Extra Credit

Three Fort Worth high schools rank among top urban schools in North Texas that serve students from low income backgrounds

Three Fort Worth high schools got a nod from a Houston-based research and advocacy group as among the top urban high schools in North Texas that serve low-income students.

Children At Risk this week posted a list of rankings of comprehensive high schools that are located in urban school districts that also have a high concentration (74 percent or more) of students from economically disadvantaged families.

There were 22 North Texas neighborhood schools (not magnet schools or charter schools) evaluated for this list, of which eight were considered the top, said Caroline Neary, a data analyst for Children at Risk.

Read the sub list for North Texas here.

Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School was ranked first on the list. Carter-Riverside High School ranked seventh and North Side High School ranked eighth. The sub list also included four Dallas ISD schools and Irving High School.

Schools in other metropolitan areas were ranked on separate lists, Neary said.

The group performs an annual study issuing letter grades and rankings for public and charter schools in major metropolitan areas in Texas. On the group's overall list, Diamond Hill-Jarvis High was ranked 101st among 191 schools in North Texas and 591st among 1,171 high schools statewide.

Carter-Riverside High ranked 149th in North Texas and 926th statewide and North Side High was ranked 154th in North Texas and 964th statewide. 

All three schools were given C grades. The highest ranking Fort Worth ISD high school was Paschal High School, which ranked 69th in North Texas and 333rd statewide. The population of economically disadvantaged students there is 46 percent; it is 86 percent at Diamond Hill-Jarvis, according to the Texas Education Agency.

The North Texas region includes nine counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwall and Tarrant.

More on Star-Telegram.com. 

Jessamy Brown

Student regent named to UNT System Board of Regents

(Photo provided by UNT)

Rudy Reynoso, a junior communications and Spanish double major, has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve as the UNT System’s student regent from June 2013 through May 2014.

Reynoso is president of UNT's student government association.

“Serving as student body president for UNT in Denton over the past year has given me a great perspective of the needs and concerns of all students,” said Reynoso in a press release issued by UNT.

The student regent doesn't vote on issues, but can serve on task forces, committees and special commissions.

-Diane Smith

 

UNTHSC interim president to speak at Texas Wesleyan graduation ceremony

(Photo provided by Texas Wesleyan University)

 

Trustee Michael Williams '77 is Commencement Speaker for Texas Wesleyan

Alumnus Michael Williams ’77, interim president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, will deliver the commencement address for Texas Wesleyan University’s Class of 2013.

Williams has earned five degrees, including a bachelor's degree in biology from Texas Wesleyan. He earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Ross University, a Master of Business Administration from Duke University and master's degree in health care management from Harvard University.

Williams was recently named to the Texas Wesleyan University Board of Trustees. Williams, a former UNT regent, is currently serving as interim president of the institution. The UNT System is currently searching for a permanent president to the post.

On Saturday, Texas Wesleyan will confer degrees on about 230 graduates. The ceremony is set for 2 p.m. at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

-Diane Smith

 

 

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Fort Worth senior wins new car in Words for Wheels essay contest

A senior at South Hills High School in Fort Worth won a new Honda Civic LX by penning the best essay in the annual Words for Wheels contest.

BreAvery Simpson got the keys to the vehicle on April 29 at a ceremony at Frank Kent Honda. He chose a red one.

Read his essay here.

More than 200 students wrote 1,000 word essays on the role of technology in society and how they plan to use technology in the future to promote and help Fort Worth.

BreAvery's essay "My Vision for an Innovative Future" was judged the top one by a panel that included Frank Kent Honda owners Will Churchill and Corrie Watson. (r: Will Churchill hands car keys to BreAvery Simpson/photo from Mike Zukerman, FWISD)

The cost of the car's taxes, title and license were covered by the Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU). BreAvery and two runners up received a $250 savings account.

From a news release: "Last year’s winner Robyn Sims says winning the Honda Civic changed her life tremendously.

“The car has allowed me to work in Fort Worth and commute to Denton where I go to school,” said Sims. “This would not have been possible had I not won the essay contest!”

Mayor (Betsy) Price and Superintendent (Walter) Dansby agreed the contest is a reflection of the city’s commitment to inspire the youth with leadership and community service opportunities. 

“Words for Wheels is an exciting opportunity for kids to share their ideas around emerging technology and showcase their writing skills — something that is vitally important for their future success,” said Mayor Price. “We thank all of the partners involved, especially Frank Kent Honda for their support for education. These partnerships are building a better city and a better tomorrow for all of us.”

Here's a link to more Fort Worth ISD pictures from the event. 

Jessamy Brown 

Paschal High School wins $500 at National Science Bowl

The Paschal High School science bowl team is back from the national finals in Washington D.C. and while they didn't take the top prize, the Fort Worth team won first place in the division team challenge and won $500 for the science club.

In the division team challenge, Paschal's team outscored the team from Mira Loma High School in Sacramento, Calif., which eventually won the National Science Bowl. The contest is run by the U.S. Department of Energy. Click here for competition results.

"This was the best performance by Paschal so far in the Science Bowl," said Andrew Brinker, the team's faculty sponsor.

Team members are: Dominic Yurk, Erik Nguyen, Abrahim Sharaf and Wyatt Reeves. 

Jessamy Brown

Memorial for Nash Elementary principal set for Sunday afternoon at TCC

Update: the service is scheduled to include remarks from schools officials and students as well as a song by children. The location is: Trinity Building, fourth floor, TRTR 4202. Here's a link for a map.  

Friends, family and coworkers will gather on Sunday to remember Pamela Hsiu Lo Day, principal at Nash Elementary School in Fort Worth, who passed away on April 7. She was 62.

The family is hosting a public memorial service from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 28 in the auditorium of the Tarrant County College's Trinity River Campus in downtown Fort Worth, according to a school district news release.

Mrs. Day was Nash Elementary School principal for 13 years and previously was principal at Sam Rosen Elementary, assistant principal at Manuel Jara Elementary and also taught at Diamond Hill Elementary. She worked at Fort Worth ISD for 23 years. Here's a photo gallery on the Fort Worth ISD's website of an April 11 candlelight vigil in her memory. 

Mrs. Day died of complications of cancer, according to her obituary on Star-Telegram.com.

Here's more about Mrs. Day's work at Nash Elementary: "During that time, she came to think of the staff and the faculty as family, and the kids in the school as an extension of her own family. She cared deeply for the welfare and well-being of her students and her teachers. Nash achieved exemplary status during statewide accountability reports several times during her tenure, and she always put the credit on her teachers' and students' shoulders, saying that she was merely a guide to help them find their way," the obituary states. "Pamela loved practical jokes, and her staff at Nash Elementary was often on the receiving end."

Jessamy Brown

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey honors Trimble Tech scholarship winners on House floor

Update

The one minute speech happened at about noon. MV TCU Floor Remarks 4-26-2013.

Veasey said: "I commend these students. I know they will wear their purple with pride."

Original Post

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey plans to speak on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this morning to honor students from Fort Worth's Trimble Technical High School who won full scholarships to Texas Christian University.

The remarks will likely take place between 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. central time, an official with his office said. Watch it live on CSPAN here.

The students were among several area high school seniors recently named TCU Community Scholars. Here's a Star-Telegram report on the 7 winners from Trimble Tech and five winners from Sam Houston High School in Arlington. And a news release from Fort Worth ISD on TCU scholarship winners.

The $200,000 awards are enough to finance all four years of their undergraduate college careers. The cost for an academic year at TCU is estimated at $48,530, including tuition, room, meal plan, books and supplies.

Here's part of what Veasey (TX-33) plans to say: "The students chosen from Fort Worth's Trimble Technical High School add to the prestige and quality of the Community Scholars program and TCU overall. Each of these students are bright, motivated and accomplished. Not only do these students exhibit academic excellence, but they also take part in volunteer work, extracurricular activities and demonstrate leadership in their communities."

In the photo: Sharron Herrea, FWISD Student Engagement Office; Victoria Herrera, TCU Representative; Beatrice Gutierrez, TCU Representative; Elijah Herring, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Nian Dim, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Consuelo Cuevas, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Ysenia Ortiz, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Mariah Mathews, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Miguel Lopez, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Alejandra Benavidez, Tech Senior – TCU Scholar; Maria Delgadillo, Tech Senior – 4 year Student Engagement and Completion Scholarship; E. Omar Ramos, Principal Tech High School. Photo from FWISD

 

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth students show "encouraging gains" in early STAAR results

Fifth and eighth grade students in the Fort Worth school district made "encouraging gains" on this year's standardized tests, administrators announced.

Preliminary results show an increase in the percentage of students who passed the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Skills (STAAR) tests in math and reading. But scores for Asian students as a whole dropped. The tests were given earlier this month.

This week, third, fourth, sixth and seventh graders took the reading and math tests. Fifth graders took the science test and eighth graders took the science and social studies tests.

On the math test, fifth graders improved their passing rate by seven percentage points. Last year, as fourth graders, 59 percent of those students passed the test. This year, as fifth graders, 66 percent of students passed. African American students showed double digit gains, improving from 40 to 50 percent.

On the reading test, fifth graders improved four percentage points, from 63 to 67 percent passing. And students who took the reading test in Spanish improved nine percentage points, from 68 to 77 percent.

For eighth graders, students jumped 13 percentage points in math, from 58 percent passing as seventh graders to 71 percent passing this year. Gains were even greater for Hispanic students, who jumped from 60 percent passing to 75 percent, a 15 point boost. African American students, too, jumped 15 percentage points, from 41 percent passing to 56 percent.

On the reading test, eighth graders improved four points, from 66 percent to 70 percent passing. Hispanic students had a seven point gain, from 65 to 72 percent passing.

"These preliminary numbers are telling us that we are on track in narrowing the achievement gap among our students," Superintendent Walter Dansby said in a statement. "We are studying the successes as well as those opportunities for improvement during re-test."

The district is studying the results to determine why there were some drops in passing rates for Asian students. For instance, fifth grade math scores dropped nine points from 90 to 81 percent. And eighth grade reading scores dropped 15 points, from 56 to 41 percent. 

Spokesman Clint Bond said that it could be due to an influx of students who are still learning English.

The school district point out that the district launched block scheduling for middle schools this year, which provides an extra eight weeks worth of instruction time. Also, the district created learning networks, teams of educators who support teachers and administrators on campuses.

Jessamy Brown

 

Advisory committee to help find candidates for UNT Health Science Center president's post

A Presidential Search Advisory Committee will help identify candidates for president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

The graduate institution, located in Fort Worth's cultural district, is home to a cutting-edge medical research facility that includes the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Center of Human Identification.

In December, the UNT board of regents fired Dr. Scott Ransom as its president, after regents and Chancellor Lee Jackson cited concerns about Ransom's conduct and leadership style, namely the way he handled a merger study.

Dr. Michael Williams, a former UNT regent, is currently serving as interim president of the institution.

The Presidential Search Advisory Committee will meet later in April to set a schedule and being advertising and interviewing for the position, according to a news release. The committee will draft a report to Jackson who will recommend a candidate to the UNT System Board of Regents.

An appointment is expected this summer.

The presidential advisory is different from a task force that was created in March to help give Fort Worth a greater voice within the UNT System. Some of the members of the task force are also on the presidential advisory committee.

Members of UNTHSC Presidential Search Advisory Committee:

Ladislav Dory, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Christine A. Moranetz, PhD

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor & Chair School of Public Health Education

Don Peska, DO, MEd

Dean, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

John Travis Hollingsworth                                                         

President, Physical Therapy Student Association

Rosemary Haggett, PhD                                                                  
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Success

Honorable Roy C. Brooks                                                                
Commissioner, Precinct One, Tarrant County Commissioners Court

Honorable Sal Espino

Councilman, District 2, City of Fort Worth

Erma Johnson Hadley                                                                

Chancellor, Tarrant County College District

 Dee Kelly, Jr.                                         

Managing Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP

 Jack McCallum, MD                                                                        

Chief Executive Officer, Censeo Health

 John C. McDonald, DO                                                                     

Clinical Clerkship Director, Good Shepherd Medical Center

 Rick Merrill                                                                                

President and Chief Executive Officer, Cook Children’s Health Care System

Charlie Powell                                                                             

President and Chief Operating Officer, Bank of Texas Fort Worth region

John Stevenson

Vice President, Keystone Group, L.P.

 Libby Watson                                                                             

Director, UNT Health Science Center Foundation
Chair, School of Public Health and Prevention Civic Council

 Jack Wall

Chairman, UNT System Board of Regents

 Michael Bradford                                                                       

Member, UNT System Board of Regents                       

-Diane Smith                   

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Right new guy for the UNT Health Science Center

Carroll school board candidates to participate in forum

SOUTHLAKE _ Carroll school board candidates to present political platforms and speak to resident this evening during a forum hosted Tuesday by the Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods or SPIN.

Two at-large seats are on the ballot: Place 6, held by John Thane; and Place 7, held by Sherri Williams. Neither is seeking re-election.

Candidates for Place 6 are Sam Torolopoulos, president and CEO of ATI Capital Group; and Matt Kormann, a vice president of sales for the Freeman Co.

Candidates for Place 7 are James Palazzo, a managing director for the Navigant healthcare consulting company; and Chris Archer, vice president of Associated Time & Parking Controls.

The forum starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at Southlake Town Hall, 1400 Main St. in Southlake. Candidates will brief residents about their platforms. Candidates will also answer questions posed by the audience.

For more information visit, www.SouthlakeSPIN.org.
-Diane Smith

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Childrens Lighthouse collecting donations from families, public to support West

Childrens Lighthouse Learning Centers in the Metroplex are collecting donations for families in the city of West in the aftermath of the deadly explosions on Wednesday.

They are collecting these items: 

bottled water, toiletries, blankets, diapers, formula, bottles, toys, first aid products, cots, air mattresses, pillows, linens, pet food, pet crates/carriers, medical supplies, alcohol, car seats, boosters.

The Fort Worth-based company plans to send seven vans with the items to West on Friday, April 26, a spokesman said in an email.

Rose Morelock, vice president of operations for Fort Worth-based Childrens Lighthouse issued this statement:

"At times like these, we need to all pull together to help support our neighbors. Our thoughts and prayers go out the victims and their families in West, Texas. We are hopeful the supplies and relief aid we bring next Friday will help ease the burden of losing a loved one." 

Donations can be dropped off at these Childrens Lighthouse childcare centers: 

• 11845 Alta Vista Road, Fort Worth
• 1001 Point Vista Road, Hickory Creek
• 5025 Teasley Lane, Denton
• 2029 W. Hebron Parkway, Carrollton
• 4095 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney
• 3420 W. Risinger Road, Fort Worth
• 6250 Matlock Road, Arlington
• 4636 Texas 360 South, Grand Prairie

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth students put language studies to use at Kimbell Art Museum's gallery night

Fort Worth school district students who are taking foreign languages will put their knowledge to use at Global Gallery Night at the Kimbell Art Museum on Friday.

The teens, who have taken at least three years of language studies, will serve as docents or tour guides, sharing their insights about the artwork in the permanent collection at the museum. The event is sponsored by the museum and the Fort Worth school district's world languages department. Students have taken part for eight years, according to a news release. 

Students had a mandatory orientation at the Kimbell.

The school district offers instruction in several languages, including French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, German, Latin, Chinese and American Sign Language.

Global Gallery Night:

• Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth
• Friday, April 19, 6 to 8 p.m.

Jessamy Brown 

2nd Annual Concussion Summit to be held at UT Arlington

UT Arlington will host its 2nd Annual Concussion Summit: Concussion in Youth Sports this Friday and Saturday.

The conference, which will draw speakers from across the U.S., is intended to engage a broad audience, from parents and medical professionals to coaches and athletic trainers. Keynote speakers are Donny Anderson, Green Bay Packer from 1966 to 1971, Pro-Bowler, and two-time Super Bowl Champion team member; and Adam Pearce, professional wrestling star and advocate for concussion awareness and education.

Jacob Resch, an assistant professor of kinesiology at UT Arlington and director of the University's Brain Injury Laboratory, talks about ongoing concussion research.

(Video provided by UT Arlington)

For more information or to register, visit http://www.uta.edu/coehp/kinesiology/news/concussion-summit/index.php. (Registration fees range from $30 to $60).

-Diane Smith

 

 

 

Extra counselors at Charles Nash Elementary in Fort Worth after death of principal

Extra counselors and administrators are at Charles Nash Elementary School in Fort Worth on Monday to provide support to students, staff and parents after the death of principal Pamela Day, the Fort Worth school district said.

Mrs. Day, who had been undergoing treatment for cancer, was prinicpal at the campus for 13 years, a school district spokesman said.

During her 23 year career in Fort Worth schools, Mrs. Day also served as principal at Sam Rosen Elementary, assistant principal at Manuel Jara Elementary and taught at Diamond Hill Elementary schools.

Extra counselors are also on staff at Hazel Harvey Peace Elementary School to help students dealing with the loss of student Garyon Wheatfall, who died Saturday of bronchial asthma, the school district said.

Counselors are also at two other campuses where Garyon's siblings attend school.

Jessamy Brown

Candidate stops quest for Fort Worth school board District 9 seat

The race for the Fort Worth school board's District 9 seat is down to two people.

Candidate Melody Palacios notified supporters on Saturday by email that she is no longer going to pursue the seat because of health reasons, she told the Star-Telegram.

She said school district officials told her that ballots have already been printed for the May 11 election and that it was too late to officially withdraw.

One candidate, Ashley E. Paz, is challenging incumbent Juan Rangel for the seat. Palacios said she is not making an endorsement of either candidate vying for the seat.

Jessamy Brown

Texas Senator Wendy Davis to hold town hall meetings on public education

Two town hall meetings on Saturday will focus on public education topics, including funding, accountability and curriculum issues.

The town halls are being held by Texas Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth). (Davis at a 2011 education town hall at Paschal High School/Joyce Marshall)

• In Arlington: 9:30 a.m. at the Mac Bernd Professional Development Center, 1111 W. Arbrook Blvd.
• In Fort Worth: 2 p.m. at Nichols Martin Hall at Texas Wesleyan University, 1309 Wesleyan St.

Jessamy Brown

When is my kid taking the STAAR test?

Testing under the state's standardized exam program known as STAAR starts this week and school districts are taking to social media to remind parents. 

Last week, the Fort Worth school district posted on its website a list of tips to help children prepare for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests and the program's End-of-Course tests for high school students (EOCs).

Children should get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast.

This morning, Fort Worth ISD tweeted: "EOC and STAAR tests this week. Take your time and think. You can do this."

High school freshmen and sophomores will take STAAR end-of-course tests in certain subjects. Juniors and seniors are still tested under the Texas Assessments of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) program.

Here's the STAAR 2013 schedule as posted by the Texas Education Agency:

Monday: High school English 1 and 3 writing

Tuesday: High school English 1 and 3 reading; grades 4 and 7 writing day 1; grades 5 and 8 math

Wednesday: High school English 2 writing; grades 4 and 7 writing day 2; grades 5 and 8 reading

Thursday: High school English 2 reading

April 23: Grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 math

April 24: Grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 reading; grades 5 and 8 science

April 25: Grade 8 social studies

May 6 to 17: High school end of course tests

Jessamy Brown

 

 

Starting pay for early childhood teachers in San Antonio's pre-K program is $60K

Months after voters gave the nod for a new pre-kindergarten program in San Antonio, officials are coming to the Metroplex looking to hire teachers and other employees before the program launches in August, according to a news release.

The City of San Antonio is holding a job fair in Dallas on April 4. They are seeking to hire more than 100 positions, including master teachers (who will start at a $60,000 annual salary), teacher assistants, nurses and professional and administrative staff. It's an informational job fair, so resumes and applications are not being accepted at the event.

The "Pre-K 4 SA" program gained national attention when voters approved it in November 2012. Four "model education centers" are planned to provide prekindergarten instruction for 2,000 four-year-olds. Staffers are being hired for the first two centers, scheduled to open in August.

Master teachers must have: at least three years of early childhood teaching experience, a teaching certificate with endorsements to teach early childhood education from any state's educator certification department and the ability to get Texas certification.

DFW job fair details:

• 4 to 7 p.m. on April 4
• Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young St., Dallas.
• Program overview presentations: 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Jessamy Brown

United Educators Association endorses Fort Worth ISD board incumbents for re-election

The Fort Worth-based United Educators Association employee group is endorsing the re-election bids of two Fort Worth school district trustees, a news release said.

The group, which represents more than 6,000 Fort Worth school district employees, is endorsing incumbents Carlos Vasquez in the school board's district 1 and Juan Rangel in district 9.

"Juan Rangel and Dr. Carlos Vasquez have proven themselves as champions for our students and our teachers," Steven Poole, UEAs executive director, said in the release. "As a current teacher, Dr. Carlos Vasquez understands the needs of our students. Juan Rangel's experience on the school board is important to help us focus on the continued improvement of our schools."

Vasquez, a teacher, has two challengers: Camille Rodriguez, a podiatrist and Jacinto A. Ramos Jr., a juvenile probation officer.

Rangel, a marketing/management consultant, is also in a three way race. Ashley E. Paz, an event planner and Melody Palacios, who gave her occupation as a housewife, are also running for the seat.

The group's executive board reviewed the candidates' qualifications, voting records and other factors, the release said.

Jessamy Brown

 

Young chefs from Byron Nelson High win state contest, headed to nationals

A team of students from the Academy of Culinary Arts and Hospitality at Byron Nelson High School won the state title at the Texas ProStart Invitational and are headed to a national competition in April in Maryland, according to a news release.

The team prepared a three course meal in 60 minutes. Students were also judged on knife skills, chicken fabrication and safety and sanitation. 

The team includes Chef James Neel, Allison Bode and chef Steve DeShazo, LaKoda Sailer, Lyric Gibson, Trenton Shank, Nathan Young, Emily Baker. (R: Culinary team/Photo from NISD)

A second team from Byron Nelson High, a campus in Trophy Club that is part of the Northwest school district, took second place in the restaurant management competition. Those teams had to develop a restaurant proposal and give a presentation about it. Their concept was City Park Smoke House. A team from Rockwall High School placed first in that category.

A restaurant management team placed first at the national competition last year.

The state event was hosted by the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The competition is open to students enrolled in high school culinary arts programs that use the Texas ProStart program and curriculum.

Jessamy Brown

UNT conference tackles hazing, social media and bullying

The higher education community discussed this week how to best address a number of issues on college campuses; including post traumatic stress disorder, students on social media, hazing and bullying. The issues were themes at the 17th Annual Texas Higher Education Law Conference at the University of North Texas.

Marc Cutright, associate professor and director for the Center for Higher Education at UNT, said the conference gives higher education professionals resources for handling campus issues.

Cutright said the aim is for higher education experts to be able to answer: "What do I do if this situation comes up?"

Cutright said the proceeds of the two-day conference pay for scholarships for graduate students in higher education.

Kim Novak, a consultant and advocate for Campus Safety, urged campuses to work to prevent hazing -a problem that is not isolated to fraternities and sororities.

"Hazing happens all over the place," she said. Novak referred to the November 2011 hazing death of Robert Champion Jr., a drum major for Florida A&M University. Twelve former students face manslaughter charges in connection with that case.

-Diane Smith

Fort Worth ISDs free mobile app ready to download from Apple and Google stores

UPDATE 3/27/13 

To find the mobile app:
It is a free download for smart phones and tablets on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. Users can search for “Fort Worth ISD” to find the app, located in the education category. Developed by Parlant Technology Inc., the app has a red icon with a white apple.

The app has been downloaded 690 times since January, including 456 times since it was announced on Monday, officials said Wednesday afternoon.

ORIGINAL POST

A smart phone app with news and student information about Fort Worth schools is ready, officials announced in a Monday news release.

Users can download the app for free from the Apple App Store for iPhone users and the Google Play Store for Android users.

The app is available in 70 languages and folks can access the district's social media sites and lunch money accounts, make a report to the safety and security office, find school phone numbers and check sports scores. The district will also use the app for school and district updates and news and will send voice messages to parents, who can access them when it is convenient, rather than being interrupted by a phone call, said Clint Bond, director of external and emergency communications.

Here's a January Star-Telegram article about the app.

"We are extremely excited to be deploying this mobile app," Walter Dansby, Fort Worth schools superintendent, said in a Monday news release. "It's so important that we can communicate effectively when there is an emergency. But it is even more important that we can communicate with our parents about the progress of their children in school. Our new mobile app puts the facts right into the hands of people who need it the most ... our parents."

Jessamy Brown

Donation will fund four billboards to publicize Fort Worth schools May 11 walk

Four billboards touting the Fort Worth school district's District Walk are going up next month.

The school district on Monday was given a $15,000 donation to help pay for and publicize the annual walk, scheduled for May 11. Participants will meet at athletic tracks at Fort Worth ISD high schools and walk. The event is 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The Humana Foundation's donation will pay to buy water, water bottles, t-shirts and other expenses. It will also cover the costs of four billboards.

Starting on April 14, the billboards will be located at:

• Beach Street and Elinor Street (south facing)
• Berry Street and Mississippi Avenue (east facing)
• North and Pharr Street (north facing)
• Vickery Boulevard and Lovell Avenue (east facing)

Jessamy Brown

 

Two UT Arlington educators named to ACE Fellows Program

Pamela Jansma

Pamela Jansma, dean of The University of Texas at Arlington College of Science, and Victoria Farrar-Myers, a UT Arlington professor of political science, have been named American Council on Education Fellows for the 2013-14 academic year.

UTA President James Spaniolo nominated the educators for the program, according to a news release. 

Victoria Farrar-Myers

-Diane Smith

UT Arlington environmental engineer wins grant to identify algae blooms in water sources

A University of Texas at Arlington environmental engineer has received a three-year, $561,730 grant to identify harmful algae blooms in fresh and salt water so that water providers can take action to contain and curb them.

The National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation awarded assistant professor Hyeok Choi the grant to develop and place sensors to find these biological toxins so that they can be monitored.

“We will use satellite information to identify the best demonstration site where our sensors can be installed,” said Choi, who is in the civil engineering department. “These sensors will be able to read the microcystins or biological toxins wirelessly, then report back to us.”

Sungyong Jung, a UT Arlington associate professor of electrical engineering, is building the sensors, in cooperation with Sang-Yeon Cho of New Mexico State University and Jung-Min Park of Virginia Tech.

The Environmental Protection Agency will direct the research team to a site where there is a high concentration of biological toxins, Choi said. Researchers will deploy the sensors, often travel to the site to collect samples and measure the amount of biological toxins in that water through a laboratory process. The EPA also plans to take water samples for blind testing. That data will be compared with the data monitored and transmitted by the sensors.

Arlington is in the process of installing similar sensors in Lake Arlington. Terry Benton, assistant director of operations for the Water Utilities Department, said in October that the monitors are designed to detect contaminants ranging algae blooms to man-made toxins. That information will help staff fine-tune the water-treatment process, which could save the city on chemical and electricity costs.

"If we know what is coming into the plant, that will help us adjust our treatment processes to get the best quality of water that we can," Benton said. "Any time it rains we get run-off, which will allow pesticides and fertilizers to get in the lake. We can measure the severity and that will help dictate how we treat the water."

In early 2011, a golden algae bloom killed more than a quarter-million fish in Lake Granbury and downstream in the Brazos River.

Jean-Pierre Bardet, dean of the UT Arlington College of Engineering, said that Choi’s work has the opportunity to dramatically improve how developing nations cope with water sources saturated with such toxins.

“Monitoring general algal bloom activities gives an idea on potential hazard while monitoring actual biological toxins gives an insight on imminent hazard,” Bardet said. “This innovation has the potential to aid anyone who uses water.”

-Patrick M. Walker

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Eschewal is winning word in Fort Worth regional spelling bee

Update: Spelling bee champ is 12-year-old Ansun Sujoe, a sixth grader at Parkwood Hill Intermediate School in the Keller school district. Check out this video by the Star-Telegram's Paul Moseley.  

The championship word, in the 26th round of competition, was eschewal, meaning shunning or avoidance.

Holding his trophy, he gave interviews to television stations and newspaper reporters. He wins an expenses paid trip to Washington, DC for the national spelling bee.

 Second place went to Ben Benjadol, 11, of Wilshire Elementary in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district, a previous area spelling bee winner. (Right: ST photo: Joyce Marshall)

Many more pics by Joyce Marshall from the event on the Star-Telegram's website.

Update 11:35 a.m.

Just five spellers remain at the North Texas regional spelling bee as they head into the 16 round. Kailey Choi, the youngest speller in the contest at age 8, was eliminated in round 14.

Many parents remarked at the break that they not only did not know how to spell many of the words the students were given to spell, they didn't know what they meant.

At one point, somone's cell phone sounded and the audience was reminded to turn them off.

Original post

Returning to the stage after a break at the regional spelling bee at TCU, round 7 proved tough for several of the young spellers. The words are getting more difficult.

Officials have asked the crowd not to publish words given to the students during the competition because other regions have not held their bees yet.

Four of 14 students were eliminated during round 7. The contest started with 25 students from across North Texas who qualified for the event by winning their campus and district or area bees.

The youngest student, an eight year old from Mansfield schools, is still in the competition, powering through her words without asking for additional information, such as the word's language of origin.

Jessamy Brown

 

 

Mansfield ISD student, 8, is youngest competitor at Wednesday's regional spelling bee

Eight-year-old Kailey Choi, the youngest winner of a Mansfield school district spelling bee, will compete in the regional bee at TCU on Wednesday.

Kailey, a third grader, correctly spelled some tough words during the district event last month, including influenza, ominous, refugee, arsenal, piccolo and monotonous.

She topped runner up Jeremy Pham, a fifth grader, who misspelled etymology in the 24th round of competition. Her winning word was exuberant.

(R: Kailey Choi wins Mansfield spelling bee/MISD)

Here's a video of the Mansfield district competition:

ORIGINAL POST

How do you spell V-I-C-T-O-R-Y?

Twenty-five students from North Texas --including one who is just eight-years-old -- will square off on Wednesday at the annual regional spelling bee.

The winner will advance to the national Scripps National Spelling Bee, scheduled for May 28 to 30 near Washington, D.C.

Students from 457 schools participated in the TCU College of Education Spelling Bee, sponsored by the College of Education's Center for Urban Education and the Star-Telegram. The 25 students qualified for the regional bee by winning their campus bee and then their district or area bee, said Jan Lacina, associate dean at the TCU college of education.

In addition to the expenses-paid trip to the finals, the regional winner gets a trophy, dictionary and the chance to audit a TCU course.

Two students who competed in previous regional contests are returning on Wednesday and the youngest contestant is Kailey Choi, a third grader at Anderson Elementary School in the Mansfield school district.

Last year's winner, Mark De Los Santos, is not eligible to compete again because he is in ninth grade. He advanced to the sixth round of the national spelling bee semi-finals but did not spell himation correctly.

The regional bee is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon at the TCU Brown Lupton University Union, 2901 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth.

Jessamy Brown

 

It's Dr. V: Mansfield schools interim chief Jim Vaszauskas is focus of video

Mansfield schools folks say they had a little fun in presenting this video to introduce the school district's new interim superintendent.

His name is Dr. Jim Vaszauskas. The unique spelling and pronunciation of his last name lent itself to a few jokes. In a mock spelling bee, students took a stab at spelling (there's no w). And then students and staffers at Donna Shepard Intermediate took turns asking questions about Dr. V's background, educational philosophy and views about Mansfield ISD.

Dr. V was the school district's associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and accountability before he was tapped for the interim chief post in February. Bob Morrison was tapped to lead the Garland school district.

Check out the "Just Call Me Dr. V" video: 

 

Jessamy Brown

 

Legislators tackle controversial CScope curriculum issues

  CScope, the school curriculum program maligned by many Texas parents, teachers and conservatives as anti-American and anti-Christian, is clearly in the crosshairs of State Sen. Dan Patrick, who is the new chair of the Senate Education Committee in the legislature. 

   He arranged a recent hearing with CScope representatives, and has further authorized a review panel, which is nonbinding but includes members of the State Board of Education as well as others. Patrick and Sen. Donna Coleman have also introduced a bill in the Senate to reform CScope.

   The Senate bill calls for opening all meetings concerning CScope to the public, turning over lessons for state board review, posting lessons on the CScope website for parents to view, and establishing a permanent oversight board.

     The current review committee's work is "to flush out any biases in there," said SBOE member Pat Hardy of Fort Worth, who is on the panel.

     Mavis Knight of Dallas, another SBOE member on the committee, said she will go in with an open mind.

     "I can'timagine that more than 800 school districts are using something that's not beneficial," she said. "I have to see the context in which the lessons are being presented."

    But Jeanine McGregor of Ballinger, a CScope critic who speaks to groups around the state about the curriculum, will be closely monitoring the committee's work.

     "If they are only looking to neutralize the sensationalism of it, rather than the legitimacy of the lesson itself," she said, "then they won't fix it."

__Shirley Jinkins

 

 

Fort Worth school board candidate maintains he is eligible for district 1 seat

In the middle of a three-way race for the Fort Worth school board’s district 1 seat, questions surfaced about whether one of the candidates meets the residency requirements for the post.

At issue is whether Jacinto A. Ramos Jr. lived in the single-member district for six months before the March 1 filing date, as required.

The Star-Telegram asked him to respond. Ramos said he has lived in the district, representing Fort Worth’s north side, since July 2012. That’s seven months. [Update: okay, it was pointed out that it is more than seven months. ]

Two people are challenging incumbent Carlos Vasquez, a teacher, for the seat. Camille Rodriguez, a podiatrist, is also in the race.

Ramos used to live in a home he owns on Cochise Drive in far north Fort Worth (near Haslet), but said he leased the property out in June 2012. Because new tenants were located quicker than expected, the family stayed with Ramos’ mother in her home on Northwest 30th Street from June 15 to 30. The next month, they moved into the property they own on Harrington Avenue. In August, they registered a son at Northside High (two other children attend school in another school district, where Ramos’ wife is an employee).

Tarrant County property tax records show Ramos still has a homestead exemption on the Cochise Drive property. He paid taxes on the property in December.

Ramos says he filed documents to have the homestead exemption changed this month but more paperwork is needed for it to be complete.

He said one part of the initial delay was he had to supply a drivers license with his new address on it to switch the homestead exemption. That’s according to state law changes that went into effect Sept. 1, 2011.

He said he renewed the license in October. Also, he said, the new one had not arrived by Nov. 6, election day. So he voted back at the Haslet-area precinct that matched the license he had at the time, he said.

“I thought that it updated the voter registration when I did the license renewal,” he said. He changed his voter address on March 4 at the Tarrant County Elections Center, a clerk said Thursday.

Jessamy Brown

UT Chancellor sends letter to Gov. Perry detailing concerns about concealed guns on Texas campuses

UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa has sent Texas Gov. Rick Perry a letter that outlines his concerns about allowing concealed guns on university and college campuses. (See press release).

"I believe that, on balance, the permitted presence of concealed weapons will contribute to a less-safe campus environment," the chancellor stated in his letter. "I respectfully request that the legislature ensure that all concerns and considerations are weighed as it makes such an important decision, as I am confident it will."

-Diane Smith

Young Women's Leadership Academy to move to downtown Fort Worth

Renovation on a building on the eastern edge of downtown Fort Worth is to begin shortly to turn it into the new campus for the Young Women's Leadership Academy.

Tarrant County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to sell the Tarrant County Education Center building at 401 E. Eighth St. to the Fort Worth school district, said Superintendent Walter Dansby.

"I’m really happy that were going to have a presence in downtown Fort Worth," Dansby said. "This is a beautiful setting for our girls."

Trustees last month agreed to pay $5.8 million for renovations to the four story building once the sale was complete. The funds are left over from ad 2007 bond program for capital improvements.

The all girls school has outgrown its current location, a converted building on West Magnolia Avenue, where it has been since it opened in 2010.

Jessamy Brown

Carroll students head to Chicago for slam poetry competition

Students from the Carroll Theatre Department are participating in the

Louder Than A Bomb Slam Poetry Competition in Chicago March 6 - 9.

The Carroll Theatre Department is sending six performers and writers to the competition.

Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) was founded in 2001, by Kevin Coval (Young
Chicago Authors Artistic Director) and Anna West.  The award-winning
documentary was featured on Oprah's OWN Network. LTAB is the largest
youth poetry festival in the world, featuring over 100 teams and 750
students from around the country, according to a press release.

LTAB was created to give youth around the city of Chicago a platform
to share their stories. 

-Diane Smith

Everyone's history should be remembered, say TCU students

(Photo by Ron T. Ennis)

About 14 students marched Feb. 28 to mark the end of Black History Month and the beginning of Women's National History Month. The event, organized by TCU NAACP, aimed to drive home the idea that histories should be remembered 12 months a year.

The event also tried to bring awareness about civil and human rights, said organizers.

-Diane Smith

UNT System names a sole finalist for UNT Dallas presidency

DALLAS _ Ronald Brown, provost of Wayne State University in Michigan, is the sole finalist for president of the University of North Texas at Dallas.

The UNT System announced Brown’s designation on Thursday after a Board of Regents vote. UNT System Chancellor Lee Jackson recommended Brown to the board after a presidential search committee reviewed potential candidates.

“Dr. Brown is exceptionally well-matched for UNT Dallas, with a strong personal academic record and solid experience at two large urban universities,” Jackson said in a press release.

Brown is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Wayne State University, a public university with more than 32,000 students in Detroit.

UNT Dallas is the first public four-year university in the City of Dallas. UNT Dallas began offering courses in Dallas in 2000 as an extension of the flagship campus in Denton. It is now an independent institution and is nearing the completion of an accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

-Diane Smith

Paschal, Everman High students take first place in physics, earth science in competition

Students from Everman and Paschal high schools were among the top finishers at the Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair, held on Monday at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Read more about the contest here. (R. Dominic Yurk. ST/Joyce Marshall)

The event drew more than 550 middle and high school students.

The top three Best of Fair finishers were from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Sciences.

Other first place finishers were from Summit International, Harmony School of Innovation, Harmony Science Academy, Northstar School, Liberty Christian School, North Joshua Elementary and Westlake Academy.

Paola V. Gonzalez from Everman High School took first place in the earth and planetary science division. Students from Everman took second and third place in that division as well. The school had 34 students at the competition, said Larry Ritchie, advanced placement chemistry and physics teacher.

Dominic Yurk, from Paschal High School in Fort Worth, took first place in the physics and astronomy division. And Ryan P. Parkey from Westlake Academy took first place in the medicine and health division.

In an interview with the Star-Telegram, Yurk said he is graduating in the spring and plans to attend the California Institute of Technology and study physics and computer science. Yurk, 16, is a Benbrook resident.

Jessamy Brown

 

 

 

 

Dunbar High School principal wins administrator of the year from state school board group

Update:

Here's more information about Walker from the Fort Worth ISD website. A graduate of O.D. Wyatt High School and the University of Texas at Arlington, he is working on a doctorate at the University of North Texas.

Original Post:

Dunbar High School principal Carlos Walker is being honored this weekend as the administrator of the year by the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members.

The group is holding its annual education summit event in Austin. The event's opening speaker is Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams, the first African American to hold the post.

"Mr. Walker was selected to be honored based on what he has done for students. The committee felt he was head and shoulders above other" candidates, President Ted Beard said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Walker will win cash and a trophy at a dinner over the weekend, Beard said.

Jessamy Brown

 

Teachers to rally, march to Austin capitol for Save Texas Schools event on Sat

Teachers and public education supporters are traveling to the state capital this weekend for a Save Texas Schools march and rally at the Texas capitol.

Organizers expect about 15,000 people to the Saturday event. The rally is to start with a march from the Congress Avenue bridge to the capitol site.

Here's their battle cry: "Say NO to school funding cuts, vouchers and a broken testing system. Say YES to great public schools for ALL Texas children."

The group's website says that a group from Everman ISD is chartering a bus to Austin.

And Fort Worth-based United Educators Assocation is taking a bus full of folks, leaving about 6 a.m. on Saturday morning from Tarrant County College-South Campus, says Steven Poole, UEA executive director.

Here are the details:

• March: 10:45 a.m. on the Congress Avenue Bridge to the capitol. Gathering at the Austin American-Statesman at the corner of Riverside Drive and S. Congress Avenue.
• Rally: Noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Texas State Capitol on the South Steps, Congress Avenue & 11th Street
• Directions and Parking: here.

Many educators have traveled to Austin in recent weeks while the legislature is in session. Fort Worth school district teachers Dolores Rayas and Raul Duran joined 400 teachers who met with state legislators at the Association of Texas Professional Educators' lobby day on Feb. 11. Rayas and Duran teach at Como Montessori School, according to a news release from spokeswoman Ashley Anthony.

And Kennedale school district trustees, district administrators and city of Kennedale reps spent Feb. 12 in Austin. They met with Rep. Bill Zedler, Sen. Wendy Davis and Rep. Diane Patrick, said Erin Hyden, school district spokeswoman. (R: Kennedale Day at the state capitol. Via KISD)

Jessamy Brown

 

Fort Worth schools trustees to discuss proposed employee pay raise

Employees at the Fort Worth school district may be getting a pay raise next year.

The nine-member school board is meeting on Tuesday and trustees are scheduled to discuss a proposal to give workers a salary boost. Watch it online Tuesday here.

School district officials are creating budget priorities as they work to develop the spending plan for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Administrators are recommending that changes to pay be handled this way:

First, the district could roll a one-time, one percent payment employees were given for the 2012-2013 school year into the salary scale for next year. Then the district could add an additional 2 percent increase to salaries on top of that. The pay raises would cost $9.7 million, with funds coming from the district's general fund.

In pre-meeting documents, trustees were told:

"Due to the reductions in funding, the district was unable to increase salaries for employees over the last two years. This has diminished the District's capacity to attract and retain high quality staff. Therefore, the priority for 2013-2014 is to increase employee salaries to be more competitive."

Another proposed budget priority is to keep the maintenance and operations portion of the tax rate the same. That portion of the tax rate, which pays for the day to day operations of the district is 1.04 per $100 of assessed property value, the highest Texas districts can go without additional voter approval. Combined with the portion for debt repayment, the total tax rate is $1.322, which has remained unchanged since 2009.

Administrators are also recommending that the fund balance in the general fund be maintained at $70 million.

Jessamy Brown

Texas Wesleyan senior coaches middle school basketball team to state victory

The 7th and 8th grade boys basketball team from St. Paul Lutheran School recently won the 2013 Lutheran Middle School Tournament D II State title, according to a report by team coach Zach Matthews.

Matthews is a student at Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth. Jordan Harbor, a senior at Paschal High School, also coached the team.

Matthews’ play-by-play report states:

“St. Paul found themselves one win away from bringing the first ever boys basketball state championship home to Fort Worth and the only team standing in their way was St. Paul Lutheran from Thorndale. The last game of the season was full of stifling defense displayed by Ben Williams and Mason Berthelot with unmatched hustle from Luke Hawthorne. The game was sealed up when Philip Crowley sank a free throw to push the lead to four points with five seconds left and the final score displayed in favor of the Eagles 31-27.”

Matthews added: “I am incredibly proud of them and I know the community is as well. GO EAGLES!”

The Eagles victory dance was a Harlem Shake. 

-Diane Smith