iReady Prize Patrol is Set for Tomorrow:

The iReady celebrations for the month of September took place this week to honor WRE for achieving the highest percentages of accuracy in both reading and math. Prize Patrol was held on Friday, October 10th. Dr. Buford and the team were excited to celebrate our scholars’ outstanding achievements! 

Post Secondary Readiness Collaboration Meeting  was a Success

We recently met with DHS campus leadership, the CCMR team, counseling staff, and Education is Freedom to align resources and develop a coordinated plan of action to enhance post-secondary readiness for our students. This collaboration aims to ensure students are well-supported as they prepare for life beyond high school.

Gifted and Talented Update 

The Talented and Gifted department is currently testing students while the GT Specialist is providing support to our GT families. Additionally, planning is underway for upcoming GT field trips to enrich our scholars’ learning experiences. 

Spelling Bee Planning Underway 

Spelling Bee planning is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more excited to launch this year’s competition! Our team is working hard to organize an engaging and challenging event that will showcase the incredible spelling talents of our scholars. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage academic excellence, boost confidence, and foster a love for language. 

Teachers of the Year Celebrated World Teacher's Day at City Council Meeting

School Leadership (CONSTRAINT 3) 

This week, campus and district leaders were focused on ensuring readiness for upcoming district benchmark assessments, strengthening distributive leadership structures, and keeping school culture positive through intentional recognition and student engagement initiatives.

At Moates Elementary, I joined Principal Paraham to review campus trends, conduct walkthroughs, and support distributive leadership moves with grade-level leaders. Our conversation emphasized benchmark readiness, ensuring testing accommodations are in place, and leveraging the campus STAAR goal to drive planning and data-informed instruction. Teachers are receiving clear direction on how to prioritize instructional time, and students benefit from stronger alignment of support.

At McCowan Middle School, leadership work centered on distributive leadership as well, with department leads engaged in supporting school priorities. We also reviewed benchmark preparation, accommodations, and celebrated student and teacher achievements. Notably, McCowan was represented at the City Council’s World Teachers’ Day proclamation, where last year’s Teachers of the Year and our scholar ambassador were recognized, a proud moment for our district.

On Tuesday, I joined Dr. Darden, SPED case managers, and the Special Education team at DeSoto High School to prioritize completion of compliance components. This work ensures students with special needs are supported on time and in line with TEA requirements. That same day, I facilitated a working lunch with all principals, focused on disaggregating data as it pertains to the state accountability system. We also launched the “Get Your Glow Back” Fall Break Challenge, which motivates students to complete i-Ready lessons during the nine-day break. Students meeting the goal of 20 minutes per content (Reading and Math) daily with 85% accuracy will be rewarded with a glow bracelet dance party when they return.

On Wednesday, I participated in the weekly Executive Leadership Training, where Ms. Lunkin delivered an excellent professional learning session equipping us with tools to enhance the design and delivery of presentations and professional learning experiences. Additionally, I joined the NAVEX Lunch & Learn with campus leaders, which focused on ensuring that all campus and district leaders fully understand DeSoto ISD’s reporting protocols and remain in compliance with both TEA requirements and the law.

On Thursday, Ms. Hicks and I participated in a Region 10 training on instructional leadership. Together, we began planning professional learning for her November 7th session with staff, centered on strengthening observation and feedback practices as well as reinforcing PLC structures.

Through this week’s work, leaders are reinforcing a culture of distributed ownership, accountability, and celebration. 

This work matters to the Board because it directly connects to our student achievement goals and compliance commitments. It demonstrates P.R.I.D.E.—Purpose in goal-setting, Results through data-informed practice, Integrity in compliance, Determination to sustain learning momentum, and Excellence in celebrating our staff and students.

Finance (CONSTRAINT 2)

District Revenues for FY26

 as of October 3, 2025

Maintenance & Operations General Fund (199)

• Local Revenue (57XX): $19,733

•  State Revenue Available School Funds (5811): $499,678

•  Foundation School Program (5812): $4,087,523

• TRS On-Behalf (5831): $664,857

• SHARS (5931): $98,561

• JROTC (5949): $18,114

Child Nutrition (240)

• Breakfast Revenue (57xx): $0.00

• Lunch Revenue (5751): $7,197

Debt Service (I&S) Fund (511)

• Local Tax Collections (5711/12/18/19/42): $91,461

Petroleum Update as of 10.03.25

Fuel updates will be given at the end of each month.  The next report will show on the 10.31.25 board update.

***School Finance Tidbits***

• What is LOCAL REVENUE?  So glad you asked! Local revenue is made up of the following:  

  • Tax Revenue.  Funds are derived from local tax collections.  However, these funds can show a deficit due to tax protest, attorney fees, etc..  We receive payment each month in small increments during July - November and February - June.  Some months, receipts are as low as $.46.  In December - January, we receive a receipt as high at $15,136,877. 

  • Earning from Investments. These receipts come from interest earned from our operating and investment banking account. They are recorded in both fund 199 and 511.

  • Miscellaneous Deposits are receipt such as athletic receipts, facility rentals, technology cost recapture, rebates from prior year invoices, etc...

Human Capital Management

1. Certification Assessment Preparation Fall Break Sessions

   • Information was distributed for upcoming sessions on October 14 & 16, 2025 to support uncertified teachers preparing for certification.

2. Cockrell Hill Elementary Principal Profile Survey

   • Survey was revised based on campus staff feedback to better reflect the needs and priorities of the school community.

3. Principal Profile Development Meeting

   • Held an initial meeting with Cockrell Hill Elementary staff to begin collaborative development of the principal profile.

4. Procedo Collaboration

   • Partnered with Procedo to ensure state and district compliance for contracted staff, reinforcing alignment with regulatory standards.

5. Metrics That Matter Initiative

   • Launched a new initiative to track and analyze key HR data points that impact organizational performance and employee experience.

6. Hybrid Work Day – October 3, 2025

   • All employees participated in a hybrid work day focused on completing compliance trainings and required modules.

7. NAVEX Lunch & Learn – Session 2

   • Conducted the second session on Incident Management (October 8) to support the rollout of the NAVEX platform and reinforce reporting protocols.

Student & Staff Support Services

Attendance

• C

Child Nutrition

• A new dishwasher was installed and brought online at College Prep. Additional dishwashers will be installed next week during Fall Break.

• Bi-Weekly Meeting with Whitsons management team. Regional Vice President Dennis Gomez attended the meeting. Whitsons is wanting to make DeSoto ISD their "showcase" district for Texas. Other topics discussed during the meeting were:

-Deli Option at DHS Main

-Serving Lines

-Smallwares

-Health Inspections

Fine 

Fine Arts 

• This week in DeSoto ISD Fine Arts, our students and staff showcased excellence, culture, and community pride across the district!

• DeSoto Eagle Band & Eaglettes proudly represented DeSoto ISD during Texas Night Out, performing in support of the DeSoto Police Department and helping bring the community together through music and dance.

• Theater Department @ DHS attended Bishop Arts Theatre to support our very own Woodridge Elementary Art Teacher, who is starring in King Hedley II — a powerful production written by August Wilson.

• McCowan Middle School hosted a stellar Hispanic Heritage Program on Thursday, while many Fine Arts groups across all campuses—including our elementary programs—performed at the District Hispanic Heritage Celebration, filling the event with music, dance, art, and pride in our diverse cultural heritage.

• A huge congratulations to Aidan White, one of our High School Band students, who submitted his TMEA All-State Jazz audition recording on Wednesday at Waxahachie High School. The entire city is cheering you on, Aidan!

• Fine Arts has officially launched its social media pages! Stay connected and follow us across all platforms at @DeSotoFineArts to see highlights, performances, and updates from every campus.

Parent Engagement

• Completed Goals Night support for the middle school and high school campuses, ensuring both events met Title I documentation requirements and that campuses are prepared to upload their materials to the Title I Crate. 

• Provided guidance to campuses on proper documentation and family engagement expectations to maintain compliance across all sites.

• Received and began organizing information for 150 students attending the Strong Youth Strong Community Summit on October 21. This includes coordinating transportation, permission slips, and communication with participating campuses to ensure a seamless experience for students and staff.

• Continued planning for the All Pro Dad Launch Party, finalized captain organization for the All Pro Dad initiative, and 

• Maintained communication with campuses to strengthen PTA participation and upcoming family engagement events. 

• Mrs. Harden and Mrs. Lee attended to Voly training to learn how to better support and track volunteers.

These efforts collectively support the district’s mission of building strong family partnerships, ensuring compliance, and promoting community pride and involvement.

Student Health

• Working on mass casualty triage training for nurses. This training aligns and supports the district's Emergency Operation Procedures

• Continued work on the Communicable Disease Annex, which will be incorporated into the E.O.P.

• Developing a presentation for Special Population classroom assistants

School Safety & Security

• The district added six Behavioral Threat Assessment-certified staff members this week. These staff members can support their own campuses as well as provide support to other campuses if needed.

Student Support

• Stronger Connections Grant - This week, some campus principals and staff attended a training session where we shared information with Region 10 and the Texas Center for Student Support (TCSS) about the initiatives underway in DeSoto ISD. As a result, TEA has requested to visit our district as a potential showcase campus.

• Student Support Teams - this week, campuses began meeting with their Student Support Teams (SST) to establish norms, routines, and a cadence for reviewing campus initiatives as well as students of concern. 

• The ISC Zen Den is on track to be completed by the end of the month. It will provide our staff with the opportunity to break away and disengage if they are having a particularly hectic day.

Technology 

In support of DeSoto ISD’s strategic vision for digital transformation, we are launching a district-wide technology modernization plan focused on:

• Enhancing learning experiences

• Strengthening campus safety

• Increasing operational efficiency

This initiative spans multiple focus areas and reflects our unwavering commitment to purpose-driven education and innovation.

1. Microsoft Intune Rollout

To reinforce cybersecurity and streamline device management, Microsoft Intune has been deployed across all district-owned devices. This cloud-based platform enables:

• Remote administration and policy enforcement

• Efficient app deployment and updates

• End-to-end device lifecycle management

2. Student Laptop Upgrades

With Windows 10 support ending in October 2025, we are proactively upgrading student laptops to Windows 11-compatible models. These new devices offer:

• Improved performance and security

• Access to modern learning tools

• Priority rollout for high school students and campuses with aging hardware

3. Campus Digital Signage

To improve communication across campuses, digital signage is being installed in:

• Front offices

• Cafeterias

• Libraries

• Athletic facilities

These displays will deliver real-time updates, emergency alerts, event schedules, and student recognition—centrally managed for consistency and impact.

4. Threat Intelligence Summary

• Over the past week, Abnormal Security has identified a notable increase in email-based threats targeting DeSoto ISD. The platform continues to provide proactive protection against advanced attacks, ensuring the safety of our users and systems.

Attack Overview

• Total Attacks Blocked Since Integration: 32,347

• Attacks Blocked in the Last 7 Days: 585

• Week-over-Week Change: ↑ 23 attacks compared to the previous 7-day period

• This upward trend highlights the evolving nature of threat actors and their tactics. The increase may be attributed to targeted phishing campaigns, impersonation attempts, or business email compromise (BEC) strategies.

5. Security Camera Enhancements

To elevate campus safety, we are upgrading to high-definition IP cameras equipped with:

• Night vision and motion detection

• Integration with law enforcement systems

• Exploration of AI features such as facial recognition, license plate readers, and behavioral analytics

6. Document Management System Review

We are evaluating enterprise-grade document management systems to centralize records and improve collaboration. Key criteria include:

• FERPA and HIPAA compliance

• Accessibility for staff, students, and administrators

• Automation for approvals, archiving, and retention policies

Stakeholder feedback is being gathered through pilot programs and vendor demonstrations, with implementation planned following final selection.

7. Bond-Funded Technology Projects

Pending bond approval, DeSoto ISD is preparing to implement strategic upgrades through vendor partnerships:

• Chromebook/Laptop Deployment

• Audio-Visual Systems for stadiums, auditoriums, gyms, and boardroom

• Bells and Paging Systems for daily and emergency communication

• Baseball Field Technology including sound systems and live-streaming infrastructure

• Emergency Notification Systems across intercoms, signage, mobile apps, and classroom devices

• Smart Lockdown Systems with automated door locking and AI threat detection

• Board Room AV and security upgrades

• Expanded security camera coverage with advanced features

8. Password Management Improvements

To enhance digital security and user autonomy:

• Students can now reset their own passwords

• A new feature is in development allowing teachers to reset passwords for students in their classes—streamlining classroom tech support

9. Help Desk Metrics

Our Help Desk continues to deliver responsive support for the district’s growing technology infrastructure:

• Open tickets: 118

• Submitted in September: 90

• Closed in September: 2159 (includes tickets from previous months) 

• Average resolution time: 29.9 minutes

These metrics reflect our commitment to timely service and continuous improvement.

10. Phone System Evaluation

To improve communication across campuses and departments, DeSoto ISD is actively evaluating modern phone system solutions. This assessment focuses on:

• Unified communication features such as voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, and mobile integration

• Enhanced security and reliability (panic buttons)

• Simplified management and scalability for future growth

• Integration with emergency notification systems and paging infrastructure

Pilot programs and vendor demonstrations have concluded and a recommendation will be submitted to meet the district’s operational needs and supports both instructional and administrative functions.

Our Commitment

Every initiative is rooted in our mission to prepare students for success in a connected, secure, and rapidly evolving world. Through infrastructure upgrades, cloud-based tools, and expanded access to digital learning, DeSoto ISD is:

• Empowering students to lead with confidence

• Equipping staff with efficient tools

• Creating safe, innovative learning environments

These efforts embody our integrity, determination, and pursuit of excellence.

Maintenance & Operations

There were a total of 56 work orders completed and there are still 32 work orders in progress in the system.

Maintenance

• • LG systems at Early College - Ongoing

    • Still waiting on parts

      • Compressor is out

  • Still painting at KJ

  • On hold due to students being back in classrooms

  • Finished with floors at Eagle Suite

  • Still replacing burned out canopy lights at KJ

  • Still waiting on HoltCat for generator at McCowan to get them back up and running

  • 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

  • Finished with Admin ZenDen

  • Still working on fixing AG Barn fence

  • Working on awning for cooling tubs at Ben Dial

  • Painting West MS Gym & locker room

  • Finished digging up concrete and fixing sewer lines at High School Gym 1

Grounds

• • Mowing and weed eating around district