Union Bower Renamed for Cardwell

In a unanimous decision by the IISD Board of Trustees January 19, Union Bower Center for Learning (UBCL) was renamed as the Barbara Cardwell Career Preparatory Center in honor of former IISD Trustee, the late Barbara Cardwell.

The decision came as a result of months of surveys and information gathering sessions on the part of trustees and IISD administrators. With the new focus on career preparation, renaming the school became an appropriate step to “rebrand” it to better fit the purpose. Students and staff were interviewed, as well as members of the Cardwell family. A majority of students expressed an affinity for the phrase “Career Preparatory Center”.

Cardwell, a longtime supporter of the students and programs at UBCL, served as school board member, secretary, vice president, and was the first woman elected as a school board president in Dallas County during her 21 years as an IISD trustee. She was also a member of numerous civic organizations. In 2008, an Irving Schools Foundation scholarship was established in Cardwell’s honor, and the first award was given at the 2009 Breakfast with the Stars.

Dr. Neil Dugger, interim superintendent of schools, with students attending Union Bower Center for Learning September 29, 2009, to discuss the possibility of changing the school’s name in the wake of campus expansion.

Currently, Barbara Cardwell Career Preparatory Center (BCCPC) offers four career pathways: Automotive Technology/Cosmetology, Technical Health Services, Child Development & Education, and Applied Technology. New construction at BCCPC includes a cafeteria, library and administrative wing. Science classrooms and Teenage Pregnant & Parenting Students classrooms will be added, and the interior and exterior of existing facilities will be renovated. BCCPC currently serves 298 students, but once construction projects are complete administrators hope to increase to 450 students.

Trustees’ decision to rename the facility is effective immediately. A dedication ceremony will be scheduled in conjunction with the opening of the newly renovated facility once work is complete.

Back to top   

A Step Ahead for Children’s Education

In order to help parents learn more about making a difference in their children’s lives, a special program has been scheduled for 5-8 p.m. January 21 at Jack E. Singley Academy.

Presented free to the public, scheduled activities include seminars about college and higher education readiness; presentations about parents’ role in developing their children’s assets; and interactive discussions among parents, teachers and experts. A community resource fair will also be available. In the past, similar programs in the district have been attended by more than 600 parents and students.

In addition to scheduled activities, free food, free childcare, and free parking will be provided. Attendees who arrive between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. — and who stay for the entire event — will be eligible to win a free computer.

The event is presented in partnership between Irving ISD, Parents Step Ahead, and Wal-Mart. Sponsors for the event include ETS, Verizon Foundation, Dell, McDonalds, Aetna Foundation, Recuerdo 94.1 FM, GMAC, Pinnacle, El Hispano News, Univision, American Airlines/American Eagle, Latina Style, and La Voz Del Pueblo 1270 AM.

Singley Academy is located at 4601 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Irving. For more information please contact Eileen Suárez at call 214-357-2186.

Back to top   

New Technologies for the Classroom

According to Dr. Alice Owen, IISD executive director of technology, several new elements in instructional technology may become available throughout the next five years.

Citing the Horizon Report from the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN), Owen says that in one year, collaborative environments and online communication tools will become more prevalent in the next year. Over the next two to three years, mobile devices and “cloud computing” may find their way into the classroom, and in four to five years, smart objects and the personal web will be used more. The full report is available at www.cosn.org or in PDF format below:

2009 Horizon Report (pdf)

Owen said Irving ISD already makes use of much of this technology. One exception is personal wireless devices such as smart phones. She said that as WiFi — a play on words related to Hi-Fi (high-fidelity) and often expanded to mean “wireless fidelity” — networks become more robust, pressure will increase to allow personal devices into the classroom.

For online communication tools, IISD blocks many social networking sites because their use for classroom instruction has not yet become apparent. However, Owen said that as more education-related agencies begin using social networking, policies may need to be reconsidered. IISD does promote the use of Web 2.0 tools for the classroom. These tools, when used effectively, can promote a collaborative educational environment. The district lists and highlights many Web 2.0 tools on its website, accessed at www.irvingisd.net/web20.

Teaching Internet safety in Irving ISD is a priority as the web is used more in classroom instruction. Owen said that when IISD teachers talk to students about Internet safety, they use the iSafe curriculum. The IISD iSafe curriculum guide for teachers can be accessed online at www.irvingisd.net/isafe. 

Back to top   

Partnerships in Education to Launch New Website

Irving ISD Partnerships in Education is scheduled to launch its new Volunteer Connect website on January 27, streamlining the process of volunteering in IISD schools.

According to Thelma Cantu, partnerships in education coordinator, Volunteer Connect will benefit the following groups:

• IISD schools seeking volunteers and partners in education

• non-profit organizations and city departments seeking volunteers

• IISD high school students seeking volunteer opportunities in Irving

• Irving community members seeking opportunities to volunteer in schools

The new site will function as an extension of the current partnerships website located at www.irvingisd.net/pie. Cantu said the IISD Volunteer Connect site will allow users to login, seek opportunities, and make contacts for more information.

Cantu said IISD campus partnership coordinators will begin inputting volunteer opportunities to the new site during the week of January 12. On the launch date of January 27, students and community members who want to volunteer will be able to log in and find the opportunity that fits their needs.

Thelma Cantu, partnerships in education coordinator, inputs volunteer information into the new Volunteer Connect website.

For more information regarding IISD Partnerships in Education, or about the new Volunteer Connect website, contact Thelma Cantu at 972-600-5017 or via email to tcantu@irvingisd.net.

Back to top   

Keep up with the latest Irving ISD news and events with three Tweets per day, Monday through Friday. Follow Irving ISD on Twitter with your cell phone or online. http://twitter.com/IrvingISD. 

Back to top