

Parent University, a new program to help parents prepare children for middle school, high school and college

•

Summer Transition Camps, designed for parents of middle school students

•

A celebration co-sponsored by Ridgmar Mall honoring parent volunteers

•

Parent Recognition Essay Contest

$80,000 was donated to the District’s

Chairs for Teaching Excellence program by our generous business partners.

$30,000

FOURTEEN

PARENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

54

was donated by community partners to honor outstanding teachers at the Campus Teacher of the Year dinner.

THE FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY: •

Donated 500 passes to homeless students

•

Gave its first President’s Achievement Award to Morningside ES for the school’s exemplary garden

•

Presented bronze plaques to De Zavala ES that recognize the school as the location of Fort Worth’s first children’s museum

55

STUDENT OUTREACH

8-YEAR-OLD HAILED AS HERO

I

t’s not easy keeping your cool in a crisis – especially when the crisis involves someone you love.

But 8-year-old Dontasha

the emergency operator.

who knows her.” Tarrant County

Roberson did everything she was

The 2nd grader stayed on the

officials called Dontasha

supposed to do when her mother

phone except for a few seconds

something else: a hero.

slipped into a diabetic coma.

when she remembered there

They presented her with the 911

was food cooking and ran to the

Kid Hero Award during

kitchen to turn off the stove.

a ceremony at David K.

Dontasha’s mother was preparing dinner at the time. Dontasha

Sellars Elementary.

grabbed the phone, called 911 and

Dontasha’s mother called her

calmly described the situation to

daughter a “blessing to everyone

Thousand

Twelve

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

6th graders at Daggett

STUDENTS PLANTED 12,000

MS donated dog and

HEIRLOOM TEXAS DAFFODILS

cat food to Paws for

IN THE TRINITY RIVER

a Claus during the holiday season to help

CORRIDOR. THE PROJECT

animal friends in the

WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH

community.

VALLEYS AND STREAMS, INC.

The student councils at Benbrook ES

Fort Worth ISD students remembered America’s military

and the Young Women’s Leadership

during the holiday season. They sent cards to servicemen

Academy received the Honor Student

and women as part of the American Red Cross “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program. District partner Pitney Bowes received, screened and shipped the cards.

Council Excellence Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The award recognizes the schools’ leadership, citizenship and community service.

Students at Como Montessori collected travel-sized toothpaste, shampoo and other personal care items for America’s troops deployed overseas.

$500 SENT TO

$300 JUST FOR JUMPING! The 5th Grade Student Council at Western Hills ES held a jump rope fundraiser that brought in $300 for the American Red Cross Japan Disaster Fund.

SISTER CITY STUDENTS AT ARLINGTON

HEIGHTS HS PARTNERED WITH FORT WORTH SISTER CITIES TO RAISE MONEY FOR RELIEF EFFORTS IN JAPAN. THE MONEY WENT TO NAGAOKA, FORT WORTH’S SISTER CITY.

1,240 SYMBOLS OF SUPPORT

STUDENT OUTREACH

56

The Anime Club and other Trimble Tech HS students folded and mailed 1,240 paper cranes to students in Japan, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. For each crane sent, the Besos Family Foundation donated $2 to rebuilding efforts.

57

STUDENT OUTREACH

“ I

“

A LINE OF HER OWN

didn’t really like what stores had for me, so I just decided to make my own stuff to fit my style.

- Tanesa Peterson, Dunbar HS junior

Who needs “Project Runway”?

Tanesa, a Career & Technical

She made it an event, the Prom

16-year-old Tanesa Peterson is

Education student at Dunbar High

Princess Give-away, and enlisted

in business already, designing

School, says designing clothes is

the support of local businesses. All

hip fashions and selling them

something she has wanted to do

the selected Prom Princesses met

online. Her label is “Nesa Fab.” Her

since she was 12. She also wants to at Dunbar on Saturday, May 7, for a

customers are teens, tweens and

help others. For prom season, she

makeover that included hair, nails,

young adults. Tanesa’s styles were

created dresses for 35 seniors – 15

and makeup. By 4:00 p.m. they were

shown this year at fashion shows

from Dunbar, 10 from Arlington

out the door ready for a prom night

across the country.

Heights and 10 from Polytechnic.

to remember!

58

counting on

TO M O

59

R ROW

60

2011-2012 PREVIEW

GOLD SEAL PROGRAMS OF CHOICE 2011-2012 will mark the first year of Gold Seal Programs of Choice – a learning experience that engages students, supports their interests and opens exciting pathways to success in college and career. Every school will offer three courses of study and different trajectories within those courses to serve every student at every skill level.

Internships, mentoring and guest speakers will give hands-on, real world applications to lessons and connect students with professionals in their chosen fields of study.

FOUR

financed by the 2007 Bond Program will welcome NEW CAMPUSES students: BENBROOK MS,

201 OVERCREST DRIVE, BENBROOK

Jean McClung MS, 3000 FOREST AVENUE,

FORT WORTH

JOHN T. WHITE ES, 7300 John T. White Road, Fort Worth

Rosemont ES, 1401 West Seminary Drive, Fort Worth

Also opening August 2011 – the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences (TABS), a partnership between Fort Worth ISD and the University of North Texas Health Science Center and the University of North Texas. Located at 3813 Valentine Street, TABS will provide a unique, rigorous academic experience and put students on the road to realizing their dreams of becoming medical professionals.

RTAL | LOGO DRAFTS

61

We are making it more convenient than ever for parents to

T

L

get involved in their child’s education. After piloting the

FORT WORTH ISD

PA R E N T

Parent Portal at 10 campuses this year, the District will

PORTAL means thousands more parents will be able to go online to add more schools to the new portal in the fall of 2011. This

FORT WORTH ISD

PARENT

track their children’s attendance and grades. The Portal also contains school and District announcements OPT IONand 2 teacher

O PT I O N 3

contact information.

This exciting new literacy initiative is designed to make sure our children are reading at the appropriate levels early in their education. Assessments, acceleration efforts and intense

ON TIME

combining three transformational school improvement grants to form one initiative: Redesign to Increase Schools of

and 2nd grade levels to give students

Excellence, or RISE.

a solid foundation for school and

T O

ON GRADE

The District is

It will target 25 Fort

R E A D Y

FORT WORTH ISD

monitoring will be used at the PK, 1st

R I S E !

On Grade, On Time

1. Help schools teach

life success.

TO THE

STAAR AND BEYOND Hello STAAR. The Texas Education Agency is switching to a new student testing system in 2011-2012. It’s called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). STAAR will be phased in, beginning with 3rd-9th grades. And the District is launching a campaign to give students, teachers and parents all the information, tools and resources they need for a smooth transition.

Worth ISD schools with 3 directives:

and lead students in new, meaningful ways 2. Create fair evaluations for teachers and principals that make them more effective educators

G E T

1

3. Monetarily reward educators for performance

2011-2012 PREVIEW

PA RE N T PO RTA L