Technology appears to be widening the education divide before kids even show up for school, making the need to catch kids up who have not yet been exposed to technology and the content it delivers equally as important as offering accelerated content to the kids that have. It’s an intriguing thought though that we have to step up our kindergarten curriculum to accommodate the use technology at earlier ages.

Part of the 10-year plan is to ensure all students incorporate technology into their learning. We used to have to wait until library day to research topics and now we have all of that at our fingertips on cell phones across the district. And what’s really more astonishing is when you think about today’s 4 year olds and the expectation they have for instant access to information already. What will they be like in two more years?

As we roll out technology in the classrooms though, it is imperative to me that we use it to deliver lessons that are unique to that student. An iPad delivering the same lesson to the entire class is simply a fancy medium. We have to ensure that we use the tools to create differentiated learning for our students and ease the burden on the teachers of meeting multiple levels in the same classroom. Before technology the thought that we could offer different levels of learning in the same class seemed impossible. Today, however, it’s entirely possible given the right tools and training and in many cases, kids are already doing it at home on their own computers using free resources online.

Joseph Renzulli, an advocate for individualized instruction, said in a recent Education Week article that, “Amazon and Netflix know what we like to read and view, and they make use of this information to “differentiate” the material they send us. We can do the same thing to enrich the entire learning environment by capitalizing on a broader spectrum of learner characteristics, creating comprehensive computer-generated student profiles, and using the interactive capabilities of today’s technology to revitalize learning. By so doing, we can minimize boredom and make learning the challenging, enjoyable, and relevant process that it should be.”

The challenge of course is getting the technology despite the budget situations. Across the country schools are piloting virtual classrooms, but an interesting trend is emerging in district’s banding together to save costs on technology.

I imagine colleges are wondering what this means for them too in the long run. But one thing is for sure. When my son and his friends graduate from GCISD in 2026, they will have received an education quite different from the ones their parents experienced!

I’m not sure how or if this affects the election process since the rules for winning are different in a 3 person vs. a 2 person race, but we will be sure to let you know. In the meantime, please plan on voting on Monday, April 30th or soon after so we can win this election without the discussion of a runoff in June! Thank you so much for your faith in me!

But here’s the thing. I think it’s not that people don’t care; it’s that people don’t know! In every volunteer role I’ve held I’ve taken it upon myself to increase the flow of information to parents, so please bear with me. We have to care. We can either care now, or care later when decisions are made that adversely affect our kids and we’re mad about it. The people that will be elected to the school board in the next few weeks will make decisions for the future of our schools for the next three years!

The school board is responsible for handling the largest chunk of your local tax dollars, so you need to know what they think, what their experiences are, and how they will prioritize your dollars. Since we can’t predict the future, we have to know that these seven people will do the research, ask the questions, and make informed choices for our kids, regardless of what the future brings.

The time to care is now. Check www.votexas.org to see if you’re properly registered and make changes if you’re not… by tomorrow!

Make plans to attend the Council of PTA forum to be moderated by the League of Women Voters on April 18th at 6:30 at the Grapevine High School library. But most importantly, please VOTE, beginning on April 30th. Details for voting locations and times are on my website under the Voting tab.

Let’s show the community that tax-payers do care about what is happening in our schools. We understand the important role that the school district plays. And we care that we have the right people in place to make the right decisions for our kids. I’ve met with countless citizens in our community in the past several weeks that are passionate about our schools. This is our chance to make that passion count!

Creative Teacher Thank You From a GES Mom

When I woke up on Tuesday of last week I felt like I was in the middle of a perfect storm. The campaign pace was picking up and I already wasn’t getting enough sleep! My tasks seemed daunting especially in light of the fact that my three young kids still need dinner, carpool to after school activities, homework, and clean clothes. All of that changed around 1:00 when storms and tornados ravaged our area.

Amazingly the 14 tornadoes across the area left only property damage. “Just things” as my mom would say, that can be replaced. But times like these make us realize what is really important. At the end of the day, it’s not the list of to-dos that didn’t get done that day, or the fourth round of editing on a document you can’t get just quite right that is important. It’s the stories from your children after school. The call from a friend you haven’t heard from in a while. The time we spend with family and friends, that we take for granted but shouldn’t.

According to Red Cross, nearly 1,100 homes were hit by the tornadoes. In my consulting practice I assist clients who raise funds in the wake of natural disasters around the world. I implore you that if you want to donate to an organization providing aid, please be sure it’s a reputable one. Red Cross always accepts monetary donations when disaster occurs and is a first responder thanks to the ongoing donations of its supporters. You can give online or at Grapevine Mills. In-kind donations are being accepted in many locations as well, but I can help arrange getting clothing, non-perishable food, water, trash bags and toiletries to Kennedale High School, one of the areas that was hit the hardest. Please email me at kbd4gcisd@gmail.com to arrange for a donation pickup.

I also want to commend GCISD for its timely communication to parents about lock-downs, for keeping our kids safe, and for knowing what to do in case of an emergency. I know that they are reexamining emergency plans for when disaster hits right at pick-up time to further clarify expectations. But as a mom, it was so comforting knowing my girls were safe and would be well taken care of until I could arrive. And they were!

“Connect” was created to assist the mission of the Grapevine-Colleyville School District in “Building Excellent Schools Together” by making sure students’ basic needs are identified and supported through the coordination of school and community resources. They strive to care for the “whole child” by addressing needs for clothing, food, school supplies, mentors, transportation, and financial or medical assistance. If you, either individually or in representing local churches, synagogues, temples, corporations, businesses, groups, or civic organizations, want to assist Connect’s efforts, please contact Carolyn Ann Walgren at cwalgren@verizon.net or 817-300-4435.

GO Centers are local centers designed to create a college-going culture. They are equipped with individuals and resources dedicated to promoting college awareness both within schools and in the surrounding communities. Statewide, GO Centers reach out to students and parents through community partnerships and provide them with the tools and information they need to make going to college a reality. The district has a Go Center serving Colleyville Heritage High School located inside First United Methodist Church in Colleyville. Volunteers are working hard towards establishing one at Grapevine High School, but help is needed to assist the students in the Center as they research information and apply to Colleges. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Trustee Jorge Rodriguez at jorge.rodriguez@gcisd.net.

Chic Boutique, created by Trustee Lisa Pardo, provides a no-cost “shopping” experience for girls that are in need of banquet/prom dresses and accessories. Girls in middle and high schools are referred by their counselors to come shop on Saturdays between now and May 5 from 10 am to 2 pm. Dresses of all sizes are needed along with all types of related accessories. You can contact your campus PTA Council representative to arrange for your donations. Parents of elementary aged kids are encouraged to volunteer to staff a 2-hour shift, to help aid in confidentiality of the shoppers. Chic Boutique is located in the portable trailers at the GCISD Administration Campus, next to Mustang-Panther Stadium. For more information please email jenniferschumacher@verizon.net or visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4DA5A82BA20-haute to sign up to volunteer.

Most of you are learning about this process as we go along. You’re getting excited about LEAD 2021 and the promise of individualized learning and can’t wait to begin to see some progress. Your support for this path and your belief that I can lead us towards it, is one I will never take for granted. You have designed and delivered campaign materials, placed signs in your yards, donated to my campaign, helped carpool my children, brought our family meals (I’m pretty sure my husband could get used to that!), signed for package deliveries, arranged coffees in your homes, introduced me to friends, and kept an eye out for many other important opportunities. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you enough, but I do promise you that if I am elected, I will make you proud by working every day for the children of GCISD.

Thank you for believing in me!

I have spoken with a number of teachers, district officials, and board members since the change was announced in an effort to not only fully understand the reasons for the change but to also assist the dozens of parents who called me directly with concerns. After lots of analysis I can tell you that the district and I may differ in our opinions on the most efficient approach, but we continue to share a common vision for GCISD and I respect that their opinions were formed by many years of professional education and experience.

I agree 100% that in a district like ours the on-level classes should ensure all children feel prepared for college or the career of their choice. And while college readiness is addressed in LEAD 2021, the change from 3 to 2 options was not a specific action step of the Strategic Planning Team or the Curriculum Sub-Team. What is clearly spelled out, however, is the promise of personalized learning plans with individualized goals from assessments that ensure ALL students are instructed and challenged appropriately and given the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. It is up to district officials to determine how to carry this out, but I think what parents really enjoy about the current middle school structure is having the opportunity to basically customize their child’s education by ensuring they choose classes that align with their strengths.

It seems to me that economies of scale show us that the more alike the group of learners is, the more cost effective it is to deliver services to that group because you eliminate duplicate training and resources. This may be overly simplistic but as a business-minded person I believe in understanding your audience and targeting your communications with that audience. In schools, this translates to meeting the needs of your students by teaching a lesson specific to that level of need using a delivery model that best meets the learning styles of those students. That doesn’t mean another model won’t work, but it seems to me that the more complicated the model, the more expensive it might be to implement.

Currently in elementary school, the pressure is on the teacher to differentiate and to instruct across a broad spectrum. I’ve heard from teachers who I consider “best in class” and they struggle with trying to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of learners while dealing with decreased tutoring assistance and increased class sizes and work demands. As the daughter of a teacher, I’m very concerned about finding a model that gives teachers the training and tools necessary to ensure success for their students, and therefore themselves. That is why, at a minimum, I applaud the district’s choice to wait another year before implementation to ensure time for training and alignment with the many other goals of LEAD 2021.

While I now understand and appreciate the motivation for the middle school curriculum change, I believe that if the impetus for this change was the desire to increase the expectation and rigor for on-level classes to better prepare them for STAAR, then we should fix that first. In a perfect world, district tutors and additional assistance can help with the increased rigor outside of class time, but my fear is that there is no extra money for specialized, out-of-classroom tutoring and it will need to occur in class. That additional requirement of the teacher further stresses the already increased expectations of these educators to transition to individualized learning. To ensure that this model does what it is intended to do, with a wide range of abilities in one class, will require really good teachers with really good training and the desire to cover learning needs across the spectrum.

I want to clarify one thing as well. Some say the curriculum change does not affect the Accelerated options, but there is a change to those options also. In the past, students had to test in to the program in order to take an Accelerated class because it takes 3 years of curriculum and compresses it into 2 years. Now, there are recommendations to consider, but any student who wants to take accelerated programs can do so.

Finally, I think some of the frustration caused by the curriculum change was the manner in which it was presented. Most people are fundamentally opposed to change, and that is magnified when they don’t understand the reasoning behind it. I applaud the district for holding the community forums once parent dissatisfaction became apparent, and I personally attended both the Glenhope meeting and the one at the PDEC. The district acknowledged that those meetings should have been held immediately rather than as an outgrowth of the community response so I expect that changes like this will not be presented in the same manner in the future.

Ultimately, I believe that LEAD 2021 has a plan that will uniquely position our district to effectively meet the needs of all types of learners. But we have to implement it fully for it to work. I acknowledge that change is slow, but districts around us are being pretty aggressive to try and “catch up” to high performing districts like ours, so we can’t wait too long to implement this plan. If elected as a board member, my job will not be to micro-manage professional educators, but ensure that decisions are made in line with all aspects of the strategic direction of our district and within our available resources. Our parents and community need to hold the board and staff accountable for LEAD 2021’s implementation and results, whatever the delivery method chosen by the district, so that the promises inherent in that plan become a reality for our students.

I was honored to receive the news on Thursday that MetroTex has decided to endorse me for GCISD Place 1! Their reputation is huge, and their support is amazing. As much as I appreciate their backing for the impact it will have on my campaign, I am even more touched just to know that my message is being heard, and that people appreciate and agree with the ideals I am so passionate about!

Their questionnaire was very detailed, and a good cross-section of the issues many people are asking me about in email, on facebook, and in person. I’d like to start sharing more detailed explanations of my positions on different topics, and thought this was the perfect place to start. Here are the questions and answers I submitted to MetroTex, that they used, along with my in-person interview, to determine their endorsement. If you have a question not covered here, please let me know! I can answer it in a future post!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, specifically, what made you decide to run for school board? Do you have experience in a large organization? Do you have financial or budgetary experience? What experience do you have with your school district?

We moved our family to GCISD for the excellent schools and strong sense of community. As parents and business owners, we have a vested interest in ensuring our district remains one that attracts families, protects property values, and graduates successful and prepared students.

I have over 19 years of experience in non-profit management and consulting. For the last 11 years I’ve owned my own consulting practice. I’ve worked with six different boards of directors helping create and carry out strategic plans and led the re-branding efforts of two of Dallas’ largest non-profits: United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and ChildCareGroup. Because of my background in strategic planning for non-profits, I immediately became an active volunteer for the schools and was appointed as 1 of 30 members of GCISD’s ten year Strategic Planning Team, called LEAD 2021. This team established a direction for the district that will significantly change how we educate our students and incorporate technology into the classroom.

Through most of my career, I’ve purposefully accepted newly created or reinvented positions, continually challenging me to define problems, create solutions, and take action. It was in this spirit that I started Grapevine-Colleyville SAGE, now an IRS recognized 501c3 charity. This non-profit parent group formed to connect gifted students, their parents, and educators to information and resources that neighboring districts have had for years. Thanks to our active board, we now serve over 1,000 parents across GCISD, many of whom have expressed that SAGE gave them access to information that they never knew existed.

The success of this parent group propelled me forward to work towards the same vision for all families. If elected as a Board Trustee, I commit to serving as a resource not only to our district, but also to our parents and community partners in an effort to increase involvement and improve communication. A focus on partnerships is in our LEAD 2021 objectives and will be especially important as we roll out various phases of plan and move away from a more traditional “one-sized fits all” approach.

I was also actively involved in our local bond election in 2011 working to keep more of our local tax dollars in our local schools. Through my involvement in school finance I know we must continue working with legislators to update the funding formula, remove the cap on revenue, and re-establish local control.

2. Please describe your understanding of the role of a school board member and your governing philosophy.

Because of my work with several large Boards of Directors, I understand and appreciate the important distinction between the board’s responsibility and that of senior management of an organization, as well as the varying responsibilities of a board member from visioning, fiscal responsibility, accountability, community involvement, and management. I believe the board should actively support the superintendent that they chose to run the district, or make changes accordingly, but not micro-manage professional educators. The staff should run the day-to-day operations, but the board should provide oversight by lending their individual areas of expertise and ensuring that the district is making decisions within appropriate financial parameters and in line with the board approved strategic plan. The board should provide financial oversight by reviewing and understanding budgets set forth by the superintendent, I believe both the superintendent and the board should be responsive to the community, but as elected officials, board trustees have an added responsibility to ensure two-way communication with parents and community members and serve as ambassadors across the community.

3. What impact do you hope to have on the mission and vision of your school district?
My sole reason for running is to realize the mission and vision of GCISD: to ensure students reach their full potential and to be the BEST. One of the reasons I was so driven to run for school board this year was because of my involvement in LEAD 2021, the district’s 10-year strategic plan. I had the honor of working first as a Strategic Planning team member, then on the Curriculum Sub-team, actually helping design the details that support the strategy. I was so proud of the work we did, and so passionate about the changes and improvements recommended, that I want to make sure we stay focused on these goals and streamline budget accordingly.

Here are some of what I feel are the most important developments to come out of LEAD 2021, and why I will fight to ensure their implementation:

I believe the one-sized fits all industrialized approach to learning should be a thing of the past. All kids are unique and should be assessed, challenged, and taught at their own level in order to meet their fullest potential. Differentiated, engaged learning for all kids is critical to changing this paradigm. (Strategy 3.9.3)
A Personal Learning Plan for every student that includes goals within the areas of academics, campus activities, and workforce/community involvement for every student supporting this plan is key. (Strategy 2) Our district will experience a shift from a teaching platform to a learning platform. (Strategy 3.1) This means that students will become more self-directed learners with teachers creating assignments that students will find more relevant and meaningful. I believe children are born with an innate love of learning and that as educators it is our duty to foster that. When we can find a student’s passion and allow him/her to follow that passion, we get more meaningful learning as a result.
I also believe learning can only take place on material that hasn’t already been mastered. If a student can prove complete mastery of a subject, he/she should be allowed to move forward. From the earliest ages, we should ensure there are guidelines, alternate curriculum, and tools in place to allow the teacher to move to out of grade-level content when necessary (Strategy 3.7.7), just as we should provide extra assistance to struggling learners without them feeling embarrassed or ashamed. Every child should be motivated, encouraged, and allowed to reach his/her full potential.

4. Due to the economic turndown, most school districts are struggling with decreasing local revenues and dwindling funding from the State of Texas, while simultaneously experiencing increased enrollment. This phenomenon has forced many school districts to make difficult decisions. What measures do you propose in moving forward in these tough economic times; i.e. tax rate increase, specific cuts in services, etc?

We are fortunate in that our past and present Boards of Trustees were financially conservative and planned well for our future. It is because of those carefully planned funding choices that we are not experiencing the wholesale cuts in services that other districts are experiencing. We have a fund balance that can protect our immediate needs while we find other sources of funding, streamline spending, and most importantly work with legislators to change the state of funding for public schools.

Our district established a team in 2011 that looked at sources of revenue and also at streamlining services to students. These are all viable options, but must be made in accordance with our strategic plan. Most importantly, we must work with legislators and other districts like ours to remedy this inequitable and outdated funding model.

a. When faced with difficult financial decisions, what functions will you prioritize? LEAD 2021 (Leading Excellence – Action Driven) is providing the structure for our school district for the next 10 years. We developed targeted strategies and action steps designed to meet specified objectives. With financial concerns looming, we must make all financial decisions thoughtfully and in line with this strategic vision. I believe in the Covey statement, “Begin with the end in mind.” In this case, our group envisioned the skills that our graduates will need in ten years and worked backwards. All of the identified strategies for achieving that vision should be prioritized.

5. While considering the relationship between local taxing jurisdictions (city, county or school) and the Central Appraisal District, what role do you feel the Chief Appraisal/ Central Appraisal District should play in budgeting process for your School District?

My understanding is that TAD sets the assessed value upon which we base the tax rate that determines school district revenue. I believe that the staff should set the budget with thorough review by the board and in consideration of any major changes forecasted by TAD.

6. What are the top three challenges within your district? How do you as a trustee plan to handle those challenges?

1. The current state of funding for Texas public schools is our biggest challenge as a district right now. Thanks to our previous boards of trustees, we have a healthy fund balance, or savings account, that is helping us currently, but if nothing changes in the next legislative session, we won’t have a choice but to make drastic changes. The current funding formulas are outdated, unfairly cap our revenue and take away our local control. Our district is looking at alternative sources of revenue for the district but nothing can make up for a $14 million dollar hit, if that projected number becomes our reality. We must work with legislators and other districts like ours to remedy this inequitable and outdated funding model. As a concerned parent of students in the 7th largest district contributor to “Robin Hood,” I have spoken on several occasions with State Representative Vicki Truitt among other legislators. Most recently, I shared my hope that her appointment on the Joint Interim Committee to Study Public School Finance would make an impact on our current budget situation by remedying the inequitable and outdated funding formula. I would continue this work as a Trustee within the acceptable guidelines of serving as a district representative.
2. We need to deliver the promises of LEAD 2021. I was honored to be 1 of only 30 members of our district’s LEAD 2021 10-year Strategic Planning Team that team set the strategic objectives and strategies for our district. Hundreds of other members joined the various sub-teams. At that stage I joined the Curriculum sub-team researching best practices in other districts and the latest proven learning models utilizing student engagement. The process resulted in what I believe is a very strong plan for our district to remain competitive in the years ahead and a great excitement for what this means for our students. My goal for being on the board is to ensure that we use the community’s resources strategically and in line with that plan. Parents need to be aware of LEAD 2021 and hold the district and board accountable for its implementation.
3. Technology is probably the biggest variable in education right now. As more publishers switch away from print versions of textbooks, parents demand individualized instruction, schools compete globally thanks to online courses, and tech savvy students expect instant access to information, our district will have to evolve quickly to keep up. Privacy and control issues will become paramount as students create their online identities at increasingly younger ages. On the educator’s side, technology now gives us the tools to assess every child so that we can teach them based on their own individual needs. All kids are unique and should be assessed, instructed, challenged and measured for growth to ensure they reach their greatest potential. Student engagement is key to learning, but they can’t be engaged unless they are treated as unique individuals. LEAD 2021 brings us this individualized learning model, which will enable us to compete with area districts.

7. This committee is charged with making recommendations to the Board of Directors and Political Action Committee about whether the MetroTex will support a candidate’s bid for election. What level and type of support would you want from the MetroTex Association of REALTORS® to assist in your campaign?

Having moved here in 2008, I am a relative newcomer to the area. While I’ve gotten heavily involved in the district, I am not affiliated politically nor do I view this election as a stepping-stone to a future office. As a result, I would love help getting my name out there and telling my story as an involved parent and business person who wants to protect our excellent district while serving as a voice for our kids.

8. Have you been a party to a lawsuit (civil or criminal) anytime during the last 10 years? ___yes x no If yes, please explain the circumstances and the final disposition.
9. Have you filed bankruptcy or been party to any lawsuit in the last 10 years? ___yes x no If yes, please explain the circumstances and the final disposition. In addition, for consideration of endorsement, I’m certain that a title search on my properties (current and previous) will not show any foreclosure or liens other than our original loan(s) and that you will find that I am also financial very conservative and proudly maintain a high credit score.