Teaching & Learning (CONSTRAINT 1)

• Our Research and Evaluation Team is excited to launch a dedicated Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) newsletter, set to debut the first week of September. This monthly update will feature data-driven insights, program updates, success stories, and valuable resources—all designed to support TIA implementation and highlight educator impact. Stay tuned! 

• Our CCMR team is proud to be part of a Best Southwest cohort. Through regular meetings, we analyze data, reflect on successes, and collaborate with each district to share strategies and gain new insights. These sessions help strengthen our efforts to support student readiness and continuous improvement and ultimately ensure our scholars are post secondary ready.

• Cockrell Hill Elementary has been selected to join the Literacy Lab cohort in partnership with Best Southwest literacy leaders. As part of this initiative, the campus will focus on monitoring key K–2 literacy targets aligned directly with our Board Goal for early literacy. The work will center on foundational components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This collaboration will support data-driven instruction and strengthen early reading outcomes for our youngest learners. 

• We are currently planning an AP Parent Meeting to share important program details, introduce our AP teaching staff, and provide insight into the long-term academic and college-readiness benefits of AP coursework. We’re collaborating with Dr. Darden and the DHS administrative team to finalize the date and time. More information will be shared soon—we look forward to engaging with our AP families and building continued support for student success. 

• This month’s professional development sessions will engage all departments, with a strong focus on supporting our inclusion teachers. Staff will explore effective strategies, practical tools, and targeted resources designed to enhance instructional practices and accelerate student progress. Our goal is to ensure all educators feel equipped to meet diverse learner needs and foster meaningful academic growth across classrooms. 

Partnership with DeSoto Police Department Superhero at Amber Terrace

School Leadership (CONSTRAINT 3) 

This week, campus leaders across DeSoto ISD have been laser-focused on establishing strong systems to ensure a positive, productive start to the school year. Principals, assistant principals, and instructional leaders are executing daily walkthroughs with a sharp focus on student engagement and adherence to EAGLE Zone expectations. This consistent presence in classrooms reinforces a culture of high expectations while providing immediate coaching and support for teachers.

Simultaneously, leaders are ensuring the flawless execution of Beginning-of-Year (BOY) i-Ready assessments. Campuses have implemented device readiness checks, active monitoring, and calm, supportive testing environments to ensure accurate and reliable data. This data will form the foundation for small-group instruction, WIN Time, and targeted interventions beginning immediately after the assessment window closes.

Instructional rounds this week highlighted strong alignment to district priorities. At campuses such as Amber Terrace, The Meadows Elementary, and Woodridge Elementary, classrooms demonstrated purposeful use of slide decks, clear learning objectives, and structured lessons. Notable strengths included positive school climates and intentional support for new teachers. Opportunities for growth include reinforcing hallway transitions, consistent cell phone expectations, and ensuring success criteria are student-friendly and referenced throughout lessons.

These efforts are already creating calmer, more predictable learning environments where students can thrive and teachers can focus on delivering high-quality Tier I instruction. With the upcoming launch of PLCs next week, campuses are finalizing norms, agendas, and data protocols to ensure collaborative planning is strategic and impactful. This alignment will accelerate instructional consistency and student achievement.

This work is critical for the Board’s priorities, ensuring a safe and orderly start to the year, reliable assessment data, and consistent systems that drive academic growth. It reflects the district’s PRIDE values—Purpose and Professionalism in preparation, Respect and Relationships in creating welcoming climates, Integrity in assessment practices, Determination in real-time coaching, and Excellence in every detail of execution.

As these systems take root, we anticipate higher-quality instructional data, stronger classroom engagement, and a smoother launch of collaborative PLCs. Together, these actions are building the foundation for measurable student growth and a culture of excellence that reflects the vision and expectations of the Board.

Finance (CONSTRAINT 2)

• District Revenues for FY26 as of August 15, 2025

• FUND 199 - General Operating

• Local Revenue (57XX): $47,185

• 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): $74,448

•    State Program Revenue (5829): $0.00

Human Capital Management

This week, Human Capital Management began the leveling process to ensure that each campus has the appropriate number of teachers following student/teacher ratios and grade level staffing formulas.

HCM met with campus leaders in order to:

• Evaluate campus student enrollment numbers

• Compare campus enrollment to staff allocation numbers

• Determine campus needs based on student enrollment

• Determine campus status (overstaffed vs understaffed)

Based on enrollment numbers, we were able to reduce teacher allocations by 6 positions.

• 3 at Woodridge

• 2 at Moates

• 1 at Katherine Johnson

These adjustments will add back to the budget and support the overall financial efficiency.

Student & Staff Support Services

In the ongoing effort to assist campuses, the Student and Staff Support Services team has been proactive in addressing various challenges. Dr. Morrow collaborated with Mr. Miller and the Regional Director for First Student Transportation to swiftly resolve the transportation issues the district faced during the first week of school. Notably, the frequency of calls to Mr. Miller has been declining, indicating progress.

Dr. Morrow also held a conference call with Andrea Acosta from the Texas School Safety Center to discuss the district's Emergency Operations Procedures. The window for submitting the first draft of this plan opens September 2, 2025, with the goal of submitting it during that week. To ensure its readiness, Dr. Morrow and Ms. Acosta have scheduled a follow-up meeting next week, during which Ms. Acosta will provide an unofficial review of the draft prior to official submission.

Mr. Manning has been focused on organizing training for the district's Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Character initiatives, ensuring that materials are distributed to all campuses. The upcoming training sessions, set for next Friday, will concentrate on Safe & Civil Schools. In addition to these initiatives, Mr. Manning is working on the Student Code of Conduct with legal guidance.

Mrs. Anderson is actively advancing the Fine Arts department by providing support to teachers and principals regarding their needs and inquiries. We are excited to announce the first district fine arts event, DeSoto ISD Family Arts Night, which Mrs. Anderson and the Parent Engagement team have organized collaboratively.

Additionally, Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Gipson, and Dr. Morrow have been monitoring outside temperatures and adjusting their practices to ensure the safety of students. The conditions for band practices can often be intense, as the heat on concrete surfaces can be significantly higher than that on turf. We appreciate the efforts of the Band Staff in prioritizing the well-being of our student musicians.

Lastly, the district has partnered with CassiaK12 to aid in the recruitment of students who have left the district. The team responsible for this initiative had its introductory call today, and the recruitment campaign will commence as soon as the necessary data points are obtained. The goal for this initiative is to recruit  students back into the district.

Communications

The Communications Department continues to strategically advance the district’s visibility, engagement, and compliance efforts through proactive storytelling, campaigns, and system development. This week’s work reflects strong alignment to district priorities and measurable impact.

Compliance and Systems Development

• Parents’ Bill of Rights Portal: The team is building a dedicated webspace to ensure compliance with state requirements mandating an online portal where families and community stakeholders can submit questions, concerns, and feedback to campuses and district departments.
  
  

• Branding and Operational Tools: Work is underway to establish districtwide Canva and Smore accounts to streamline consistent branding and improve staff access to communications tools.
  
  

• Professional Development: The department will lead a PD session for administrative assistants on communications systems and supports.
  
  

• Strategic Priorities: Finalization of departmental strategic priorities to align with the district’s aggressive communications goals.
  
  

Media Relations and Storytelling

• Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy: In celebration of Katherine Johnson’s birthday, the team reshaped campus observations into a media pitch linking Johnson’s legacy with STEM and aspirational opportunities at KJTMA. The pitch was accepted by two regional networks and featured on CBS 11 by Steve Pickett.

•  The team is coordinating a tentative appearance on WFAA set for September 5, aligned with the opening of a new exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Library. This live broadcast, airing during WFAA’s morning news from 5–9 a.m., is projected to generate nearly $40,000 in airtime equivalence.

• The team is working with the College Football Playoffs Philanthropic Organization to coordinate a donation press conference at The Meadows Elementary on Sept. 16 to present a gift to CityYear.

• Board Meeting Coverage: Published stories covering board actions from the August 25 meeting, including:
  
  

  • Professional appointments.
    
    

  • MOU with Dallas College supporting the para-to-teacher pipeline.
    
    

  • MOU with Education is Freedom supporting CCMR efforts.
    
    

  • Grant approval from Texas Trust Credit Union to establish a student uniform and winter wear closet.

Campaigns and Initiatives

• Attendance Matters Month (September):
  
  

  • Theme: Every Day Counts
    
    

  • Four-Part Video Series: Weekly features spotlighting staff, community partners, judicial perspectives, and student voices.
    
    

    • Installment 1: Prevention Through Partnerships – Aijon Lair.
      
      

    • Installment 2: Building Healthy Attendance Habits – Angela Stanley.
      
      

    • Installment 3: Judicial Perspective – City of DeSoto Truancy Judge.
      
      

    • Installment 4: Scholar Voices – Middle and high school students.
      
      

  • Family Tips for Attendance Success: Practical strategies such as routines, planning ahead, scheduling smart, communicating early, and celebrating attendance wins.
    
    

  • Narrative Shift: Campaign reframes attendance from punitive enforcement to proactive partnership and support.
    
    

• Hispanic Heritage Month: Developing a multimedia observance plan including:
  
  

  • Social media video series.
    
    

  • Scholar-led photo reflections of culture and heritage.
    
    

  • Written coverage highlighting inspirational historical figures.
    
    

• Homecoming 2025: Content development underway for written, video, and graphic resources promoting the annual community parade and events.
  
  

Internal Communications

• Published PRIDE Huddle recaps, employee newsletters, PD newsletters, and distributed staff training reminders.

• Drafted revised heat advisory protocols for leaders, coaches and nurses inclusive of a WAIP memo and directives and a parent notification. The team also created a process for daily notification of recommendations for outdoor activity to leaders and sponsors.

• ISC admin assistants received calls regarding community member interest in visiting a school to confirm campuses were in compliance with the proposed 10 commandments updates. The department drafted talking points to support addressing such questions for future reference.

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District Highlights Published

• DHS STEM Camp (first-day instruction spotlight).
  
  

• DHS Culinary Arts scholars catering a TEA/Educate Texas/CFT event.
  
  

• Parent conference nights promotion.
  
  

• Upcoming Arts Engagement Series.
  
  

• CTE Middle School Showcase.
  
  

• Sept. 11 College Fair.
  
  

• National Gear Up Week.
  
  

Marketing and Impact

• Enrollment Marketing Campaign:
  
  

  • Streaming television ads achieved ~3 million views with an above-industry click-through rate of 0.18% (benchmark: 0.08–0.12%).
    
    

  • Campaign success directly supported the district in meeting and exceeding projected enrollment.
    
    

  • Attrition has dropped to 3% (down from 16% two years ago), demonstrating long-term return on investment.
    
    

• Staffing: A recommended candidate for an open role rescinded their acceptance, prompting the department to re-engage the candidate pool. Despite staffing challenges, team members have provided additional effort to ensure continuity in departmental work.
  
  

Special thanks to all members of the Communications Department for extending themselves this week to sustain progress and impact in the face of lean staffing.

Summary:
The Communications Department continues to demonstrate measurable impact through proactive campaigns, strong media relationships, strategic storytelling, compliance-focused systems, and marketing outcomes. This week’s work advances DeSoto ISD’s goals of improving student attendance, celebrating diversity, strengthening family engagement, and maintaining consistent district branding—all while delivering results that directly support enrollment growth and retention.

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.

7.  Students can now change their own passwords, giving them greater control over their login credentials and enhancing security across campus systems. This self-service feature streamlines access and supports a more secure digital environment. Meanwhile, the IT department is actively working on a new capability that will allow teachers to reset passwords for students enrolled in their classes—making classroom tech support even more efficient.

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

Capital Needs:

We are reviewing older AC units that requires replacement, and identifying long-term solutions.

Additionally, we are currently addressing plumbing issues with a focus on permanent fixes. These are the two most critical infrastructure needs currently under review.

Safety and Security:  

The following safety concerns arose and were quickly distilled this week:

DeSoto High School: 

• Four nicotine vapes

• Three THC vapes (with all 3 transported to DeSoto PD) 

Safety drills: 

The following schools completed safety drills this week:

• High School-Fire Drill 

• DAEP -Fire and Hold drill complete

• McCowan-SRO Davis and Officer Washington conducted an active shooter drill during lunches to ensure scholars know where to hide.

• Woodridge-Fire Drill

• CHE-Fire Drill

Safety Concerns:

Investigating recent incidents and vape-related issues.

Developing strategies to deter future occurrences and maintain a safe, positive learning environment.

Impact on Students & Schools:

These efforts create a learning environment that is safe, reliable, and supportive of academic success.

By proactively addressing facilities and safety, we demonstrate pride in the district and a purposeful approach to improving student outcomes.

Core Values in Action

Integrity: Staff take concerns seriously and act decisively to prepare schools for learning.

Determination: Despite lean staffing, teams continue to complete impactful projects.

Excellence: Through commitment and perseverance, we provide staff and students with an environment conducive to learning and growth.