John Haley, Singley Academy Nationally Recognized

In addition to being rated by the Texas Education Agency as Exemplary and Recognized, respectively, John Haley Elementary School and Jack E. Singley Academy have earned national recognition for educational efforts.

John Haley was recognized by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) for growth in math achievement among students. The NCEA’s 2009 Just for the Kids campaign recognition indicates John Haley’s higher improvement rates compared with students at other schools with similar demographics. John Haley will be recognized at an event January 21 at the Dallas ISD boardroom. For more information about NCEA, access www.nc4ea.org.

Singley Academy was recognized by U.S. News & World Report. In the magazine’s Best High Schools 2009 Search, Singley Academy earned a silver medal among the 14 Dallas County schools recognized. A three-step process determined the best high schools. The first two steps ensured that the schools serve all their students well, using state proficiency standards as the benchmarks. For those schools that achieved the first two steps, a third step assessed the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work.

For more information about the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools, access www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools/index.html.

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DATE Pays $2 Million in Awards

The Irving ISD District Awards for Teacher Excellence (DATE) program will pay $2,068,584 in award payments to teachers and certified professional employees by the end of the calendar year.

DATE is a state incentive program created by the Texas Legislature to increase teacher performance and student attendance. Under the current DATE cycle and year, Irving ISD received $2,157,269 to distribute to qualifying educators.  Part 1 funds — $1,446,137 — were allocated to elementary teachers of record in the TAKS assessed grade levels and secondary teachers of record in subject areas tested by TAKS. To qualify, each eligible teacher’s school had to meet the minimum student achievement standards and application requirements outlined in the Irving ISD DATE plan.

Part 2 funds — $711,132 — were allocated to certified professional employees who work on a campus with a Texas Education Agency rating of Recognized or Exemplary. To qualify, each certified professional had to meet the mentoring and application requirements outlined in the district’s plan.

DATE applications were due by September 1. Awards were paid to qualifying applicants in September paychecks. Under Part 1, 459 teachers were each paid an award of $1,413. Under Part 2, 561 certified professionals were each paid an award of $435. In addition, 16 DATE committee members each received a stipend of $490. The committee received a total of 92 appeals which were resolved successfully and awards were paid to those individuals in October or November. 

As approved in the DATE plan, Part 1 funds that remained after initial awards were paid will be divided equally among Part 1 awardees. Likewise, remaining Part 2 funds will be divided equally among Part 2 awardees. Remaining funds will be distributed in December paychecks with Part 1 teachers receiving a final payment of $1,609, and Part 2 awardees receiving a final payment of $574.  By the end of the current cycle and year, 470 Part 1 eligible teachers will have each received a total payment of $3,022, and 642 Part 2 eligible certified professionals will have each received a total payment of $1,009. At the conclusion of the current cycle and year, a total of 1,112 educators at 29 IISD schools will have received $2,068,584 in award payments.

To view the complete IISD DATE plan, access www.irvingisd.net/DATE.

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All-Region Band Results

Students from Irving ISD middle and high schools earned seats in one of three Texas Music Educators Association All-Region bands.

Middle school students earning seats in All-Region bands include those from Bowie Middle School, Crockett Middle School, de Zavala Middle School, Houston Middle School, Lamar Middle School, and Travis Middle School. High school students earning seats are from Irving High School, MacArthur High School and Nimitz High School.

Middle and high school students auditioned for a seat in one of three performing groups: Honor Band, the top group; Symphonic Band, the second group; and Concert Band, the third highest group. All three bands perform a concert, and the middle school All-Region performance will be at Reed Middle School in Duncanville January 16. High school All-Region concert will be at Coppell High School, also on January 16.

For a complete list of IISD students who earned seats in All-Region Bands, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/AllRegionBand.htm.

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Parent Opportunities for Involvement

The IISD Parent & Student Services Department has expanded opportunities in its Parent Involvement Program throughout the past year for parents to take a more active role in the district and in their child’s education.

Through approximately 23 different opportunities, parents are presented with various ways to visit children’s teachers, volunteer at schools, learn to speak with their children about adolescent issues, serve on campus and district committees, and serve as mentors. For a more complete list of opportunities offered by the Parent Involvement Program, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/parentinvolvement.htm.

For more information about IISD Parent & Student Services Department, access www.irvingisd.net/parentstudentservices.

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Fine Arts Holiday Performances

Many IISD elementary and middle schools have presented holiday music performances at various venues in Irving. To view the schedule of remaining holiday performances, access www.irvingisd.net/finearts.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

	The Lively Elementary School Keynote Choir performed for partner in education GE Capital Solutions during the company’s Christmas party December 8.
	The Elliott Elementary School choir, under the direction of music teachers Jetawone Prestwood and Richard Westerdale, performed for central support staff in the Administration Building atrium December 9.
	Nimitz High School’s Madrigal Singers performed at the IISD secondary schools principals’ meeting December 10.
	Townley Elementary School fifth grade students performed holiday music for partner in education Amerisure Insurance Company December 11.
	The Lamar Middle School Girls’ Choir performs before the IISD Board of Trustees Meeting December 14. The choir also performed December 10 in the Administration Building atrium.

To view performances that have been recorded by Irving Schools Television, access the link below:

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Irving ISD Winter Break Schedule

Irving ISD schools will be closed December 21 through January 1 in observance of the winter break holidays. Classes will resume January 4, 2010.

The IISD Administration Building, located at 2621 W. Airport Freeway, will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with limited staffing on December 21, 22, 29 and 30. The Tax Office will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days during the IISD holidays: December 21, 22, 29, 30 and 31.

IISD offices will resume normal operating hours January 4.

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