This week we are celebrating staff who help support our students, families and the Austin community. It's Austin ISD Educational Diagnosticians, Parent Support Specialist Appreciation and School Social Worker Appreciation Week! Y'all make a huge difference in supporting our community and we appreciate all that you do!
The 10th Annual ENCORE Student and Family Conference is happening Saturday. The day includes a college and career fair, college prep activities and guest speakers. Find more on our calendar.
Now, let's get started!
District beats goal for first semester of attendance initiative
Campbell Elementary
Padrón Elementary
Pillow Elementary
Zilker Elementary
Districtwide attendance has increased by 1.41% year over year, thanks in part to the newly implemented attendance initiative.
Why it matters: Improved attendance boosts student performance and engagement. Plus, attendance is how schools receive funding, so even 1% means the district gains $4.5 million in additional revenue.
Let’s go back: This school year, the district launched the attendance initiative to boost campus attendance through financial incentives that campuses can use for their campus.
Schools receive funds if they meet specific attendance goals at the end of the first semester and the end of the year.
Money will be distributed based on overall increases in the district's Average Daily Attendance.
Each school receives support tailored to its individual needs.
By the numbers: This year, the Average Daily Attendance rose from 91.92% last school year to 93.33%, surpassing the 92.92% goal that the district had for this semester.
60 campuses received monetary distributions for boosting their ADA by at least 1%.
Some of these campuses used creative strategies to boost student attendance, and in February, funds were awarded per student to support classroom needs, such as supplies and instructional materials.
The funds must be used this year before July 1.
What’s next: Second semester earnings will be distributed in the following year's campus budget and should be used within the next calendar year.
Throughout this process, campus leaders have received specialized training to focus on attendance strategies.
Go deeper: Learn how you can support the attendance goals.
Highlighting Parent Support Specialist Frutoso Robledo
Editors note: The following story was written by Assistant Director of Community Engagement Joy Díaz
The Spanish word for door is PUERTA and it sounds, to me, very similar to the English word for PORTAL! Try saying it - puerta, portal, puerta, portal!
And the door - la puerta - to Frutoso Robledo’s room IS like a portal into a new world.
His door is not only gorgeous (he decorates according to the season 🙂) - it’s also a portal into a safe world
Safe for parents to share their joys:
“We’ve probably had 10 baby showers in the last 8 years at Houston Elementary!”
Safe enough to share their fears:
“Being a male in education is a bit more challenging because the majority of the people we serve are women so I have to win their trust.”
Parent Support Specialist Frutoso Robledo
Once they cross his “portal,” there are some rules because that trust can’t be broken.
“I tell my parents this room is like Vegas - what’s said here, stays here!” Robledo said. “This is not a place for “chisme”- no place for gossip!”
Robledo is a “problem-solver”.
Sometimes he teaches parents how to navigate systems - whether they are financial, academic or cultural. Other times, he takes the wheel and navigates for them. The number one need is helping families find housing. That one is closely followed by helping families stay fed. Then, there is the huge need for medical care. Austin is a rather expensive city, so Robledo is always looking for resources for his families.
“In the evenings when I clock out, my mind doesn’t clock out and my heart doesn’t clock out. At the end of the day I pray that I did my best and that God gives me the strength to do it all over again tomorrow.”
Because his door, his puerta - that beautiful portal, is always open.
Austin ISD Creative Learning Initiative awarded national $100K grant
The Austin art community will have more opportunities to collaborate with Austin ISD after the district received new funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The details: This is the 10th year Austin ISD has received this grant, which will continue supporting the collaborative work between Austin ISD and local artists, plus fund continuous professional development for educators to enhance creative teaching.
What is the Creative Learning Initiative (CLI)? The Creative Learning Initiative is a collective-impact partnership among Austin ISD, the arts non-profit MINDPOP, the City of Austin, and dozens of Central Texas artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions.
CLI serves over 98 Austin ISD schools, including all of the district’s elementary schools.
What they’re saying: “This award will help the CLI advance and sustain the impacts of Creative Teaching, arts partnership, and arts learning equitably across Austin ISD.” CLI Coordinator Sloan McLain said. “This is the kind of innovative teaching and learning unique to Austin ISD!”
Please help us identify community members who should be recognized for their contributions to student academic success. You may submit multiple nominations for each category. Deadline for submissions is March 14, 2025.
Shoutout to Covington Middle School Parent Support Specialist Esther Garcia! She received a Golden Rave Wednesday from Superintendent Segura. It was truly a special moment for everyone in the room. Congrats, Ms. Garcia!
This weekend I'll be at ConnectFEST! If you happen to see the Kocurek Koala say hi!
ConnectFEST is a community event aimed at connecting families with educational programs, services, and support systems within our schools, and strengthening the bond between the community and Austin ISD. Get all of the event details at austinisd.org/connect.
For questions or comments you may email me at jorge.maldonado@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.
