Administrators from five high schools will visit Irving High School and The Academy of Irving ISD to see Smaller Learning Communities in action next week as part of a professional development program called Design Studio. The two IISD schools were chosen to host the event because of their success in implementing Smaller Learning Communities principles. The four-day workshop, April 14-17, is for teams of administrators from schools that have recently received Smaller Learning Communities grants. Workshop attendees will observe instructional programs at the schools, ask questions of IISD teachers and administrators, and take part in planning sessions to help implement Smaller Learning Communities on their campuses. The cost for the workshop is $375 per person.

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The reputation of high-tech prowess at de Zavala Middle School (and across the district) is paying off. The Texas Education Agency has chosen de Zavala to pilot a new online social studies TAKS test this year. Eighth-graders took the test March 30 and 31 and were able to see results within minutes of finishing. Since this is just a pilot program, the test results will not be used for official reporting and students will still have to take the regular state test in a few weeks. But de Zavala teachers said the online software worked well and provided good practice for the students.

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Boeing representative Lonnie Hale presented a check for $10,000 to the Irving Regional Day School Program for the Deaf this week. The grant money will be used to buy auditory equipment to enhance hearing-impaired students’ listening in the classroom.

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Author Bettie Youngs, PhD. visited Irving High School last week to speak to teens about the importance of good self esteem, and to thank students for helping her write her latest book. Youngs is a former teacher and author of 31 books. Her latest offering, Taste Berries for Teens Volume 4, includes contributions from 30 Irving High students and their teacher, Vanessa Vega. An entire chapter of the book is dedicated to the subject of eating disorders and self-image. Vega used lessons she learned during her 17-year struggle with anorexia to write much of the chapter. The chapter also includes essays from some of her students.

Youngs signed copies of her previous book, Taste Berries for Teens, Volume 3 during her visit on Thursday. She will return to Irving for a book signing with Volume 4 May 25 at the Barnes & Noble in Irving Mall.

The book marks the second time this year that Irving students have been featured in nationwide publicity dealing with self esteem. In November, 19 MacArthur students were interviewed for an episode of Dr. Phil in which the host’s son, Jay McGraw, unveiled his latest book on teenage dieting.

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David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Rosie Mauk, Director of AmeriCorps, took time from their Washington schedules to visit the IISD HIPPY offices on Friday. HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) is an early education project funded partially by AmeriCorps. Eisner and Mauk held a roundtable discussion with HIPPY Coordinator Marcela Montes and several of her volunteers.

The Corporation for National and Community Service engages more than 2 million Americans annually in community service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America.

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Schulze Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Megan Fall had received the usual teacher gifts from her students – apples, stickers, cards. But when Fall was diagnosed with cancer in November, one of her students gave her a gift that is much bigger – six feet, eight inches, to be exact.

Knowing that her teacher is an avid Dallas Mavericks fan, kindergartener Victoria Kennedy arranged for her to meet her favorite player, Danny Fortson, after a game in Dallas. To Kennedy, the idea seemed obvious. She assumed that since Fall was such a fan, she was at every game anyway. With some help from grown-ups, Fall and Kennedy were able to attend a game versus the Phoenix Suns followed by a brief photo and autograph session with Fortson.

Fall has undergone radiation treatments and, four months after being diagnosed, doctors say she is now cancer-free.

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Irving ISD has been recognized several times for its integration of technology in the classroom. Now IISD schools are taking technology onto the field of play. And other schools are taking note.

Campus instructional technology specialists have worked with football coaches at Irving High School to create a "Virtual Playbook" in which animated Xs and Os no longer need arrows, but can demonstrate pass routes and blocking assignments. One coach, Kord Smith, has even inserted game footage into his PowerPoint playbook to show examples of well-run plays.

The high-tech coaching has even garnered attention from outside the district. In May, several coaches from Southern Methodist University will visit Irving High to see the playbook and get tips on how to use the technology in their program.

Coaches and trainers have also used technology in other areas. Last year, athletic trainer Troy Roberts produced a first aid course on CD. Rather than spending a Saturday at a first aid refresher course, coaches took the course on their own time and then took an end-of-course quiz via Blackboard.

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A second Crockett Middle School student was chosen to take part in the Lone Star Leadership Academy sponsored by Education In Action March 15-19 in Austin.

Sixth-grader Jordan Viers attended the academy along with her classmate Morgan Linton whose selection was announced in an earlier issue of the District Weekly.

Students are selected for the academy based on their outstanding academic success, leadership potential, and a recommendation by a teacher or counselor.

Participants in the Lone Star Leadership Academy will discuss issues with their peers, complete problem-solving and decision-making simulations, exercise their creativity, and practice presentation skills. Students will also visit the state capitol, governor’s mansion, museums and other notable landmarks while in Austin.

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At Schulze Elementary School, every April 1 is now Cupcake Day. Rotary Readers, a group of volunteers from the Irving Rotary Club who read to Schulze second-graders each week, threw the second annual Cupcake Day party to celebrate students’ reading advances. Rotary Readers have volunteered at Schulze for three years.

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A flag that once flew over USS Nimitz nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will now grace the flagpole at Nimitz High School – or at least a display case. The flag was a gift from 1995 Nimitz graduate Paul Moore, a hospital corpsman stationed aboard the USS Nimitz. Moore presented the flag to principal Sam Bean and Navy Junior ROTC commander Calvin Durst on Monday, March 29 at the school. Also present to make the donation were Moore’s father, Daniel C. Moore, a 1972 Nimitz graduate and current Navy reservist, and his wife, Stephanie Moore, a 1974 Nimitz graduate.

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IISD will offer credit by examination for students in kindergarten through 12th grade June 14-17 at Good Elementary School. Credit by exam for acceleration without prior instruction is offered to allow students to advance in grade level or progress to courses that challenge them without having to take courses that cover information they already know. This testing is not for college credit. Deadline for registration is May 12. To apply, contact a school counselor or the Department of Student Services at the IISD Administration Building or get your application online.