The Woodridge Fine Arts and Gifted Academy team met with the Advanced Academic Director to discuss program offerings and planning for the 2026–27 school year, as well as to strategize effective recruitment tactics for upcoming campus tours for Choice applications. 

The Pre-K data meeting with Dr. Pena and myself met. This meeting served as a key touchpoint for reviewing student progress and setting mid-year goals. The team analyzed performance data and identified priority areas to support kindergarten readiness. Strategies were outlined to strengthen foundational skills, enhance social-emotional development, and guide targeted interventions for the remainder of the year.

The 2026–27 School Calendar Committee convened to continue planning for next year’s calendar. Committee members worked with teacher focus groups to gather feedback and better understand campus needs. The input collected will be used to guide revisions and ensure the final calendar supports both staff and student success. 

Instructional leaders participated in a Screen-to-Scratch strategy PLC focused on strengthening instructional alignment. The session emphasized the importance of cross-training content leaders to build shared expertise across grade levels and subject areas. Leaders collaborated on best practices to ensure consistent implementation and support campus-wide instructional growth. 

The Frys to Fries( sight word challenge) initiative, hosted by the Teaching and Learning Department, supports early learning by strengthening students’ sight-word knowledge. All K–2 campuses participated in the initiative to promote consistency and high-quality early literacy practices. The collaboration aims to boost foundational reading skills and accelerate student proficiency 

This week was marked by purposeful engagement, collaboration, and instructional focus across campuses and district systems.

On Monday, I participated in the Veterans Day ceremony at DeSoto High School, honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans alongside students, staff, and community members. Later that day, I facilitated a Title I planning conversation with principals and office managers alongside Ms. Bostic to ensure that all Title I campus allocations are strategically utilized for tutoring and essential school supplies, directly supporting student learning and classroom needs.

On Tuesday, I visited Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy (KJTMA) to review teacher-specific data and conduct classroom walkthroughs in U.S. History and Science. During this visit, I collaborated with Principal Hanspard and her leadership team to examine district benchmark data and identify scholars on the cusp of achieving proficiency and mastery targets aligned to state accountability standards.

Wednesday centered on data-driven leadership. I facilitated a District Data Dig meeting with campus and district leaders, during which Chief McCloud presented detailed TEKS-drilled benchmark data to guide next instructional steps and leadership moves. The meeting also included a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) overview session, focused on project-based learning and the development of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills across PK–12 classrooms.

On Thursday, I collaborated with Region 10 consultants during a campus visit to The Meadows Elementary (TME), observing instruction, reviewing data, and assessing systems to promote systemic change and consistency across classrooms. Later that day, I participated in inclusion walks at DeSoto High School with assistant principal Smith to observe current practices, identify gaps, and design next steps toward continuous improvement and equitable support for all learners.

Throughout the week, the Eagle P.R.I.D.E. Huddles and campus walkthroughs continued to highlight excellence in instructional leadership, data use, and student engagement—hallmarks of the district’s unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Finance

 (CONSTRAINT 2)

District Revenues for FY26

 as of November 14, 2025

Maintenance & Operations General Fund (199)

• Local Revenue (57XX): $585,549

• State Revenue Available School Funds (5811): $742,378

• Foundation School Program (5812): $11,454,787

• TRS On-Behalf (5831): $888,982

• SHARS (5931): $0.00

• Indirect Cost (5929-ID): $9,719

• JROTC (5949): $29,969

Child Nutrition (240)

• Local

  • Lunch Revenue (5751): $14,061

• Federal

  • School Breakfast Program (5921): $231,531

  • National Lunch Program (5922): $637,846

  • Federal Distributed by State (5939): $19,125

Debt Service (I&S) Fund (511)

• Local Tax Collections (5711/12/18/19/42): $355,387

Human Capital Management

Substitute Fill Rate:                    70 %

Resignations:                                  2

Terminations:                                  0

Substitute and New 

Hire Onboardings:                           2

New Hires - Sub and FTE:             5

Gri evances:                                    2

Texas Workforce Claims:                1

• 1 - Denial

Departmental/Campus Review:      1

NAVEX Weekly Incident Reporting Summary:

11.07.2025

Student Safety - Student attacked sibling on bus and was a danger to other students 

Campus: Frank D. Moates Elementary

Status: Completed 

Findings: Substantiated

11.12.2025

Other - Harrassment Student to Student Title XI Incident

Campus: Katherine Johnson TMA 

Status: In Progress

Findings: Substantiated

11.12.2025

Student reported to parent that the teacher assistant grabbed them on the arm

Campus: Frank D. Moates Elementary

Status: In Progress

Findings: In Progress

Student & Staff Support Services

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Attendance/Truancy

• Participated in SCG District touch point meeting with Mr. Manning to discuss program updates and alignment. 

• Attended grant budget meeting with Mr. Manning and Ms. Lee to review expenditures and planning.

• Completed Raawee Platform training and meeting to evaluate attendance management solutions. 

• Reviewed Qualtrics proposal for potential impact and engagement platform implementation.

• Conducted two campus attendance meetings and support visits to provide technical assistance.

• Completed one tier 3 campus attendance observation visit for intensive support and intervention planning. 

• Conducted one home visit to support student attendance and family engagement.

• Maintained Daily ADA tracker distribution and monitoring across campuses.

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Child Nutrition

• Met with the Whitsons' State Manager about company and district's concerns about meal rates.

• Worked with finance to set up RevTrak accounts for the Thanksgiving lunches that began on Wednesday of this week. 

• Mrs. Ross and Mrs. Alvarado attended training at Region 10 ESC.

• Dr. Morrow participated in two conference calls with our Region 10 ESC support person regarding the FSMC contract.

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Fine Arts

Cockrell Hill Elementary Starlettes

Performed alongside the DeSoto High School Eaglettes at the Thursday, November 6th football game vs. Lancaster an exciting showcase of future Eaglettes in action!

McCowan Middle School Dance Company & Band

Delivered spirited performances during the athletics Final 4 Pep Rally Fundraiser, energizing the campus and community.

DeSoto High School Band

Successfully hosted the Battle of the Bands and drumline performed on Saturday, November 8th—another dynamic event highlighting musical excellence and school spirit.

Katherine Johnson Middle School Band

Performed during the City of DeSoto Veterans Day Breakfast at Methodist Charlton on November 8th, honoring our veterans through music.

Upcoming Events

DeSoto High School Drumline

Performing at Methodist Charlton's 50th Anniversary Celebration

 November 12 | 5:00 PM

Katherine Johnson Choir

Performing at the City of DeSoto Veterans Gala

November 15 |  7:00 PM | Bluebonnet Room, DeSoto Civic Center

DeSoto High School — Senior Band Students

Traveling to Prairie View A&M University for Band Day on the Hill and on-site scholarship auditions

November 15

Woodridge Ascension Dance Company

Performing at the 3rd Annual “Fly Bird Fly” Dance Festival at Pinkston High School

 November 15 |  2:00 PM

DeSoto High School Dance Company & Choir

Performing for Veterans Recognition Ceremony

Monday, November 10 |  9:30 AM |  DeSoto High School Auditorium

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Safety

• Met with Security Manager Hanspard about the updated procedures for conducting and maintaining weekly door sweep documentation.

• Conducted a welfare check on a parent who has repeatedly picked her child up late at The Meadows

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Student Health

• Leading the revision of health services consent forms to align with Texas Senate Bill 12, ensuring clear differentiation between health-related and general caregiving services, and providing parents with transparent options to opt in or opt out in accordance with state requirements.

• Conducted a comprehensive review of delinquent immunization records across the district to ensure compliance with state health mandates. Collaborated with campus nurses to identify students with missing vaccinations, provide outreach and education, and support timely updates to immunization documentation—promoting student safety and adherence to public health standards.

-----------------------------

Student/Staff Support

• Wellness Wednesday continues to be a meaningful part of our staff support efforts. This week’s Zen Den theme will be centered on physical wellness.  Elemental Yogo will be providing traditional and chair yoga lessons to our staff to provide techniques for daily use.

• We’ve also launched professional development for our campus behavior aides, focusing on restorative practices as well as best practices for our campus Zen Dens. On Friday, November 7 campus behavior aides attended a full day of training in these key areas.  This training supports our commitment to building safe, inclusive environments and equips staff with tools to foster positive student relationships.

• Worked legal and Jarrell ISD regarding complaint filed by a grandparent trying to enroll her grandson in DeSoto ISD.

• Participated in an ARD meeting for a DHS student.

• Attended the Lions Club. We will work to get the school nurses better connected to the Lions for vision support.

Communications

DeSoto ISD Communications Department
Weekly Summary of Work

The Communications Department continues to advance district priorities through strategic storytelling, marketing, training, and stakeholder engagement. Over the past week, the team completed a number of key projects and supported several districtwide initiatives, including:

Marketing & Event Support

• Produced marketing materials for multiple holiday events, including the Superintendent’s Toy Drive and the district’s Thanksgiving Dinner Demonstration.
  
  

• Captured and developed content for upcoming holiday features and Board Trustee Spotlights.
  
  

Storytelling & Media Development

• Published several stories highlighting district events, activities, and student achievements, including coverage of Volleyball Signing Day.
  
  

• Supported a filming visit from Commit in preparation for Superintendent Rodgers’ keynote at the upcoming TSI Summit.
  
  

• Covered last week’s TEA visit focused on character development and SEL initiatives.
  
  

Training, Capacity Building & Departmental Support

• Facilitated presentations and training sessions for Administrative Assistants on the use of Canva and introduced a refreshed branding guide.
  
  

• Held the first monthly meeting with campus and departmental Communications Liaisons to review roles, responsibilities, and communications workflows as part of the department’s capacity-building initiative.
  
  

Website Redesign & Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinated a structured feedback session with executive leadership to gather input on selecting a new district website template.
  
  

Choice Marketing Campaign

• Issued a casting call for student on-camera talent to support Choice program marketing.
  
  

• Continued coordination with media partners to place ad buys that will enhance campaign reach and visibility.
  
  

Community Relations & Strategic Engagement

• Provided notes and support for this week’s Monthly Mayors Stakeholders Breakfast.
  
  

Crisis Communications

• Managed and responded to several crisis matters previously communicated to the Board.
  
  

The Communications team remains committed to elevating district initiatives, strengthening internal and external communications, and supporting the success of all DeSoto ISD scholars and staff.

Technology 

Technology Modernization Overview 

In alignment with DeSoto ISD’s commitment to digital transformation, we are executing a district-wide technology modernization plan focused on: 

• Enhancing learning experiences 

• Strengthening campus safety 

• a operational efficiency 

This multi-pronged initiative reflects our dedication to purpose-driven innovation and operational excellence. 

Key Initiatives 

1. Microsoft Intune Deployment All district-owned devices are now managed via Microsoft Intune, enabling secure, cloud-based administration, app deployment, and full lifecycle oversight. 

2. Student Laptop Upgrades With Windows 10 support ended in October 2025, student laptops are being upgraded to Windows 11-compatible models—prioritizing high schools and aging inventory—to ensure improved performance and access to modern learning tools. 

3. Campus Digital Signage Real-time communication is being enhanced through digital signage installations in front offices, cafeterias, libraries, and athletic facilities. Displays will deliver alerts, event schedules, and student recognition, centrally managed for consistency. 

4. Email Threat Intelligence Abnormal Security flagged 640 email-based attacks last week—a 12.7% increase. Since integration, 33,574 threats have been identified, averaging 91 per day. This upward trend underscores the importance of proactive cybersecurity. 

5. Security Camera Enhancements 

Upgrades to high-definition IP cameras include night vision, motion detection, and law enforcement integration. AI features under review include facial recognition, license plate readers, and behavioral analytics. 

6. Document Management System Review 

Enterprise-grade systems are being evaluated to centralize records and streamline collaboration. Key criteria: FERPA/HIPAA compliance, accessibility, and automation. Stakeholder input is being gathered through pilots and demos. 

7. Bond-Funded Technology Projects Pending bond approval, strategic upgrades include: 

• Chromebook/laptop deployment 

• AV systems for stadiums, gyms, and boardroom 

• Emergency notification and paging systems 

• Baseball field tech (sound and livestreaming) 

• Smart lockdown systems with AI threat detection 

• Expanded security camera coverage 

8. Network Infrastructure Update Developing a comprehensive plan to optimize switch configurations and refine network routing protocols. This strategy aims to strengthen security, reduce latency, and maximize bandwidth utilization. By proactively designing these improvements, we will ensure resilient connectivity, safeguard critical data, and support the district’s growing reliance on cloud-based applications and digital learning environments. 

9. Help Desk Performance October metrics: 

• 50 tickets submitted 

• 46 tickets resolved 

• Avg. resolution time: 36.7 minutes 

• Avg. satisfaction rating: 4.6/5 

These results reflect our commitment to responsive support and continuous improvement. 

10. Phone System Evaluation Modern phone systems are under review to support unified communications, mobile integration, panic button features, and emergency notification compatibility. Pilot programs are complete; recommendations forthcoming. 

11. Abnormal Security Weekly Update (November 3–9, 2025) 

Abnormal Security detected 494 email-based attacks targeting DeSoto ISD over the past week, bringing the total number of attacks since integration to 35,611. This marks a slight decrease of 27 attacks compared to the previous week. The trend indicates a marginal uptick in threat activity. 

Our Commitment 

Through strategic upgrades, cloud-based tools, and expanded digital access, DeSoto ISD is: 

• Empowering students with confidence 

• Equipping staff with efficient tools 

• Creating safe, innovative learning environments 

These efforts reflect our enduring values of integrity, determination, and excellence.

Maintenance & Operations

Work Orders

• There were a total of 104 work orders completed and there are still 36 work orders in progress in the system.

Maintenance Highlights

• .LG systems at Early College - Ongoing

• Still replacing burned out canopy lights at KJ

  1. Working on back side

• Generator at High School is up and running

  1. Still working on McCowan

• Still cleaning trash out on Visitor's side of Ben Dial Stadium

• Installing Cat 5 for security cameras and TV's at McCowan & AG Barn

• Still working on fixing AG Barn fence

  1. Working on gates inside AG Barn

  2. Poured concrete

• Still working on awning for cooling tubs at Ben Dial

  1. Will get worked on when finished with AG Barn fence/gates

• Painting hallways at KJ

• Working on greenhouse at Amber Terrace

  1. Will put timber around border

  2. Getting quote for mulch

• Painting inside of Multipurpose

Groundskeeping

• Regular mowing and weed eating across the district to maintain clean and safe outdoor spaces.

Safety and Security

• Lock Downs-

  • 
    

Fire Drills-

Maintenance

Grounds

• • Mowing and weed eating around district