IISD Cable Channel Moves to 75

Irving ISD’s public information cable channel has changed frequencies. IISD Cable Channel 23 is now
I-75 – Your Information Station. Schools, students, parents and other interested residents can now view school news 24-hours-a-day on cable channel 75.

Due to a realignment of all the channel numbers on AT&T Broadband cable, the IISD signal has moved up the dial along with Irving Community Television Network, the North Lake College channel, and other local access channels.

Also this year, the district is in the process of upgrading the channel’s software to allow visual graphics including scrolling messages, up-to-the-minute district news, and even time and temperature.

The Irving Independent School District has supported a cable channel since February 2001. Channel 75 launched on July 9.

Contacts:
Amy Johnson, Cable Television Specialist
972-258-5339
Tony Thetford, Public Information Director
972-273-6091

District, High Schools Attain Recognized Status

Although the final ratings will not be announced until August, Irving ISD officials have received a Texas Education Agency report that suggests that the district will be rated Recognized for the fourth consecutive year, and that all three comprehensive high schools will also be Recognized – a first for IISD.

<Click here for a table of predicted ratings>

Based on the October Subset – a TEA report on test scores, dropout rates and other data – all IISD secondary campuses rated under the state’s regular accountability system will be Recognized. Ten of the 17 elementary schools will be Recognized, and one will be Exemplary. There will be no Low Performing campuses in Irving ISD.

A total of 20 out of 27 IISD campuses rated under the accountability system will receive ratings above the Acceptable level. Last year, 15 of 27 campuses earned that distinction. The remaining seven campuses will be rated Acceptable. Of those, two schools missed the Recognized rating by just one indicator, four missed it by two indicators and one missed it by three indicators. In one case, the difference was only two tenths of a percent.

TEA rating categories are: Low Performing, Acceptable, Recognized and Exemplary.

IISD Hires Hometown Assistant Superintendent

Irving ISD’s next curriculum guru is celebrating a homecoming. Dr. Marie Morris has lived in Irving for more than a decade, but hasn’t worked here since 1987. Last month, she was chosen to take the reigns as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Morris’ predecessor, Dr. Martha Stone is retiring.

Morris has 40 years experience in public education. She has been a teacher, principal, consultant and even completed a superintendent’s internship in Irving in 1986–1987. Most recently, Morris has served as the Associate Superintendent for Instruction in the Birdville ISD in Haltom City.

In her rich teaching experience, Morris has helped Birdville to achieve “Recognized” status with the Texas Education Agency, with 17 “Exemplary” campuses. She has reduced red-tape and helped direct school funding directly to the classroom. She has established the North Texas Hands-On Center for Math & Science. She has administered statewide programs for the visually impaired, special education effectiveness studies, special education transition programs, and a multi-regional deaf education program.

Morris has degrees from Central Missouri State University, the University of Missouri, Pan American University, and North Texas State University. She’s a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Women Educators.

Blue Ribbon Principal Takes Top Elementary Job

Cheryl Jennings, principal at Irving ISD’s Blue Ribbon Award-winning Good Elementary School, has been selected to oversee elementary curriculum and instruction for all 22 of the district’s elementary campuses. Jennings, a 27-year employee of the district, will replace Janet Skinner as the Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction. Skinner is retiring this summer.

Jennings has a bachelor’s degree and elementary certification from Texas Woman’s University, and a master’s degree and mid-management certification from North Texas State University. She’s a native of Irving and graduate of Nimitz High School. Jennings has been a principal, teacher, and teacher aide at six IISD elementary schools.

Jennings will be replaced by Good Assistant Principal Tina Richard. Richard is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington. She has been with Irving ISD for 18 years, five of them at Good. Her replacement at assistant principal has not been named.

Irving Schools Chief Named Regional Superintendent of the Year

Irving ISD Superintendent Jack Singley has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Region 10 Education Service Center, a state agency that serves approximately 90 school districts in North Texas.

Singley, IISD’s superintendent for 14 years, has led the district through challenging enrollment growth, changes in standardized testing, and $523.5 million worth of bond issues – all with remarkable success.

The district has maintained its “recognized” status with the Texas Education Agency for the past four years despite dramatic growth among its most challenging student populations. Seventeen IISD campuses earned “recognized” ratings last year, and none were rated “low performing.” Three IISD schools have been designated National Blue Ribbon Schools by the United States Department of Education. The district’s average score on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) outpaces both the state and national averages. And the district boasts award-winning programs in mathematics, technology, library services, Academic Decathlon, and community partnerships.

During his 37-year tenure with Irving ISD, Singley has been a teacher, vice principal, principal, director of personnel, assistant superintendent for administration, and superintendent of schools.

Summer 2002

This fall, Singley and 19 other regional superintendents of the year will be considered for the Texas Association of School Boards’ Texas Superintendent of the Year. That award will be given in Austin in late September. Candidates are evaluated on their success in 11 areas of school leadership: student performance, administration & school climate, school board/superintendent relations, school improvement, fiscal management, facilities management, instructional management, student management, personnel management, school & community relations, and professional growth & development.

Since the inception of the Superintendent of the Year award in 1984, three candidates from Region 10 have been named Texas Superintendent of the Year. Those candidates were from Allen, Wilmer-Hutchins, and Carrollton-Farmers Branch school districts.