Deaf Awareness Week in Texas runs from September 23–29. It’s a great time to recognize the valuable contributions of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in our workforce, schools and homes.
Reminder: To keep up with the latest student stories, events and news, download the new Austin ISD app today—available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Now, let’s get started…
1 Big Thing: Ortega Elementary School’s Magical Approach to Attendance
For the past four years, Sandy Castro—affectionately known as the "Attendance Fairy" at Ortega Elementary School—has worked her magic to inspire students to come to school. Dressed in her whimsical costume, complete with fairy wings, Sandy has become a beloved figure on campus, transforming attendance from a requirement into a reason to celebrate.
Why It Matters: September is National Attendance Awareness Month. When students miss school, they miss out—not just on academics, but on fine arts, extracurricular activities, and meaningful connections with their classmates.
Into the magic: Castro’s approach goes beyond tracking numbers. It’s about building relationships, sparking excitement, and showing students that being present matters—both now and in the future.
“We’re teaching them the importance of attendance for later in life, for work, and for their futures,” Castro said. “That’s what we’re trying to instill in the kids.”
Castro not only rewards students with perfect attendance but also celebrates those who make improvements throughout the school year. Her incentives include hosting attendance parties, organizing lunches with the fairy, and giving away prizes—many of which come from community donations.
Did You Know? Chronic absenteeism—missing just two days a month—puts students at academic risk. According to Attendance Works, it can lead to third-graders struggling to read, sixth-graders falling behind in subjects, and ninth-graders at risk of dropping out.
What You Can Do: Make sure your child is on track with attendance by following these helpful tips.
District and community continue work of evaluating budget reductions
The Ad-Hoc Joint Community Budget Committee continues its work to identify opportunities to reduce costs.
As cost-saving opportunities are found the administration will evaluate the potential budget reductions using the newly developed equity rubric.
Why it matters: The district is making every effort to leave no stone unturned in the process to reduce its deficit over the next three years. This includes the committee’s work while also asking voters for $41 million through a tax rate election, on the ballot as Prop A.
What’s new: The district developed an equity-based rubric in collaboration with the committee to evaluate budget cuts.
How it works: The Equity Impact Rubric measures whether reducing a budget line item disproportionately impacts historically underserved students.
It also measures whether it will have an impact on campus leadership and teacher’s ability to support historically underserved students.
Considerations also include whether any cuts will negatively impact district literacy, numeracy goals, and special education goals for historically underserved students.
Driving the news: The Ad-Hoc Joint Community Budget Committee met Sept. 24 to discuss the Operations and Police Department budgets.
What’s next: The committee will continue meeting weekly to evaluate department by department.
Golden Raves awarded to Teacher Assistants for TA Appreciation Week
This week Superintendent Matias Segura surprised four Teacher Assistants with Golden Rave Awards in recognition of Teacher Assistant Appreciation Week.
Why it matters: Teaching assistants are essential to Austin ISD’s success, providing critical support for students and teachers alike. They play a vital role in Austin ISD, creating inclusive and nurturing environments where every student can succeed.
The winners: Four TAs received the awards recognizing their dedication, creativity, and student advocacy. Check out how they’re making an impact on their campuses:
Meghan Zenchyshyn, Rosedale School: Meghan, who is in her first year as a TA, sets high standards in the TLC Green classroom. “She’s firm but warm, fostering independence,” said Principal Matthew Nelson.
Diocelina Balaguera-Bandak, Sunset Valley Elementary School: With three years in Austin ISD, Diocelina supports a new teacher and a student with medical needs, ensuring they feel safe and supported.
Ruby Garcia, Harris Elementary School: New to Harris this year, Ruby’s student-centered approach and dedication have made a significant impact on the school community.
Kennya Clark, Rosedale School Medical Wing: Kennya, who is in her fifth year as a TA, works in the bilingual elementary classroom, advocating tirelessly for her students and fellow TAs. Her kindness and care shine through in everything she does.
Congratulations and thank you to all our TAs in the district!
Last Friday, I went to see the musical Young Frankenstein at the Bastrop Opera House. It was fantastic! I highly recommend it, but hurry—this weekend is the last chance to catch it.
Also, a quick reminder: Monday is the deadline to submit videos of your children who want to participate in the talent show–Join the Fiesta! If your child wins, they’ll get to perform and win a prize the day of the awards ceremony on October 12.
This document has been translated using an AI-powered machine translation tool through Thrillshare. As a result, it may contain inaccuracies, errors, or inconsistencies that do not reflect the original content accurately.
