Category Archives: Dr. Brown Notes

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There is Power in One: April is Volunteer Appreciation Month

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With the 2015–16 school year quickly coming to a close, I want to take the opportunity to recognize several groups of people who play such a valuable part in Birdville ISD. Parents, community members and our staff each perform a vital role in making Birdville ISD a great school district in which to educate children.

Thank you to those who volunteer their time in various roles across the District. Whether you are a member of the board of trustees or a campus mentor, PTA volunteer, booster club worker, or assist in another capacity, you significantly impact the lives of students every day.

I wish I had the ability to fast forward in time so each of you could see the influence you have on the life of a child. Since I can’t, I want to share part of an email I recently received.

“… I want to recognize W.L. Hughes for a lifetime of great advice that I slowly but definitely utilized over the last 36 years.

“I became a police officer and made sure I tracked down Mr. Hughes to let him know that I did not go to prison as we weekly discussed, that I took his advice on many issues to that point in my life. I have since completed 20 years in law enforcement …

“… I am thankful for the educators that I was blessed to know. Please let me know if there is a way to recognize Mr. Hughes for his lifetime of dedication to the pupils that attended his school.”

Though this message was regarding a former principal, it still reminds us of the power of an adult in the life of a child. Whether you are a parent, community member or staff member, what you say and do greatly impacts our future, our children.

Thank you, Mr. Hughes, for choosing a career in education that positively impacted many young lives. Thank you to our PTA and booster club volunteers for supporting schools and programs at so many different levels. Thank you to the members of our community that mentor, tutor and provide valuable resources to students and staff. Thank you to our staff for your dedication to making our world a better place through education.

If you haven’t already joined the volunteer ranks, I invite you to connect with the more than 6,000 volunteers in BISD who impact the future every year.

To our parents, community members and staff, I am proud to live and work with individuals who are so passionate about children.

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March 2016 Notes from Superintendent, Dr. Darrell Brown

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It is hard to believe there are only three months left in the 2015–16 school year. A lot has happened since school began on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015. Students and staff continue to achieve great things, both academically and personally.

I hope you will join me in telling others Birdville ISD’s focus is excellence, integrity and service. The District has created the social media campaign #WeAreBirdvilleISD for the purpose of sharing the pride of BISD.

Listed below are a few of the points of pride that illustrate why #WeAreBirdvilleISD.

  • BISD has three National Merit Finalists, 13 National Merit Commended Scholars and one National Hispanic Scholar for the 2015–16 school year.
  • BISD was named a finalist for the $5 million Raise Your Hand Texas Blended Learning Initiative.
  • Sixteen BISD high school band and choir members were selected as Texas All-State musicians.
  • Smithfield Middle School was named to the 2016 Texas Schools to Watch® program by the Texas Middle School Association.
  • The Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning’s (BCTAL) robotics team recently advanced to the Regional competition.
  • Two Birdville ISD eighth-grade social studies teachers were accepted to attend a week of learning at George Washington’s Mount Vernon home.
  • Birdville ISD’s Audio/Video Production Department announced that Birdville High School senior Ian Chapoy’s short film “The Ambition Song” was accepted into the Texas High School Shorts Program at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival.
  • Hafsa Syed from North Ridge Middle School won BISD’s 2016 Spelling Bee. Adriana Fackender from Holiday Heights Elementary was the runner-up.
  • Richland Elementary’s choir was the only BISD choir invited to perform with the North Texas Children’s Choir at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.
  • Six BISD aspiring middle school and high school playwrights were named winners of the Stage West Theatre’s Neighborhood Play Contest.
  • Binion and Smithfield elementary schools tied for first place in BISD’s 2016 Battle of the Books competition.
  • BISD celebrated with a groundbreaking for the new North Richland Middle School campus on Jan. 15. Thank you BISD voters for your support of the 2014 Bond.

This list might seem long, but it doesn’t begin to touch on all of the accolades I could share about our students, staff and community.

I want to invite you to join me in showing your BISD pride by posting your pictures on social media with a sign or caption containing the hashtag #WeAreBirdvilleISD. Show the world why they should want to be part of the great things happening in Birdville ISD.

WABISD5

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Congratulations to BISD Superintendent Dr. Darrell G. Brown

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Congratulations to BISD Superintendent Dr. Darrell G. Brown for being named a “Rebel Star” at Richland High School. Richland awards Rebel Stars to employees that are making a difference in the lives of our students. Dr. Brown received this recognition for his leadership and support of resources that enhance learning at Richland. He is leading the way for the campus as they address safe guards (English language learners and special education English performance on end-of-course exams) and supporting their work with focus on Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) strategies and co-teaching training for our teachers. Dr. Brown and his staff have listened to the needs of the campus and he has responded with support personnel as well as specific and intentional staff development for teachers.

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August 2015, Notes from Dr. Brown

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I am excited that another school year is about to begin. BISD staff have been busy getting buildings ready, writing curriculum, training for technology implementation, and yes, even taking some much needed vacation time.

As we prepare for the start of school on Monday, Aug. 24, I want to take a quick look back at the 2014–15 school year. Some of the exciting academic accomplishments are:

  •  BISD test scores exceeded the state average on STAAR in all subject areas for which results are available.
  • Third-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR reading test by five percentage points.
  • Fifth-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR science test by seven percentage points.
  • BISD students scored three percentage points above the state average on the Algebra I EOC exam.
  • Haltom High School was selected as an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration School.
  • BISD’s Board of Trustees approved the sale/financing of bonds, saving taxpayers millions.
  • The Haltom and Richland middle school bands placed in the Top 10 at the Texas Music Educator Association’s CC Middle School Honor Band competition.
  • The Birdville Education Foundation awarded 53 Innovative Teacher Grants totaling $118,456.

These are just a few of the great things happening across BISD. In the months ahead, there will be additional celebrations I hope you will share with your friends and family.

Once again, I look forward to having students and staff back for the 2015–16 school year. Remember to slow down as you drive through school zones.

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Notes from Dr. Brown, June 2015

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On Sunday, May 24, I had the privilege to shake the hand of more than 1,570 BISD seniors as they received their high school diplomas. I always look forward to graduation day. It is one of the highlights of each school year to be among the first to congratulate these young adults as they begin a new chapter in their lives. I also want to take this opportunity to applaud our families. I know you are all very proud of your recent graduate.

Now that the school year is complete, work has begun across the District to address various aspects of the 2014 Bond. One component of the Bond is the building of a new West Birdville Elementary School. With more than 800 students plus staff, parents and community members in attendance, BISD celebrated the beginning of that project with the groundbreaking on May 27. It was an exciting day for all involved. The new West Birdville campus is scheduled to be complete for the 2016-17 school year. In addition to West Birdville construction, technology and security upgrades and other campus renovation projects will be actively underway this summer.

Within the next 6–12 months, BISD will be breaking ground for the new North Richland Middle School and Birdville Elementary School. Architects have begun the development and design phase of these two schools.

To keep apprised of each project in the 2014 Bond, visit www.bisdbond14.net.

Over the next couple of weeks, BISD will receive the final STAAR results from the 2014-15 school year. Preliminary data shows continued academic improvement by our students. I am proud of how far our students and staff have come over the past four years and pledge that the District will remain focused on providing the necessary resources to continue in their education.

The summer will quickly be over, but I am confident, we will be ready when students return for the 2015-16 school year.

Have a wonderful summer!