Extra Credit

It's Dr. V: Mansfield schools interim chief Jim Vaszauskas is focus of video

Mansfield schools folks say they had a little fun in presenting this video to introduce the school district's new interim superintendent.

His name is Dr. Jim Vaszauskas. The unique spelling and pronunciation of his last name lent itself to a few jokes. In a mock spelling bee, students took a stab at spelling (there's no w). And then students and staffers at Donna Shepard Intermediate took turns asking questions about Dr. V's background, educational philosophy and views about Mansfield ISD.

Dr. V was the school district's associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and accountability before he was tapped for the interim chief post in February. Bob Morrison was tapped to lead the Garland school district.

Check out the "Just Call Me Dr. V" video: 

 

Jessamy Brown

 

Mansfield school trustees name interim superintendent

Mansfield school district trustees have named Associate Superintendent Jim Vaszauskas as the interim superintendent in preparation for the departure of Superintendent Bob Morrison to take the helm of the Garland school district.

Vaszauskas now oversees curriculum, instruction and accountability and has 32 years of public school experience. He served as a classroom teacher for 20 years and also held positions as a coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.

"I look forward to continuing the forward-thinking direction that Dr. Morrison established," Vaszauskas said in a statement. "We have a great leadership team in place and I'm thrilled to work alongside a staff dedicated to student learning and achievement."

-Patrick M. Walker

De Zavala Elementary launches revamped lunch menu with healthy, tasty food

Students wearing chef hats and dark blue aprons guided two dignitaries visiting De Zavala Elementary School on Wednesday to prepare a healthy snack with yogurt.

Reading step-by-step directions, the students helped Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price make "Price's Red White and Blue Parfait," featuring layers of yogurt and fruit.

To make a treat named for Fort Worth schools superintendent Walter Dansby, dubbed "Dansby's Delight," students worked with Fort Worth schools district operations chief Art Cavazos.

The event was part of a program celebrating the Food for Thought menu launch, a pilot project at De Zavala Elementary to revamp cafeteria menu offerings to include more healthy fare. It's a joint program of the city of Fort Worth and Fort Worth schools. The Dannon Company, which has a plant in Fort Worth, sponsored the program and donated yogurt to use in menu recipes.

Here's Thursday's Star-Telegram story.(R: Student Melissa Carmone eats lunch. ST photo, Ron T. Ennis)

"We’ve been pushing health for the last two and a half years," said Hector Martinez, De Zavala principal. "Ultimately we want to look at the results of healthier choices and how they lead to better attitudes, better behavior and better academics."  

(R: Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price/ ST Photo Ron T. Ennis).

Here are the recipes for the Food for Thought treats:

Price's Red White and Blue Parfait

6 oz. Dannon nonfat vanilla yogurt
4 strawberries, sliced
1 T blueberries
2 T blackberries
2 T Raisin Bran cereal
In a glass, layer strawberries, then 3 oz. of the yogurt, then add the blackberries. Add remaining 3 oz. of yogurt, then add blueberries. Top with crushed cereal.

Dansby's Delight

6 oz. Dannon nonfat vanilla yogurt
4 strawberries, sliced
1 banana, sliced
2 T Honey Nut Cheerios
In a glass place half the strawberry slices, then layer half of the banana slices, add 1 T of the cereal. Add the remaining yogurt, banana slices and strawberry slices. Top with cereal.

Jessamy Brown

Come back to class: FWISD chief to go door-to-door to encourage students to re-enroll in school

Update: FWISD has posted photos from the event here.

 

Fort Worth schools Superintendent Walter Dansby and volunteers will go door-to-door on Saturday to give students who have not re-enrolled in school this year a nudge to come back to class.

"Sometimes all they need is a little encouragement and that's what we hope to provide," Dansby said in a news posting on the district's website.

The "Prevail to Graduation Walk" will take place Saturday morning in neighborhoods around several campuses.

Here's the schedule.

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth schools: State of education in FWISD is strong

Fort Worth superintendent Walter Dansby spoke to a sell out crowd of 275 people at the annual State of Education Address today. Here's Thursday's article on the event.

And here's a Fort Worth ISD photo gallery from the luncheon.

"The state of Education in the Fort Worth ISD is strong," the school district said on its website. (There's also a video link).

"Using live comments and a fourteen minute video presentation  the superintendent told the assembled group that improving student achievement starts at the ring of the bell, with choices for students to pursue studies that interest them most and the creation of learning networks," the school district said.

Dansby's address was the keynote speech at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's luncheon, held at the Ridglea Country Club.

Dansby has been with Fort Worth schools for 39 years and is a graduate of Dunbar High School.

Jessamy Brown

 

Arlington's Cavazos' first day of school is a sprint _ and a marathon

Lunch in Arlington High School's snazzy new cafeteria was interim superintendent Marcelo Cavazos' first chance to sit down  since sunup Monday, and he surrounded himself with students.

Cavazos began the day at a school bus stop with students bound for Martin High School, then walked his son Diego into his first day of kindergarten at Key Elementary School. "He seemed excited to be there, and I was, too," the proud dad said. Daughter Theresa is a fourth grader at Key.

Next he toured Ferguson Junior High and sat with kindergarteners at Morton Elementary.

He also visited Wimbish Elementary, where two sixth graders showed him around. "They remembered exactly where they sat in kindergarten," Cavazos said. "Having those types of school experiences are very important."

After lunch, Cavazos was whisked away for stops at Thornton and Starrett elementaries, and a date to go home with some students at Dunn Elementary.

"I'm getting to see the first day at all different levels," he said of his whirlwind tour. "Though they're at different ages and grades, they all have the same excitement and the same motivation."

_Shirley Jinkins

 

Keller district convocation features speeches, awards show spoof

Keller ISD employees kicked off the year Aug. 22 at convocation with speeches wrapped by an awards show spoof.

New Superintendent Randy Reid and Board President Kevin Stevenson gave speeches, and I'll hit the high points in next week's Keller Citizen.

The fun portion of the program featured the "Kisdy Awards" with principals and administrators hamming it up on the red carpet and in videos. Timber Creek staff members and administrators from across the district were the audience for the show in the TCHS Fine Arts Center while other employees watched live feeds at their home campuses.

Much like the Superbowl for non-football fans, the "commercials" were the highlights of the show. Audience members voted on their favorite feeder pattern "commercial."

Hinson celebrates award

The Charger Connection feeder pattern won top honors with their take on "The Office."
Central's David Hinson and Friendship's David Rische got big laughs playing "Michael Scott" and "Dwight" type characters. 

Fossil Ridge feeder pattern leaders did their own version of "Messing with Sasquatch." Was that really Ridge Principal David Hadley in a Chewbacca costume?

Principals in the Keller High feeder pattern lip-synched to "Holding Out for a Hero" with Principal Jeff Bradley saving the school from flooding toilets.

Who knew so many principals in one feeder pattern could sing so well? Timber Creek Principal Todd Tunnell, Caprock's Angie Nayfa and Trinity Springs' Lindsay Anderson sang about "525,600 regulations" and "How about STAARs?"

If you've got the notion, you can check out the show online:

http://ktube.kellerisd.net/education-center/features/XCbKe3lZCPun_IQZh77l?page=2

-- Sandra Engelland

Fort Worth school district convocation: "Success demands singleness of purpose"

UPDATE: The Fort Worth school district has noted a few more details about Superintendent Walter Dansby's Convocation 2012 video message.

Dansby quoted Vince Lombardi as saying that "Success demands singleness of purpose."

In addition to being posted on the district's website, the video also was on the District’s EdTV Channel (Charter Channel 30 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99), the school district said.

The folks behind the endeavor used the school district's 2011-2012 Annual Report "as a compelling visual element and a storytelling guide. (See report here). Pages flipped open revealing the many ways the District is working toward Singleness of Purpose." (Star-Telegram photo by Bob Booth. Dansby addresses audience at a Feb. 2012 event.)

According to the school district, these include:

• "Gold Seal Programs of Choice - the most comprehensive re-design of secondary schools in the nation;
• "Learning Networks – with school leadership directors, liaisons from nearly every district department and content specialists assigned to specific schools;
• "Consistent bell schedules - adding up to several more weeks’ worth of instruction time."

ORIGINAL POST:

Teachers and staff members in Fort Worth ISD are launching their new school year today with a videotaped message from their leader rather than a mass back-to-school rally. Students return to classes on August 27.

Some school districts are moving away from having big gatherings in a central location with guest speakers, choosing instead to offer a video that employee can watch at their campuses.

Fort Worth schools superintendent Walter Dansby, who hosts to 15 minute video, said in a news release that the "virtual Convocation" gives employees the chance to use the extra time to set up their classrooms and prepare for the new school year.

In the video, Dansby discusses the concept of  "Singleness of Purpose."

"I've been pushing teamwork for years. Now I'm talking about greater collaboration and efficiency to prepare our kids for college and the 21st century workplace," he said.

Dansby also mentions that the school district has launched a search for a new student information system for managing student data, which he said "will be proven, user-friendly and it won't add any extra burden to your day."

Dansby noted that the district is using bond savings for projects including culinary arts program upgrades at four high schools.

Further, the district will have an "aggressive push" to sign up parents for the district's Parent Portal, a computer tool that gives parents access to information such as grades, homework assignments and attendance, he said.

Dansby wrapped up the video with these words: "It's a pleasure to welcome back the best teachers and staff in the nation. Let's all be respectful. Let's help one another and let's get back to work."

Jessamy Brown

Two school supply give-away events are set for Saturday

Update:

We learned of another school supplies event scheduled for Saturday morning. It is for families who live in the Como area of Fort worth only (zip code 76107) and geared to students in prekindergarten through college.

Preregistration is over for the Back to School Care & Share School Supply Give-Away. But there will be a limited number of extra school supply backpacks that will be given away on a first come, first served basis, said Chairwoman Joyce Bowens-Thomas.

Requirements: Open to Como residents or those who attend a Como church; provide proof of residency such as a driver's license or utility bill; bring school age children who are pre-kindergarten through 8th grade (students in ninth grade through college don't have to come with a parent/guardian but should bring their school identification).

The event is 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, August 18, Como Montessori School, 4001 Littlepage St., Fort Worth.

This is the fourth year for the event, sponsored by Como Community Churches and Partners. Organizers expect to give away 500 to 700 backpacks of supplies.

Original post:

A year ago, Olga Naranjo launched a Fort Worth-based non-profit to help the community, called Hispano Exito, or Hispanic Success.

About 500 students were served at the group's first Back to School Fiesta to prepare for the school year. This year, at the group's second annual event, Naranjo said she expects to serve 10,000 children from across the Metroplex.

Free backpacks and school supplies will be given on a first come, first served basis. To qualify, the child must be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. If not eligible for those programs, the family income must be below poverty level (bring tax return to prove that). Parents must provide a photo identification (does not have to be government issued) and the child must be present to get the supplies.

And there will be about 70 vendors there to provide information on adult education, English as a Second Language, higher education, immigration and immunizations. Folks can also sign up for a Fort Worth Library card, their free school lunch card and Fort Worth school district's Parent Portal.

The event is in collaboration with the Fort Worth school district and Fellowship of the Parks church in Keller.  Fort Worth schools superintendent Walter Dansby is to give opening remarks and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price will address the crowd  later in the morning.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 18 at the Wilkerson Greines Activity Center, 5201 C.A. Roberson Boulevard, Fort Worth.

Jessamy Brown

 

Fort Worth schools chief: no raises, but hopes extra payment: "conveys our gratitude and respect"

Fort Worth schools superintendent Walter Dansby said he recommended giving employees a one-time payment rather than a salary raise because of a tight budget. 

The schools chief periodically posts a Direct from Walter Dansby letter to employees on the school district's website. In a post late Tuesday, Dansby discussed a proposal to give employees a one-time, one percent payment in October. (Star-Telegram photo: Max Faulkner)

Trustees approved the recommendation unanimously on Tuesday.

Permanent employees who qualify under the program will get a payment equal to one percent of their base salary in 2011-2012. (Dansby himself won't get the extra payment).

"Because of our continued funding challenges, this has been a tough time. In fact, like many districts across the state, we've had to tighten our belts. We've suffered the loss of employees. We've had to reduce and, in some cases, eliminate programs," Dansby wrote. "For this reason, we were unable to recommend a salary increase for the coming school year."

Dansby went on to say that "this is doable because unlike a raise, it's a one-time event and does not carry a continuing financial obligation. I regret that a one-time 1 % incentive in a lump sum is all we can afford at this time. It's a small amount and by no means reflects the value that you bring to our district."

Dansby concluded: "You make the difference -- and we hope in some way this one-time payment conveys our gratitude and respect."

Jessamy Brown