Today marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15). This is a special time for our district to honor the history, culture and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino community, which is such an integral part of who we are at Austin ISD.
Let’s look back at the last week:
I kicked off the week with campus visits to Walnut Creek and Barrington elementary schools and Dobie Middle School. We had the opportunity to join a learning walk at Barrington, participated in a classroom observation and later debriefed with the group on the lesson.
Tuesday afternoon, I taped an in-depth interview with Austin InSight at the PBS Austin studios. We covered a lot during the conversation, including state accountability, school consolidations and how new legislation, like the digital device policy, is affecting our schools. The episode should be out this week, so keep an eye on our social media for details. We’ll be sure to post the full episode once it’s available.
Much of Wednesday and the rest of the week focused on supporting the Zilker area communities, including Barton Hills Elementary School, after the officer-involved shooting in the area. This was a challenging morning for our community, exacerbated by gaps in communication that led to confusion within our community. I am grateful for the leadership of principals, especially Principal Achtermann at Barton Hills, who worked with integrity and strength to keep our students safe. We will be hosting a community conversation for the Austin High School Vertical Team where families can share their experiences and to help inform our efforts to strengthen our safety protocols during transition times.
Here’s what’s happening this week:
I’m starting the week with our weekly Principal Update. These are weekly meetings that are usually on Fridays where I can provide updates in real time and hear directly from campus leaders. We launched these meetings in the spring to stay actively engaged throughout the budget process, and it’s proven to be a valuable communication tool. This week, we’ll be covering key topics including the consolidation process, state accountability plans and operational updates.
Tuesday, I’ll interview candidates for our Deputy Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Leading. This position is critical to ensuring our campuses are aligned and moving in the right direction, both with academics and school leadership. Thank you to our staff and families who submitted questions to help find the right leader for our district.
Friday, we’ll have a Turnaround Plan consultation with Texas Education Agency officials. These meetings help ensure we’re transparently sharing early details of our TAPs, ensuring we know what will be approved once the formal plans are submitted in November. Last week, our teams began meeting with staff and families at the 12 campuses with 3 unacceptable counts who will need the most intensive turnaround plans. That work will continue through the next two weeks as we work to develop the TAPs. Learn more about our options on the school improvement website.
Don’t forget this is a four-day weekend for our students in observance of Rosh Hashanah. For all families who celebrate, I wish you a good year.
Thank you for continuing to support Austin ISD. And as always, if you have anything that needs to be on my radar, let me know!
Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!
Follow me on Instagram @matias_aisd. #StrongSchoolsStrongerAustin
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