Trustees Name Lone Finalist for Superintendent

At the special called meeting of the Irving ISD Board of Trustees February 18, trustees voted 6 to 1 to name Dr. Dana T. Bedden as the lone finalist for the position of IISD Superintendent of Schools.

Bedden currently serves as superintendent of Richmond County School System in Augusta, Georgia. A native of Florida, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Florida (UF) and Master of Education degree from Pennsylvania State University. He earned a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech University.

According to Texas law, the board must now wait 21 days before voting to hire Bedden to replace the interim superintendent, Dr. Neil Dugger, who has served as district leader since March 27, 2009. Trustees voted in August 2009 to hire Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to conduct the superintendent search. TASB consultants met with staff and community groups to discuss desired characteristics of a new chief executive officer. After the meetings, a profile was developed to serve as a yardstick used by trustees and consultants in evaluating applicants for the position. TASB consultants narrowed the applicant pool to six, which trustees pared down to three candidates before conducting visits to finalists’ home districts.

Bedden began his career in 1991 as middle school health teacher and basketball coach with Pinellas County Public Schools in Largo, Florida. From 1993-1994, Bedden served in Pennsylvania as athletic director for City of York School District, and then from 1994-1996 as district community and athletic resource administrator for Exeter Township School District. From 1996-1999, Bedden served as subschool principal at Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax, Virginia. He served as principal at School Without Walls Senior High School in Washington, D.C. from 1999-2003. Bedden became central region superintendent for School District of Philadelphia in 2003 and in 2007 was named superintendent of Richmond County Schools.

Bedden serves on several education advisory and administration boards including: American College Testing Education Advisory Board, SACS/CASI Accreditation Appeals Board, American Association of School Administrators, UF College of Health & Human Performance, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of Metro Augusta, and Boys and Girls Club of Augusta. Professional affiliations include: Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa, Education Law Association, American Association of School Administrators, Georgia School Superintendents, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Middle School Association, Council for Exceptional Children, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Bedden has earned superintendent certification in Virginia and Pennsylvania, earned an administrator license in Virginia and North Carolina, and received teacher certification in Virginia. He is also a certified athletic administrator by National Association of Interscholastic Athletic Administrators. He is the recipient of the 16^th Annual Minority Leadership Award from UF College of Health & Human Performance. Following participation in Reserve Officers Training Corps at UF, he earned a commission in 1990 as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves, and completed his military service in 1996. Bedden and his wife Ava are the parents of three children.

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Superior Singers Advance to State

Fourteen choir students from Nimitz High School performed at Region 20 Vocal University Interscholastic League (UIL) Solo & Ensemble Contest February 6, with nine earning superior ratings to advance to state competition.

Fourteen Nimitz High School Choir students performed at Region 20 Vocal Solo & Ensemble Competition February 6.

Students earning superior ratings are: Monica Alcaraz, Julia Barrera, Katie Dell, Jacalynn Foster, Amanda Garza, Amber Hertzog, Kelsey Solis, Randal Canafax, and Cory Jones. Students earning excellent ratings are: Darby Adams, Mariah Barksdale, Sandra Cantu, Mary Schuessler, and Carly Taylor.

State UIL Solo & Ensemble Competition will be May 30 and June 1 at University of Texas at Austin. State level UIL events are open to the public.  For more information regarding state solo and ensemble, access www.uil.utexas.edu/music.

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Technology Recognized by State Council

Irving ISD Technology Department was recognized by the Texas K-12 Chief Technology Officers Council (CTO) during the Texas Computer Education Association annual conference February 8-12 in Austin.

Keith Larson, director of technical services; Sam Farsaii, director of instructional technology; and Dr. Alice Owen, IISD executive director of technology, accept the TEAM Award during the Texas Computer Education Association annual convention.

Texas CTO presented IISD with the state TEAM Award, meant to recognize a technology team in a school district that has had significant impact on the role of technology in transforming learning. Lewisville ISD won the award in 2009, and Greg Veale, LISD assistant superintendent for technology, presented the award this year.

The primary purpose of the Texas K-12 CTO Council is to assist Texas kindergarten through twelfth grade school districts in understanding how to plan for the use and successful implementation of information technology in Texas, and to advocate for district technology needs to improve student learning.

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Students Tackle World Affairs

Two teams of students from Nimitz High School participated in the DFW World Affairs Council Academic WorldQuest at University of Texas at Arlington February 6.

Seventy-three teams from both public and private schools throughout the DFW metroplex competed at the event. Students answered questions including world migration patterns, pandemics, genocide, soccer, world food supply, world music, the nation of Oman, and international current events. The two Nimitz teams placed 11th and 20th in the competition.

Andres Hernandez, junior at Nimitz junior, won the grand prize drawing — a scholarship worth more than $1,400. The funds provide him the opportunity to take a Princeton Review course for free in preparation for the SAT college entrance exam.

Students were accompanied to the event by Nimitz social studies teachers Helen Bradley and Trevor Elston.

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Studying the New History Makers

Students at Good Elementary School are celebrating African American History Month with a twist. 

Rather than reviewing African American figures that have influenced America’s historical past, students are researching current people who are making history today. Throughout February, Good students have been researching African Americans who are making a difference through education and connection with their respective community.

A student at Good Elementary School researches President Barack Obama, a current African American history-maker, as part of the school’s celebration of Black History Month.

Students are researching information via blogs set up by the school instructional technology specialist. Counselors and administrators are incorporating the No Excuses emphasis currently being implemented at the campus. No Excuses emphasizes Good’s commitment to ensure that every child is aware of the options for their future and is college-ready.

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Irving.Net Earns State Award

The Irving.Net EL Civics program received a Silver Level Award from Texas Learns, the agency that manages Texas adult basic education programs.

Irving.Net staff and administrators celebrate having won the Silver Award from Texas Learns for their EL Civics program.

In order to be eligible for the Silver Level, the EL Civics program had to meet five out of six performance measures. In 2009, Irving ISD and Irving.Net won the Bronze Level award for meeting four of six objectives. Performance objectives are: English as a Second Language (ESL) Beginning Literacy, ESL Beginning Low, ESL Beginning High, ESL Intermediate Low, ESL Intermediate High, and Advanced ESL.

Irving.Net offers English literacy and civics classes to parents at six schools in Irving, as well as at the Administration Annex. To learn more about Irving.Net, access www.irving.net/english.

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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Lamar Middle School Fine Arts Department will present Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory February 25-27 in the auditorium at Singley Academy.

School performances are February 25 and 26, and will be at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Evening performances are at 7 p.m. February 26 and 27. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. IISD staff and faculty will be admitted free.

Singley Academy is located at 4601 N. MacArthur. For more information, call 972-600-4400.

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