Fort Worth ISD 2015-16 Annual Report

1 2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | LEARNING

FORT WORT H I S D 2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT

FO RT WORTH I SD M I SSI ON Preparing all students for success in college, career, and community leadership.

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 8

13

41

Board of Education

Learning

Building

9

19

Dr. Kent P. Scribner

Teacher Feature

45

10 By the Numbers

Secondary Teacher of the Year: Darcy Deupree

25 Teacher Feature Elementary Teacher of the Year: Miranda Tacoronti

31 Teacher Feature Teacher of the Year Finalist: Rosa Muhammad

Teacher Feature Teacher of the Year Finalist: Ventura Quijas

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85

Teacher Feature

Teacher Feature

Teacher of the Year Finalist: Ashley Reynoso

Teacher of the Year Finalist: Brittany Casteel

55

91 Teacher Feature

Collaborating

59 Teacher Feature Teacher of the Year Finalist: Cavon Muhammad

65 Teacher Feature Teacher of the Year Finalist: Barbara Wilks

73 Leading

77

Teacher Feature Teacher of the Year Finalist: Shatiqueka Carson

Teacher of the Year Finalist: Eric King

97 Looking Ahead

101

In Dedication

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B O A R D

O F

E D U C A T I O N

JACINTO RAMOS JR. President, District 1 May 2015 - Present ASHLEY PAZ

ANN SUTHERLAND

NORMAN ROBBINS

First Vice President, District 9

Second Vice President, District 6

Board Secretary, District 7

May 2016 – Present

May 2016 – Present

May 2016 – Present

CHRISTENE C. MOSS

T.A. SIMS

First Vice President, District 3

District 4

Second Vice President May 2015 – 2016

TOBI JACKSON Board Secretary, District 2 May 2015 – May 2016

May 2015 – May 2016 MATTHEW AVILA JUDY NEEDHAM District 5

District 8

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S U P E R I N T E N D E N T PHOTO BY TRUITT ROGERS

Before one school year ends, another is gearing up. It’s easy to miss the opportunity to reflect. This report is your chance to sit back and look over a remarkable year in Fort Worth ISD that included: • Registering thousands of children for universal prekindergarten – Kindergarten readiness is critical for elementary literacy and impacts success in all subjects for years to come.

• Breaking ground on the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA – We are transforming one of our most historic schools into a learning center for students keenly interested in engineering and computer science careers and for students wanting to grow in the study of dance, music, theater, or visual arts.

•

$50 million in college scholarships – We are doubling down on efforts to make sure students and their families know about the many scholarships available and how to take advantage of them.

We also engaged in community-wide discussions about challenging, complex issues. It was gratifying to see the passion and commitment to student safety that parents, faith leaders, business owners, teachers, school nurses, and others brought to the table.

There is a lot to be excited about as we move from one school year to the next. At the top of the list is a system change already underway in our District – and in the community as a whole – to focus on what we know will improve student achievement. You will read more about this in the report.

While we know change and consensus can be difficult, we also know that with open communication, courage, and good-faith efforts that serve students’ best interests, we will continue to move toward our mission: Preparing all students for success in college, career, and community leadership.

Enjoy the read!

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT

DR. KENT P. SCRIBNER

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BY THE NUMBERS Operating Budget

2015-16 BUDGET

$716 million

$716,074,057*

INSTRUCTION

60%

$428,831,155

DISTRICT OPERATIONS

18%

$128,318,089

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT

17%

$124,109,062

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION

2%

$17,317,453

OTHER

2%

$17,498,298

*Unaudited

Our Schools 2015-2016

Our District

TOTAL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS

ACCREDITATION DISTRICT

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

HIGH SCHOOLS

SOUTHERN ASSOC. OF COLLEGES & SCHOOLS

TEA DISTRICT RATINGS

MET STANDARD

143

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

83

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

24

HIGH SCHOOLS

19

OTHER SCHOOLS

17

Transportation

Nutrition Services

NUMBER OF BUSES RUNNING DAILY

376

BREAKFASTS SERVED DAILY

31,500

NUMBER OF BUS ROUTES

1,668

LUNCHES SERVED DAILY

61,500

NUMBER OF STUDENTS TRANSPORTED DAILY

19,424

STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE/REDUCED MEALS

75,000

NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN IN 2015-16

4,221,167

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Our Students

HISPANIC 62.6%

AFRICAN AMERICAN 22.8%

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

WHITE/ANGLO 10.9%

ASIAN 1.9%

87,080

ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC FACTS

OTHER 1.7%

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

19,266

22.1%

2016 NUMBER OF GRADUATES

3,932

ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED

70,205

80.6%

2015-16 SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS

$50,266,487

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER

26,940

30.9%

2016* AVG. SAT SCORE

908

GIFTED & TALENTED

8,044

9.2%

2016* STUDENTS TAKING SAT

4,112

SPECIAL EDUCATION

6,820

7.8%

2015-16 AVG. ACT SCORE

18

2015-16 STUDENTS TAKING AP EXAMS

5,937

*Data from March 2016 forward – the first administration of the new SAT, which includes changes in questioning and scoring

Our Employees TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

2.9%

0.5%

10,643

FULL-TIME TEACHERS

5,603

AUXILIARY STAFF

2,357

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

1,440

EDUCATIONAL AIDES

876

CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS

313

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATORS

54

8.2%

13.5%

10,643 employees

BEGINNING TEACHER SALARY

$50,000

AVG. EXPERIENCE OF TEACHERS

10 YEARS

AVG. EXPERIENCE WITH FORT WORTH ISD

7.9 YEARS

AVG. STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO

17.57:1

22.1%

52.6%

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LEARNING

VAL AND SAL T W I N S

T A G -T E A M

VA L E D I C T O R I A N

S P E E C H

Identical twins Estrella and Perla Ortiz shared a

The girls spoke only Spanish when, as 3rd graders,

fear much of their senior year at North Side HS.

they moved with their family to North Texas from

“We were afraid that one of us would be named valedictorian or salutatorian and the other would be left out,” says Estrella.

Flash forward to graduation and they are sharing something else – the stage and a single valedictory speech. Estrella, with a 4.4 grade point average was named valedictorian. Perla, with a 4.3, earned salutatorian.

The twins received full-ride scholarships from the TCU Community Scholars program. They both plan to major in biology and pre-med at TCU. Estrella wants to be a gynecologist. Perla is leaning toward pediatrics.

Mexico. They attended 4th grade in Arlington, then enrolled in Fort Worth ISD in 5th grade. They made good grades, but it was a struggle.

“Learning to study in a different language was really hard,” says Perla. “We didn’t practice our English on each other very much because we wouldn’t know if we got it right or wrong.”

The twins are the youngest of seven children – all girls. Their sister Maria was North Side valedictorian in 2014. She is also at TCU studying toward a health care-related career.

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Back to School

In the Door 8/24

Pre-K Kids

Dr. Kent Scribner and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price

The District started the new school year with

greeted young students and their parents on the first day

approximately 5,000 children registered for

of school at Diamond Hill ES. Leading up to the start

pre-kindergarten. Universal Pre-K was a major

of school, Fort Worth ISD used the slogan “In the Door

component of the 2013 Fort Worth ISD bond election.

8/24� in a campaign that included a 30-second video. It

The District has added 20 Pre-K classrooms since the

was a reminder that all students need to be in class on

passage of the bond.

the first day to meet their teachers, begin their studies, and get the year off to a great start.

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Welcome to Jacquet

Family Night

The first day of school was also the first day that classes

Fort Worth ISD began celebrating the new school year

were held in J. Martin Jacquet MS, formerly Paul

in early August with a Night at the Museum. More than

Laurence Dunbar MS. The name change honored one

1,000 students and their families spent the evening at

of the longest-serving principals of Dunbar HS. Mr.

the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. They

Jacquet served 37 years as an educator in Fort Worth

enjoyed exhibits, watched Dolphins in the Omni IMAX®

ISD, including 17 years as principal of Dunbar.

Theater, and gathered back-to-school information from District representatives – all free. This annual event is an initiative of Fort Worth ISD’s Family Communications Department.

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Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice Early College Expansion

(TOP)

Fort Worth ISD opened the doors to Tarrant County College South/Fort Worth ISD Collegiate High School. Located at TCC South Campus, our newest high school welcomed 107 9th graders in the fall.

Collegiate HS offers a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) focus.

Collegiate HS joins the District’s Marine Creek Collegiate High School and the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences (TABS) in providing students the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credit hours toward an associate degree – tuition free.

Building Blends Old and New

(MIDDLE)

Fort Worth ISD broke ground to begin transforming historical I.M. Terrell into a much-anticipated Gold Seal School of Choice – the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA. A prominent architectural feature will be an overarching canopy that will frame the views of downtown Fort Worth and welcome visitors to the site. The Academy will open August 2017.

Flying First Class

(BOTTOM LEFT)

Students moved into a new classroom at Dunbar HS that takes learning to new heights. It’s the 10,000-square foot hangar housing the Gold Seal Aviation Technology Program of Choice. The openconcept Dunbar Aviation Center will accommodate large equipment machines, jet engines, tools, a computer lab, two classrooms, administration offices, and restrooms.

Expo Brings in Applications

(BOTTOM RIGHT)

More than 4,000 parents and students descended on the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center on a Friday and Saturday in November for the Fort Worth ISD Choices Expo. They came to check out the District’s Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice and find the best fit for the education of their children. District employees helped parents fill out online applications on the spot. By the following Monday, the District had received 1,135 applications.

1,160

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Gold Seal graduates

Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences (TABS) seniors

(up from 1,037 last year)

who graduated high school with enough college hours to earn their associate degree (up from 7 last year)

RENDERING COURTESY OF CORGAN

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“THEY WILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.”

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DARCY DEUPREE BROADCAST JOURNALISM/MEDIA TECHNOLOGY GOLD SEAL PROGRAM OF CHOICE TEACHER, SOUTHWEST HS

As well as Fort Worth ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year, Ms. Deupree’s recognitions include Campus Teacher of the Year at Southwest HS (twice), Secondary Teacher of the Year finalist (2012-13), and Crescent Real Estate Teaching Chair of Excellence in Career and Technology Education (2012-13). She sets high expectations for herself and her students. Consequently, they have placed in the top ten in the nation at SkillsUSA contests every year since 2011.

“When students from my classes walk into their first college class or first job, they will have spent the last four years creating news packages and winning awards. They will have had more than two hours per week of live television experience. The opportunity gap is closing for these students. They will have the advantage.”

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AP Opportunities Fort Worth ISD’s Advanced Placement participation and scores rose among all student populations, including score increases of 6.1 percent for African American students and 13.5 percent for Hispanic students.

5,937

Students who took AP exams, up from 5,465 last year

11,309

AP exams taken, up from 10,703 last year

Up to the Test

Worn with Pride

Over the last three years, Fort Worth ISD has

Fort Worth ISD and Lockheed Martin teamed up to

dramatically increased SAT and AP enrollment and

award 743 Academic Sweatshirts to students who

testing of all student populations. The scores are also

completed their sophomore year with a GPA of 3.8

improving. As part of our College Readiness Pathway, all

or higher.

8th, 10th, and 11th graders took the PSAT; all 11th graders took the SAT; and all AP students took their AP exams – all on school days and at no expense to students.

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2015-16, up from $35,955,875 last year.

Superintendent Scholars The District recognized 160 students for academic excellence at the Superintendent Scholars reception.

Superintendent Scribner presented students with certificates and stoles. Honorees included National Merit Semifinalists, National Merit Commended Students, and AP Scholars of distinction.

CLASS NOTES: Scholarships TCU awarded four-year, full ride scholarships – each worth $250,000 to: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Musawir Ahmad, Polytechnic HS Johnny Argueta, Trimble Technical HS Candy Calvillo-Ruiz, Polytechnic HS Makala Dennis, Dunbar HS Gerardo Esparza, Trimble Technical HS Oscar Hernandez, North Side HS Edwin Jimenez, South Hills HS Shelby Johnson, Young Women’s Leadership Academy* Terrance Jones, South Hills HS Mang Kim, Trimble Technical HS My Le, Polytechnic HS Man Lun, Trimble Technical HS Jairo Marquez, Polytechnic HS Laura Mejia, North Side HS Cing Muang, O.D. Wyatt HS Vy Nguyen, Trimble Technical HS Marco Oropeza, Trimble Technical HS Estrella Ortiz, North Side HS Perla Ortiz, North Side HS Lester Polty, South Hills HS Juan Ramos, North Side HS

• • • •

Steven Shmais, Trimble Technical HS Duc Tran, Trimble Technical HS Johnny Rae-Lynzi Wilbourn, Diamond HillJarvis HS Isis Woods, Dunbar HS

*Winner of TCU’s Fort Worth ISD Student Engagement School Completion Scholarship

Texas Wesleyan University awarded its Fort Worth ISD Student Engagement School Completion and Scholarship, worth $104,200, to Paschal HS’s Abigail Padilla.

Paschal HS’s Carter Dickson earned a collegesponsored National Merit Scholarship from Texas A&M University, providing between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years.

Nine seniors received scholarships from Chesapeake valued at $340,000 over the next four years: •

Gerardo Gallegos Arredondo, South Hills HS

• • • • • • • •

Amanda Toledo Barrios, Paschal HS Fabian Hernandez, Carter-Riverside HS Terria Jackson, Eastern Hills HS Rafael Madrigal III, Paschal HS Mercedes, Mendez, Arlington Heights HS Estephanie Olvera, South Hills HS Brenda Diaz Padron, Trimble Technical HS Krupa Patel, Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences

Six middle school students were awarded Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation scholarships worth $2,500 each: • • • • • •

Reanne De’Souza, Jacquet MS Anna Huynh, Meadowbrook MS Claire Lyons, Benbrook MS Thao Nguyen, Handley MS Aracely Rodriguez, Meacham MS Daisy Sanchez, McLean MS

Young Women’s Leadership Academy graduate Redmond Wortham was awarded a $14,500 Charter Members Scholarship from the Fort Worth Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | LEARNING

$50,266,487

Amount of scholarships earned by Fort Worth ISD students in

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(TOP LEFT)

The 2015-16 Whiz Quiz began in October and culminated in January with a three-night semi-finals and finals extravaganza in the Fort Worth ISD Board Room. Academic teams from Paschal HS, McLean MS, and Daggett Montessori won the championship matches that were produced like television game shows

by Polytechnic HS and Southwest HS students from the Gold Seal Advanced Media Program. The contests were streamed live and aired on Charter Cable and AT&T U-verse. Gold Seal culinary students from North Side HS, Paschal HS, Trimble Technical HS, and O.D. Wyatt HS served appetizers to the audience. Kroger provided all the supplies. The Southwest HS Jazz Ensemble entertained between matches.

ReadyRosie

(MIDDLE LEFT)

We expanded the popular ReadyRosie (birth–Pre-K) early education video program, adding BringingUp (K–3rd). We made both available to caregivers of future and current students who live within the Fort Worth ISD boundary. More than 400 short videos provide strategies to help children become schoolready and stay on grade level. The videos model learning activities to do with kids in everyday situations: at breakfast, at the grocery store, or in the car or bus. Each activity is modeled in English and Spanish.

Academic Bowl

(RIGHT)

Scholars from the Young Men’s Leadership Academy (YMLA) won bragging rights and Samsung Galaxy Tablets for their performance at the African American Male Academic Bowl finals. The team of Tremajialique Burse, Tayshaun Smith, and Lionel Tenner took overall second place. This was YMLA’s fourth consecutive trip to the finals. The event was held at the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson.

Invention Convention

(BOTTOM)

Students from K-7th grade participated in the 2016 Invention Convention hosted by the District’s Advanced Academics and Innovative Learning Department. Two students received $250 scholarships from Imagination Fort Worth.

Accountability Ratings Fort Worth ISD “Met Standard,” according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) district rating system. On the campus level, 108 of our schools were rated Met Standard, and 22 campuses were rated Improvement Required. Thirteen special campuses in the District were not rated. Superintendent Scribner called the report a solid baseline from which to work as we focus on instruction for all of our students and redirect central office resources to schools with the greatest need. The TEA ratings are based in part on STAAR test results. Our students showed improvement in 5th and 8th grade Reading and Math.

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Sport of Knowledge

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“MY REWARD IS SEEING A CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS DEVOURING BOOKS ...”

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MIRANDA TACORONTI 5 th GRADE BILINGUAL TEACHER, VERSIA WILLIAMS ES

Learning a second language was one of the most empowering achievements of Ms. Tacoronti’s life. She took Spanish lessons in high school and college and traveled to as many Spanishspeaking countries as she could. She knows that mastering another language is difficult and even embarrassing at times. She says her most significant contribution in education is helping her students discover the power of literacy through the magic of literature. Her classroom is a respectful environment where students take risks, challenge themselves to do more, and lose themselves in reading.

“My reward is seeing a classroom full of students devouring books – in or out of their desks.

If they want to read lying on the floor? Sweet! Do they want to curl up in the designated reading corner? Fine by me. Can they sit in my teacher chair? Only if they’re reading!”

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Building Bridges Students in the Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS pyramid put their civil engineering design skills to the test in the Project Lead the Way Bridge Summit. The design competition challenged students to design and model a bridge to engineering specifications. Each bridge was tested to see how well it held up.

Prizes included medals, trophies, and iPads.

In 2015, Lockheed Martin awarded a $1 million multi-year grant to expand STEM programs District-wide through Project Lead the Way.

Pre-Med Club for Kids A new club for fourth-graders introduces them to careers in medicine. It’s the Pre-Med Club, a pilot program at Fort Worth ISD elementary schools. The curriculum and lesson plans were developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges and physicians coordinated through the Artemis Medical Society. The goal is to get more students from communities historically underrepresented in medicine interested in becoming doctors.

Robot Rollout The first-ever Multi-age Robotics Clinic came off without a hitch. The learning event at Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS included 4th, 6th, and 9th-grade students from across the high school’s pyramid.

Project Lead the Way teachers brought their campus robotics design teams. They reviewed projects, shared ideas, and operated robotic prototypes ahead of a local robotics competition.

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WLI Translates to Success The two-year-old World Languages Institute (WLI) added two new languages, Arabic and Portuguese, to the list for a third language choice. WLI students, most of whom are already bilingual, may also choose from American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, or Spanish.

3,200

27,164

Students given Spanish Placement

Students identified as English Language Learners (ELLs),

exams, up 15 percent from last year

up from 26,926 one year earlier

Literacy Intervention Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI), provided by the United Way After School Program, continued to raise the grade level competency of students in grades 1–3. LLI students grew three reading levels on average.

Students in their second year of intervention grew five levels. The participants chose free books for their home library while their parents attended a seminar at the Riley Center at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. The students toured the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and enjoyed story time at the Fort Worth Central Public Library.

Science Talent Paschal HS student Wyatt Reeves was one of only 11 students in Texas to be named a semifinalist in the 2016 Intel Science Talent Search. Wyatt has won state-level UIL academics contests and placed well in other national STEM competitions. He received $1,000 from the Intel Foundation with an additional $1,000 going to his school. Wyatt also won a bronze medal at the International Linguistics Olympiad in Mysore, India.

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Space Chat

Prepping for Physics

“What inspired you to become an astronaut?”

A two-week summer camp gave girls a head start on

“How did you feel when you first looked back at Earth?”

“Do you miss your family?”

These were some of the questions asked by students at Daggett Montessori in the long distance chat of a lifetime.

They spoke by HAM radio to Kjell N. Lindgren, a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The conversation was made possible by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Students learned, among other things, that

physics. The Design-Create-Connect Physics Camp for Young Women was led by Paschal HS teachers Linda Antinone and Cassie Whitecotton. Participants came from 10 District high schools. Educational experiences included riding a hovercraft, visiting a high tech company, charting a path through a maze, and calculating trajectories in order to hit targets – all in preparation for AP Physics I in the fall.

Mr. Lindgren speaks to his family every day using an Internet telephone.

Water-Saving Solution A special science project is earning extra interest for some McLean 6th Grade Center students – in more ways than one. Ella Alvarado, Caroline Britain, Mia Pressley, and Clara Thomas were named regional finalists in the U.S. Armysponsored eCYBERMISSION STEM competition, administered by the National Science Teachers Association. Each received a $1,000 U.S. EE Savings Bond, in addition to the $1,000 they each received for being a state finalist. They worked with team advisor Steven Horvath to come up with a solution for watering lawns during a drought.

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Two students in the Gold Seal IPAA/PESA Southwest Engineering Academy at Southwest HS took the top team wins at the prestigious PetroChallenge in Houston. Vianey Jauregui on the “Just Drill It” team won first place, which included a $400 cash award. Jariana Musgrove on the “Pink Panthers” team took second place and $300. The teams were tasked with setting up a fantasy oil and gas exploration company and then creating the most value for their company. This event was sponsored by Schlumberger, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, and NeXT.

Developing Ownership In the first two years of implementation in the District, SOAR (Student Ownership and Responsibility) campuses and students demonstrated positive changes, including increased school-wide passing rates, improved classroom behavior, and greater receptivity of teacher feedback. SOAR is a partnership with Vanderbilt University’s National Center on Scaling Effective Schools and the Education Development Center out of Massachusetts. The District expanded the program to seven high schools.

Texas History Buffs Eighty-five secondary students from five campuses participated in the Texas Regional History Day competition hosted by the UT Arlington History Department and the Honors College. Twenty of them took either 1st or 2nd place in their divisions and went on to compete at the Texas History Day state competition in Austin. McLean 6th Grade student Dai Pham placed 1st in her project about Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, qualifying for the National History Day competition in Maryland.

A group project about Van Cliburn and the Cold War by McLean MS students Samuel Ferguson, Walker Gore, and John Nolan earned the Texas Spirit Award.

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Striking It Rich

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“NO SILENT CLASSROOM FOR ME.”

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F I N A L I S T

ROSA MUHAMMAD MATHEMATICS TEACHER, O.D. WYATT HS Ms. Muhammad’s great-grandmother taught in a one-room school house. Her grandmother and mother were also teachers. Ms. Muhammad, however, wanted to be an engineer or psychologist. But in college, she found herself with a month-long assignment as a teaching assistant in a high school Algebra I class. The football coach teaching the class did the minimum, as did his students, mostly football players. By day three, Ms. Muhammad had taken control of the class and taught the students – including the football players – not only to solve equations, but also to explain them to their fellow classmates. The next semester, she switched her major to education.

“I turn students into problem solvers, and I let them explore and talk. No silent classroom for me. Students need to talk math. That’s why I love grouping them. Listening to a student explain to another student how to work a math problem is the best!”

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AVID Impact Fort Worth ISD added AVID to six more campuses for a total of 26. Three more schools will be added in fall 2016. The AVID system develops students’ critical thinking, literacy, and math skills across all content areas.

War of Words More than 400 students in grades 3-8 crunched the facts in the first Fort Worth ISD Battle of the Books.

Many students were dressed in team costumes as they answered detailed questions about books they read.

Schools across the District praised the grade-level competition, which is sponsored by the TCU College of Education, for getting more students excited about reading.

Game Goes Viral Staff and students at Eastern Hills HS caught the vocabulary-building bug and just couldn’t stop themselves from learning new words! It began when Eastern Hills Dean of Instruction Datasha Dukes tried out the game Vocabulary.com. When she quickly mastered 35 words, she involved staff and students.

They were hooked. By the end of the school year, students had mastered more than 6,000 words and were competing against other schools in the state and nation.

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Students in Southwest HS’s Broadcast Journalism/Media Technology Gold Seal Program of Choice took 1st place in several categories at the SkillsUSA state contest. Gold medal winners included: •

Broadcast News Production – Team of David Gibson, Tatiyana Giddings, LaShonda Green, and Hazel Jeffrey

•

Job Interview: Gladys Wiggins

•

Pin Design: Hazel Jeffrey

•

Career Pathways: Team of Tatiyana Giddings, LaShonda Green, and Jewels Ortez

A total of 19 students from the Gold Seal program qualified for state competition.

890

Career and Technical Education students who took industry certification exams, 348 more than the previous year

Shooting Stars Zayda Torres, a Trimble Technical HS junior, won overall Best of Show for photography at the SkillsUSA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. At the state level, Zayda earned a gold medal in Job Demonstration and Best of Show. Other state wins by Trimble Tech photography students included gold medals in the Technical Test category won by Karen Carrera and Jasmin Waheed, and a bronze in Job Demonstration won by PHOTO BY ZAYDA TORRES

Rubi Huitron.

Alyxsis Cisneros advanced to the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) state contest. And, Rosalba Gonzalez had her work published in the 400-page hard cover book “Best of College & High School Photography 2016.” Trimble Tech photography teacher Shannon Oden showed off works of all her students at a Gallery Night event in her classroom and studio.

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Production Gold

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Bands Go Big-Time

(TOP AND BOTTOM LEFT)

It was a big year for instrumental music performances, including a clinic and concert at Bass Hall that featured the jazz bands from Paschal HS and Southwest HS right along with the world famous UNT One O’Clock Lab Band. The Southwest HS Symphonic Band became the first District band to perform at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and at the Texas Bandmasters Association convention in San Antonio.

B Sharp

(TOP RIGHT)

All those after school rehearsals resulted in beautiful music at the B Sharp Youth Orchestra’s Spring Concert at Monnig MS. Students from 15 District high schools and middle schools participated. The orchestra dedicated the concert to Dr. Michael Sorum, who left Fort Worth ISD at the end of the school year. John Goff, President of The Goff Family Foundation, praised Dr. Sorum for his commitment to music and children. The orchestra, formed in 2014 through the support of The Goff Family Foundation and in partnership with the District, builds on the B Sharp Program of Choice at Como ES.

Pitch Perfect A new choral force for secondary students took stage this year. The Lone Star Youth Chorus was featured in the “Home for the Holidays” concerts with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The District-wide student chorus collaborated in May with the Credo Choir of Greater Dallas, directed by Dr. Jonathan Palante, and ended the year with a rousing Spring Concert at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church.

Mariachi

(BOTTOM RIGHT)

Mariachi ensembles from high schools across North Texas competed at the Mariachi Spectacular de Fort Worth XVI, hosted by Fort Worth ISD at North Side HS.

School Musicals Schools are alive with the sound of musical theater in Fort Worth ISD. Students sang and danced their way through a variety of big musicals in 2015-16, including: Benbrook HS – “Suessical the Musical,” Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS – “Grease,” Paschal HS – “Little Shop of Horrors,” Southwest HS – “Rock of Ages,” Trimble Technical HS – “Beauty and the Beast,” and Monnig MS – “Hairspray.”

CLASS NOTES: Theater and Dance The Arlington Heights HS Repertory Dance Company attended the National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Students auditioned for summer programs and college acceptance. Jesus Alfaro, Lily Hendricks, Cameran Myler, Elle Quiroga, Jada Webb, and Emily Wentworth were accepted into Winthrop University and other schools. Lily Guymon was accepted into several schools, including Drexel University. Greyland Goff received scholarships to two college summer dance programs.

Carter-Riverside HS girls earned Super Sweepstakes by scoring 90 points or higher in

three categories at the MA North Texas Dance Contest regionals. O.D. Wyatt HS’s Brittney Darden was awarded a 1st Division rating.

Benbrook Middle-High and World Languages Institute students earned acting awards in the second annual Stolen Shakespeare Guild festival.

Artes de la Rosa hosted the second annual Fort Worth ISD Dance Gala at Rose Marine Theatre.

Students from Arlington Heights HS, CarterRiverside HS, Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS, South Hills HS, O.D. Wyatt HS, and Monnig MS participated.

Artes de la Rosa also provided grants that allow District middle and high school students to attend professional music theater productions at Rose Marine Theatre for free.

Theater students and staff from Carter-Riverside HS and World Languages Institute studied playwriting at a workshop at Texas Wesleyan University.

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DRAWING BY KARLA FALLAD

Accent on Art

Strokes of Brilliance

Students of various world languages were docents for

Middle school and high school art students entered their

the evening at the 11th annual Global Gallery Night at the

paintings and other works in the Visual Arts Scholastic

Kimbell Art Museum. The students attended training

Event (VASE) with outstanding results. At the state level,

and then led visitors through the galleries of

36 high school students won medals, and six of them

the Kimbell, discussing selected Chinese, French,

earned the top prize of Gold Seal:

German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish classic works.

•

Karla Fallad, Arlington Heights HS

The event gives third-year and above language students

•

Oscar Macias, Carter-Riverside HS

a unique opportunity to study art while perfecting their

•

Ava Newton, Arlington Heights HS

language abilities.

•

Mike Taylor, Arlington Heights HS

•

Luke Vargas, Arlington Heights HS

•

Catherine Vest, Arlington Heights HS

Two Young Men’s Leadership Academy students won silver medals in the Junior VASE contest: Jassar Robles and Akin White.

Two District students took top honors at the 2016 Youth Art Month state competition: Adrian Caraveo, World Languages Institute and Anna Delony, Paschal HS.

CLASS NOTES: Music BAND Texas Music Educators Association All-State Paschal HS: Gregory Newman, trumpet Paschal HS: Jeff Tullis, string bass Southwest HS: Eddie Flores, trumpet Southwest HS: Marisol Herrera, alto clarinet Trimble Tech HS: Jack Luong, tenor sax UIL State Concert and Sight Reading Sweepstakes Arlington Heights HS, Varsity Benbrook MS/HS, Varsity Paschal HS, Varsity Paschal HS, Non-Varsity Southwest HS, Varsity Daggett Montessori, Varsity McLean MS, Varsity Wedgwood MS, Varsity Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Varsity The Southwest HS Marching Band advanced to the UIL 5A State Marching Contest, where the band placed 8th.

More than 80 Fort Worth ISD students attended the All-Star Drum Line Camp, a partnership with TCU and the Children’s Education Program of Performing Arts Fort Worth at Bass Hall.

MARIACHI UIL State Mariachi Festival North Side HS: Espuelas de Plata, Division 1, State Class 5A Paschal HS: Mariachi Panteras, Division 2, State Class 6A Polytechnic HS: Mariachi Alas de Oro, Division 2, State Class 5A Paschal HS: Gregory Newman, Outstanding Trumpet Soloist Paschal HS: Robert Nyul, Outstanding Trumpet Soloist

Fort Worth ISD high school bands marched in five major parades in the city: Diez y Seis Parade, Veterans Day Parade, Parade of Lights, Stock Show Parade, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.

ORCHESTRAS UIL Concert and Sight Reading Sweepstakes Paschal HS, Non-Varsity Southwest HS, Non-Varsity Southwest HS, Varsity William James MS, Varsity Wedgwood MS, Non-Varsity Wedgwood MS, Varsity

McLean 6th Beginning Band, Wedgwood 6th Beginning Band, Riverside MS Band, and Stripling MS Band and Drum Line each received a Division I at the Sandy Lake Musical Festival.

Southwest HS Orchestra was named Grand Champion at the Ovation Music Festival.

Daggett Montessori Orchestra received a Division I at the Sandy Lake Musical Festival.

CHORAL AND ELEMENTARY MUSIC Texas Music Educators Association All-State Choir Paschal HS: Katie Hyry, Vocal Soprano 1 UIL High School Concert and Sight Reading Sweepstakes Eastern Hills HS: Non-Varsity Treble Choir Paschal HS: Non-Varsity Treble Choir Paschal HS: Varsity Treble Choir Paschal HS: Varsity Mixed Choir Young Women’s Leadership Academy: NonVarsity Treble Choir UIL Middle School Concert and Sight Reading Sweepstakes Applied Learning Academy: Non-Varsity Treble Choir McLean MS: Varsity Treble Choir Young Women’s Leadership Academy: Varsity Treble Choir Let’s hear it for the joint performance of the Fort Worth ISD Children’s Honor Choir and the Crowley ISD Honor Choir! The “Dance, Love, Sing, Live” concert showcased the vocal talent of young children and promoted unity through music.

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Future Sports Stars

(ABOVE)

Reilly Suits Up

Whether you were one of the young athletes, a spectator,

Paschal HS junior Reilly Fox became the first girl to

or a volunteer, you will agree that the Fort Worth ISD

suit up for a varsity football team in Fort Worth ISD in

Future Stars Sports Day Celebration at Farrington Field

15 years and the first-ever girl to play varsity football for

is a hugely rewarding event. The celebration, part of

Paschal. She was selected as the team’s placekicker after

Special Olympics Texas, partners selected high school

connecting on a number of field goals from 40 yards or

students with 3- to 5-year-old special needs children from

more during practice. As for her future, Reilly says she

16 Fort Worth ISD elementary schools. This year, 300

would really like to play Division I soccer – but she is

Arlington Heights HS students earned the privilege of

open to college football if she gets the opportunity to

assisting their “little buddies” through obstacle courses,

do both.

balance events, throwing, and other sports skills – forming fast friendships.

Top Receiver

(RIGHT)

Tylan Wallace, a junior at South Hills HS, was named to the Associated Press Class 5A football All-State First Team as a receiver. Tylan was also the District 7-5A Offensive MVP with 59 receptions for 1,439 yards and 20 touchdowns. He gained at least 100 yards in seven games, more than 150 yards in five games, and 200 yards in one game. Twin brother Travin will join Tylan in signing to play football at Oklahoma State University.

CLASS NOTES: Athletics There were a lot of great moments in District athletics. But the biggest story of the year was Esmie Gonzalez, a South Hills HS senior with grit and amazing abilities on the soccer field. Read on the next page how she became the national all-time scoring leader in girls soccer.

ACADEMIC ALL-STATE RECOGNITIONS Cross Country • Arlington Heights HS: David Dominguez, George Richardson, Ben Summers • Western Hills HS: Lucero Garcia, Sophie Hardy, Toni Perez, Stephanie Servin, Maria Zamarripa Football • Arlington Heights HS: Corban James (First Team) Swimming • Paschal HS: Caroline Adair, Colin Ayers, Benjamin Fillmore, Jack Lawrence, Nicholas Neilson-Slabach, Noel Neilson-Slabach, Madeleine Russell, Campbell Schwarz Volleyball • Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS: Jocelyne Trejo (First Team), Kasandra Muro (Honorable Mention) • South Hills HS: Tasia Brookins, Ibis Garcia Coyolt, Hailey Wiggins PERFORMANCE RECOGNITIONS Basketball, Boys State Semi-finalists • Dunbar HS All-State 5A Team • Dunbar HS: Quinton Brigham

All-Region 5A Team • Dunbar HS: Quinton Brigham, Logan Ray • Southwest HS: Jhacobe Cochran Cross Country All-State • Arlington Heights HS: Maddie Vondra UIL State Competitors • Arlington Heights HS: James Boswell, Casi Cipriano, David Dominguez, Ivan Hernandez, Gavin Huitt, Carter Melton, George Richardson, Maddie Vondra Football All-State • South Hills HS: Tylan Wallace – Receiver (First Team) Powerlifting • Arlington Heights HS: London Leslie, State silver medalist Swimming All-State • Arlington Heights HS: Brandon Baron Jr., Silver medalist in 500 Free Style • Western Hills HS: Alexia Hackney, Regional gold medalist in 100-yard breaststroke Tennis All-State • Paschal HS: Shauna Galvin, Bronze medalist Track and Field All-State • Paschal HS: Alexandra Byrnes, Silver medalist in Girls 800m Run • Southwest HS: Brandon Reasoner, Silver medalist in Boys 800m Run • Trimble Technical HS: Keishawn Everly, Bronze medalist in Boys 100m Dash

Regional Teams • Arlington Heights HS: Boys, Region I 5A Champion • Trimble Technical HS: Boys, Region I 5A Runner-Up Regional Gold Medalists and State competitors • Trimble Technical HS: Paul Brawner, Keishawn Everly, Daylon Perry, Gabriel Woodard (Boys 4x1) Regional Silver Medalists and State competitors • Arlington Heights HS: Deion Griffin, Francis Odubasa, James Thompson, Tariq Woolen (Boys 800m Relay) Deion Griffin, Francis Odubasa, George Richardson, Tariq Woolen (Boys 1600m Relay); Deion Griffin (Boys 200m Dash); Zach Perry (Boys Discus) • Dunbar HS: Mar’Kyerah James, Kyoshia Swancy-Clater, Jon’nesha Williams, Isis Woods (Girls 800m Relay) • South Hills HS: Tylan Wallace (Boys Triple Jump) • Southwest HS: Brandon Reasoner (Boys 800m Run) • Trimble Technical HS: Keishawn Everly (Boys 100m Dash); Gabriel Woodard (Boys 400m Dash); Cameron Thomas (Boys 110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles) Regional Bronze Medalists • Arlington Heights HS: Patrick Jones, Boys Shot Put • Paschal HS: Alexandra Byrnes, Girls 800m Run • Trimble Technical HS: Keishawn Everly, Boys 100m Dash

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PHOTO COURTESY FORT WORTH TEXAS MAGAZINE

BUILDING

ESMIE’S RECORD YEAR G I R L S

S O C C E R

H A S

A

N E W

C H A M P I O N

Esmeralda “Esmie” Gonzalez leaves South Hills

Esmie led the state in total goals or goals-per-

HS with a full-ride scholarship and memories of

game each year of high school. She made the Star-

a senior year that was one for the record books.

Telegram’s Super Team in soccer every year and

Esmie made her mark, not only on her alma mater,

was selected as Super Team MVP as a freshman

but also on girls soccer nationwide.

and senior.

On a Thursday night in March, Esmie smashed the

Esmie was also the starting center fielder for the

national high school goal-scoring record of 286.

District Champion South Hills Scorpion softball

At half-time, Fort Worth ISD Executive Director

team. She graduated with a 3.7 GPA. On National

of Athletics Kevin Greene presented Esmie with a

Signing Day, Esmie signed with Southeast

certificate of the historic accomplishment. Esmie

Missouri State University.

earned nine goals that night, taking her career total to 294. By the time she wrapped up her senior year, she had pushed the bar to 316.

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CIP Delivers New schools and other major projects under the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) took shape across the District: •

Work on the new Washington Heights ES is wrapping up. It will open on schedule in fall 2016, replacing the old underground school.

•

Another underground school, Van Zandt-Guinn ES, was originally scheduled to receive only minor renovations, but construction got underway in December to rebuild it above ground.

•

The new Westpark ES will open in fall 2016. The old Westpark joined with Benbrook Middle to become the new Benbrook Middle/High School.

•

The new home of the Gold Seal Aviation Technology Program of Choice – a 10,000-square-foot hangar – opened at Dunbar HS.

•

20 new Pre-kindergarten classrooms were built and opened in 2015-16, in support of the District-wide Pre-K initiative.

•

Work began to expand and upgrade historical I.M. Terrell, which will become the new I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA, a Gold Seal School of Choice.

•

Many campuses received new furniture – student and teacher desks, chairs, tables with file cabinets, bookcases, science lab tables, cafeteria tables, and library tables.

•

Technology improvements included the installation of more than 3,500 desktop computers at all middle schools. With the distribution of 1,400 new laptops to teachers, the total number of teacher laptops delivered as part of the CIP reached 5,000.

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Superintendent Scribner shared his vision for the District with community leaders at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s State of Education Luncheon, presented by Chase. The 250 guests arrived at Cendera Center to the beat of O.D. Wyatt HS and Trimble Tech HS drumlines. Student members of My Brother’s Keeper greeted guests at the door.

Inside, the Southwest HS Jazz Combo provided music.

Another highlight was the rousing “Deep in the Heart of Texas/Getting to Know You” medley written especially for Dr. Scribner and performed by the Fort Worth ISD Children’s Honor Choir.

Purposeful Change Fort Worth ISD reduced executive administration and other central office positions to better support teachers and student achievement. The reorganization plan created a flatter structure, helping to streamline resources and reduce duplication of services.

Chief Academic Officer

Chief, Elementary Schools

Charles Carroll

Karen Molinar

Chief Financial Officer

General Counsel

Elsie Schiro

Valerie Carrillo

Chief, District Operations

Chief, Capital Projects Administration

Art Cavazos

Capital Improvement Program

Chief, Division of Technology Kyle Davie Chief, Policy and Planning Sammy Monge Chief, Equity and Excellence

Vicki Burris Senior Communications Officer Barbara Griffith Director, External and Emergency Communications

Sherry Breed

Clint Bond

Chief, Secondary Schools

Chief, Human Capital Management

Cherie Washington

Cynthia Rincon

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | BUILDING

Sharing the Vision

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“I MOTIVATE MY KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE...”

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VENTURA QUIJAS DUAL LANGUAGE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, DIAMOND HILL ES

Ms. Quijas didn’t learn to read until 6th grade. Her parents were migrant workers, and she attended schools where no one seemed to care that she could not read. She felt ignorant and ashamed. Learning to read changed everything. It opened the world to her and made her feel she could do more than she ever dreamed. Now, she makes sure that on the first day of school her students know the importance of reading. And, she reaches every child on his or her level, boosting them as far up the academic ladder as possible and seeing that no one falls through the cracks as she once did.

“I keep whole group lessons to a minimum because each child has different needs. I observe students during free time and when working in pairs to see which child tends to lead and which tends to follow. Listening to conversations and observing helps me help them.”

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STEM Grant Lockheed Martin presented the District with a $1 million multi-year grant to expand quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in Fort Worth ISD. The STEM curricula are offered through Project Lead The Way (PLTW), known for providing transformative K-12 learning experiences in STEM fields. Fort Worth ISD is only the third urban school district to expand STEM programming through Lockheed Martin’s national agreement with PLTW.

Etude Grant Update It’s been a year since Fort Worth ISD was awarded a four-year $1.4 million Etude Grant from the Department of Education through Arts in Education. Already, District music teachers have received more than 1,121 hours of professional development to improve music literacy and instruction.

Pre-K Grant Fort Worth ISD’s Early Childhood Department received a $3 million grant from the state that will be used to improve the District’s universal prekindergarten. Specifically, the funding provided in House Bill 4 pays for Pre-K mentors to support Pre-K teachers.

Project AWARE Fort Worth ISD received a two-year $100,000 Project AWARE grant to give youth mental health the attention it deserves. The money will be used to increase mental health awareness and help District staff respond to mental health concerns on campuses. During the first year, 25 District employees were trained to be facilitators for Youth Mental First Aid. In the second year of the grant, campus nurses and school resource officers will also take the training.

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The District continued to grow its own bilingual teachers. The Bilingual Teacher Assistant Program (BTAP) hires bilingual college students to work part time as teacher assistants in dual language classrooms. We started the school year with 35 BTAP teacher assistants. Of the 17 who graduated, the District recruited seven teachers. We hope to hire more over the summer, and start fall 2016 with 45 BTAPs.

$166 MILLION

Grants received by the Fort Worth ISD in 2015-16, up from $163 million the previous year

Sound Investment

Digital Deliveries

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, along with

The District’s Division of Technology took the

the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, continued to

1:1 (one to one) student laptop initiative to the

give the gift of music. This year, the foundations

final phase, distributing approximately 18,000

delivered instruments of all kinds valued at

laptops for a total of 22,000. That adds up to

$157,000 to Meadowbrook MS, Monnig MS Band/

one laptop per student in every high school. The

Orchestra, North Side HS Mariachi, South Hills HS

initiative helps students drive their own learning

Band, Rosemont MS Band, and Wedgwood MS.

by connecting them with resources, ideas, and opportunities far beyond classroom walls.

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | BUILDING

Teachers in the Making

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“IT’S SEEING THEM UNAFRAID TO TRY A NEW PROBLEM. ”

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ASHLEY REYNOSO AP CALCULUS AND PRECALCULUS TEACHER, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS HS

Mrs. Reynoso knew she wanted to be a teacher when, as a middle school student, she explained the Pythagorean theorem to a friend in five minutes – and the friend understood.

She knew she wanted to teach math when Algebra I was opening her eyes to the beauty and simplicity of math, and she realized most of her classmates could not see it. Even then, she was driven to help others discover the excitement in equations and build confidence in their abilities. As a teacher, she is driven more than ever to challenge students and show them the possibilities of who they can be and what they can do.

“The best part of my job is seeing the look on my kids’ faces when they correctly answer a tough question. It’s seeing them unafraid to try a new problem. It’s the way they leave my room more confident than when they entered.”

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Technology Conference The Division of Technology welcomed 966 teachers and administrators from across the Fort Worth-Dallas area to the 11th annual Fort Worth Technology Conference at Arlington Heights HS. New this year was a student voice panel. Student representatives from across our District joined discussions about blended learning environments and other topics. Attendees also had the opportunity to take yoga breaks and participate in DrumFIT, courtesy of the District’s Health and P.E. Department.

8,000

Employees who advanced their technology skills by attending Educational Technology professional learning sessions

At Your Service Fort Worth ISD put customer service training online for employees. The new e-course gives tips for getting customer feedback and offers lessons in being a better listener. One of the District’s main goals is to develop a workforce that is student and customer-centered.

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The Texas Department of Agriculture conducted an extensive review of 14 Fort Worth ISD schools in the areas of food safety, production records, dietary specifications, and nutrient analysis. Our Child Nutrition Services Department passed each category with flying colors.

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18,167

26,310

Schools offering Kick Start with

Students transported daily by

Miles covered daily by

Breakfast, which began with just

Fort Worth ISD (includes 1,000

Fort Worth ISD transportation

four schools in 2009-10

special needs children)

Eco-friendlier Fleet We continue to make our bus fleet cleaner, greener, and more cost effective. We added 16 more liquid propane gas buses to our fleet in February. They were funded 50 percent by the Capital Improvement Program and 50 percent by grant funds. In all, we received 63 new buses in 2015-16.

School Access By the end of the school year, the Raptor visitor management system was in place at all campuses. The system registers and screens school visitors. We also implemented access control at the entrances of all elementary campuses. Teachers and staff must use a special photo ID access card to gain entry. Access control is coming to secondary campuses in 2017.

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | BUILDING

Clean Plate

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17,732

Fort Worth ISD Twitter followers, an increase of 4,078 or 30%

Tweet Beat The Texas Social Media Research Institute (@TSMRI) named Fort Worth ISD (@FortWorth_ISD) as one of the top school districts in Texas using Twitter effectively. Over a six-week period in November and December 2015, districts were analyzed and tweets were captured.

Each tweet was evaluated for its display of one-way vs. two-way communication, original messaging vs. re-tweets (RTs), number of RT/ favorites, and use of photography, graphics, and videos.

We are SO Connected With more than 150 Facebook pages and 133 websites, Fort Worth ISD is connected.

22,429 increase for 2015-16

5,683 downloads for 2015-16

54,137

92,018

App downloads

Facebook likes

32% increase

26 million +

Webpage views, an increase of 1,181,128 views or 4.6%

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The Fort Worth ISD Education Foundation conducted its inaugural Employee Giving Campaign, raising more than $16,000 to provide college scholarships to the graduating class of 2017. The foundation contributed more than $231,756 to the following Fort Worth ISD programs through investments from community, corporations, private foundations, and awarded grants: Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence

$71,750

Campus programs and support

$58,127

Fort Worth After School

$45,000

District Teacher of the Year

$22,620

Health and wellness programs

$13,993

Parent engagement and support programs

$13,500

Sponsorship of community events

$ 6,766

$400,000

Rebate from the District’s Procurement Card Program

Money Matters For the 30th consecutive year, Fort Worth ISD’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from both the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) and the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Our District’s 2015-16 annual Budget Book was submitted for review and received ASBO’s Meritorious Budget Award.

Purchasing Power Jonathan Bey, Fort Worth ISD’s Executive Director of Purchasing, was elected vice president of the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO). And, for the 7th straight year, the District’s Purchasing Department won TASBO’s Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations.

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | BUILDING

Giving Campaign

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C OL L AB OR AT I NG

SERVING UP SUCCESS P R O J E C T

S E A R C H

A T

W O R K

Like most student success stories, this one

The program has also placed interns at TCU,

involves college – but not in the usual way. Carlos

AMC Eastchase 9, Colonial Country Club, Kroger,

Diaz, a 2016 Fort Worth ISD graduate, goes to

Russell Feed & Supply, and Sears.

Texas Wesleyan University several days a week.

He works there – at Dora’s Café, an on-campus restaurant.

Carlos trains at the taco station, where the longest line forms during the lunchtime surge. He spoons ground beef and other fillings into crispy shells

Carlos was hired at entry level to wash pans, clear

and hands them off – one after another – smooth

tables, keep ice in the soda machine, and replenish

as clockwork.

pantry items. But after only a few weeks, he’s training to be a server.

“Carlos observes others and stays on top of things,” says Chef Manager Jesse DeLeon. “He’s not just fast. He does it right.”

Carlos participates in Project Search, a program that matches eligible students who have special needs with employers. Project Search partners include Fort Worth ISD, Texas Wesleyan University, Goodwill, and MHMR Tarrant.

Mr. DeLeon already has bigger plans for Carlos – a move to the kitchen and toward his dream job.

“He wants to be a chef. I told him to go for it,” Mr. De Leon says. “I think he could maybe get in a culinary program at TCC.” Carlos doesn’t wait to be pushed. He’s in the kitchen every chance he gets, working on knife skills and other culinary basics.

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Creando Una Amistad

“Everything is Possible”

Fort Worth ISD and Univision teamed up for

That’s the message 10th grade students at Diamond

Creando Una Amistad – two town hall-style meetings

Hill-Jarvis HS heard from television personalities who

hosted by Superintendent Kent Scribner and conducted

made a special visit to their school. It was Univision’s

in Spanish. The events, held at La Gran Plaza Mall and

Nuestra Belleza Latina Todo es Posible tour, featuring

Rose Marine Theater, allowed Dr. Scribner to meet

motivational speaker Laura Posada, TV personalities

families and talk about strategies to help children

Jomari Goyso and Alejandra Espinoza, and Fort Worth

succeed academically. Univision news anchors and

ISD Board President Jacinto Ramos Jr. Speakers

radio personalities also visited with attendees. Pre-K

talked to the students about bullying and building self-

registration was set up on site, and several District

esteem. They shared stories about perseverance and

departments provided information.

accomplishing goals.

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Noche de Ciencias

Dads of Dunbar

Inquisitive young minds gathered at North Side HS

They line up at the school door at 7:30 a.m. to say “good

for an evening about STEM in college and career. The

morning,” shake hands, and exchange a few high-fives

event, Noche de Ciencias, was sponsored by the Society

with students. They’re the Dads of Dunbar, formed

of Hispanic Professional Engineers – Lockheed Martin

this school year to put a greater male presence on the

Aero. Lockheed Martin engineers talked to students

campus of Dunbar HS, give fathers another platform for

about the opportunities provided by careers in science,

involvement, and let students know they are supported

technology, engineering, and math. There were also

and appreciated every day.

workshops on how to pay for college and a College Resume Drop Off hosted by Go Center and Lockheed Martin Women’s Initiative.

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“I BELIEVE IN THE WRAP-AROUND PROCESS...”

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CAVON MUHAMMAD 3 RD GRADE MATH TEACHER, I.M. TERRELL ES

Mrs. Muhammad’s commitment to her students has earned her several important awards. In addition to being named the 2015-16 I.M. Terrell ES Campus Teacher of the Year, she was awarded the 2007-08 Chase Bank Teaching Chair of Excellence for Early Childhood Education. In 2000, she won the TCU Juanita Cash Fellowship. And at Dillard University in 1995, she was named Student Teacher of the Year. Ms. Muhammad is passionate about student support and building relationships with parents and the many others who can positively impact student achievement.

“I believe in the wrap-around process, which involves all parties in a student’s life coming together for the academic and behavioral success of the student. The process can include parents, school staff, social services, extended family, and friends – sometimes working together in unexpected ways. For instance, I have assisted parents in filling out job applications and signing up for Habitat for Humanity homes.”

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Parent University

(TOP)

Fort Worth ISD’s Parent University turned out more grads than ever – 90 – in its third year. It started at Manuel Jara ES. This year, Diamond Hill ES, W.J. Turner ES, and Westcliff ES completed their first year of Parent University. Parents took a 13-week course designed to teach communication and other skills for building stronger families. One graduate remarked that the skills she learned empowered her to speak up and ask deeper questions at a parent-teacher conference.

Family Academy Comeback (BOTTOM LEFT) The Fort Worth ISD Family Communications Department brought back Family Academy. Trained educators from the Parenting Center held free classes in English and Spanish at various campus-based locations throughout the school year, covering all 12 school pyramids. Two of the top topics were how to improve communication skills with your children and how to balance work and family.

55,136 GO Centers

Middle and high school student visits to GO Centers from August to February 2016

(BOTTOM RIGHT)

GO Centers continued to help students and their families seeking information about college, from application assistance to college campus visits. GO Centers are on high school and middle school campuses and throughout the community, thanks to GO Centers partners – colleges and universities, college advisors, and community organizations.

Application Bootcamp It’s something every college-bound high school student needs to know – how to reflect their best self in college applications and essays. TCU teamed up with Fort Worth ISD to hold a College Application Bootcamp at the TCU Alumni Center. Students learned application strategies and also received information on scholarship opportunities and college deadlines.

In the Zone

PHOTO COURTESY BLUE ZONES PROJECT

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M.H. Moore ES became the first Blue Zones Project approved school in Fort Worth.

Blue Zones Project - Fort Worth is a community-led initiative to help people of all ages make healthy choices in their daily activities. M.H. Moore is teaching students techniques to quiet their minds, encouraging students to interact with elders in the community, and adding a fruit and salad bar to the cafeteria.

On the Run Fort Worth ISD students, staff, and parents are participating in 5K races in record numbers. For the children’s Cowtown 5K in February, 53 District school teams took part. The Cowtown C.A.L.F. organization helped students get off on the right foot by providing free running shoes. Mayor Betsy Price helped fit shoes on students at Sagamore ES.

College Fair More than 200 high school and middle school students met representatives from dozens of universities and colleges at a college fair targeting Fort Worth’s eastside. It was the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair, held at Potter’s House in Fort Worth and sponsored by the Fort Worth ISD Eastside Alliance and the Stop Six Initiative. Participating HBCU’s included Fisk University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Tuskegee University, and Xavier University of Louisiana, just to name a few.

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College Awareness The 8th annual Fort Worth ISD Middle School College and Career Expo helped 8th graders and their parents start planning for college. Tarrant County College co-sponsored the event on its South Campus.

Representatives from dozens of colleges, universities, and organizations answered questions and handed out helpful materials.

Walking the Walk Superintendent Scribner, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, and more than 2,000 students, family members, District employees, and community members hit the athletic tracks at 14 high schools for the Fort Worth ISD District Walk. Participants covered a total of 4,775 miles to raise awareness of the health benefits of exercise. Sponsors of the event included Humana, FBS, Higginbotham, MetLife, Reynold Jones, Texas Life Insurance Company, and United Concordia Dental.

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“THE KEY IS FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW MY STUDENTS LEARN...”

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BARBARA WILKS MIDDLE SCHOOL P.E. AND WELLNESS TEACHER, WORLD LANGUAGES INSTITUTE When Mrs. Wilks was in first grade, she asked her father to read to her, and he refused. She was devastated. It was not until much later that she realized her father wanted very much to read to her, but he couldn’t. He was severely dyslexic. The experience has impacted how she relates to students as a physical education and wellness teacher. She considers it her responsibility to figure out how they learn, rather than force them to figure out how she teaches. And, she believes everyone – no matter their age – learns better when physical activity and play are part of their day.

“It’s not just elementary students who need play. Secondary students also need brain breaks. And, contrary to popular belief, they like to play, too. I have middle school students who literally run into my class and spin around like they are free.”

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Career Skills Support A new grant will allow Cisco Networking Academy to provide Carter-Riverside HS students with the skills and experience needed to earn their Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician certificate. JP Morgan Chase Foundation awarded the $50,567 grant to Carter-Riverside HS’s Information Technology Gold Seal Program of Choice. The grant proposal was submitted by the Fort Worth ISD Education Foundation.

Good Hands People

Pianists Dazzle

More than 170 Allstate Insurance executives from around

Teenage winners of the 2015 Cliburn International

the country descended on three schools with hammers,

Junior Piano Competition won many new fans at Monnig

paintbrushes, and other tools. They planted flowers and

MS. Performances by 1st prize winner 18-year-old Alim

trees at Dunbar HS and built an outdoor reading area

Beisembavev of Kazakhstan, 2nd prize winner 17-year-old

at Jacquet MS. At Maudrie M. Walton ES, they created

Arsenil Mun of Russia, and 3rd prize winner 16-year-old

one of the coolest school walkways around by painting

Youlan Ji of China, amazed the students. Monnig will

support poles to look like pencils.

be home to the District’s Visual and Performing Arts Preparatory Academy opening in fall 2016.

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Dream Playground What makes the perfect playground? Students at H.V. Helbing ES weighed in on that question during the design phase of a new playground for their campus. The playground was made possible by the KaBOOM! organization, CarMax Foundation, and the many volunteers who gathered on “Build Day” and did just that. They included CarMax representatives, parents, community members, and KaBOOM! volunteers. CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM! sponsor and build playgrounds for schools around the country.

Bravo, Bus Drivers!

Performing Arts Fort Worth, which owns and operates Bass Performance Hall, saluted Fort Worth ISD bus drivers.

These men and women make 1,200 trips a year carrying more than 36,000 students to a variety of performances.

Performing Arts Fort Worth’s Children’s Education Program offers students the opportunity to experience a free live performance at the beautiful Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall.

iPads for Classroom Learning Students at J. Martin Jacquet MS were surprised with a set of iPads. The J. Martin Jacquet Foundation donated 20 iPads to the campus for use in classrooms. The donation fulfilled the foundation’s promise to donate $5,000 to the renamed campus during its inaugural year.

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Garden Party

(RIGHT)

Employees from Fidelity Investments, Alcon Labs, and Target teamed up with parents, teachers, and students to build a modern outdoor classroom at Carter Park ES. The learning garden features raised beds for growing organic vegetables, a small orchard, a rainwater harvesting system, earth science stations, and animal habitats. REAL School Gardens will train teachers to incorporate the garden in math, science, and language arts lessons.

Retirees Lead Story Time Residents of The Stayton at Museum Way retirement community volunteered their time to read to kindergarten students at Daggett Montessori. This special story time was part of a partnership with the Red Oak Foundation and the Fort Worth Children’s Opera Theater. The volunteers read The Bremen Town Musicians, and the Children’s Opera Theater performed a version of the story.

Success in Sight More than 850 students from 28 Fort Worth ISD campuses are seeing things a lot clearer. They attended the 4th annual Kids Vision Fest on the TCC Trinity River Campus where school nurses provided eye exams and corrective eyeglasses at no cost to families. The one-day event was made possible by Essilor Vision Foundation, Kids Vision for Life, Alcon Foundation, Lions Organ and Eye Bank, Tarrant County College, and many other partners and volunteers.

Free Athletic Exams John Peter Smith Hospital once again carried the ball in getting Fort Worth ISD athletes ready for action.

The rule is that anyone wanting to play sports in the District must first get checked out by a doctor. So, JPS set up an examination site at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center. All high school and middle school students wanting to participate in sports, cheerleading, band, or dance were eligible for the free physicals.

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Supplies Surprise Any elementary teacher will tell you – you can’t have too many school supplies. Foresters Financial of Fort Worth saw the need at John T. White ES and came through with a $2,500 grant for basic school supplies.

Foresters volunteers filled containers with pencils, hand sanitizer, tissues, pens, composition books, and folders. They delivered the supplies unannounced – a happy surprise for teachers and students.

Reading Patrol Police officers and firefighters trained for a new duty: reading coach. The volunteers from the Fort Worth Black Police Officers and Black Firefighters Associations attended a training session at Christ Chapel Baptist Church. They will coach 1st graders at A.M. Pate ES and Maude Logan ES as part of the Tarrant NET Read to Win Program and the Historic Stop Six Initiative to get all elementary school children reading at grade level or above.

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A unique writing exercise paired Polytechnic HS students with Poly alumnus Don Bellew (class of 1964) to co-author a novel, “The Green Eyed Fly.” The students are in Poly’s Reading and Relationships course, which boosts not only reading abilities but also builds leadership skills. Each week, Mr. Bellew presented a new chapter of his manuscript. Students made suggestions and predicted what would happen next.

Mr. Bellew took their ideas and created the chapter for the next week. This went on throughout the school year, culminating with a finished novel and book signing at Poly.

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Refugee students registered by the Fort Worth ISD Student Placement Center

Language of Safety Fort Worth ISD’s Student Placement Center held its first English Language Learner (ELL) Health and Safety Fair for students of immigrant and/or refugee families. Approximately 350 people attended. On hand were community service agencies to provide free flu shots, vision and hearing screenings, blood pressure checks, diabetes and nutrition information, fire safety tips, and more.

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Novel Experience

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LEADING

LEADERSHIP A

FA M I LY

VA L U E

Fort Worth ISD’s Young Men’s Leadership

Younger brother Matthew, a YMLA 6th grader in

Academy (YMLA) is known for its culture of

2015-16, also felt an obligation to lead by example.

brotherhood. The student body includes a few pairs of actual brothers as well, including Kirk and Matthew Preston.

Kirk, as president of his 10th grade class, made it his mission to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood throughout his high school, which was set to expand in 2015-16 to include 11th grade.

“I think that being a leader is being the best you can be, and, in class, getting your peers to do the same,” says Matthew.

Asked to name leaders they admire, Kirk quickly names two: Ronald Reagan for his commitment to his beliefs, and Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, for his vision. Matthew names

“Rather than viewing ourselves as 9th or 10th

Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu for his

graders, we needed to believe that we were one

perseverance.

high school with a common goal of going to college and acquiring the skill sets to change the world,” says Kirk.

“He had to overcome a lot of things to be successful,” says Matthew. “That’s a good lesson for anyone.”

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Leaders in Every Way The 2016 Fort Worth ISD Teachers of the Year were announced with much fanfare at the annual Awards Dinner at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Darcy Deupree

(ABOVE RIGHT) was

named Secondary

Teacher of the Year. Miranda Tacoronti (ABOVE LEFT) was chosen as Elementary Teacher of the Year. They each received a $5,000 honorarium from Central Market.

Ms. Deupree has taught for eight years at Southwest HS in the Career and Technology Audio/Video Production Program of Choice. She was the 2012 Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career and Technology.

Ms. Tacoronti is a 5th grade bilingual reading teacher and Gifted and Talented Coordinator at Versia Williams ES. She has four years of teaching experience in Fort Worth ISD. The finalists for Secondary Teacher of the Year were: Shatiqueka Carson, Dunbar HS; Rosa Muhammad, O.D. Wyatt HS; Ashley Reynoso, Arlington Heights HS; and Barbara Wilks, World Languages Institute.

The Elementary Teacher of the Year finalists were: Brittany Casteel, South Hills ES; Eric King, Seminary Hills Park ES; Cavon Muhammad, I.M. Terrell ES; and Ventura Quijas, Diamond Hill ES. Each of the eight finalists received a $1,000 honorarium from Central Market.

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Two of the 2016 Fort Worth ISD Campus Teachers of the Year have more in common than their excellent teaching skills – they are brother and sister. Elsa Chavez was named Teacher of the Year at L. Clifford Davis ES. Daniel Chavez received the honor at Bonnie Brae ES.

Training Central We formed a new department in Fort Worth ISD to centralize professional learning. The Professional Learning and Improvement (PLI) Department went right to work to improve the processes for delivering staff development and evaluating its impact on student achievement and teacher practices. Among its accomplishments, PLI provided training during New Teacher Academy and brought Summer Professional Learning to the District, including a catalog offering 400 courses.

Schools of Distinction Fort Worth ISD schools claimed top honors in the 2016 National Excellence in Urban Education Awards.

The awards are presented by the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST). South Hi Mount ES won the gold award and $5,000. Stripling MS took the silver award and $2,500. McLean MS earned the bronze. Charles Nash ES, Carroll Peak ES, and Westcliff ES all made the NCUST Honor Roll.

Reading and Math Focus Fort Worth ISD volunteered to join the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) program. TUDA came about in 2002 when the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card, was expanded to provide results of how 4th and 8th graders perform in reading and math in some of the nation’s largest urban school districts. There are now 27 districts participating in TUDA.

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Brother-Sister Act

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“I GET TO TAKE MY STUDENTS ON A JOURNEY EVERY YEAR. ”

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SHATIQUEKA CARSON SPANISH TEACHER, DUNBAR HS

Ms. Carson considers the Spanish language her magic wand. It transports her and her students to many rich and diverse cultures. Her students are her favorite “traveling” companions. She says she learns as much from them as they learn from her. She appreciates their creativity, sensitivity, and innovation, as well as their perspective on things, which often differs from adults. This reminds her to plan relatable lessons that students feel are about them, their lives, and what is important to them. And, it further inspires her to share the magic.

“We travel virtually from one Spanish-speaking country to another, discovering history, dance, food, and every exotic and exciting aspect of the culture we can find. My students love it. Many of them have never had the opportunity to travel and can’t imagine a world bigger than their own. So we all go on this journey, learning and speaking together.”

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Street Cred

(RIGHT)

Robert Hughes Sr., the all-time winningest high school boys basketball coach, now has a street named after him. The City of Fort Worth renamed a portion of Cass Street between Ramey and Fitzhugh in his honor. Mr. Hughes has 1,333 wins to his credit. He coached at I.M. Terrell HS and then moved to Dunbar HS where he coached from 1973 to 2005. His son, Robert Hughes Jr., is the current coach at Dunbar.

Board President Picked for Panel Fort Worth ISD School Board President Jacinto Ramos Jr. was selected to the Steering Committee for Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). CUBE supports urban school boards, fosters effective school district leadership, and addresses the educational challenges in large cities. The move gives Fort Worth ISD representation on the governance teams of all three major organizations that support urban education statewide and nationally. Trustee Christene Moss is an executive board member of the Texas Association of School Boards and Board First Vice President Ashley Paz is an executive committee member of the Council of the Great City Schools.

AP Honor Roll Fort Worth ISD was one of only 130 districts across the country to receive the College Board’s 2015 Gaston Caperton Opportunity Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes districts that have consistently increased the number of underrepresented and low income students taking college-level courses and applying to four or more colleges.

Exemplary Arts Instructors Stacia Graves, music teacher at North Hi Mount ES, was selected as the 2016-17 Bayard H. Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts. Cheryl Penland, theater teacher at Trimble Technical HS, became the first teacher to be awarded the new Broadway at the Bass Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts in Theater and/or Dance. The remaining chairs for 2016-17 will be named in the fall of 2016.

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Teaching Chairs Community partners joined Fort Worth ISD in recognizing and rewarding 13 exceptional teachers as the 2015-16 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. The title came with a $5,000 honorarium.

The selection process included a written application and narrative, an interview, and a teaching demonstration. The selected teachers were feted at a luncheon at the City Club of Fort Worth.

The honorees and their sponsors included: Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching

Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching

Excellence in Elementary Math

Excellence in Career and Technology

Letitia Y. Tate, Edward Briscoe ES

Education

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching

Jamie L. Cox, Polytechnic HS

Excellence in Elementary Science

Freese and Nichols, Inc. Chair for Teaching

Cristina Armenta, Sam Rosen ES

Excellence in Secondary Mathematics

Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching

Heather Ware, Applied Learning Academy

Excellence in Visual Arts

XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence

Isabel Lopez, South Hi Mount ES

in Early Childhood Education

Bayard H. Friedman Chair for Teaching

Erin Horn, Western Hills Primary

Excellence in Performing Arts

Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in

Cindy Burlin, Tanglewood ES

Special Education

Devon Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence

Michelle Black, Jo Kelly School

in Secondary Science

Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in

Kathleen J. Smith, J.P. Elder MS

Secondary English

Sewell Lexus and Infiniti of Fort Worth

Janet Cox, World Languages Institute

Chair for Teaching Excellence in

Outreach Communications Chair for

Humanities

Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading

Isaac Tate III, Young Men’s Leadership Academy

Donna Fleetwood, Western Hills Primary

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health and Physical Education Eric King, Seminary Hills Park ES

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Teaching Legends

(ABOVE)

If you attended school in the Historic Stop Six Neighborhood, your favorite teacher may have been among the educators recognized at the Stop Six Legends of Education Awards Luncheon. Those honored were Lucretia Branch, Kerven W. Carter Jr., Arie Curtis Harris, Willie B. Scott Jones, Claudier Reece, Mary Columbus Savannah, Bertha DeGraffenreid Scott, Dinesh Shah, and Sara Helen Wallace.

Fort Worth ISD Board First Vice President and District 3 Trustee Christene C. Moss hosted the event.

Retired journalist and Fort Worth ISD graduate Bob Ray Sanders moderated a panel discussion about best practices in the classroom. The Honorable Nicole Collier, Texas State House of Representatives, District 95, was the emcee.

Wild Blue Yonder

(RIGHT)

Althalo Henton scratched one big item off his bucket list. The Aviation Technology teacher at Dunbar HS took the ride of his life with the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. The precision flying team was in town for the 2015 Bell Helicopter Alliance Air Show at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The air show works to promote education and careers in the aviation industry. Mr. Henton’s flight called attention to Dunbar’s Aviation Technology Gold Seal Program of Choice.

CLASS NOTES: EMPLOYEE AWARDS Fort Worth ISD administrator Sherry Breed received the Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legend Award by the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum. Ms. Breed is chief of Equity and Excellence, a new department tasked with managing practices throughout the District to ensure all students receive the highest quality education possible.

Dick Clardy, Fort Worth ISD Director of Instrumental Music, earned an elite honor with his induction into the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame. Mr. Clardy is an accomplished trumpet player who performed as principal trumpet of the United States Army Field Band in Washington, D.C., early in his career.

Polytechnic HS teacher Jamie Cox was named the 2015 Educator of the Year by Keep America Beautiful (KAB) for her leadership in her school and community. The Career and Technical Education teacher sponsors the Environmental Club at Poly, leads the weekly Trash Bash event to clean up the campus, and serves as vice president of the Keep Fort Worth Beautiful Award.

Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS teacher Edgar JorgeOrtiz won a major design competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Mr. Jorge-Ortiz, a degreed architect, teaches in Career and Technical Education and in the Project Lead the Way programs. His entry into AIA’s PlayHouzz 2016 contest was a playhouse that incorporated the activities of climbing and sliding with ventilation and natural light.

Fort Worth ISD Assistant Director of Athletics, Lisa L. Langston, Ph.D., scored more distinctions. She was recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator. She was also honored by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) at the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association’s Hall of Honor Banquet. NFHS awarded her the Citation for Texas and placed her in the running for national recognition. Dr. Langston is a member of the Texas A&M University Letterman’s Association Hall of Fame.

Dinah Menger, Fort Worth ISD Director of Choral and Elementary Music, was elected president of Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). TMEA has a membership of more than 10,000 music educators and is the largest music organization in the state.

Paschal HS Principal Dr. Theresa Mossige was named the winner of the 2016 TCU Excellence in Education Award. The award recognizes an individual who has contributed to the field of education and is actively involved in the TCU College of Education.

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth named Gabriel Valdez, a teacher at Rosemont 6th Grade Center, International Teacher of the Year.

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“ONCE THEIR NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED, THEY FLOURISH.”

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BRITTANY CASTEEL 4 TH GRADE WRITING AND SCIENCE TEACHER, SOUTH HILLS ES To see a lifelong learner in action, Ms. Casteel’s students need look no further than their teacher.

She relishes trainings and workshops from which she takes bits of philosophies and programs and works them into her own style of teaching. She observes and plans with teachers whom she holds in high esteem, and other experts. She asks for advice and ideas, and then puts the triedand-true strategies to work – in her own style. She strives to stay flexible in order to incorporate new ideas and be able to quickly adapt to what works best for kids.

“I rarely do the same thing from year to year. I try to make my classroom as engaging and enjoyable as possible. I use whole group, small group, cooperative learning, hands-on, and anything in between. And, I use technology as much as possible. I want them to leave with a love of learning.”

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Cleanup Aces Don’t mess with Cowtown – especially when our students are on the job. Students from Eastern Hills HS and Polytechnic HS were recognized by the City of Fort Worth for their efforts during the 31st annual Cowtown Great American Cleanup.

Eastern Hills enlisted the most volunteers for their cleanup crew. Poly was a close second. The schools collected more than 400 bags of trash at their designated sites. The District’s My Brother’s Keeper student group cooked burgers for volunteers.

Voices Carry High school students took a stand against bullying at UV4C’s (United Voices for Change) largest ever Student Leadership Conference at TCU. A total of 310 students participated. They came from every high school in Fort Worth ISD.

Bowled Over Student groups participated in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium for the fourth straight year. A Fort Worth ISD JROTC Joint Service Color Guard presented the colors at the kickoff luncheon. Our Lone Star Youth Chorus sang the national anthem. The Air Force JROTC drill team from Western Hills HS performed in the Armed Forces Adventure Area outside the stadium. And during the game, a video featuring the Fort Worth ISD JROTC program played on the stadium’s big screen.

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My Brother’s Keeper The student leadership group, My Brother’s Keeper, more than doubled in size – from 27 last year to 60 this year. They were busier than ever, too. Just to name a few activities – they attended leadership retreats, participated in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s State of Education luncheon, worked to recruit more members, and took a field trip to UT-Arlington.

Senior Day of Service On a day set aside to help others, seniors at Paschal HS dived in to projects across Fort Worth. More than 200 students gave back to the community by aiding organizations and businesses, including Tarrant Area Food Bank, PetSmart, Fort Worth Animal Control, Catholic Charities, and Samaritan House. Students volunteered on projects at four elementary schools: George C. Clark, Richard Wilson, Daggett, and Worth Heights.

All in Favor Eastern Hills HS students in the Just Keep Livin (JKL) Foundation after-school program took part in a unique leadership and civics lesson. They met with members of the Capital Improvement Program team and the Eastside Alliance Partnership to review proposed improvements to their school’s athletic facilities.

After the session, the JKL students voted to move forward with the almost $1 million project that will add 250 boys’ and girls’ lockers and dressing rooms at the fitness center at Eastern Hills.

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(LEFT)

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets from the Fort Worth ISD and other North Texas school districts spent the first week of summer vacation at Junior Cadet Leadership Camp (JCLC).

FWISD’s Truelson-Hightower Outdoor Leadership Center was temporarily renamed Camp Rango for the five-day camp, which provided a safe, healthy, and fun training environment that was physically and mentally challenging. Superintendent Scribner talked to cadets and observed them in action on the “ropes confidence course,” which includes a zip line several hundred yards long.

Century of Service

(TOP RIGHT)

2016 marked the 100-year anniversary of Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) in America.

Fort Worth ISD’s JROTC has actually been around longer – 101 years. A centennial celebration coincided with the annual Pass in Review ceremony at Farrington Field. Following the marching and awards event, a luncheon was held to honor the JROTC’s more than century of service in Fort Worth ISD and its role in student development. Command Sergeant Major Gabriel S. Arnold from the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, delivered the keynote address. Attendees watched a video on the history of JROTC in Fort Worth ISD.

Lasting Impression

(MIDDLE AND BOTTOM RIGHT)

It’s one thing to read about history and quite another to take a trip through it. Fort Worth ISD JROTC cadets who participated in a staff ride to Gettysburg National Military Park and Arlington National Cemetery called their experiences “life-changing.” A staff ride is a military excursion to historic areas to study past events or campaigns. The students were chosen from their U.S. military history courses.

They walked the battleground at Gettysburg and learned about everyday life in the 1860s. They came face-to-face with the past at the Fields of Honor in Arlington National Cemetery. They visited historical monuments on the National Mall and along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., and had the privilege

PHOTO: LTC. CROSSLEY

of shaking the hands of elderly war veterans.

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Camp Rango

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“...I WANT ALL STUDENTS TO BE ENGAGED AND MOVING.”

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ERIC KING P.E. TEACHER, SEMINARY HILLS ES Mr. King, a TCU business major, knew by the end of his junior year that there was another path for him – he just didn’t know what it was. He came to realize that the most influential people in his life were educators, and, once he had his business degree, he immediately began working toward a teacher certification. Later, as a 4th grade teacher, he saw that too many students seemed to struggle with issues related to low self-esteem. He read and studied and concluded that more recess, organized movement, and play could be a powerful antidote. He earned his certification in physical education and never looked back.

“The more I researched, the more I knew I wanted to be a positive male role model for children and help them grow up to be healthy, happy, enthusiastic learners. I make sure my PE class – from warm-up to cool-down – is conducive to that for all students.”

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In the Blue Fort Worth ISD’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) was one of 26 Texas public schools nominated for the national 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools recognition. The U.S. Department of Education honor recognizes high-performing public and private schools. The District’s Charles Nash ES was selected as a Blue Ribbon award winner in 2014. Edward J. Briscoe ES was nominated in 2012. The national award winners will be named in the fall.

Parents as Teachers Fort Worth ISD was the only Texas school district to win a Losos Award at the 2015 Parents as Teachers National Convention. The Losos Impact Award highlights affiliates that are having a significant impact in the communities they serve. Coordinated by Julie Miers, the Parents as Teachers program has grown significantly. It is now the largest program in the state with 60 educators serving the next generation of Parents as Teachers families.

Recognition Reprise For the third year in a row, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) awarded Fort Worth ISD the designation of Best Community for Music Education. The NAMM Foundation annually selects the districts around the country with the best music education programs. The lengthy criterion for the award includes budgetary commitment to music, opportunities for students, and highly qualified music teachers.

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The Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance gave Seminary Hills Park ES an Exemplary rating – one of only 15 in the state. The school was recognized for its good work in teaching both health and physical education. Congratulations to Principal Lorena Delgado and PE teacher Eric King.

Pam Day Award Sandra Salinas (LEFT), a Diamond Hill-area parent, became the first recipient of the Pam Day Award. Ms. Salinas is the Fort Worth PTA Council liaison for the Diamond Hill-Jarvis Pyramid. She was instrumental in organizing the new Battle of the Boot football contest and a new partnership with Lockheed Martin in her pyramid. The award, which specifically recognizes parents and parent groups, is named for Pamela Day, a vibrant and imaginative educator in the Fort Worth ISD who passed away in 2013.

Counseling Success Eastern Hills HS won a prestigious CREST Award for Counseling Excellence for 2015. The award was presented by the Texas School Counselor Association. CREST looks at schools’ counseling programs in key areas, including Principal’s Support, School Climate and Safety, and Student Results. Fifty-five other Texas schools also won the award.

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Whole Health

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FWISD’s Famous In two separate ceremonies, 12 alumni were added to the Fort Worth ISD Wall of Fame. Superintendent Scribner hosted the events at the Administration Building. The new additions include business icons, policy makers, and great talents: •

Paul Andrews (Arlington Heights, 1961) – founder and CEO of TTI, Inc.

•

Earl Brewer Jr. (Arlington Heights, 1945) – internationally renowned pediatric rheumatologist

•

Jimmy DuBose (Arlington Heights, 1941) – mortgage banking legend

•

Kim Garrett (Eastern Hills, 1989) – Facebook executive and author

•

Sherrill Headrick (North Side, 1956) – AFL/NFL linebacker and five-time All-Star

•

Karen R. Johnson (Eastern Hills, 1962) – past executive director of the State Bar of Texas

•

Brian Newby (Western Hills, 1979) – two-star general and top attorney

•

Bob Nichols (Paschal, 1942) – past president of Freese and Nichols and pioneer in environmental engineering

•

Jim Nichols (Paschal, 1941) – past president of Freese and Nichols and civil engineer

•

Curtis “King Curtis” Ousley (I.M. Terrell) – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician

•

Richard Rawlings (Eastern Hills, 1987) – entrepreneur and TV personality

•

Christopher Smith (Southwest, 1986) – Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy

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LOOKING AHEAD

ROLLIN’ OUT L I T E R A C Y

O N

W H E E L S

Be on the lookout for this bright spot on our busy

kindergarten, start school at grade level, and

streets. It’s the new Fort Worth ISD Parents as

stay on track. It’s loaded with books and other

Teachers bookmobile, wrapped in District colors

educational materials. It’s also outfitted with

and hitting the road for the 2016-17 school year.

WiFi to provide Internet access. All books that

The bookmobile was part of a grant awarded to our Parents as Teachers program from Texas Health and Human Services for the Texas Home Visiting Program. The total funding for the first 16 months was $1.89 million, with renewals providing an additional $1 million per year.

As a traveling early literacy center, the bookmobile will help many more children prepare for

are checked out can be returned to any Fort Worth ISD school library. Parents will find the bookmobile a convenient place to sign up for ReadyRosie, Vroom, and other digital tools to help them in their role as their child’s first teacher.

Look for the bookmobile at special events. We will keep you posted on its whereabouts!

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Three Clicks Away That’s our goal as we redesign the Fort Worth ISD websites. We want visitors and all users to navigate the sites and find what they’re looking for easier and faster – in three clicks or less. The new District and campus websites will make their debut during the 2016-17 school year.

Programs of Choice Premiere 2016-17 will mark the opening of the STEM Preparatory Academy (STEM Prep) at Meadowbrook MS and the Visual and Performing Arts Preparatory Academy (VPA Prep) at Monnig MS. Students from these Programs of Choice will be given priority in the application process into the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA. Also, our World Languages Institute will add 9th grade. And, it will be the second year of the Diamond Hill-Jarvis HS pyramid-wide Project Lead the Way STEM program.

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A profound system change will begin taking shape in Fort Worth ISD to address how we accomplish our mission of preparing all students for college, career, and community leadership. It is FAEO (Focus, Alignment, Expectations, and Opportunity). Teachers from 48 campuses selected to be in Cohort 1 are training in Direct Interactive Instruction (DII), which falls under Alignment. DII will be our teachers’ framework for delivering effective lessons.

Instruction Drives Construction A big inventory project will get underway that will include taking stock of all our facilities, their capacities, limitations, and conditions.

This will allow us to transparently create a master plan for capital improvements and maintenance strategies over the next five to ten years, which are of paramount importance to the success of our educational programs.

100 x 25 This unprecedented venture sets a goal of 100 percent of 3rd graders reading on or above grade level by the year 2025, and puts childhood literacy front and center. It will align the resources of Fort Worth ISD with the city’s business sector, city leaders, higher education, non-profit organizations, faith-based community, educators, and parents. Childhood literacy can determine success in all subjects, including math and science.

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | LOOKING AHEAD

FAEO

2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT | IN DEDICATION

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I N DE DIC AT ION

A HERO HONORED O F F I C E R

P A T R I C K

Z A M A R R I P A

1 9 8 3 - 2 0 1 6 On Saturday, July 16, 2016, police officers

Wilkerson-Greines was one of the few venues in

from across the U.S. and other countries, Navy

the city large enough to accommodate the number

personnel, elected officials, and many others

of mourners expected at the public funeral service.

packed Fort Worth ISD’s Wilkerson-Greines

We were grateful to be able to offer the center to

Athletic Center. They came to pay tribute to

the Zamarripa family for the service and for the

Patrick Zamarripa, one of five officers shot and

rosary the night before. We worked closely with

killed in an ambush in downtown Dallas on July 7.

the family, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, and

Officer Zamarripa was with the Dallas Police Department for six years. He was a Navy veteran and served three tours overseas. He was a beloved father, son, and brother. He was also part of the

Fort Worth Chief of Police Joel Fitzgerald to meet all needs and appropriately honor the slain officer.

On Saturday, almost all 5,000 seats in the center were filled.

Fort Worth ISD family. Born in Fort Worth, he

We dedicate this publication to Patrick Zamarripa

attended Paschal High School, played baseball

for his courage, leadership, and service.

and marched in the band there, and received his diploma in 2001.

OUR SCHOOLS E L E M E N TA R Y

McRae, D.

West Handley

Wedgwood 6th

SCHOOLS

Meadowbrook

Westcliff

World Languages Institute

Beal, Harlean

Mendoza, Rufino

Westcreek

Young Men's

Benbrook

Merrett, Luella

Western Hills

Bonnie Brae

Mitchell Boulevard

Western Hills Primary

Briscoe, Edward J.

Moore, M.H.

Westpark

Burton Hill

Morningside

White, John T.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Carlson, Alice ALC

Moss, Christene C.

Williams, Versia L.

Arlington Heights

Carter Park

Nash, Charles E.

Wilson, Richard J.

Benbrook Middle-High

Chavez, Cesar

North Hi Mount

Woodway

Carter-Riverside, Amon

Clarke, George C.

Oakhurst

Worth Heights

Diamond Hill-Jarvis

Clayton, Lily B.

Oaklawn

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Dunbar, P.L.

Como

Pate, A.M.

Applied Learning Academy

Eastern Hills

Como Montessori

Peace, Hazel Harvey

Benbrook Middle-High

Marine Creek Collegiate

Contreras, Alice D.

Peak, Carroll

Como Montessori

North Side

Daggett, E.M.

Phillips, M.L.

Daggett, E.M.

Paschal, R.L.

Daggett Montessori

Ridglea Hills

Daggett Montessori

Polytechnic

Davis, Clifford

Riverside ALC

Elder, J.P.

South Hills

De Zavala

Rosemont

Forest Oak

Southwest

Diamond Hill

Rosen, Sam

Glencrest 6th

TCC South-FWISD Collegiate

Dillow, S.S.

Sagamore Hill

Handley

Texas Academy of

East Handley

Sellars, David K.

Jacquet, J. Martin

Eastern Hills

Seminary Hills Park

James, William

Trimble Technical

Elliott, Bill J.

Shulkey, Bruce

Kirkpatrick, Milton L.

Western Hills

Ellis, M.G.

Sims, T.A.

Leonard

Wyatt, O.D.

Glen Park

South Hi Mount

McClung, Jean

Young Men's

Green, W.M.

South Hills

McLean, W.P.

Greenbriar

Springdale

McLean 6th

Helbing, H.V.

Stevens, J.T.

Meacham, W.A.

Howell, Natha

Sunrise-McMillan

Meadowbrook

Hubbard Heights

Tanglewood

OTHER SCHOOLS

Monnig, William

Huerta, Dolores

Terrell, I.M.

Boulevard Heights School

Morningside

Jara, Manuel

Turner, W.J.

International Newcomer

Riverside

Kirkpatrick, Milton L.

Van Zandt-Guinn

Rosemont

Logan, Maude I.

Walton, Maudrie M.

Jo Kelly School

Rosemont 6th

Lowery Road

Washington Heights

Metro Opportunity High School

Stripling, W.C.

McDonald, Atwood

Waverly Park

Middle Level Learning Center

Wedgwood

Success High School

Leadership Academy Young Women's Leadership Academy

Biomedical Sciences

Leadership Academy Young Women's Leadership Academy

Academy

This report was produced by the Fort Worth ISD Communications Department.

View the report online at www.fwisd.org.

Photography by Michael Zukerman and Roy O’Dell unless noted otherwise.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 100 N. University Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76107 817.814.2000 • www.fwisd.org