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Vol. 16 • No. 8
January 15, 2015
Community input sought in search for next superintendent
SAISD patrons
and community
members are invited
to share their views
on the skills and
characteristics they
would like the District's next leader to have and also
to learn more about the search process.
A series of community input sessions, to be held
at seven SAISD high schools, begins tonight and
will continue next week, while an online survey is
available on the District's website.
The sessions and online survey are key
components in the course of selecting SAISD's 19th
superintendent.
In December, Trustees hired the McShan
Consulting Firm to manage the process, which will
include recruiting qualified candidates.
Dr. Sylvester Perez has served as SAISD's
superintendent since June 2013 after coming out of
retirement the previous year to assume the interim
position. He will resume retirement either on April 1
We want to hear from you!
Tell us what type of superintendent you would like
for SAISD by attending any of the following:
Community input sessions
Jan. 15 (Thurs) – 6 p.m.
Highlands HS, 3118 Elgin Ave.
Jan. 15 (Thurs) – 6 p.m.
Sam Houston HS, 4635 E. Houston St.
Jan. 21 (Wed) – 6 p.m.
Jefferson HS, 723 Donaldson Ave.
Jan. 22 (Thurs) – 6 p.m.
Brackenridge HS, 400 Eagleland Drive
Jan. 22 (Thurs) - 6 p.m.
Burbank HS, 1002 Edwards St.
Jan. 22 (Thurs) – 6 p.m.
Edison HS, 701 Santa Monica Drive
Online survey
Your opinions also are sought at the
Superintendent Search page found at:
www.saisd.net
Jan. 21 (Wed) – 6 p.m.
Lanier HS, 1514 W. César Chávez Blvd.
Trustee informational packets ready
Qualified SAISD residents interested in serving as a
Trustee for District 2, 5 or 6 may begin planning now
in anticipation of the Jan. 28 to Feb. 27 filing period.
Informational packets are available 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. weekdays (except holidays) at the Department
of Governmental & Community Relations, 518 E.
Magnolia Ave.
These include: qualifications for office; application
for a place on the SAISD general election ballot;
campaign finance guide; appointment of a campaign
or at the end of the 2014-15 school year if Trustees
have not yet hired his replacement.
treasurer by a candidate; code of fair campaign
practices; candidate/officeholder campaign finance
report form; important May 2015 election dates; and
2015 filing schedule for reports.
Early voting runs April 27 to May 5 and Election
Day is Saturday, May 9.
Terms expiring and their current SAISD Trustees
are: District 2, James Howard; District 5, Patti Radle;
and District 6, Olga M. Hernandez.
Still have questions?
For filing information call:
554-2231
For election and candidacy questions call:
335-VOTE
or visit:
www.saisd.net
www.ethics.state.tx.us
www.sos.state.tx.us
SAISD development initiative building strong leaders
Educators whose New Year's resolutions included
honing their leadership skills are in luck. SAISD's
leadership development initiative, which debuted
this year, will return for a second season, with the
application process for next school year starting soon.
Meanwhile, sessions for this inaugural year's
participants have resumed with the new semester for
principals and those who aspire to be principals or
assistant principals.
"We not only wanted to build a pipeline of future
leaders, but to create solutions to problems that
are actionable in order to support Districtwide
transformation," Deputy Superintendent of
Administration & Leadership Development Emilio
Castro said of the initiative’s origin.
"What we have, I believe, is a real recipe
for success."
Participants meet monthly for two hours, with
sessions for principals incorporated into their regular
Districtwide meetings. For them, a particularly
valued component is having opportunities to
Associate Superintendent of Human Resources
Toni Thompson leads the first Aspiring Principals'
Academy for 2015.
problem solve together, as well as time to share their
expertise and best practices.
These include structured activities to employ
leadership tools for developing solutions to campus
challenges, as well as unstructured time to reflect and
bounce ideas off of each other.
"We have principals with different levels of
experience and a different set of skills and strengths
so that sharing allows them to learn from
one another and not feel isolated,"
Castro said.
The Aspiring Principal Academy
comprises 17 members, while 67
educators (divided into two cohorts)
aspire to be assistant principals.
Although training for both incorporates
components of established leadership
programs, such as those offered through the
Education Service Center Region 20, the District's
model features real-life SAISD issues and are aligned
with District initiatives.
Acceptance into each program is based on a
rigorous application process, along with letters
of endorsement and support from the applicant's
current supervisor.
A main purpose of both the aspiring principal
and assistant principal academies is to transform
learning and leading. A major component is
creating a school-based initiative in which academy
participants address a campus problem in a new and
innovative way.
Participants also must maintain a digital portfolio,
a professional reflection journal and excellent
attendance. Only one absence is allowed.
The goal is for all completers to be granted
interviews for positions of advancement and for the
majority of SAISD's new principals to be graduates of
the academy.
While he conceded that some principals will
continue to be hired externally, "grow your
own improves our future success. Our
current candidates already know the
District while outside new principals
must become acclimated to it,"
Castro said.
Those who are not promoted for
the upcoming school year will have an
opportunity to take part in a second-year cohort
and receive further training.
Persons who are hired into higher levels also will
receive advanced-level training next school year in
order to improve their leadership skills even further.
Regardless of whether participants seek or achieve
career advancement, their training benefits SAISD
overall, Castro said.
"When you put people in charge of transforming a
component of the District, you are going to move the
needle.”
Want to apply for 2015-16?
Applications will be accepted in March. Those
selected will be notified in April.
For more information call 554-2273.
YWLA in the Texas Honors Circle
YWLA Principal Delia McLerran with letter
announcing her school's five-star rating.
The Young Women’s Leadership Academy has
another honor to add to its long list of accolades.
In addition to academic excellence, San Antonio's
only all-girls public school is being recognized
for fiscal responsibility as a recipient of the Texas
Comptroller’s 2014 Texas Honors Circle Award.
YWLA was the lone Bexar County-area school and
one of only 347 statewide lauded for achieving strong
academic performance while spending relatively less
compared to their fiscal peers.
"At YWLA, we are committed to providing a
quality education anchored in the hard work of
quality teachers," said Principal Delia McLerran.
"With limited funds, our greatest investment is in
our teachers, who are dedicated to their students."
This award reflects a maximum five-star rating in
the 2014 Financial Allocation Study for
Texas.
To see your school's results visit:
www.FASTexas.org.
Mini grants welcome educators back from winter break
The New Year is getting off to a prosperous start
for District educators whose projects are being
funded through SAISD Foundation $500 mini
grants.
Greeted by the first two surprise visits for 2015
were Burbank HS chemistry teacher Brian Quiñones
and Tafolla MS band director Alejandro Jaime
Salazar.
Quiñones, who also sponsors the Robotics Club,
received funding for “3-D Fabrication.” This project
will support students partnering with industry to
design and build a 3-D printer to be used to print
student-designed robotics pieces.
Salazar’s mini grant will fund percussion
instruments to be used in marching performances at
the Toros football games and other performances in
partnership with the school’s neighbor, Lanier HS.
In total, the SAISD Foundation will be awarding
156 mini-grants to SAISD teachers and educators
this school year, triple the number awarded last year.
In addition to the two featured projects, others
will support chess and coding clubs, hands-on
tools in math and science, health and fitness clubs,
classroom libraries and ebooks for previously funded
Kindle projects and more.
The SAISD Foundation presented 52 mini grants
in December and plan to
award 154 this month.
Time to say thanks
For information on applying for this and other
Brian Quiñones celebrates with students and
Principal Yesenia Cordova (seated far right).
He is flanked by SAISD Foundation board
member presenters and Burbank alumni
Janie Gonzalez (left) and Sonia Rodriguez.
grants visit: www.saisdfoundation.com.
Joining Alejandro Jaime Salazar in celebrating
his mini grant are his students, Principal
Caroline Elizondo (left), District 5 Trustee Patti
Radle and SAISD Foundation board member
Brandon Logan.
Resolve to Run 4 Education in 2015
Registration now is underway for a yearly
SAISD family-friendly spring
favorite. The annual Run
4Education is set for Saturday,
March 28.
The 5K event starts and
finishes at Alamo Stadium and
takes runners/walkers through Brackenridge
Park. The dash across the finish line will feature
runners shown on the stadium's new state-ofthe-art Daktronics digital scoreboard.
Event host is the SAISD Foundation. Sponsors to date include H-E-B Tournament
of Champions and Whataburger, with funds
supporting the Foundation’s Mini Grant
Program (see above).
SAISD rates are $5 for students and $15 for
staff and parents. Schools can win up to $1,000
for highest participation levels. Contact the
Foundation if you want to coordinate a school
or department team.
For more information and to register online
go to the event section at:
www.saisdfoundation.com.
SAISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
You cordially are invited to join us
in expressing appreciation for SAISD's
dedicated and hard-working elected
leaders at the:
SAISD Board Appreciation Reception
Jan. 20 (Tues) - 4:45 p.m.
Burnet Center Board Room, 406 Barrera St.
Each year this observance provides the
public an opportunity to thank Trustees for
all they do on behalf of the school district
and its community.
The reception, to include refreshments,
will be hosted by Superintendent Dr.
Sylvester Perez. This year's Texas School
Board Recognition Month theme is "A
Work of Heart."
18th Annual Susan G. Komen San Antonio
Register now
Deadline is March 20
For more info call Carmen Ng,
554-2285 or email [email protected]
in the Spotlight
Middle school students
Award-winning historians
Happily displaying their ribbons earned at SAISD's Social Studies
History Fair are middle and high school first- and second-place
winners in a variety of categories. Their performances at this
competition qualify them to advance to the Regional History Fair to
High school students
Students advancing at the junior level represent Bonham, Hawthorne
and the Young Women's Leadership academies and Longfellow and
Rhodes middle schools. Representing the senior level are students
from YWLA and Brackenridge, Burbank, Fox Tech and Sam Houston
high schools.
be held Feb. 27 and 28 at the local Texas A&M University campus.
Appetizing aesthetics
Anticipating a feast for both their eyes and appetites are these
Bonham Academy students. The school's colorful cafeteria
re-opened to diners this week following remodeling courtesy
of SAISD Bond 2010. The eatery is among the highlights of the
$13.8 million project also featuring a new two-story addition to
include labs for art, computer and science. For more information
on this and other projects visit www.saisd.net/bond2010.
Adept at debate
His passion for health care and policy, along with an ability to
articulate both, earned Andrew Kamali (second from right) a place in
Congress, i.e., a UIL debate contest being held this week in Austin.
Joining the Fox Tech HS Health Professions Magnet sophomore as
an alternate on the team is Law Magnet senior Ruben Chapa. They
are cheered on here by Principal Annette Castillo (left) and their
coach Jennifer Casanova, the school's Law Magnet coordinator.
Monday
January 19
Sky-high ideals
Proclaiming, via a billboard, its soon-to-be existence is the Young Men's
Leadership Academy. This signage at Fredericksburg Road and North
Colorado Street is one of three billboards, including at 8816 S. Presa St.
and 8885 S. W.W. White Road, promoting the city's premier all-boys public
school. YMLA also is being advocated through street banners coming soon
to South Flores and Bank streets, Foster Road and Lakeview Drive, Corrine
Street and Harry Wurzbach Road and, by Jan. 19, MLK Drive and South
Mittman Street, along the route of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day March.
San Antonio Independent
School District
141 Lavaca St.
San Antonio, TX 78210
phone: 554-2250
fax: 299-5790
www.saisd.net
Board of Trustees
Ed Garza, President
Olga M. Hernandez, Vice President
Arthur V. Valdez, Secretary
James Howard, Assistant Secretary
Debra Guerrero, Trustee
Steve Lecholop, Trustee
Patti Radle, Trustee
---------Superintendent
Dr. Sylvester Perez
Keeping his dream alive
All SAISD schools and most offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 19,
in observance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday
honoring the civil rights leader's life.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
insider
is produced by
the Communications Department.
Leslie Price, Executive Director
René Lynn, Newsletter Coordinator
John Lawler, Photographer
Printing Services, Design and Layout
insider is the intellectual property of the San
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The San Antonio Independent School District
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
gender, religion, national origin, age, disability,
or any other basis prohibited by law.
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