News and Announcements

Weatherford ISD Receives $78,000 Grant for Safety and Security

Weatherford Independent School District (WISD) is proud to receive a federal grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant is authorized by the STOP School Violence Act and is intended to improve school safety and security measures districtwide.

Details about this grant are outlined below:

STOP School Violence – Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program Grant Award: $78,323.00.

Through this grant, WISD is expanding community and student safety awareness. The district’s safety and security office recognizes the importance of bringing awareness and building a collaborative safety and security culture. WISD will hold community safety summits and school events to provide our stakeholders with information about warning signs of violence so that parents and students know when to report concerning behaviors to school officials. In addition, this grant will facilitate safety and security case management, protocols and practices in order to increase the effectiveness of our district’s safety and security initiatives.

To learn more about this grant, please visit www.bja.gov.
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Possible Lightning Delay at Dismissal - October 29, 2019

We are closely monitoring this afternoon's forecast that indicates a chance of thunderstorms. If lightning is occurring at dismissal, we will hold all students inside their campus until the lightning delay is lifted.

While we advise parents who are picking up children from campuses to remain in their cars during a lightning delay, you may choose to come to the office to pick up your child.

Buses will wait at campuses until it is safe for students to board and, as a result, may be delayed in arriving to bus stops this afternoon.

If we experience a lightning delay this afternoon, we will notify parents using our automated calling and email notification system.

Thank you for your understanding as we implement bad weather processes that are designed to keep our children safe.
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TASA Names 2020 Teachers of the Year

TASA Names 2020 Teachers of the Year

AUSTIN – The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), which facilitates the Texas Teacher of the Year program has named Texas’ top teachers for 2020.

Karen Sams, a third-grade teacher from Weatherford ISD, is the 2020 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Michelle Sandoval, an eighth-grade math teacher from Ysleta ISD, is the 2020 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. Karen Sams was chosen to represent the state as Texas Teacher of the Year in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The announcement was made at the Texas Teacher of the Year awards luncheon at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. Both state-level winners will receive a cash award and a commemorative trophy.

Also honored during the luncheon were the Regional Teachers of the Year and the finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year: Juliette Broussard, Pasadena ISD; Kami Dodds, Brady ISD; Jennifer Garner, River Road ISD; and Perla Lozoya, Socorro ISD.

“I congratulate Karen and Michelle on this achievement. Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor our state bestows upon its teachers,” said Kevin Brown, executive director of TASA. “They have distinguished themselves among thousands of outstanding, dedicated teachers across our state and nation have who have answered the call to serve others.”

2020 Texas Teacher of the Year

Karen Sams, David Crockett Elementary, Weatherford ISD “Students learn best by being engaged and collaborating with others,” said Karen Sams, 2020 Texas Teacher of the Year. “One way that I connect with students and reach them on a more personal level is through humor. When teachers share a laugh or a smile with students, it helps them feel more comfortable and open to learning.”

In her 15-year career in education, Sams has taught first through third grades as well as K-5 music. She is passionate about public education and has committed her entire career to helping students in Title 1 schools. Sams currently teaches third grade at David Crockett Elementary in Weatherford ISD, where she serves on the Campus Improvement Team and the Restorative Practices Campus Behavior Team.


2020 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year

Michelle Sandoval, Parkland Middle School, Ysleta ISD “Transparency is everything in education. When you are a real human in front of your students, you earn respect,” said Michelle Sandoval, 2020 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. “My only wish is that when I am transparent with them and show them that I too was from Northeast El Paso with a middle-class working family, that they too can be successful. I hope I can give them the key to their dreams with simple lessons on the fundamentals of money.”

Sandoval has taught eighth-grade math at Parkland Middle School for the past year of her 10-year teaching career. She serves as the Student Council sponsor and volleyball coach on her campus. Sandoval is proud to be teaching at her alma mater and to be from the El Paso community.

Texas Teacher of the Year Program

To achieve recognition as Texas Elementary or Secondary Teacher of the Year, a teacher must first be chosen as a campus and district teacher of the year, then a regional honoree. From the group of 40 regional teachers of the year, six finalists are chosen and interviewed by an independent panel of judges composed of representatives of education associations, community and business leaders, a member of the State Board for Educator Certification, a member of the State Board of Education, and prior Texas Teachers of the Year.

The state’s top elementary and secondary teachers are selected from these six finalists, and the Texas nominee for National Teacher of the Year is chosen from the top two winners. In 2015, Texas Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples of Amarillo ISD was the second Texas teacher to be named the National Teacher of the Year.

The Texas Teacher of the Year program has honored excellence in classroom education since 1969 and continues to annually recognize and reward teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. The program operates with financial support and in-kind contributions from the following:

Diamond Sponsors
Edgenuity
H-E-B
Raise Your Hand Texas
TASA

Platinum Sponsors
Google for Education
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

Gold Sponsors
AXA Advisors
Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) Vanir Construction Management

Silver Sponsors
Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA) Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) Texas PTA Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA)

TASA is the professional association for Texas school superintendents and other administrators. The mission of the organization, which focuses on professional learning, advocacy and member engagement, is to promote, provide and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.
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Weatherford ISD Job Opening - Campus Security Officers

Weatherford ISD has an immediate opening for seven campus security officers. The campus security officer is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for students and staff by patrolling and monitoring the school campus, including the halls, lunchrooms, grounds and parking areas. The campus security officer may also greet visitors and direct them to the office to check into the building and will maintain high visibility throughout the school day.

For more information, please click on the headline.
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Weatherford ISD Adds Weather Monitoring Station

Weatherford ISD Adds Weather Monitoring Station

Predicting the weather can be challenging – especially when utilizing apps that use weather stations that may be located several miles from Weatherford ISD schools.

To add an additional layer to our weather safety processes, Weatherford ISD recently installed our own weather monitoring station. This weather station allows us to better prepare for and respond to potentially dangerous weather-related events.

The features of the weather station provide us with the opportunity to more accurately obtain weather information directly related to our schools and facilities, monitor air quality, and deploy weather-related processes in a more timely manner.
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Roo Parent University

Roo Parent University

Weatherford ISD will host the first Roo Parent University of the school year on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. This event is open to all parents and will be held from 6-8 pm at the Ninth Grade Center.

Presentation topics include:
- The ARD Process
- Parenting the Anxious Child
- Futures Planning
- Dyslexia Student Panel
- Behavior: Interventions for the Home
- Speech Generating Devices: Beginners and Advanced

Please join us for a night of learning and light refreshments. Child care will be provided.

For more information, please call 817-598-2844.
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Weatherford High School Students Receive Recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Weatherford High School Students Receive Recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Katlyn Don Carlos is among 16,000 students across the United States to receive recognition as a Semifinalist in the scholarship program. Katlyn has been attending Weatherford ISD schools since kindergarten and has taken an active part in her classroom and school. She is president of Stop the Stigma, the high school’s mental health awareness club, vice president of the Science National Honor Society, secretary of the National Honor Society, and resides on the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) for Weatherford ISD. She also has been a member of the Weatherford Band for the past four years, making it to state twice for her solos in the Texas UIL Solo and Ensemble Competition. Katlyn’s parents are Jenny and Gregg Don Carlos.

Connor Bezio is among 34,000 students to receive the designation of Commended Student in the scholarship program. Son of William and Renee’ Bezio and top of the senior class, Connor has been a proud member of the band for seven years. He currently serves as president of the Science National Honor Society, vice president of the National Honor Society, and treasurer of the WHS Class of 2020. He is an avid member of Stop the Stigma and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Both entranced by the wonder and whimsy of reading and writing, as well as perplexed by the intricate beauties of math and science, Connor hopes to attend Columbia University next fall, majoring in Physics or English.
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