HIGHLIGHTS P R O S P E R
FA LL 2 0 21
I N D E P E N D E N T
S C H O O L
D I S T R I C T
MAGA ZINE
romise Prosper
FALL 2021 SUPPER WITH THE SUPER 12 PROSPER PROMISE 25
Connecting with Staff
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Supper with the S uper “One of the greatest gifts in this world is the heart of an educator. We are so fortunate in Prosper ISD that we have teachers who believe so deeply in our students, parents, and fellow staff members.” - Dr. Holly Ferguson, Superintendent of Schools HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 3
CONTENTS in this issue
INTRODUCTION 6 • Welcome • Makayla’s Warriors
CONNECTING 10
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26
• Silver Stars Tour • Supper with the Super • Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
INNOVATIVE LEARNING
16
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH
23
• Arrangement of the Month Club • Cross-Cultural Connections • National Merit and College Board
• New Student Connections • Prosper Promise
HUMAN RESOURCES 26
12
• Convocation
FACILITIES 28 • Groundbreaking & New Construction • Ribbon Cuttings
FUNDING & FINANCE 32 • Virtual Academy • PEF Giving Day
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COMMUNICATIONS & 34 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS • Realtor Connect • Community Fair • Welcoming New Families
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6
Welcome
Connect with Us
W
hether this is your child’s first year in Prosper ISD or their last before graduation, I hope your children are experiencing the promise of infinite possibilities this year and a myriad of opportunities to explore innovative ideas as they pursue their passions. We are so thankful for the special talents, gifts, and skills that each of our students brings to our school district. Our staff is working hard
each day to ensure that each student finds inspiration in the classroom and through co-curricular and extracurricular programs to reach their goals and dreams. We want to connect with you! Through the Prosper Promise, we are excited to offer numerous connection opportunities throughout the year. These activities and events will provide you with an opportunity to engage with other parents and learn more about the district. We hope that you enjoy this Highlights magazine that has just a glimpse of the amazing things happening in Prosper ISD so far this year.
Dr. Holly Ferguson Superintendent of Schools
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 7
M
AK
’S
Warriors “SHE HAD THE CHOICE TO SULK IN THE DISASTER OR FIND BEAUTY EVEN FROM THE ASHES.” THIS QUOTE BY YOUNG WIDOW AND MOTHER S.S. JUBILEE EMBODIES THE HEART AND SPIRIT OF PROSPER’S OWN MAKAYLA NOBLE.
T
o say that Makayla Noble is an extraordinary young woman would be an understatement. Makayla has been involved in cheerleading since the early age of 10 years old. “From a young age, her mental fortitude and unmatched work ethic combined with her natural athleticism and endearing smile paved a path to success” according to Mak’s story on her recovery website. Her cheerleading endeavors led her to Cheer Athletics in Plano earning the position of flyer on the World Champion Cheetahs cheer team. She has been named a High School All-American Cheerleader for three consecutive years while cheering at Prosper High School. During Makayla’s Senior homecoming week this year, she was injured in a backyard tumbling accident resulting in a severe spinal cord injury. The injury has left her paralyzed from the waist down with limited functionality in her hands at this time. Instead of letting this injury defeat her spirit, Makayla proves daily that she has the spirit of a survivor who will rise above the limitations of her injury. Since her injury, Makayla has received national attention inspiring others by
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showcasing her recovery journey. Schools, teams, families, and organizations throughout the county have joined her community of Prosper in wearing purple (Mak’s favorite color) to show support for her during her recovery journey. A Facebook group has been created where Makayla and her family post pictures and videos of her recovery and a website has been created for “Makayla’s Warriors” to stay updated and find ways to support Makayla and the family. The website, makaylanoble.com, provides visitors with the opportunity to leave a message, donate to support her recovery, purchase Mak’s Warriors gear and more. On October 15th, Makayla shared that she had been “keeping a little secret,” and went on to share that “I have complete feeling in my legs.” Makayla’s daily updates have been an inspiration as she shares both the victories and struggles during her recovery. After several weeks at a recovery and rehabilitation center, Makayla announced on November 11th that she would be heading home and was able to be home for Thanksgiving. While Makayla still has a long journey
ahead of her, she has the support of her family, her Prosper community, and a nation that is cheering her on. Meanwhile, her competitive spirit and inspirational faith keeps her striving
for her limbs to fully work again, saying that “They’re going to work again, just not yet.” Not yet “because I think that’s really leaving the door open.”
photo by Cedarbrook Media
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 9
CONNECTING WITH THE
Community
Inaugural SILVER STARS TOUR DISTRICT LEADERS AND BOARD MEMBERS APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
O
ne of the greatest assets of any community is the senior generation. Prosper ISD is committed to connecting with all stakeholders including the Senior Citizens in the community. This year the district hosted its first Silver Stars Tour. This experience provided an opportunity for this amazing group of citizens to tour a few of the Prosper ISD campuses and enjoy performances by a variety of student groups. The inaugural Silver Stars tour was on September 14th, 2021. Tour participants were treated to breakfast in the community room and a gift from the district that included a “Silver Wings Club Card” which is a Senior Citizen card providing free access to any district sponsored events at home. Throughout the tour, various Prosper ISD School Board members dropped in to introduce themselves and answer questions from the attendees. After breakfast the group moved to the field at Children’s Health Stadium for an introduction from Superintendent of Schools,
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Dr. Holly Ferguson, and PISD Board members Kelly Cavender, Bill Beavers, and Drew Wilborn. The group enjoyed performances by the Prosper High School Talonettes and the Prosper High School Mighty Eagle Band Percussion section before touring the Press Box at Children’s Health Stadium. Participants then boarded a bus to travel to Prosper ISD’s newest high school campus, Rock Hill High School where they were joined by PISD Board members Debra Smith and Dena Dixon and treated to a mini-concert by the RHHS Varsity Orchestra before touring the campus. The Silver Stars tour finished at Reeves Elementary where they were greeted by 2nd graders, toured the campus, and enjoyed a student music and dance performance. The district plans to make this connection opportunity a tradition with another tour planned for the spring.
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 11
CONNECTING WITH THE
Staff
Supper Super with the
“ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS IN THIS WORLD IS THE HEART OF AN EDUCATOR. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE IN PROSPER ISD THAT WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO BELIEVE SO DEEPLY IN OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND FELLOW STAFF MEMBERS.” - DR. HOLLY FERGUSON 12
C
onnecting with staff, students, parents, and community are a major focus for Dr. Holly Ferguson, Prosper ISD Superintendent of Schools. She is committed to finding avenues to connect with these groups and can be seen almost daily on campuses visiting with staff members and students. Through her Superintendent Student Advisory Council, she is able to interact directly with students, and through her Superintendent Parent Advisory she interacts with parents. Dr. Ferguson also wanted to provide staff members with a similar opportunity to interact directly with her and learn more about what is happening within the district. To this end, Dr. Ferguson hosted her first Supper with the Super on Wednesday, October 6th sponsored by the Prosper Education Foundation (PEF). Team leads from three district campuses were invited to join Dr. Ferguson for dinner and had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the district. “It was nice to connect with Dr. Ferguson with our campus team leaders and learn more about Prosper ISD’s mission and growth! It was such a fun and encouraging
night!” said Reeves Kindergarten Teacher, Ally Grimmett. Dr. Ferguson shared that “Prosper ISD’s goal is 100% excellence everyday” and “Our goal is to unify our community for the very best outcome for PISD students, staff, and parents.” Johnson Elementary Librarian, Julie Burkett enjoyed the “great evening spending time with our amazing Superintendent! We enjoyed a yummy meal (Thank you PEF!), shared with our teams, and celebrated our district’s current and future growth. We are so fortunate as Prosper employees to be kept well-informed and truly valued as empowered professionals!” Dr. Ferguson thoroughly enjoyed the time with the teachers. ”I loved being able to honor and applaud the work of some of our finest educators by providing them a nice dinner sponsored by the Prosper Education Foundation. They are truly the heartbeat of Prosper ISD.” More educators will have this opportunity with Dr. Ferguson as she plans to host two to three more Supper with the Super events this school year.
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 13
CONNECTING WITH THE
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Students
Superintendent ’s Student Advisory Council
“IT’S REALLY NICE TO HAVE A DISTRICT LEADER SINCERELY WANT TO HEAR WHAT OUR EXPERIENCES AND THOUGHTS ARE TO HELP MAKE THE SCHOOL EVEN BETTER. DR. FERGUSON REALLY LISTENED AND MADE SURE WE KNEW THAT OUR INPUT WAS IMPORTANT.” - LANDEN GRANT, PHS SENIOR
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ach year the Prosper ISD Superintendent of Schools invites high school students from throughout the district to apply to participate in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council. The Council is designed to help Dr. Ferguson receive feedback from students on the state of the district and what changes could be made to make the educational experience more meaningful for students. This year’s council consists of more than 60 students in grades 9 - 12. The council met for the first time in October and gave Dr. Ferguson their dreams and ideas for improving Prosper ISD. RHHS Junior, Shreya Srivathsan feels that “Being a part of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council has been the most rewarding program I’ve been involved in. I absolutely love that Dr. Ferguson and PISD staff members want to hear from students and take initiative to resolve all concerns. I am proud of being a part of a school district that wants to listen to my ideas and celebrate student achievements. I’m appreciative of the opportunity to work with the most creative and brilliant people in PISD along with a proactive superintendent who cares for the well-being of our community.”
Dr. Ferguson began working with district leaders to start the process of implementing some of these suggestions, providing more vegetarian options in the cafeteria and creating a College 101 night for students in the spring. HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 15
Innovative Learning
INNOVATIVE LEARNING
16
OCTOBER
Su Mo Tu We Th 3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
Fr
Sa
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
Arrangement
of the month club
DESIGNING, CREATING, AND SELLING MONTHLY FLORAL DESIGNS BECOMES A REALITY FOR STUDENTS IN ADVANCED FLORAL DESIGN AND PRACTICUM STUDENTS.
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ew will deny that the presence of fresh flowers can brighten a room. Prosper ISD is proud to be able to offer a floral design program at both high schools where Advanced Floral Design and Practicum students have begun hosting an Arrangement of the Month Club. Prosper ISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs focus on creating as many real world learning opportunities as possible. The Arrangement of the Month Club is the newest addition to this goal. Each month the program will be offering floral designs for purchase. This club is an opportunity for Advanced Floral and Practicum
students to use the skills they have learned by creating seasonal arrangements for customers. Students are directly involved in the design process, creation and delivery of these products. Prosper ISD CTE Coordinator and former Floral Design teacher, Kristy Carr is excited that “this [club] gives students a real world, practical lab experience throughout the year by running the equivalent to an industry professional floral shop out of their classroom.” If you are interested in supporting these students in their endeavors and brightening up your home or office, contact Kristy Carr at ktcarr@prosper-isd.net.
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 17
INNOVATIVE LEARNING
MAKING CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE HELPS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ON A DEEPER LEVEL.
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or Hispanic Heritage Month, students enrolled in Ms. Church’s Spanish classes at Reynolds Middle School participated in cross-cultural learning with people from around the world. The students logged a total of 150 minutes, speaking to guest speakers in Latin American countries around the world such as Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, and participating in a cultural exchange! While learning about the other country, they also shared some of our traditions such as the Texas Homecoming Mum tradition. One guest speaker commented about this particular Texas tradition, "Wow, girls in Texas must be really strong!" Students used a "20 Questions" format, by asking questions in Spanish to determine where the guest speaker was from, such as what is a famous tourist attraction in their country, typical dishes, and colors of the flag. After 20 questions,
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the students guessed where the speaker was from. Ms. Church said that her students are so amazing that “all classes got it right!” By participating in these cultural exchanges, Ms. Church was excited that “district students were able to connect with the language and culture on a deeper and more meaningful level.”
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 19
INNOVATIVE LEARNING
National Merit College Board & Scholars
EVERY YEAR SCHOOLS ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COMMENDED SCHOLARS AND THE NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALISTS IN SEPTEMBER.
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ccording to their website, the National Merit Scholarship Program was founded to identify and honor scholastically talented American youth and to encourage them to develop their abilities to the fullest. Through this nationwide competition National Merit Scholarships are awarded to program Finalists and Special Scholarships are awarded to other high performing participants who meet a corporate sponsor’s eligibility criteria.
The determination is based upon a student’s performance on the PSAT their Junior year of high school. Approximately 1.5 million qualifying students take the test in the U.S. Of those 1.5 million, only about 30,000 qualify as National Merit Commended Scholars. Prosper is pleased to announce the following National Merit Commended Scholars from PHS and RHHS.
National Merit Commended Scholars
Sneha Algole - PHS Jonathan Seo - PHS Makenna Brandvold - PHS Raquelle Smith - PHS Casey Charleston - PHS Hunter Springer - PHS Tyler Cummings - PHS Drew Wessels - PHS
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Annmarie Graham - PHS Kate Carline - RHHS Alexander Kim - PHS Hari Chidambaram - RHHS Charlie Koster - PHS Sara Compton - RHHS Meaghan McQueen - PHS Grant Wallis - RHHS
Elizabeth Myers - PHS Tapaswini Kodavanti - RHHS Erika Pedersen - PHS Grant McNatt - RHHS Stephen Phillips - PHS Arya Thombare - RHHS Kierstyn Schroeder - PHS Charlotte Williams - RHHS
Only 16,500 students in the nation qualify as National Merit Semi-Finalists. From this list, the National Merit Finalists are named who become eligible for the approximate 8,200
National Merit Scholarships. Prosper is proud to announce that six PHS and RHHS students have been named National Merit Semi-finalists.
National Merit Semi-Finalists
Deepta Gade - RHHS Emily Warren - RHHS Syed (Abbad) Hoda - RHHS
Gautham Janyavula - RHHS Dennis Seibert - PHS Reid Smith - PHS
In addition, The College Board, which administers the PSAT and SAT, also recognizes academic excellence through its National Recognition Programs. Students selected for this prestigious honor can cite it on their college and scholarship applications. In turn,
colleges use the listing of this honor as a way of identifying students from underrepresented groups who have excelled on their PSAT/ NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams and in their classwork.
Prosper ISD is proud to announce our National Recognition Scholars
African American Recognition Program Scholars
Brayden Fayomi - PHS Carrington Langston - PHS Chiemeka Nzewunwah - PHS Dylan Korsah - PHS Halima Belgore - PHS Kennedi Laur - PHS Obinna Oramalu - PHS
Olivia Nabukeera - PHS Stephen Phillips - PHS Stacy Oduro - RHHS Arielle Ward - RHHS Ashlyn Moore - RHHS Danielle Kouame - RHHS Dymond Mitchell - RHHS
Erin Amankwaah - RHHS Hope Goodman - RHHS Ifeabia Okororie - RHHS Abel Dawit - RHHS Jourdin Edwards - RHHS Oluwafunmilayo Awoyode - RHHS Trinity Boston - RHHS
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INNOVATIVE LEARNING
Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars
Cameron Stulting-Flores - PHS Carissa Reyes - PHS Diego Donald - PHS Estrella Cabral - PHS Guillermo Arredondo Guajardo PHS Isabella Esquibel - PHS Jordi Rullan - PHS Katia Susic - PHS Kennedy Bicksler - PHS
Marco De Tomas - PHS Michael Beals - PHS Samantha Wlodawsky - PHS Sophia Lucas - PHS Stephen Phillips - PHS Tyler Moore - PHS Alexandra Kalamaris - RHHS Avery Burns - RHHS Christian Acosta - RHHS Clarissa Spackman - RHHS
Daniel Siles - RHHS Gael Bermudez - RHHS Hope Goodman - RHHS Joseph Kelly - RHHS Laura Mendez - RHHS Maria Pelayo - RHHS Marielle Gonzalez De Leon - RHHS Ryan Rojas - RHHS Sophia Kelly - RHHS
Indigenous Recognition Program Scholars Kaley Kern - RHHS Mason Richard - RHHS
Small Town Recognition Program Scholars
Brayden Fayomi - PHS Cameron Stulting-Flores - PHS Carissa Reyes - PHS Carrington Langston - PHS Chiemeka Nzewunwah - PHS Diego Donald - PHS Dylan Korsah - PHS Estrella Cabral - PHS Guillermo Arredondo Guajardo PHS
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Halima Belgore - PHS Isabella Esquibel - PHS Jaylee Prock - PHS Jordi Rullan - PHS Juliana Ruiz - PHS Katia Susic - PHS Kennedi Laur - PHS Kennedy Bicksler - PHS Marco De Tomas - PHS Merritt Bauss - PHS
Michael Beals - PHS Obinna Oramalu - PHS Olivia Nabukeera - PHS Rishith Jaidi - PHS Samantha Wlodawsky - PHS Sophia Lucas - PHS Stephen Phillips - PHS Tyler Moore - PHS Sophia Kelly - RHHS
Social & Emotional
Health
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 23
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Connected Getting
“EVEN THOUGH IT IS A BIG SCHOOL, I FELT ACCEPTED AND WELCOME SINCE THE FIRST DAY.” - EMILY WILLHAUS, RHHS JUNIOR
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etting connected in a new school can be difficult, but when you attend one of the fastest growing districts in the country, that endeavor can prove to be especially difficult. Each year on average, Prosper ISD welcomes approximately 2200 new students to the hallowed halls of their campuses. While many of these are kindergarteners that are experiencing traditional public school for the first time, most are moving from another school. Each student brings with them hopes and dreams of connecting in their new school. These connections are critical to a child’s mental and physical well-being. Prosper ISD campuses are aware of the challenges new students face when transitioning and plan a variety of activities for new students to get connected and get involved. 24
Some of those include: • Welcome Committee and Student Ambassadors • New student socials and luncheons • Introductory videos • Administrator welcome visits • Campus Tours There are many opportunities for students to get involved and get connected to new friends. In a fast growing district, most people have been new at some point and can share the experience. New parents should always reach out to their child’s campus counselor and administration for ways to help get their child connected on campus.
romise Prosper
A COMMITMENT TO CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
“U
nity is strength… When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” This quote by Mattie Stepanek is the essence of why Prosper ISD has introduced the Prosper Promise.
these partnerships and provide numerous connection opportunities throughout the year for our parents and community to engage with other parents, get involved in our schools, and learn more about the district. Some opportunities include serving on advisory councils while others are informational events. Each quarter we welcome our community to tour a campus with our Parent Ambassadors to learn more about the district and that campus specifically. Additionally, the Prosper Promise site will keep the community abreast of upcoming events hosted by the district. We hope that you will monitor the Prosper Promise website found under Our Schools on the district website for upcoming opportunities to get involved and connect.
The remarkable success of Prosper ISD is closely tied to the unwavering, long-standing partnerships we have between our students, parents, staff, and community. In 2021, Prosper ISD Superintendent, Dr. Holly Ferguson, and the Prosper ISD School Board sought to strengthen avenues for parents to get involved and learn more about what is happening throughout the district. Their creation of the Prosper Promise was an endeavor to deepen
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 25
HUMAN RESOURCES
Convocation
PROSPER ISD STAFF GATHER TOGETHER TO KICK OFF THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
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ducators often look forward to their annual convocation each year. The kickoff to the school year, convocation provides district staff the opportunity to reconnect with friends they haven’t seen all summer or since the previous year’s convocation and celebrate the possibilities that a new year can bring. This year’s Prosper ISD Convocation did not disappoint. In addition to student performances and the opportunity to visit with friends, district staff were treated to entertainment from each campus via musical skits. While all of the skits were loads of fun, Bryant Elementary’s Blue Lagoon Synchronized Swimming skit brought down the house and resulted in a complimentary staff lunch graciously provided by Prestonwood North Baptist Church. After the laughter, came the inspiration. Keynote speaker Chris Norton empowered the staff with his words on overcoming obstacles, being radically responsible, being an encouragement, and remembering that “someone is counting on me today.” Norton was a college football player left paralyzed 26
after a tackle gone wrong. His inspiring message left staff ready to tackle the year. “I always enjoy convocation because it’s the one time each year that we get together with the entire district. It’s nice to see the accomplishments and accolades of others throughout Prosper ISD and feel the excitement of everyone for the upcoming school year.”
- Natalie Merrill, PHS Teacher
Kimberly Church is a new teacher to Prosper ISD at Reynolds Middle School. She “was inspired. I laughed, I cried, and knew I was where I belonged. I’ve never seen anything like it; it’s like a blend between The Price Is Right and a Ted Talk curated just for you. There is a recipe here, and every interaction I have with Prosper ISD has a remnant of that secret sauce. It is clear why Prosper ISD is a destination district for so many staff.”
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 27
FACILITIES
Facilities
New D
Student Advisory Council
uring an era of unprecedented change in the educational landscape, many districts have seen enrollment decrease, sometimes dramatically. During this same time period, Prosper ISD has continued to see exponential growth. With such growth comes the need for more educational facilities to welcome the new students entering the district. As a result, the fall of 2021 found Prosper ISD breaking ground on two more campuses. Both campuses are being built using funds from the last Prosper ISD bond passed in 2019 under the guidance of School Board President, Jim Bridges. In August of 2022, Prosper’s 15th elementary school will open in the Star Trails subdivision on the west side of the district. The campus, in alignment with most other Prosper ISD elementary campuses, will have a core capacity of 900.
On August 5th, 2021, the community was invited to a special event as the district broke ground on the third high school. Prosper ISD Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Holly Ferguson and Dr. Greg Bradley were joined by representatives from Pogue Construction and Huckabee Architects along with Prosper ISD Board members Jim Bridges, Bill Beavers, Debra Smith, Jana Thomson, Kelly Cavender, Dena Dixon, and Drew Wilborn for the groundbreaking. The event was also an opportunity for future Wildcats who attended the event to help break ground on the new facility. The new campus, located off of 1st Street on the East side of the district, has been named Walnut Grove High School and will be the home of the Wildcats. The campus is scheduled to open in the fall of 2024.
JOYCE HALL ELEMENTARY
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PE
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22
Elementary #15
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Ground Breaking
WALNUT GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
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High School #3
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FACILITIES
Cutting
Ribbon W
hile breaking ground on an elementary and high school, the district was also opening two new campuses. The two campuses, on opposite sides of the district, celebrated their RibbonCutting on Saturday, August 7th, 2021. Named for the first woman to be elected to the Prosper ISD Board of Trustees, Ms. Jerry Bryant Elementary is on the west side of the district in the Windsong subdivision. Ms. Bryant served as a Registered Nurse for over 40 years working most notably at Collin Memorial Hospital in McKinney, Tx. as Supervisor of Surgery until her retirement in 1999. She also was an avid volunteer serving at Prosper High School as School Nurse when needed as well as serving with Cornerstone, Bethlehem Place, Meals on Wheels, and Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church of Prosper where she was a long time member. Ms. Bryant also served her community as a
MIKE AND JANI
ER
local and county election official. From 1967 to 1976, she served as team “doctor” for the Prosper football team. On the east side of the district is Mike and Janie Reeves Elementary School in the Auburn Hills subdivision. The campus is named for former Prosper ISD Board member, Mike Reeves and his wife, Janie Reeves, who served as a member of the Prosper PTO board. He served as the Chair of the Tom Landry FCA Open for many years and was on the Board of Mane Gait. Mike was a founding member of the Prosper Open Foundation, now known as the Prosper Educational Foundation, which was started with other district fathers to benefit Prosper boys and girls golf and tennis teams. Meanwhile, Janie served in the Prosper library and volunteered extensively in the concession stands at every sporting event.
EE VE SE L EM
ENTARY
REEVES
EST. 2021
ELEMENTARY
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ENROLLMENT in the numbers
PHS 3291 RHHS 2494 Hays 1489 Reynolds 996 Rogers 1339 Rushing 1199 Baker 585 Boyer 851 Bryant 691 Cockrell 677 Folsom 703 Furr 799 Hughes 727 Johnson 828 Light Farms 937 Reeves 684 Rucker 689 Spradley 868 Stuber 934 Windsong 804 0
500
1000
TOTAL DISTRICT
1500
end of 1st 9 weeks
2000
2500
3000
3500
21,585 HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 31
FUNDING & FINANCE
VIRTUAL ACADEMY After being left on the floor during the regular session, the Second Special Legislative Session provided funding for a virtual academy option to Prosper ISD families.
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n the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 school year offered families a virtual education option within their local school districts. The state of Texas provided funding to districts for these students who were attending virtually. At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, districts were informed that, by the close of the regular legislative session, the State of Texas had not provided funding to school districts for virtual learning for the Virtual Academy Prosper ISD 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds that districts would be receiving varied greatly from district to district with many districts receiving millions of dollars while some districts, like Prosper, receiving very little in comparison. This meant that Prosper ISD, like the vast majority of school districts in Texas, would be unable to offer a virtual option believing that there would be a lack of appropriate funding to provide a high quality virtual option for students. During the Second Special Legislative Session, however, the Texas legislature took action on virtual learning that was left on the floor in the regular session. In August, Senate Bill 15 passed funding virtual learning until
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September of 2023. This new bill did come with specifications for participant eligibility, including that participating students must have: • Passed their STAAR exams. • Earned a C grade or higher in foundation curriculum courses. • Did not have more than 10% unexcused absences the previous year. Senate Bill 15 requires that schools must have received a C or higher in the state’s most recent accountability ratings in order to access attendancebased funding for students in full-time virtual learning. Additionally the state capped participation in virtual learning in a district to 10% of the overall enrollment of the school. Soon after the bill was signed into law by the governor, Prosper ISD got to work creating a virtual platform. This platform provides an opportunity for families desiring a virtual option whose students meet the criteria. The PISD Virtual Academy officially began on October 13th, 2021. In Kindergarten through second grade, PISD students in virtual learning have Prosper ISD teachers, while students in grades three through six are learning through the Pearson Connexus platform.
FUNDING & FINANCE
PEF Awards
Educator Grants T
THE GIVING NATURE OF THIS COMMUNITY HELPED TO RAISE $115,000 DURING THIS YEAR’S NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY.
he Prosper Education Foundation (PEF) has had an eventful start to the 2021-2022 school year. The organization provides support to Prosper ISD in the way of student scholarships, teacher grants, teacher recognitions, staff development, and more. The organization is sustained based upon raising funds through donations and fundraisers like the Annual PEF Golf Tournament. One of the largest fundraisers of the year for PEF is North Texas Giving Day. With match donations from corporate sponsors CoServ, Huckabee Inc., Park Place Lexus, Welch HVAC, and Pogue Construction, the community of Prosper raised $115,000 this year. This is an increase from last year’s all time high of $62,000. PEF Executive Director Elizabeth Johnston was amazed at the “very generous giving from the heart” of the Prosper community and is excited at how these funds will help to “make sure every possible student opportunity needed in Prosper ISD is a reality. Those funds will help PEF make that happen!” Beginning in September, teachers,
counselors, and librarians were able to apply for classroom, department, or campus grants. This year there were 104 applications. On Tuesday, October 26th, the PEF Prize Patrol made their rounds to EVERY campus in the district awarding 44 grants to the sum of more than $68,000. Many of the grants were for amounts over $1000 benefiting entire departments or campuses impacting far more students with each grant given. The PEF Board and Johnston are committed to supporting learning through grants for innovative learning. Johnston said that “Supporting Prosper ISD teachers is not just important, it’s vital. Providing resources and equipping teachers inspires them to teach at the highest level and impacts student learning through creative ideas which fosters a supportive atmosphere where teachers want to come to work.” PEF will award thousands of dollars in scholarships to the Class of 2022 in May. For more information on how you can get involved to volunteer or donate to PEF, go to prospereducationfoundation.org. HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 33
COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
PROSPER ISD CONNECTS WITH LOCAL REALTORS TO HELP TAKE SOME OF THE GUESS WORK OUT OF PROVIDING DISTRICT INFORMATION TO THEIR BUYERS.
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rosper is one of the fastest growing communities in the state and the nation. The district is consistently in the top five highest numbers of home closings each year in the greater DFW area with approximately 2,600 closings per year and an estimated 22,600 homes to be built in the next few years. These numbers keep Prosper area realtors quite busy, but selling homes for one of the fastest growing districts in the state can be difficult when the information about the district changes with its growth. In an effort to partner with local realtors to provide the most accurate information about the rapidly growing district, Prosper ISD hosted their first of many Realtor Connect events this summer. The event welcomed more than 50 realtors from the greater Prosper area to hear from district program directors and leaders and to learn about the district’s growth. The group
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also learned how to navigate the district website to help prospective buyers find the answers to important questions on topics like zoning, engagement opportunities, and more. Holly Haven with Haven Home Team and Keller Williams is a former educator who came to the meeting to hear information “to better inform my clients about the district. So many are moving from out of town or out to state.” While a former district employee, Haven felt that the information presented about the “numbers of growth and the number of campuses being added was helpful to know so that we can better educate families when they are moving… [as well as] information on programs, special programs, and class sizes.” The district plans to host another Realtor Connect in the Spring to provide information and guidance as well as provide contacts for questions throughout the year.
COMMUNITY FAIR
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CONNECT.
O
ver 100 businesses in the greater Prosper ISD area came together on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 at Rock Hill High School to educate the community on the many services available to them. Groups and businesses of all sorts including financial, health, mental health, service, PTO’s and more set up booths throughout the campus. As families walked the halls of the campus, they were able to purchase something for themselves or others, try out a variety of services, gain information
on services that were available, and get connected to other families and groups. This is the second year that Prosper ISD has hosted the event, this year in coordination with the Prosper Chamber of Commerce. Fair Coordinator and Prosper ISD Executive Director for Human Resources, Bernadette Gerace, was excited to “provide this opportunity to our families in the hopes that they will find information and connections to meet their family’s needs within our own community.” HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 35
COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
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HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 37
Welcome to
Prosper ISD
I
n the last five years, Prosper ISD has welcomed more than 11,300 students to Prosper ISD. The district student population is currently around 21,300 in October of 2021, an increase from just under 10,000 in the 2016-2017 school year. While some of these 11,300 students have older siblings who had been in the district already, many of these students were part of families that were new to Prosper ISD. When a district is growing so rapidly that it more than doubles its population in five years, finding avenues to connect with new families becomes increasingly important. While the campuses have a variety of activities to welcome new students and help to integrate them into campus culture, Prosper ISD has added a couple of avenues to help support new families as well. The New to Prosper ISD website, located at the top of the district website, has condensed the district website into one page with the most important links that new families would need when getting started in the district. The district also provides a Welcome to Prosper ISD Guide in hard copy and on the website. This guide is full of information, instructions, and guidance on navigating Prosper ISD from registration to involvement and opportunities to ways to connect and more. This guide is provided to all new families as they register with the district.
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BEYOND
this issue
STAFF
Christal Hankey Racy Kane Tieler Seirer
ADDRESS
Prosper ISD 605 E. 7th Street Prosper, TX 75078 469-219-2000
WEBSITE
www.prosper-isd.net
communications@prosper-isd.net
SOCIAL MEDIA
twitter.com/prosperisd facebook.com/prosperisd instagram.com/prosper_isd
PISD EXPRESS
prosper-isd.net/pisdexpress
PISD CHAT
prosper-isd.net/pisdchat
PISD HIGHLIGHTS
prosper-isd.net/pisdhighlights
A FEW MINUTES
prosper-isd.net/AFewMinutes
FAQ
prosper-isd.net/faq
PROSPER ISD APP
available for both iOS and Android platforms HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 39
