Who: Heather Hedges/Paschal High School
        TTI, Inc. Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Math

Paschal High School teacher Heather Hedges sees every day as an opportunity to find new ways to do her job better. Watch this short video and hear why Ms. Hedges says lifelong learning is crucial – for teachers, as well as students.

Stay tuned for more reflections from our 2019-2020 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. We are sharing their one-minute remarks each day leading up to the winter break.

Who: Cassie Hanson/Trimble Technical High School

Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English

Cassie Hanson loves what she teaches at Fort Worth ISD’s Trimble Tech High School – English, grammar, writing, literature. But these things are not why she teaches. 

Watch this short video, and hear what Ms. Hanson has to say about the special privilege that all teachers have to build connections with students.

This video is part of a series featuring our 2019-2020 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. Hear their one-minute remarks each day leading up to the winter break.

The Fort Worth ISD Board of Education will hold a meeting Tuesday, December 10 at the Board Meeting Complex at 2903 Shotts Street and begin at 5:30 p.m.

Here is the agenda.

Regular board meetings are open to the public. Meetings are televised live by EdTV, the District’s TV station, on Charter Cable Channel 192, AT&T U-Verse 99 and via live streaming video on the District Website’s Video on Demand.

You can also follow the proceeding through the District’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. We will live tweet and post through each meeting.

Tips for watching Video on Demand: Click on the Video on Demand icon on the Home page. When a Board meeting is pending it will be displayed on the VOD Home page. Click on “Video” to begin watching. When reviewing an archived item, such as a Board meeting, click on the desired item under “Sections”. The video will begin playing. If watching a Board meeting, click on any item in the agenda to begin watching that portion of the meeting. For example, if there is only “black” move your cursor to the beginning of the meeting on the Agenda. The video will jump to that section.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth, and the Fort Worth ISD Safety and Security Department, continue to monitor the arrival of a cold front in the Dallas Fort Worth area late this afternoon.

The front has the potential of bringing a “wintry mix” of rain and snow possibly beginning tonight and lasting through late morning on Tuesday.

Although there could be some minor snow accumulations on grassy areas or even overpasses, the NWS does not foresee any conditions that would impact travel within the Fort Worth ISD.

Temperatures are expected to drop to the mid 30’s with wind chills in the 20’s. Campus administrators should make plans to allow entry to students arriving at schools early on Tuesday.

Fort Worth ISD protocol calls for continued monitoring of the weather conditions with decisions being made by District staff as appropriate.

The best way to receive any Fort Worth ISD announcements concerning weather is to download the Fort Worth ISD Mobile App from the IOS or Google stores.

After the tedious, painstaking work of trying to find the reason for this week’s major interruption of the Fort Worth ISD network, the Technology Department has located the likely cause. A 4-port switch, found in a Central Administration Building office, appears to have been at ground zero.

The general disruption lasted over two days and either denied employees access to the internet, resulted in slow online responses, caused phone service to drop intermittently or all three.

“It appears an office worker felt they may have needed additional network ports,” said McDeny Mojica, executive director of Network Services. “A much safer way to protect our network is to follow the procedure of submitting a Footprints ticket and we will help you determine what other equipment you may need to do your job.”

The 4-port switch has been removed and at last report the Administration Buildings network was working normally. The moral of this story: ask Technology for help!

November 2019 was full of memorable events in the Fort Worth ISD. Take a look back at some of them in this 5-minute Inside FWISD snapshot.

Who: Mark Greenwood/Westcliff Elementary School

Blue Zones Project Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health and Physical Education

Health and physical education teacher Mark Greenwood wants his students at Fort Worth ISD’s Westcliff Elementary School to start early making wise decisions concerning their safety and wellness.

In this short video, hear what Mr. Greenwood wants students to take from his class.

Watch on YouTube or the Fort Worth ISD website.

This video is the third in a series featuring our 2019-2020 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. Hear their one-minute meaningful remarks each day leading up to the winter break.

Colleagues,

In our latest edition of Inside FWISD, you will find information about:

• FWISD Survey Welcomes Feedback Regarding District Climate, Culture
• Donors Still Needed for FWISD’s Angel Tree Drive
• Culprit Found In FWISD's Network Interruption
• Ask Elsie: Would you clarify how teacher sick days may be used?

• Fort Worth ISD Snapshot

And more stories and information about and for FWISD employees 

Don’t forget to view stories throughout the week on the Inside FWISD blog

Who:  Lauren Caldwell/Westcliff Elementary School

Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education 

As an inclusion teacher at Fort Worth ISD’s Westcliff Elementary School, Lauren Caldwell works with all students – those who are non-disabled right alongside those with disabilities. In this short video, hear why Ms. Caldwell calls it a powerful combination.

Leading up to the winter break, we will hear meaningful remarks from all sixteen 2019-2020 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence.