Highlights Magazine - Fall 2020

HIGHLIGHTS P R O S P E R

I N D E P E N D E N T

S C H O O L

FA LL 2 0 20

D I S T R I C T

MAGA ZINE

first

90 days FALL 2020

TOP 100 PLACES TO WORK 12 IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME 18

Grounded by Tradition,

Soaring to New Beginnings.

CONTENTS in this issue INTRODUCTION 6 • Welcome • First 90 Days • Top 100 Places to Work

INNOVATIVE LEARNING

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• A Whole New World • Total Care Clinic

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH

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• If You Build It, They Will Come • Navigating Anxiety in Kids

HUMAN RESOURCES 24 • Culturally Responsive Classrooms • The Life of a New Teacher

FACILITIES 26 • Elementary #13 • Elementary #14 • Enrollment

FUNDING & FINANCE 29 • School Funding Finds Focus

COMMUNICATIONS & 30 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT • PEF Golf Tournament Navigates in New Era • Niche Rankings • Senior Citizen Luncheon Continues 4

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WELCOME to a whole new era

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any things in our world have changed in the last nine months.

Wearing masks, social distancing, and communicating virtually have become our new norms.

We are truly living in a Whole New Era. What hasn’t changed is the rapid growth of Prosper ISD and the commitment to excellence that the district educators work to achieve every day. The last school day before the pandemic closed schools in March,

Prosper ISD had 17,199 students. As of November 20th, Prosper ISD has 19,215 students, a gain of more than 2,000 students in less than a year in the middle of a pandemic.

During that same time, Prosper ISD has opened its second high school, fourth middle school, and twelfth elementary school. While the last nine months haven’t been easy, we are so thankful for the BEST School Board and Community that a district could ask for to support the local school.

We hope that you enjoy this edition of the Highlights magazine as we bring attention to so many great things happening in Prosper ISD during this Whole New Era in which we find ourselves.

Dr. Holly Ferguson Superintendent of Schools

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90 days

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FIRST 90 DAYS

On July 31st, Prosper ISD announced the end of one era and the beginning of another with the retirement of Dr. Drew Watkins, Prosper Superintendent of Schools for 18 years and the naming of Dr. Holly Ferguson as the new Superintendent of Schools for Prosper ISD.

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eginning her educational career in Prosper ISD as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher in 1998, Dr. Ferguson has served Prosper ISD in several capacities as well as gaining educational experience in Frisco ISD as a Teacher, ESL Cluster Teacher, Reading Interventionist, and Assistant Principal. While serving in Prosper for 13 years, Dr. Ferguson has been an Elementary Teacher, Campus Principal, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, and Associate Superintendent.

Dr. Ferguson received both her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and her Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas. She completed her Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M Commerce.

She is happily married to her husband of 22 years, David, a Fire Captain in Frisco. Together they have two children, Cade, a Prosper ISD 2020 graduate and Ty, a 9th grader at PHS. Dr. Ferguson enjoys watching her children engage in their extra-curricular and co-curricular activities during her free time.

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For the past three years, Dr. Ferguson has been serving Prosper ISD as the Associate Superintendent. We sat down with Dr. Ferguson to discuss her first 90 days as Prosper ISD Superintendent of Schools.

What do you feel that you have accomplished in your first 90 days as Prosper ISD Superintendent?

The greatest accomplishment in the first 90 days is that we successfully opened our school doors. It was a daring and bold move to be the first school district in the area to open our doors to students and it was worth the time and effort put in by numerous people to welcome our students. In addition, the transition and flexibility by our staff to teach in both settings or to be a fully virtual teacher is an area that has not gone unnoticed. Our teachers and staff have moved mountains for the benefit of our students and I will be forever grateful. I would also like to thank the PISD Board of Trustees for their unwavering support throughout the transition of me becoming the superintendent, onboarding over 400 new staff members, and welcoming 2,000 new students and families to Prosper ISD. What has been the district’s reaction to the pandemic?

The District has been phenomenal in its response to the pandemic. We kept the students at the center of our focus and never lost sight of what is most important. The work has been more challenging than anything we have ever faced in education. The amount of details and work that was needed to open our doors safely on August 12th was nothing short of a miracle. The belief in our students, our staff, and our parents is truly what has allowed us to proactively mitigate concerns surrounding the pandemic. We had a strong belief in our leaders in all departments and on all campuses to embrace the work and lead with courage.

What challenges has the pandemic caused for the district?

The greatest challenge has been trying to settle the fears and concerns that our students, staff members, parents, or community members had about the reopening of our doors. Trying to find answers in our new normal of not having all of the answers has created challenges, but our team works diligently to find a solution. In addition, the fatigue and stress that our staff has taken on to lead and teach in a new normal both in person and virtually has been a challenge, but each day we become stronger and more effective in all that we do.

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FIRST 90 DAYS

How has Prosper ISD overcome some of the challenges?

Prosper ISD is fortunate to have unbelievable support from our community which has always allowed us to overcome challenges. The ability for us to communicate effectively, answer phone calls, and respond to emails quickly has allowed us to stay on top of the challenges.

What are some of the bright spots from these first 90 days?

Our students and our staff have been the brightest spots for the first 90 days! I see miracles and heroes all around me in Prosper ISD, and I am in awe of the care and compassion that I see each and every day in Prosper ISD. The opening of our school doors was a true bright spot. In addition, seeing our students return to our extracurricular activities through fine arts, academics, clubs and organizations, and athletics has brought nothing but joy to our students and our community. It may look a little different but having our students excelling in what they love the most is at the heart of bright spots in Prosper ISD.

What is your vision for the district for the rest of the year?

My vision is to maintain our culture with a balance of care, compassion, and financial stability. I want our district to become more connected to the larger community and look for opportunities to give back and connect at a much deeper level. Our leaders in Prosper ISD just built bikes that were donated to Cornerstone. This is a shining example of how our district will go from good to great. We have heavy work ahead that will involve a full roll out of a community based accountability system. This work will bring a level of importance to what our hopes, dreams, and aspirations for Prosper ISD truly are moving forward.

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What is your vision for the district for the next five years?

My vision for the future is to continue to make Prosper ISD a destination district: the place where so many will call home with a sense of pride. I want to see our academic success continue to rise and be a beacon of greatness for Prosper ISD. We also have the unbelievable opportunity to continue to vision and create facilities for our students. We are currently in the process of designing the next five years in Prosper ISD with a level of details that will benefit our district. In the next five years my vision is that our district will be the envy of all school districts in the State of Texas.

How is being Superintendent different than being Associate Superintendent?

I was very fortunate to work for a leader who allowed me to be involved in the work of the District at all levels. Being afforded these opportunities has served me well as I have made my transition to Superintendent. The work of the Associate Superintendent was more focused on programming and all things curriculum related, and now my view is broader and emcompasses all aspects of the district.

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TOP 100 PLACES TO WORK “This was a Top 100 Places to Work contest to remember.

Making it into the winner’s circle has never held quite the same sway or taken as much effort and reinvention as it has this year.”

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here is no doubt that this has been an unprecedented year in our nation’s history. Employers around the nation are struggling to keep their employees on the job and morale high. In education, the word PIVOT has become crucial to getting through the day and moving forward.

At the beginning of the pandemic in March, Prosper ISD was one of the first districts in the area to resume instruction. Mobilizing staff members during spring break, the district was able to get chromebooks and hot spots distributed the Monday and Tuesday after spring break in order to resume school on Wednesday. While many other districts in the region and in the state took a week or more to mobilize, Prosper educators kicked into gear during the break to get students back into the classroom… albeit virtually!

Because the district was already a “Google

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Education” school, students and staff members were able to make the transition more smoothly than other districts with less involvement in online learning platforms.

In July, the district was notified that their beloved Superintendent of 18 years, Dr. Drew Watkins was retiring. Dr. Watkins was named the Top CEO for DFW in 2019. Another district might have faced a morale downturn as a result of such a monumental loss, but the district had another amazing leader ready in the wings. Prosper ISD Associate Superintendent, Dr. Holly Ferguson was named the district Superintendent of Schools on July 31st allowing for a smooth transition of leadership.

Prosper was also the first large school in DFW to resume in person instruction this Fall, beginning school on August 12th. While not without challenges and struggles, the staff

at Prosper ISD have worked together to get through each day and provide a quality education to the students in the district.

With so many challenges, it would not be surprising to see morale at an all time low, but Prosper ISD is truly a special place. On November 12th, Prosper ISD was notified that for the 7th consecutive year, they were one of the Top 100 Places to Work in DFW. The Dallas Morning News ranking is a prestigious recognition for area employers.

Dallas Morning News Journalist, Cheryl Hall, said it best that “This was a Top 100 Places to

Work contest to remember. Making it into the winner’s circle has never held quite the same sway or taken as much effort and reinvention as it has this year.”

The district was named #14 for Top Large Companies, one of only three school districts making it into the top 15 for top large, midsize, and small companies and one of only four school districts on the list in total. Prosper’s first year on the list was in 2014 when there were only 745 employees. This year Prosper ISD, the fastest growing district in the state, has almost 2,400 employees.

Prosper ISD has been named a Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Places to work for 7 consecutive years.

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INNOVATIVE LEARNING

A WHOLE

NEW WORLD

Era of Educating Virtually

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f someone had told educators one year ago that teaching virtually was going to be their new normal, most would have told you that teaching virtually wasn’t their calling and wasn’t a teaching platform that they would choose for themselves. Then COVID-19 happened, and all educators had to learn this new reality. With little to no preparation and transitioning over spring break, educators returned to school in a whole new world.

Few will argue with the statement that schools were unprepared for this new reality that was thrust upon them in March of 2020. Unlike many districts around the state that delayed school restarting by a week or more, Prosper ISD students returned to school only two days later than originally planned but in a virtual setting after leaders rallied over the break to forge a plan for 100% virtual learning in the district.

As the 2020-2021 school year began, the virtual world was still present as many families made virtual learning options based upon what was best for their family in this new era that COVID-19 had ushered in. Three Prosper Virtual Teachers from Cockrell Elementary share about their experiences in this new world.

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What does your virtual day look like?

Hope Naber (Kinder): I teach lessons in the core subject areas (ELAR/Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science) every day. My schedule mirrors the in-person Kindergarten schedule at my school, but I teach about half of my students the reading and writing lesson for the day, for instance, then I teach the other half the same lesson.

When I am not teaching those core subject lessons, I am involved in small group (3-5 students) lessons that are more focused instruction based on each learner’s needs.

Jean Mitzner (5th Grade): My morning meet begins at 7:45 a.m. and they are with me until 10 a.m. At 10 a.m. they go to their math and science teacher and I get a new group. We meet from 10-11:20 a.m. for ELAR. They are then sent off for lunch and recess time. We meet again at 12:20 p.m. for social studies and get off at 1 p.m. for specials. I tutor one child daily in ELAR from 1:30-2 p.m. I am available for questions and help from 2-2:30 p.m. It is a lot of screen time, but it is working. I always have three computers going, one for the meet so I can see them, one on Go Guardian, and one that I present from. I have started bringing my computer from home so that I can look at email, etc. more easily.

What strategies do you use to incorporate collaboration between virtual students?

Megan Knippa (1st Grade): I have started using Jamboard, but I am currently in conversations with our ITC about what other digital platforms would be good for 1st graders to use for collaboration purposes.

Hope Naber: My students participate in 3 FlipGrids each day - one for ELAR/Morning Meeting, one for number sense, and one for Investigations and Wonderings. The FlipGrid platform is great for these young learners to interact, share ideas, and give feedback to peers.

How do you keep students engaged in the virtual classroom?

Jean Mitzner: I try to incorporate videos we watch together. I read aloud to them books that they are really invested in. I include some games that they can play and they can play as teams. Engagement is the big challenge, but most of them appear to be engaged. Go Guardian does let me see what they are doing.

virtual classroom, but I do miss seeing that “moment”.

Jean Mitzner: I mostly miss getting to know the kids so well and being able to see who needs extra help from me. In person I am able keep close tabs on the completion of work and I can modify and adjust more easily. Once the plans are made virtually, it is generally too difficult to veer off of them since it all has to be done digitally.

What do you like about virtual learning?

Hope Naber: I absolutely love virtual learning. I love getting to connect with my students and families in ways that I wouldn’t be able to if they were in person.

I love seeing their individual learning spaces and how their families support their learning. I love getting to celebrate my students’ accomplishments and listen to their ideas and stories.

Megan Knippa: I enjoy that I have been able to get to know the families as well as the students. It has been really great to see the growth the students have had when parents are partnering with me.

Hope Naber: Just like in-person learning in Kindergarten, I use whole body learning, songs, and movements to keep my students actively engaged. The songs and movements I do are connected to their current learning, “stretch up tall like the stem of a plant” or “put your hands OVER your head (positional words)”.

What do you miss most about in-person learning?

Megan Knippa: I miss a teacher table lesson, where we are working together, I can see their hands and brains working together and finally seeing something click! I still get to see evidence of it in the

Clockwise from top left: Hope Naber’s virtual class; Megan Knippa and her virtual class: Jean Mitzner’s virtual class.

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INNOVATIVE LEARNING

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TOTAL CARE CLINIC Students get the opportunity to role-play as Primary Care Physicians.

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econdary education today looks very different from the course offerings and learning that many adults experienced in their educational journey.

Students today are experiencing a new era of education focused more on application of learning and service learning.

Career and Technical education provides more opportunities for students to try their hand at different careers and gain knowledge, experience, and certifications even before graduating high school. Now with two high schools, the district has many students trying their hand at different careers and vocational programs.

Several years ago, Prosper ISD started the Forensics and Bio

Medical Science programs. At Rock Hill High School, Dr. Yoshara Ballou’s students are engaging with the greater school community to apply learning while serving the community. The students got the opportunity to role-play as Primary Care Physicians in a fictional clinic called “Total Care Clinic.”

Dr. Ballou and her students offered a mini health-fair where school district personnel could come take advantage of the opportunity to have their vitals (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure) checked by these students as they practiced their learning. The students also practiced properly recording the information to maintain accurate records.

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SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME “We wanted to build a school and a school culture that would make them want to come to Rock Hill and be excited about being a Blue Hawk.”

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ome jobs are challenging in this New World in which we live. Some jobs are overwhelming and exhausting and some jobs seem virtually impossible.

Opening a new high school is challenging.

Opening a large new high school is challenging.

Opening a large new high school that is a community’s second high school is challenging.

Opening a large new high school that is a community’s second high school in the middle of a pandemic is challenging.

Doing so while building a positive school culture amongst students and staff, well… that takes an amazing leader.

Dustin Toth was tasked with that job and, according to students and staff, has succeeded despite all of the challenges. He has managed to build relationships with staff, students, parents, and community members while possessing a confident and relatable presence that has fostered a sense of community and belonging at Rock Hill High School.

Toth began his culture building back in September of 2019 after the zones for the two high schools were announced. He started by meeting with Seniors during Eagle Time and then with Juniors. During the course of the fall, Toth and his Administrative Assistant, Erin Jones, met with the students about 10 times. During these meetings the students decided what the core values and focus of the school would be. Through that came the ICSEEU which stands for their core values of Integrity, Creativity, Service, Excellence, Empathy, and Unity.

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Both Toth and the students wanted to highlight and celebrate the diversity of the school.

RHHS Senior, Grant Johnson, loves “the flags surrounding the commons areas upstairs.

Each student nationality is represented as a flag that reminds students where they came from and how diverse our school body is. It is also really cool that Hill Top News highlights a student each week in their segment Faces Behind the Flags so students can see the face that that flag represents.” There are currently 48 flags representing the diversity that is RHHS! RHHS student, Shreya Srivathsan also finds the campus’ focus on social/emotional health and overall culture to be very rewarding. “We

have celebrated many events together such as Hispanic Heritage month and safe and fun pep rallies at school even during a pandemic.

It is amazing how much initiative the school is taking to recognize the importance of mental health. We have already had guest speakers and well organized events to represent the student body. RHHS media, StuCo, and other school organizations continue to develop a positive and healthy culture at Rockhill.” In addition, student Sarah Hennen adds that she loves how “the administration has set up these "shout outs" where people submit kind and uplifting messages to a box in the

cafeteria and Mr. Toth will read them out during morning announcements. It's really helped to contribute to creating a positive atmosphere in the school, and I think it's really helped with improving the social atmosphere and emotional health of both the staff and students.”

While both students and staff are experiencing the excitement of this novel opportunity to open a new high school, doing so in the middle of a global pandemic with all norms thrown out the window creates some unique challenges. Staff member Christi Wahnschaffe said that building culture at RHHS has been all inclusive by the campus administration.

“What haven’t they done? It started last year as each class helped to create their own core values!

Those core values permeate our school and are a common daily thread. Make it Matter Monday has also been implemented. Each Monday we spend time learning and growing together, challenging each other to become our best selves.

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SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH

There are also other things such as, the flags in the entry, the daily reminders to be prompt, prepared, punctual, productive and polite and also the MANY things in place to recognize excellence!” Campus Athletic Coordinator, Mark Humble, reiterated that “there is a great sense of togetherness, or our core value of UNITY, that runs through the school. Students, staff and administration are all equally a part of Rock Hill and you can see/feel that mutual support.”

In explaining how Mr. Toth was the “bricks that built the foundation of the culture on the Hill” and the “glue that holds it together,” RHHS teacher Carly Buck emphasized that “Mr. Toth leads by example. He is a true leader and walks the walk daily. From day one he has promoted a family culture at Rock Hill through his words and actions. We take care of each other, and already this year I have seen the

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willingness to jump in and help wherever needed from my co-workers.”

Toth’s focus from the beginning was “identifying core values, what we were going to be about, what we wanted the focus of the school to be, and chipping away at the details that would build that cohesive culture including a school theme and class mottos.

We wanted to build a school and a school culture that would make them want to come to Rock Hill and be excited about being a Blue Hawk.”

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SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Toth’s focus from the beginning was “identifying core values, what we were going to be about, what we wanted the focus of the school to be and chipping away at the details that would build that cohesive culture including a school theme and class mottos. We wanted to build a school and a school culture that would make them want to come to Rock Hill and be excited about being a Blue Hawk.”

NAVIGATING ANXIETY in kids

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Children may feel anxious about the change that has come with COVID-19.

by Children’s HealthSM

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t’s normal for kids to feel this way since many families are facing major differences in their dayto-day lives. There are ways parents can help children cope with the stress and anxiety they may be feeling. Here are eight tips: 1. Create a routine: Work with your child to create a new daily schedule. A healthy routine will encourage children to maintain a regular sleep schedule, healthy eating habits and daily physical activity.

2. Check-in frequently and listen: Hearing your child's concerns, validating their feelings and keeping communication open is an important way to support them during this time.

3. Catch signs of anxiety early: Typical symptoms of anxiety include excessive worry, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and trouble sleeping.

4. Teach children coping skills for anxiety: Children can do things like taking deep breaths, counting backward from 100 or going to a safe space in your home to relax.

5. Focus on what you can control: Things children can control include finishing their work or daily tasks, telling family you love them, or drawing a picture or writing a letter to a teacher or friend.

6. Encourage positive thinking: Take time to share what you are grateful for during this time or to share what you appreciate about your child.

7. Stay connected with others: Video chat or call family and friends, draw pictures for classmates or write your teacher an email or letter.

8. Seek professional help if needed: If your child's anxiety persists and starts to become debilitating, it may be helpful to consult a mental health professional.

It's very normal and understandable to experience anxiety during a time like this. Signs your child may benefit from professional help include not being able to accomplish everyday tasks, not wanting to participate in activities they used to enjoy or not sleeping well, which can affect their energy and appetite.

It might be difficult to identify these signs during this time but continue to monitor your child and reach out for help if signs of anxiety continue.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CLASSROOMS “Presenting academic activities that allow for cultural connections directly impacts the engagement of our students in the lessons that they are learning.”

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rosper ISD is committed to investing in staff through professional development and preparation, necessary tools to protect the academic prosperity of our diverse learners. Organized by Prosper ISD Superintendent, Dr. Holly Ferguson, district leaders, counselors, and teachers at all levels were able to attend Cultural Responsiveness training with Dr. Kimberly McLeod during 2020.

Dr. McLeod has been a public educator for over fifteen years. She has served in various roles including that of teacher, counselor, administrator, and a university professor. Dr. McLeod has published research nationally and internationally and lectures all over

the world. She believes in advocating for disadvantaged populations by equipping systems to adequately prepare and deliver services to populations equitably, efficiently, and effectively. Her research interests include topics concerning resilience and creating culturally responsive classrooms.

After the training, Baker Elementary Teacher, Albert Buckles expressed that cultural responsiveness “is a priority item that should be addressed on a regular/ongoing basis. Our world, let alone our community, is becoming more and more diverse. Our students and colleagues bring a unique level of diversity to our district. We must be cognizant of these differences and provide an environment where individuals feel comfortable being themselves. Presenting academic activities that allow for cultural connections directly impacts the engagement of our students in the lessons that they are learning. The connections/relevance built will increase learning and positively impact student success in the classroom and outside the classroom. In essence, learning becomes more relevant (for students).”

The educators in Prosper ISD walked away from their time with Dr. McLeod inspired and motivated to serve all students at a higher level.

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new

THE LIFE OF A TEACHER

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he real life of a teacher is usually very different from what children dream of when playing school when they are young. Even the expectations of a college student training for a career in education can find a different reality than that of the classroom and all that it entails. Every year thousands enter the educational profession and face a year of firsts, but this year educators new to the profession are experiencing the challenges of being a first year teacher in the middle of a global pandemic as well.

Prosper ISD educators, Natalie Nunez, Chip Peeples, James Rolan, and Kayla Shelpuk provided some insight into being a new to education teacher in this new era.

“While I thought my experiences in college and student teaching had prepared me for my first year of teaching, there were so many aspects of teaching that it did not prepare me for,” said RHHS teacher Chip Peeples. “While in school the primary focus is to create lessons that increase student learning and provide them a quality experience, and while that is still extremely important there is an increased need to focus on the mental health of each student. There was never a class in college to teach you how to teach kids during a pandemic or through such divisive times in our country. So while I hope my students leave my class with an increased knowledge in Anatomy & Physiology, I hope they remember my class more for it being a place where they feel like they are supported, appreciated, and challenged to become better men and women.”

While many veteran teachers may have a grasp on the curriculum and in classroom management, the global pandemic has created new challenges that all teachers, new and veteran are facing together.

James Rolan is a Resource Teacher at Folsom Elementary. His first year has taught him that, “teachers have always been some of the most flexible people. For me, there has been no greater adjustment because any changes in learning procedures, social distancing, extra sanitizing and face coverings is the norm for me right now.” Prosper High School teacher, Natalie Nunez finds that educating during COVID has created struggles with “connecting the way I like to CONNECT with my virtual students. I love having side conversations with my students. I have always thought that those little conversations went a long way towards building strong, meaningful relationships.”

Together teachers across the district, state, nation, and the world are building bridges and being creative in their approaches to solving new challenges presented in this new era. Teachers are creating new avenues to achieve the same and greater results and working harder than ever to find ways to connect to students. Hughes Elementary teacher, Kayla Shelpuk, encourages high school Seniors considering education and current education majors to “Observe every type of classroom and other teachers at every opportunity you can. And stick with it! Good things happen when we work really, really hard, and often not when we want them to.”

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FACILITIES

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MIKE AND JANIE REEVES Elementary #13

MIKE AND JANIE REEVES ELEMENTARY will be located on the east side of the district in Auburn Hills. Mike served on the Prosper ISD School Board for 9 years serving from 1988-1997. He worked as a Senior Executive for New York Life for 40 years. Janie was an active volunteer in the Prosper community and served on the Prosper ISD PTO and volunteered in the library. Both Reeves children, Courtney and Cameron, graduated from Prosper ISD. LOCATION 2501 Auburn Hills Parkway, McKinney, Texas, 75071 WORK COMPLETED AND ONGOING November 2020 SITE WORK • Storm Sewer – Cast in place RCB is ongoing • Water – Water line is being installed and is ongoing • Site Grading – Fire Lanes are being graded will be ongoing for some time MAIN BUILDING • Underground plumbing ongoing – Area 3 • Temporary electrical underground ongoing for laydown yard • Underground piers – 120 piers will be complete • Forming of grade beams – Area 4

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LIVE FEED

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MRS. JERRY BRYANT Elementary #14

MRS. JERRY BRYANT ELEMENTARY will be located on the west side of the district near Windsong Ranch. Mrs. Bryant was a long time resident and volunteer in the Prosper community serving for Bethlehem Place, Cornerstone, and in her local church, First Baptist Church of Prosper. She worked as a nurse for 40 years and was the first lady on the Prosper ISD School Board serving from 1970 - 1975.

LOCATION 3080 Freeman Way, Prosper, Texas, 75078 WORK COMPLETED AND ONGOING November 2020 SITE WORK • Continue grading, and cutting in sidewalks where possible • Installation of drains at dumpster area • Poured city sidewalks and ADA ramps south and north side, poured light poles bases, pipe bollards and paving poured at dumpster area

• Continuing underground for pull boxes for future trailers and light poles • Relocated fence on east side along Teel street, 6in gas line is being installed by developer

MAIN BUILDING • Wall rough-in – Area 4 • All ICF walls poured – Area 4 • Removing braces and clean up • Began lay out – Area 3

• Continue joist seats, joist in kitchen and cafe are installed. Frames and decking to follow • Steel delivery – Area 3

• Cast stone, brick block CMU being delivered • Exterior door frames delivered – Area 4

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FACILITIES

ENROLLMENT in the numbers

PHS 2803 RHHS 2016 Hays 1381 Reynolds 903 Rogers 1262 Rushing 957 Baker 943 Boyer 783 Cockrell 704 Folsom 730 Furr 817 Hughes 764 Johnson 675 Light Farms 841 Rucker 703 Spradley 809 Stuber 1006 Windsong 980 0

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1000

TOTAL DISTRICT

end of 1st 9 weeks

19,077 28

1500

2000

2500

3000

TOTAL DISTRICT

December 1st

19,227

FUNDING & FINANCE

SCHOOL FUNDING FINDS FOCUS

“How can we do what we are doing and achieve the same or better results but do it in a different way.”

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s with everything else in education, the key word in the school finance world is PIVOT! With schools experiencing costs not previously planned for in this new era, a department usually with strict guidelines and forecasted plans is also finding itself working double time to ensure that the same quality education provided in past years can still be funded in this new era.

While we just finished an election season, when voters cast votes, the education of the community’s children should be an important consideration. Folmar emphasized that “Texas is close to the bottom in the nation of what we spend per student and that is not an A+ education at all. We are achieving excellence in Prosper but we aren’t funded by the state for excellence.”

With TEA, CDC, and other agencies changing the rules through which education can be provided today, the school finance department has to be ready for the changes.

The Chief Financial Officer, Annette Folmar, explained that “campuses and departments are handling spending needed today while we try to use today’s information to budget for the next 2 years. We have to be able to recognize when the district has to pivot to then change our projections.”

Many new mandates and requirements are not funded by state or federal education agencies so districts find themselves accruing additional costs due to the pandemic that wasn’t planned for when the budget was planned almost two years prior. As a result, school business offices find themselves in difficult situations trying to fund things that were never foreseen in planning.

Most recently, House Bill 3 (HB3) poses major issues for school funding in local districts including Prosper. Folmar explains that “Our funding is different because we can’t pay for teachers and salaries with bond money. HB3 just gives us a set amount per child.” It is important to remember that, “Our tax dollars don’t stay here under current school finance laws in Texas.”

According to Folmar, “Dr. Ferguson had us read The Infinite Game which has resonated with me every day. As a result of this reading, every day we face new challenges by asking ourselves, “How can we do what we are doing and achieve the same or better results but do it in a different way.” The Prosper Business Department continues working to ensure that Prosper schools are funded in the best possible way. While there are many obstacles and necessary PIVOTS, they have proven that they are up for the challenge.

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PEF GOLF TOURNAMENT NAVIGATES IN A NEW ERA This year’s event raised almost $109,000 from sponsors, golfers, and volunteers.

S

pring of 2020 brought many changes to our lives. One such change in Prosper ISD was that the Prosper Education Foundation (PEF) Golf Tournament had to be postponed due to the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This signature event for PEF raises needed funds for Student Scholarships for Prosper ISD graduates.

The event was rescheduled for October 19th, 2020. The event had 29 sponsors who contributed to make the event a success including: Pogue Construction, Huckabee Inc., Abernathy, Roeder Boyd & Hullett Law Firm, NEU Plumbing, Welch HVAC, Alpha Testing, BOK Financial, Cotton Global Disaster Solutions, D&S Engineering, First Graphic Services, Piper Sandler, SAMCO Capital Markets, SFE, Teague Nall & Perkins, FBS Benefits, Farmers Bank, Schneider Electric, PBK, Windsong Ranch | Tellus Group, Children's Health | Andrews Institute, Folsom Properties, JM2, Chick-fil-A Windsong Ranch, DELCOM, Northwest Propane, Prosper Chiropractic & Wellness, Branded 1st, Citigroup Global Markets, Nothing Bundt Cakes Prosper, and Texas Bank.

This year’s event raised almost $109,000 from sponsors, golfers, and volunteers. Golfers enjoyed the opportunity to play the private course at Gentle Creek Golf Club, network with other golfers

and district administrators, and interact with PEF Board and staff. Food, festivities and friendly competition marks the day, while raising funds for Prosper ISD students and staff.

Special awards included: Hole #3 - Student Golfer Challenge to outdrive a high school student golfer Hole #5 - Hole in One contest for a vacation for (4) to Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa Hole #9 - Hole in One contest for a Toyota Tundra Hole #10 – Longest Drive contest (Men & Women) for a $250 Visa check card Hole #11 – Hole in One for $500 Nike shopping spree Hole #14 – Cannon Shot using an AR-47 to launch golf ball at the hole Hole #15 - Closest to the Hole contest for a $250 Top Golf gift certificate Hole #15 - Hole in one contest for a Swing Caddy portable Launch Monitor or a L4 Laser Range Finder 1st Place Team – (4) Callaway XR Speed Driver valued at $300 29th Place Team – (4) $100 gift card to Texas Roadhouse And 27 door prizes went home with guests The next golf tournament is scheduled for April 2021. For more information on participating or becoming a sponsor, contact info@prosperef. org.

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A+

NICHE Rankings

Overall Niche Grade (A+) Academics, (B+) Diversity, (A-) Teachers, (A+) College Prep, (A+) Clubs & Organizations, (A) Health & Safety, (A) Administration, (A+) Sports, (A+) Food, (A) Resources & Facilities

0.7%

Best School Districts for Athletes in Texas Top 0.7%

#7 in Texas

11.5%

Safest School Districts in Texas Top 11.5%

#270

Best School Districts in America (10,760)

#82

Best School Districts for Athletes in America (10,817)

2.5%

Best School Districts in America (Top 2.5%)

0.8%

Best School Districts for Athletes in America (Top 0.8%)

Texas Rankings #14

15%

1.4%

#153 in Texas

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US Rankings

#119 in Texas

Best Places to Teach in Texas Top 15%

www.niche.com

Best School Districts in Texas (1019) Best School Districts in Texas (Top 1.4%)

SENIOR CITIZEN LUNCHEON

T

here is no doubt that COVID-19 has created many challenges in the world in which we live and forged a new era for handling everyday activities. Many activities and events around the world have been cancelled in an attempt to help stop the spread. A beloved tradition at Prosper ISD was on the verge of cancellation, but district officials and program directors put their heads together to create a solution in which it could live on… COVID safe in this new era!

Prosper’s annual Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon is a treasured tradition for many in our Prosper community. Traditionally attended by more than 100 guests in recent years, the concerted effort of many Prosper High School programs includes the PHS culinary department who cooks and serves, PHS Fine Arts department who entertains, PHS Floral Design department who decorates and the National Honor Society who helps to greet and seat the guests. The luncheon allows the Senior Citizen population of Prosper ISD to see what students are learning while providing an opportunity for district students to serve their community.

continues

The new era that COVID-19 has ushered in brought heightened concerns regarding the luncheon with the Senior Citizen population being a part of the highest at-risk category for COVID-19 complications. PHS Culinary Department Chefs, Cris Goodman and Brett Claypoole, put their heads together

and created a way for the beloved tradition to continue.

This year’s event was held on Wednesday, December nd 2 , at Children’s Health Stadium at Prosper ISD. While COVID and the weather posed several obstacles to continuing the tradition, the students and staff of Prosper High School were undaunted in their commitment and made sure that the event could still take place HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE | 33

COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

for the Senior Citizens in our community. Many of these community members use this annual event as an opportunity to visit with friends they don’t see throughout the year.

This year’s luncheon featured curbside pickup

of a holiday meal, ornament gifts created by the Prosper High School Fashion Design Department, Succulents grown and packaged by the Prosper High School Horticulture Department, and a musical line-up for entertainment provided by the Prosper High School Choir. Despite the change of circumstances, the luncheon still provided gifts and meals to 100 community Senior Citizens.

Chef Goodman was determined to “make sure that this event could continue amidst COVID. We started planning early this summer. It truly was a team effort.”

Attendee Charlotte Larson along with her

34

husband Alan and Mother, Wylna Putman, came out to enjoy the annual celebration. Afterwards she was thankful that “although we missed seeing and visiting with our friends, the kiddos did a fabulous job checking us in, greeting us with gifts, taking our meal orders and following through with a seamless drive through experience.” The hope for all is that next year’s luncheon will again be in person to allow all attendees to enjoy the food, fun, festivities, and fellowship.

BEYOND

this issue

STAFF

Christal Hankey Racy Grant

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Prosper ISD 605 E. 7th Street Prosper, TX 75078 469-219-2000

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