Hi!

There are many reasons that I’m proud to work at Austin ISD, but one of them is the amazing work our teachers and staff do for our students. I was able to attend the Salute Awards this week and was so moved by the work they do and what inspires their work at Austin ISD. If you missed the show, you can watch it on the Austin ISD YouTube page. Read more in the newsletter on this year’s winners. 

We are inching closer and closer to the last week of school. Three more weeks to be exact. The last day of school is May 29.

One thing to note...There’s a new challenge trending on TikTok called the “Chromebook Challenge” that is encouraging students to jam lead or metal in the ports of their Chromebook causing them to short and catch fire. We ask for your partnership in talking to your students about this and the potential for significant injury to themselves or others.

Let’s get started…

It’s time again for the Board Bulletin! May has been a busy month already, with the May 8 Information Session being the second meeting of the month for the Board of Trustees. There’s much to review and approve before the end of next month, when the 2025-26 budget and the district-led restart plans are due. 

Let’s dig in. 

As always during Information Sessions, we checked in on our Scorecard progress. 

• The board and district leaders discussed their commitment to student achievement in biliteracy through Scorecard Goal 5, which aims to increase the percentage of graduates who earn a state or district recognition of bilingualism and biliteracy. This year, 76 Austin ISD students will graduate with an Austin ISD Seal of Bilteracy.

  • Scorecard Goal 5 includes three progress measures that look at students at different ages. Goal Progress Measure 5.1, for example, looks at fifth-grade students within the Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese dual language programs. 

  • The data shows a significant increase in listening, speaking, reading and writing scores for students who are African-American and Two or More Races student groups and decreases for all other student groups. 

  • These changes could be due to an early date for the annual test to measure progress, which moved from late spring in the 2023-24 year to November during the 2024-25 school year. Future years will offer a more complete indicator of growth as the assessment will continue happening in the fall. 

  • This year is the baseline year for Goal Progress Measure 5.2, which looks at high school dual language students. This data shows 50.8% of high school students enrolled in the dual language programs in grades 9-12 are on track to earn the Austin ISD Dual Language Seal of Biliteracy. 

  • An outlier in this data is Akins Early College High School with 73.4% of students on track to graduate with a Seal of Biliteracy — the highest of any high school in the district. 

Next, the board received an update to the TEA Agreed Order. 

• The district has completed three out of the four priorities within the agreed order required actions. 

• The district is still on track to implement the new Special Education data tracking system for the 2025-26 school year, which will go live in July 2025.

• Trustees also received a “Meets Focus” for its quarterly Lone Star Governance evaluation. The next evaluation will be in August. 

Finally, the board and district leaders continued discussions on the TEA-required turnaround plans for Burnet, Dobie, and Webb middle schools, which must be submitted to and approved by the Texas Education Agency because of two years of F ratings on state accountability. 

• As discussed at the May 2 information session, the district recommends a District-Led Restart with an 1882 option/contingency. 

  • The recommended plans include ensuring all campuses are staffed with highly-qualified teachers, as defined by TEA. That’s defined as having more than three years of experience in a core subject and demonstrating student growth. Staffing is expected to include a mix of current teachers and new teachers at each campus. Campuses will also receive extra investments and extra supports.

  • AISD is committed to keeping programs including athletics, fine arts, and after-school programs that students and the community have expressed strong support for.

  • The district must finalize and submit a TEA-approved turnaround plan by June 30. 

  • The district will host community meetings at each campus to further discuss the new paths. A community meeting at Dobie Middle School took place May 6.

    • Leaders will meet with the Webb community at 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, in the Webb Middle School cafeteria and 

    • The Burnet community at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, in the Burnet Middle School cafeteria.

Watch for a new webpage with information about the turnaround plans as they take shape.

One last note: Trustees were originally scheduled to have a workshop on school consolidations; however, due to Lone Star Governance requirements regarding time spent on student outcomes, the workshop has been rescheduled. 

• District leaders will record the presentation and share the information next week. Trustees will have the opportunity to discuss it at a future meeting.

What’s next: The Board of Trustees will meet again May 22 for its Regular Voting Meeting. See you then! 

Eastside Early College High School Senior Paola Sabillón is paving the way for a brighter future for herself and her peers. 

Panthers Pride: Paola is described by her teachers as a dedicated student and passionate member of the district's Student Equity Council. As co-leader of the Student Equity Council her work expanded to ensure every student, no matter their background, felt heard, respected and included in school spaces. 

What they’re saying: “One thing I’m most proud of, that has defined my high school experience, is (that) I created a safe space for my community,” she said. “I helped to create the Hispanic Student Association here at Eastside.”

What’s next: Paola will continue her studies here in the Capitol City attending Austin Community College.

Congratulations to all the finalists and this year's winners at the annual Salute staff recognition ceremony!

• The event, held May 7 at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center, included red carpet interviews with students from Blazier Elementary School and a ceremony celebrating the honorees.

Why it matters: Our teachers and staff are the heart of our district, and do so much to support our students each and every day. Celebrations like these are just one way to amplify the joy of education and the impact happening in Austin ISD schools. 

This year, the ceremony featured some special additions:

• Eastside Early College High School Seniors Zula Dariah and Sofia Rosales served as Emcees and Gisselle Ramirez was the Student Assistant Director. 

• Lee Lewis Campbell Elementary Media and Performing Arts Institute First-Grade student ZaNyla Williams and Oak Springs Elementary School Principal Cynthia Sinegal served as the “Voices of Salute.” 

We also honored McCallum Head Band Director Carol Nelson as the recipient of the inaugural ICON AWARD. 

• The award was presented by Superintendent Matias Segura and Board President Lynn Boswell in honor of Ms. Nelson’s 46 years with Austin ISD. 

Campus Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year were recognized, and we named award winners for our open nomination categories. See the winners below!

Teacher of the Year

• Pooja Mulgaonker, Kiker Elementary School

• David Bellesen, Travis Early College High School

Teaching Assistant of the Year

• Autumn Neal, Lamar Middle School

Counselor of the Year

• Natalie Perez, Doss Elementary School

Librarian of the Year

• Teresa Grumbles, Akins Early College High School

Campus Clerical/Office Staff of the Year

• Stephanie Leslie, Navarro Early College High School

Assistant Principal of the Year

• Sara Tapia, Padrón Elementary School 

Principal of the Year

• Ariel Greco, Summitt Elementary School

Transportation Staff of the Year

• Mark Loog, Saegert Terminal

Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year

• Alexandria Woods, Navarro Early College High School

Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year

• Matthew Gonterman, Service Center

Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year

• Monica Iniguez-Saucedo, Paredes Middle School

Did you know that school funding is directly tied to student attendance? Every day your child is present at school contributes to the resources their campus receives, which supports the educational programs and opportunities offered. Please note that the last day of school is Thursday, May 29, and make every effort to ensure your child attends the final days of school after Memorial Day. For more attendance tips, visit austinisd.org/you-count.

Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month - May 1 to 31

Jewish American Heritage Month - May 1 to 31

Anita Coy Repurposing Project Community Conversation - May 10

Bowie High School Trustee Conversation - May 14

Inspire the Future Grant Program Info Session #2 - May 15

ALC Community Update - May 15

For more calendar events visit Austin ISD Calendar of Events.

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the Austin ISD Alternative Learning Center as well as some community partners will co-locate at the Mendez Middle School campus. 

Austin ISD to offer $15,000 stipends to bring experienced teachers to low-rated middle schools - KUT

Happening this weekend…

Tomorrow, join the community conversation on the Anita Ferrales Coy repurposing project. Learn more on the scope of design and timeline of construction!

Sunday is Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all those we call Mom! May your day be filled with joy and happiness. 

-JJ

Have a story idea?

Got a great story about an Austin ISD student, staff, parent, or community member? Share it with us! It could be featured on our website, in our newsletters, on social media, or even on the news!

For questions or comments please email me at nayeli.santoyoflores@austinisd.org

For languages other than English and Spanish, we use an AI-powered translation tool. As a result, there may be some contextual inaccuracies or other errors. We apologize for this. Please email translation@austinisd.org if you are in need of clarification. To change your preferred correspondence language, contact your school's front office. 

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