Six Fort Worth ISD elementary schools received awards for exhibiting spectacular student engagement and phenomenal learning communities within the last month.

The schools were recognized by executive directors from the Elementary Schools Leadership Department at an elementary school principals’ meeting, Wednesday, April 17. Campus principals were presented with certificates on behalf of the recognized schools.

The following are the latest schools recognized for phenomenal learning communities:

• Charles Nash

• R.J. Wilson

• W.J. Turner

• W. M. Green

• Western Hills Primary

Tanglewood Elementary was presented with a certificate for spectacular student engagement.

Fort Worth ISD employees may vote for their respective representatives on the District Advisory Committee (DAC) through Friday, May 3.

Elections got underway Monday, April 22 and continue through May 3. More than 80 individuals were recommended for Places 1-12 on the committee, said Dr. Amanda Coleman, director of Board policy, governance and strategic support/elections officer in the Policy and Planning Department.

Employees will receive an email with information for how to vote for DAC members in their respective peer groups.

Voting is currently underway for the following DAC committee seats:

• Places 1-4: Elementary Teachers
• Places 5 and 6: Middle School Teachers
• Places 7 and 8: High School Teachers
• Place 9: At-Large Nonteaching Professional
• Places 10-12: Campus Administrators

The DAC is a 21-member group that meets four to six times a year to advise the superintendent and Board of Education of educational plans, goals, performance objectives, and major classroom instructional programs.  Other matters brought to the DAC include the District budget, calendar, professional development plans and new education programs and initiatives.

Elementary and secondary teachers and principals and non-instructional staff such as librarians, nurses, counselors, instructional specialists or central administration personnel are eligible to serve on the DAC. The committee includes eight classroom teachers, one at-large non-instructional employee and three campus administrators voted onto the committee by District staff. The remaining 11 committee members -- parents with children enrolled in the FWISD, business and community partners -- are appointed by FWISD school board trustees.    

Terms on the committee are two years.

Early voting is officially underway across Tarrant County for May 4 school board, municipal and county college and water district elections.

Polls are open at most locations from: 

• 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2019- Friday, April 26
• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, April 27
• 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28
• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, April 29-Tuesday, April 30

During the early voting period, registered voters in Tarrant County may cast ballots at any of the 45 designated early voting locations. Voters must vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day, Saturday May 4. 

The following candidates are on the May 4 ballot vying for a four-year term on the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education:

District 2

Chad E. McCarty

Tobi Jackson*

District 3

Quinton “Q” Phillips

Cleveland Harris

District 5

Carin “CJ” Evans

Carla Morton

District 6

Anne Darr

Lisa Saucedo

Sandra A. Shelton

*= incumbent

District 5 and 6 incumbents, Judy Needham and Ann Sutherland, announced last fall that they are not seeking re-election. Christene Chadwick Moss, District 3 incumbent, withdrew from the race, February 19. 

Visit the Tarrant County elections website for additional voter and election details.

View the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s recent voter guide for additional information on candidates running in Fort Worth school board, municipal and the county water district elections.

Former long-time Director of Athletics, Herbert D. Stephens, Jr., passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Mr. Stephens had served the Fort Worth ISD for 36 years. 

“Herb” received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University in 1974. He then joined the Fort Worth ISD as a physical education teacher and coach at Rosemont Middle School. He eventually moved to Paschal High School where he taught biology, coached, and was the Boy’s Athletic Coordinator.

He earned a Master of Education degree from TCU in 1979. In 2000 he became an Assistant Athletic Director. Five years later he was appointed Director of Athletics for the District.

“His daughter, Stephanie Wellman, is a teacher at Fort Worth ISD’s Tanglewood Elementary.  He was also the father-in-law of the late Jamie Wellman, principal at Western Hills High School.”

Under Mr. Stephen’s leadership FWISD student-athletes performed well, both academically and athletically. He fostered the Athletic Department’s guiding principle “Striving for Excellence” during his leadership tenure. He retired from the District in 2010.

Upon his retirement, in recognition of his commitment and accomplishments, the Board of Education named the athletic complex containing Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, Clark Stadium, and Goldstein Field as the Herb Stephens, Jr., Athletic Complex. You can watch the Board meeting from 2010 where this action was taken on the Fort Worth ISD website.

Memorial services for Herb Stephens will take place on Thursday, April 25, at 4:30 p.m. at the University Christian Church, 720 S. University Dr., Fort Worth.  A reception will follow in Walker Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the TCU Lettermen’s Association and BITS (Brain Injury Transition Services) through Texas Health Harris Foundation.

Colleagues,

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

• “The Ellen Show” Features Leadership Academy at Como Elementary – And Presents Big Surprise
• Readers Become Leaders Champion Announced
• FWISD Schools Closed Friday
• Mandatory Training Slated for New Kronos Timekeeping System
• Ask Elsie

And more stories and information about and for FWISD employees 

On Thursday, April 18, 2019, students and staff at Fort Worth ISD’s Meacham Middle School will welcome home Sgt. David Reyes. Reyes has been deployed to Afghanistan since April of 2018. He returned to school this week.

The event will get underway at 3:45 p.m. and run until 4:30 p.m. and will honor not only his service but also the service and sacrifice of his family. Meacham Middle School is located at 3600 Weber in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth ISD high school CTE teachers have opportunities to receive Starbucks and Amazon gift cards this week.

Teachers whose students access and work on EverFi EECU online financial literacy modules or whose classes have the best financial literacy tweet using the hashtags #FWISD or #FinancialLiteracy have the chance at receiving gift cards ranging from $10- $25.  The activity coincides with the FWISD Career and Technical Education Department Financial Literacy Week celebration.  CTE’s Financial Literacy Week campaign continues through April 19.

“The purpose of this campaign is to make the FWISD CTE community aware of the importance of economic and financial education,” said Lila Boydston, CTE partnerships coordinator.  

Teachers whose students access Everfi will be selected at random for $10 Starbucks gift cards, and teachers with the best tweets have a chance at winning $25 Amazon gift cards.

In 2018, the District entered into a memorandum of understanding agreement with EverFi, a national online education leader that offers digital curriculum such as lessons on savings, banking and financing higher education.  The program was piloted by the district through EECU the 2017-2018 school year in eight high schools and expanded to all high schools this school year.  

The EverFi curriculum can be accessed via my.fwisd.org or via  bit.ly/everfiFW.  

The CTE Department’s Financial Literacy Week coincides with nation’s observance of Financial Literacy Month.

For more details, contact Vanessa Ritenour, CTE program coordinator, at vanessa.ritenour@fwisd.org.

UPDATE (1:45 p.m.) Tonight's forum is cancelled because of potential storms and is being rescheuled for a later date. 

What: Vaping and Your Student: Know the Real Cost of Vaping

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 17

Where: Arlington Heights High School, 4501 W. Freeway, Fort Worth, 76107

Summary: Fort Worth ISD’s Arlington Heights High School, in partnership with its campus PTSA and Challenge of Tarrant County, is hosting Vaping and Your Student: Know the Real Cost of Vaping, Wednesday, April 17 in the school auditorium.  All community members are invited to attend.  

The forum will focus on health-related issues pertaining to vaping and the legal ramifications of vaping at a Fort Worth ISD school. Heights administration will also show a collection of vape pens that have been confiscated on campus and the clever ways students are hiding them.

Carolyn Johnson-Harris, program director of tobacco cessation at Challenge of Tarrant County, is the guest speaker.

Electronic-cigarettes are also known as vapes or vape pens.  According to the Truth Initiative, a nonprofit health organization dedicated to eradicating tobacco, e-cigarette use increased significantly among middle and high school students between 2011 and 2017, based on the latest statistics.

“The 2017 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 11.7 percent of high school students and 3.3 percent of middle school students used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days, compared with 1.5 percent of high school and 0.6 percent of middle school students who reported current use in 2011,” according to the Truth Initiative website.

Local weather forecasters, and the National Weather Service, are predicting the possibility of severe storms this afternoon and evening.

If any school events are impacted by weather the best way to ensure you get the latest information is with the Fort Worth ISD Mobile App.

The app is free for everyone – students, teachers, staff, parents and the general community. It is available from the Apple or Google Play stores in both IOS and Android versions. Just look for Fort Worth ISD – we’re the white apple on the red background. 

Those with the FWISD Mobile App are always the first to receive the latest District information right in the palm of their hands. 

Don’t delay – download the Fort Worth ISD Mobile App today and you’ll be ready when it’s time to Know the Plan.

UPDATE (12:04 p.m.)

Due to potential severe weather in and around Fort Worth, the FWISD Athletic Department is taking the following steps:

• All sub-varsity baseball games scheduled for today are canceled.
• All 4A Area track teams have a bus with them at their Area track meet.
• All coaches will receive a reminder to be mindful of the weather and the student’s ability to get home after whatever practice they are going to have.

 The following are hail storm safety tips from the National Weather Service:

 

Nominations are being accepted for the 2019-2020 Fort Worth ISD Council of PTA Board through Friday, April 26. 

The Board meets once monthly, generally the third Wednesday evening of each month. Delegate meetings are twice a year (evenings in October and April) and board members are required to attend two additional meetings during Fall and Spring Workshops (evening or Saturday). Attendance at a majority of the meetings is important, so nominees submitted for consideration must be committed to serving on the Board.

Nominate or self-nominate Board candidates here. 

The Fort Worth ISD Council of PTAs supports, unifies and strengthens campus (Local) PTAs and provides leadership training, mentoring, information, and a connection to Texas and National PTA as well as FWISD.

For more details about Board vacancies, please contact Tiffany Rogers, FWISD Council of PTAs president, at fwisdcouncilpta@gmail.com or call 817-657-5586.