Birdville ISD joins more than 400 districts across Texas calling for repeal of A–F school rating system.
BISD Celebrates Board Appreciation Month
January is School Board Recognition Month and Birdville ISD will join other districts across the state to thank these local leaders for their dedication and willingness to serve as advocates for our children and public schools. As elected officials, they are the voices of their communities, serving first and foremost in the best interest of Texas schoolchildren.
“Even though we are making a special effort in January to show appreciation to our board members, we realize their many contributions reflect a year-round commitment. They generously give of themselves to ensure that decisions directly affecting our schools are made by representatives of the BISD community, people who are close to our schools and know our teachers, parents and students,” said Dr. Darrell G. Brown, Birdville ISD superintendent.
“Board members shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult decisions. Their ultimate goal is always focused on the future success of the children in BISD,” Brown said. “It’s more important than ever before that the public supports our schools so that our students graduate college, career and future ready. Our board members provide vision and leadership in their roles as advocates, and they will continue to stand up for public education and guard against anything that takes away from our children,” he said.
Board members serving Birdville ISD are:
- Dolores Webb, president;
- Joe Tolbert, vice-president
- Richard Davis, secretary
- Sharon Mylius;
- Jack McCarty;
- Ralph Kunkel; and
- Taylor Anderson.
“Birdville ISD benefits from the tireless work and countless hours contributed by these local citizens, who volunteer and work without pay. Serving as a crucial link between the community and classroom, this board is responsible for an annual budget of $238.6 million, 23,800 students, 3,006 employees, and 33 campuses. Please help us thank these dedicated volunteers for their efforts to make a difference and their unfailing commitment to the continued success of our students now and in the future,” Brown said.
O.H. Stowe Elementary fourth graders travel to Waco and Austin on an Education in Action Discover Texas Field Trip
Fourth graders from Birdville ISD’s O.H. Stowe Elementary traveled to Waco and Austin on an Education in Action Discover Texas Field Trip January 6, 2017 to experience what they are learning in fourth grade Texas History. Students visited the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, the Texas State Capitol, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
During the charter bus ride to their first destination, the students discussed why Texans are so proud of their unique heritage and participated in activities and games in preparation for their day. At their first stop, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, students learned the history of the Texas Rangers and explored exhibits about Texas’s earliest inhabitants and its many unique geographical regions. They then traveled to Austin to see the Texas State Capitol where their legislators, The Honorable Kelly Hancock, State Senator, District 9 and The Honorable Stephanie Klick, State Representative, District 91, office. Students saw first-hand where Texas laws are made as they toured the State Capitol including the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. At the Bullock Texas State History Museum students traveled in time through the Texas Revolution and learned about the events that created our Lone Star identity. The students’ visit to the museum concluded at the multi-sensory Texas Spirit Theater with the Star of Destiny where they saw and experienced the history of our great state including a gusher exploding from an East Texas oil derrick and the takeoff of Saturn V as seen from Mission Control at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“Education in Action’s Discover Texas Field Trips are based on the understanding that the most effective way for students to learn is through experience,” stated Lacey Phillips, Discover Texas Field Trips Director. “Student activities during the Discover Texas Field Trip to Austin reinforce and supplement fourth grade Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) learning objectives with a focus on why Texans are so proud of their unique heritage.”
Education in Action’s Discover Texas Field Trips make it easy for teachers to take their 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classrooms on organized, fun, and educational site-based learning experiences. Discover Texas Field Trip staff members handle all details, including round-trip charter bus transportation, reservations, and TEKS-based program curriculum, so participating teachers can focus on their students and making connections between the experience and what students are learning in the classroom.
Discover Texas Field Trips are presented by Education in Action, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to fostering educated and involved young people. In addition to one-day Discover Texas Field Trips to Austin, San Antonio, Waco/Georgetown, Dallas, and Fort Worth, Education in Action also offers summer Lone Star Leadership Academy camps for outstanding 4th-8th graders. During the weeklong, overnight camps, participants experience significant Texas sites in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston with Texas educators and a focus on leadership. For more information about Education in Action visit www.educationinaction.org.
RHS Dixie Belle to Dance at Inauguration Celebration
Congratulations to Alyssa Andrews, Richland High School Dixie Belle captain, for being selected to perform with a group at the Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. This event is sponsored by the Texas State Society of Washington D.C. Alyssa is one of only 25 Texas Dance Educators Association (TDEA) All-State dancers invited to perform at this prestigious event.
Monday, January 16 is a Student Holiday/Staff Development Day
BISD students will observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 16. This is a Professional Learning day for staff.
26 Texas Schools Nominated for 2017 National Blue Ribbon Honors
AUSTIN – The Texas Education Agency today announced the nomination of 26 Texas public schools for national 2017 Blue Ribbon Schools recognition.
Founded in 1982, Blue Ribbon Schools is a U.S. Department of Education program that recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels. The nominated schools in Texas include the following:
- Amarillo ISD – Whittier Elementary School
- Banquete ISD – Banquete Elementary School
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Birdville ISD – Smithfield Elementary School
- Dallas ISD – Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
- Dallas ISD – Dallas Environmental Science Academy
- Dallas ISD – Irma Lerma Rangel Women’s Leadership School
- Edinburg CISD – Austin Elementary School
- Edinburg CISD – Jefferson Elementary School
- El Paso ISD – Green Elementary School
- El Paso ISD – Silva Health Magnet
- Galveston ISD – Austin Middle School
- Gunter ISD – Gunter Elementary School
- Houston ISD – Eastwood Academy
- Houston ISD – Lyons Elementary School
- Jim Ned CISD – Lawn Elementary School
- Judson ISD – Crestview Elementary School
- KIPP Houston – KIPP Shine Prep
- La Porte ISD – Jennie Reid Elementary School
- Laredo ISD – Hector J. Garcia Early College High School
- Los Fresnos ISD – Rancho Verde Elementary School
- Montgomery ISD – Montgomery Intermediate School
- Oakwood ISD – Oakwood Elementary School
- San Antonio ISD – Travis Early College High School
- Whitehouse ISD – Stanton-Smith Elementary School
- Wylie ISD – RF Hartman Elementary School
- Ysleta ISD – Valle Verde Early College High School
All schools that have been nominated for the 2017 honor were selected as exemplary high performing schools as measured by state assessments. Each school has an economically disadvantaged population of 22 percent or greater.
The nominated schools must now complete a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education. Announcements of the national award winners will be made in September 2017. Schools that receive the award are recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.