Teaching & Learning (CONSTRAINT 1)

• Our Construction Pathway met team met with construction owners, Region 10 with Eugene Walker to discuss potential internships and apprenticeships for students, 

• Slidedecks are in full action from Kindergarten to High School Core Content. Our Academic Facilitators and Instruction Design Leaders are focusing on two main areas for the next two weeks. 1) Instructional Environment 2) Slidedeck Implementation and Feedback. Week 3 we will officially launch our PLCs as we will be looking forward with lesson internalization. (Professional Learning Community- Meetings

• Students in Culinary Arts catered the Communities Foundation event and received rave reviews. 

• Special Pops Update 

• The Special Populations team onboarded all evaluators and service providers. During this time they able to understand the district mission and vision and expectations of their role. 

• We want to ensure that all service providers have a clear expectations of our district priorities and urgency around student support. 

• With this support we expect that quality record keeping of student information, consistent progress monitoring, and 100% compliance. 

School Leadership (CONSTRAINT 3) 

Focus Areas:
Leaders are reinforcing high expectations and delivering a “Ritz Carlton” level of service through daily instructional walkthroughs, real-time teacher coaching, and proactive family engagement. In the EAGLE Zone, the emphasis is on engaging instruction—starting each lesson with a clear Learning Objective, unpacked with students, and revisited during guided practice to deepen understanding.

Leadership Involvement:
Principals, assistant principals, and campus leadership teams are collaborating to ensure consistent support and expectations across campuses.

Instructional Rounds Highlights:
Strengths: Use of slide decks, posted objectives, and student engagement strategies like turn-and-talks.
Opportunities: More consistent revisiting of Learning Objectives during guided practice to reinforce learning.

Impact:
Students gain clarity and confidence in their learning. Teachers benefit from immediate feedback that strengthens instructional delivery and alignment with district goals.

Anticipated Results:
Improved engagement, stronger instruction, better formative assessments, and increased student achievement.

Board Alignment:
Supports Strategic Goals 1 & 2 by promoting rigorous learning and building teacher capacity.

PRIDE in Action:
Demonstrates Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence in leadership and instruction.

Celebrations:

• KJ Magnet: Effective instructional strategies

• Secondary Classrooms: Clear objectives and purposeful teaching

• Principal Hanspard: Strong leadership

• Dr. Johnson, Cardell, Coca: Enrollment support at DHS

• Dr. Morrow: Parent and operational support

• Ajion Lair: Enrollment support at The Meadows ES

• Metric Manning: Student support and vaping prevention

Closing Note:
Momentum is building—EAGLE Pride is unmistakable in DeSoto ISD!

District Revenues for FY26 as of August 8, 2025

FUND 199 - General Operating

Local Revenue (57XX): $16,409

State Revenue

  Available School Funds (5811): $0.00

  Foundation School Program (5812): $0.00

TRS On-Behalf (5831): $213,353

Federal Revenue

Indirect Cost Revenue (5929-ID): $0.00

SHARS (5931): $0.00

JROTC (5949): $14,223

FUND 240 - Child Nutrition

  Lunch Revenue (5751): $0.00

  Child Nutrition Breakfast (5921): $0.00

  Child Nutrition Lunch (5922): $0.00

  State Revenue (5829): $0.00

  US Department of Agriculture (5939): $0.00

FUND 511 - Debt Service

   Local Tax Collections (5711/12/18/19): $62,086

   State Program Revenue (5829): $0.00

Human Capital Management

August was a very busy month for the Human Capital Management department.  We conducted 15 professional development sessions.  with substitutes (60), returning faculty, and three new teacher orientations. The sessions canvassed district expectations, policy & procedure, and ethics.   While our fill rate is 90%, many of our dedicated and returning substitutes, were able to help us have a strong start to school with a caring adult in every classroom.  Our work exemplifies the P in PRIDE, as we are focused on the mission in every decision we make as we recruit and retain highly qualified professionals for our students. 

Student & Staff Support Services

Student & Staff Support Services have experienced an exceptionally productive month, engaging in numerous initiatives to enhance the educational environment. Our dedicated team collaborated closely with operations to successfully distribute over 1,000 individual student supply kits across various events and campuses. During the Enrollment Fair and Open Houses, team members warmly handed out more than 600 kits to families, ensuring that students were well-equipped for their academic journeys. Additionally, our presence at the Glenn Heights Back to School event allowed us to connect with the community and further support students and their families. 

Mr. Manning has been at the forefront of the district's mission to excel in championing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) initiatives. His efforts to partner with organizations such as Character Counts and Safe Civil Schools have led to the effective coordination of training sessions for district staff. In collaboration with Plant Services, he ensured that essential supplies were readily available in classrooms, setting a constructive atmosphere for the first day of school. Teachers provided students with a comprehensive overview of the SEL program and distributed valuable materials to facilitate their understanding and engagement. 

Our team has also worked diligently alongside legal advisors and neighboring districts to develop a robust policy in compliance with HB 1481 concerning vaping regulations. A thorough guide has been created for campus leaders to navigate the protocols for handling vape offenses effectively. Recently, we encountered our first non-THC vaping incident, prompting Dr. Morrow to explore educational platforms that could serve to inform and educate students about the dangers associated with vaping. 

Finally, every team member has stepped up to support various campuses and departments, addressing the unique challenges that arise during the first days of school. This spirit of service not only fosters collaboration among staff but also provides invaluable opportunities for connecting with students and their parents during this often hectic yet exciting time of year.

Communications

• At DeSoto ISD, we believe “You can go to school anywhere, but you can SOAR in DeSoto ISD.” That belief is driving our bold new 2025 Enrollment Campaign.

• Here’s a quick look at the strategy behind the storytelling:

📊 Data-Driven Targeting

We identified and targeted ~20 zip codes near DeSoto ISD using demographic overlays focused on families with children ages 0–18. This helped us meet prospective families where they are—online, on the road, and on the airwaves.

📡 Smart Deployment Channels

• Our multi-tiered campaign is running across:

• Broadcast & Streaming tv and radio, web and social ads and digital billboards in high-traffic competitor zones. With the increased visibility of the WNBA in conjunction with the timing of our campaign, we placed a special flight during Dallas WINGS games to maximize visibility with a potential average viewership of 1.5M.

🎥 Creative Content with Purpose

• We developed a full suite of branded assets—video, audio, and static—that showcase the excellence, opportunity, and success found within DeSoto ISD highlighting the Triple-A Experience of Academics, Arts and Athletics and the unique opportunities we have to support scholars' unique aspirations.

💰 Strategic Stewardship

• The campaign's total investment will be recouped through revenue accrued by the addition of a small number new students to the district as a result of the campaign under Texas' ADA funding model. Based on early estimations, the campaigns will add almost 20x the initial investment even should the camapaign perform at a level less than expected.

• That’s strategy—and stewardship—in motion. This is more than marketing. It's an intentional, data-informed effort to amplify our brand, grow enrollment, and ultimately invest in the future of our students and community.

• To date, data shows more than 700 new families to DeSoto resulting in an estimated #3M+ in added ADA-based funding and we’re excited to share ongoing results as the campaign continues—and even more excited to welcome new families ready to soar.   

Additional Areas of Focus

• Completion of Convocation Sponsorships which accrued $12,300 in support for convocation to offset costs to produce the event.

• Enrollment communications 

• Academic Accountability Ratings reporting

• Back to School Coverage and recaps

• Drafted plans for departmental website overhauls set to commence in October as phase II of web overhaul. 

• Organizing and training campus-based communications liaisons and administrative assistants for August and September 2025.

• Designing and scheduling principal spotlights for National Principals Month and Hispanic Heritage Month.

• Update and revision of branding assets and kit to complete repository and reintroduction.

• Revision and update of departmental guides and systems.

• Staffing: Resolution of coordinator vacancy

Regular and recurring work:

• Open Records Requests

• Calendaring

• Media Relations

• Content Development

• Internal and External Newsletters

Technology 

In alignment with our district’s strategic vision for digital transformation, we are launching a comprehensive technology modernization initiative. 

1. Microsoft Intune Deployment

To improve device management and bolster cybersecurity, we have implemented Microsoft Intune across all district-owned devices. This cloud-based platform enables remote management, policy enforcement, and streamlined application deployment. Intune also supports our device initiative by simplifying provisioning, tracking, and lifecycle management.  

2. Student Device Upgrades

With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025, we are proactively upgrading student laptops to Windows 11-compatible models. This ensures continued access to security updates, modern learning tools, and enhanced performance. Rollout is prioritized for high school students and campuses with aging hardware.

3. Digital Signage Expansion

To enhance campus communication and engagement, digital signage is being installed in high-traffic areas such as front offices, cafeterias, libraries, and athletic facilities. These displays will deliver real-time announcements, emergency alerts, event schedules, and student recognition, all managed centrally for consistency and efficiency.

4. Student Device Distribution

As part of our district-wide laptop initiative, every student will have access to a district-issued device for academic use. Distribution events are coordinated with campus leadership to ensure smooth rollout, including orientation sessions, digital citizenship training, and access to support resources. Devices are tagged, enrolled in Intune, and preloaded with essential educational applications.

5. Campus Security Camera Enhancements

To strengthen campus safety, we are upgrading our security cameras with high-definition IP cameras featuring night vision and motion detection. These enhancements improve visibility, incident response, and integration with law enforcement. Additionally, we are exploring AI-powered surveillance capabilities such as facial recognition, license plate readers, and behavioral analytics.

6. Bond-Funded Technology Projects

We are actively collaborating with vendors to scope and implement a series of bond-funded technology upgrades, including:

• Chromebook Deployment: Devices for students to support digital learning.

• Audio-Visual Upgrades: Enhancements to stadiums, auditorium, gymnasiums, and the board room with modern AV systems, including large-format displays, wireless microphones, and streaming capabilities.

• Bells and Paging Systems: Modernization of campus-wide communication systems for daily operations and emergency alerts.

• Baseball Field Technology: Installation of  sound systems, and infrastructure for live streaming.

• Emergency Notification Systems: Integrated alerts via intercoms, digital signage, mobile apps, and classroom devices.

• Smart Lockdown Systems: Automated door locking and alerting systems triggered by panic buttons or AI-based threat detection.

Our commitment to purpose-driven education guides every initiative we undertake. Through a comprehensive technology modernization plan, we are upgrading student devices, implementing cloud-based management tools, and expanding access to digital learning across all grade levels—ensuring every student is equipped to achieve meaningful results.

We are enhancing communication and safety through modern infrastructure and smart technologies, creating a connected and secure environment where students and staff can thrive. These efforts reflect our unwavering integrity, determination, and pursuit of excellence as we prepare students to lead and succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Maintenance & Operations

• The maintenance team was hard at work ensuring that all campuses were prepared for the first day of school.  The team worked evenings and weekends to make certain our buildings were ready for our scholars. 

• Our new Operations Coordinator Donald Miller has hit the ground running.  Working collaboratively with district officials and First Student to address transportation concerns. 

• Transportation experienced several issues with routing due to updates to the elementary zones which impacted the middle schools.  The issue has been addressed. 

• The district SROs collected 5 Vapes at DHS.  Two were found to be THC leading to the arrest of two students.  The Vape incidents only occurred at DHS. 

• Security team members have began conducting daily door checks and sweeps. 

• The Operations and Security teams have been hard at work exhibiting Eagle PRIDE by ensuring a clean, safe and secure environment for our scholars.