Horizons, Issue 4, August 2022, District Magazine of Sunnyvale ISD

I S S U E 4 | AU G U S T 2 0 2 2

NEW FAMILY GUIDE OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUE, FEATURING VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING CONNECTED AND INVOLVED WITH SISD ________

SISD FOCUSES ON MATH FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR NEW MATH CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES SET RAIDERS UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN MATH PAGES 6-7

________

SISD HOME TO REGION 10’S SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR DOUG WILLIAMS HAS LED SISD AS SUPERINTENDENT SINCE 2007 – LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS VISION FOR SUNNYVALE ISD PAGE 11

CELEBRATIONS AND INFORMATION FROM THE

SUNNYVALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Welcome back to the Raider Nation!

Welcome back to the Raider Nation!

SUNNYVALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 417 East Tripp Road, Sunnyvale, Texas 75182 phone | 972-226-5974 fax | 972-226-6882 www.sunnyvaleisd.com Horizons is the magazine for the Sunnyvale Independent School District.

Its purpose is to provide parents and students of SISD and other Town of Sunnyvale residents with useful information about SISD. It has a press run of 3,200 and is mailed to the same audience via postal carrier route through bulk mail delivery. Horizons is published three times annually by the Sunnyvale ISD Communications and Marketing Department.

Articles are written by Director of Communications and Marketing Emily White.

Graphic Design is by Kristin Odom.

Photography is by Emily White and the staff, students and community of Sunnyvale ISD. For questions about Horizons, please call 972-226-5974.

It’s time to get back to what Raiders do best: learning, problem-solving, creating, competing and most of all, rising to challenges. Back-to-school is a great time to set goals and prepare for our best year yet. I can’t wait to kick-off 2022-2023 with all my Raiders at Rowdy’s Reunion on August 8!

To our brand new Raiders: I am so pleased that you and your family have chosen Sunnyvale ISD for your education. You are now a part of a school district with a rich history of excellence and a welcoming community known for its positive, close-knit atmosphere.

As Sunnyvale’s Superintendent since 2007, I have had the honor of shaking the hand of every senior who has walked across the stage during our commencement ceremonies. I am proud to say that when our graduates leave SISD, they are truly prepared for the future.

But even more important are the connections you will make during your time as a Raider. As we have all witnessed over the last couple of years, connecting with friends and family is important. At Sunnyvale, we have always considered our strongest asset in education the strong partnerships we have between our parents, students and teachers.

Throughout your time here, you will get to know families who will encourage and support you, meet teachers who will change your life and make friends who will last a lifetime.

Sunnyvale is a very special place and we’re glad you’re here.

Please use this back-to-school edition of Horizons to familiarize yourself with your new home and feel free to ask any questions of any of our faculty or staff or parent volunteers.

Raiders Rise!

Doug Williams Superintendent, Sunnyvale ISD

Town of Sunnyvale Sunnyvale ISD enjoys a strong partnership with the Town of Sunnyvale. Please contact Town Hall at 972-226-7177 or www.townofsunnyvale.org.

Facebook @sunnyvaletx Twitter @TownofSunnyvale Instagram @ townofsunnyvaletx Mayor Mr. Saji George mayor.george@townofsunnyvale.org Town Manager Mr. Jeff Jones jeff.jones@townofsunnyvale.org

SUNNYVALE ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Brad Cravens, PRESIDENT Mrs. Linda Gooch, VICE PRESIDENT Mr. Michael Threet, J.D., LL.M., SECRETARY Mr. Ben Wright Dr. Pollye Hunter, PT, DPT Mr. Kelleyton Wilson, Sr. Mrs. Lee Mathew, RN, MSN, MBA, NEA-BC

SUNNYVALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 972-226-7601 • fax 972-226-4812 www.sunnyvaleisd.com/ses @SunnyvaleElementarySchool @SunnyvaleES

BRITTANY DLABAJ PRINCIPAL brittany.dlabaj@sunnyvaleisd.com

First Bell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:40 a.m.

Start Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:50 a.m.

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:12 p.m.

Early Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:10 p.m.

SUNNYVALE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL 972-203-8406 • fax 972-203-8407 www.sunnyvaleisd.com/sis @raidersis @sunnyvaleint

SARA STALEY PRINCIPAL sara.staley@sunnvaleisd.com

First Bell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:40 a.m.

Start Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:50 a.m.

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:12 p.m.

Early Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:10 p.m.

SUNNYVALE MIDDLE SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL ryon.thompson@sunnyvaleisd.com

First Bell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:10 a.m.

Start Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:15 a.m.

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:45 p.m.

Early Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:45 p.m.

SUNNYVALE HIGH SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL brian.nickel@sunnyvaleisd.com

LeeAnn Hill Counselor leeann.hill@sunnyvaleisd.com Amy Mayes Nurse amy.mayes@sunnyvaleisd.com Ruth Roberts Secretary/Registrar ruth.roberts@sunnyvaleisd.com Maria Chavarria Receptionist maria.chavarria@sunnyvaleisd.com

300 North Collins Road, Sunnyvale, TX 75182 Natalie Barnes Assistant Principal natalie.barnes@sunnyvaleisd.com Renee Stancliffe Counselor renee.stancliffe@sunnyvaleisd.com Casie Dryman Nurse casie.dryman@sunnyvaleisd.com Charity Hisaw Secretary/Registrar charity.hisaw@sunnyvaleisd.com Ginae Stone Receptionist ginae.stone@sunnyvaleisd.com

Angela Teel Assistant Principal angela.teel@sunnyvaleisd.com Jere Medina Counselor jere.medina@sunnyvaleisd.com Penny Koller Nurse penny.koller@sunnyvaleisd.com Chris Iozzi Secretary/Registrar christina.iozzi@sunnyvaleisd.com Angela Matta Receptionist angela.matta@sunnyvaleisd.com Trisha Jean Attendance Clerk trisha.jean@sunnyvaleisd.com

222 North Collins Road, Sunnyvale, TX 75182 972-203-4600 • fax 972-226-2834 www.sunnyvaleisd.com/shs @SunnyvaleHighSchool @sunnyvale_HS

BRIAN NICKEL

Alison Bryant Assistant Principal alison.bryant@sunnyvaleisd.com

216 North Collins Road, Sunnyvale, TX 75182 972-226-2922 • fax 972-226-0982 www.sunnyvaleisd.com/sms @smslearns @smslearns

RYON THOMPSON

416 Hounsel Lane, Sunnyvale TX 75182

First Bell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:15 a.m.

Start Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:20 a.m.

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:55 p.m.

Early Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:55 p.m.

Dustin Gunter Assistant Principal (A-K) dustin.gunter@sunnyvaleisd.com Laura Reinhart Assistant Principal (L-Z) laura.reinhart@sunnyvaleisd.com Jaymie Batten Counselor (A-K) jaymie.batten@sunnyvaleisd.com Kersti Engrav Counselor (L-Z) kersti.engrav@sunnyvaleisd.com Clark Mitchell Director of College & Career Readiness clark.mitchell@sunnyvaleisd.com Jodi Wright Registrar jodi.wright@sunnyvaleisd.com Raquel Banno Secretary & ISS Coordinator raquel.banno@sunnyvaleisd.com Annette Ellis Attendance Clerk annette.ellis@sunnyvaleisd.com Christina Roten Receptionist christina.roten@sunnyvaleisd.com

ISSUE 4 | AUGUST 2022 | 3

CONNECT WITH US

SISD is proud to offer several ways for parents, students, faculty members and the community to stay connected to SISD. SISD E-NEWS SISD’s weekly e-newsletter will be delivered to your e-mail inbox each Friday. There’s no need to register to receive the e-news. All families who correctly register an e-mail address with the district upon their child’s enrollment will receive the e-newsletter. You can receive the SISD E-News on the app, as well. To ensure your registration information is correctly on file with SISD, be sure to contact your Raider’s campus front office.

SISD DISTRICT APP: RAIDER NEWS Powered by Blackboard, SISD’s awardwinning app puts all the information you need in the palm of your hand, via your smartphone.

What can you find on the Raider News app?

Information customized to your Raider’s grades, schedules, attendance, lunch balances, library balances, links to lunch menus, bus routes and so much more!

Download it TODAY from the iTunes App Store or Google Play store. Be sure to search “Sunnyvale ISD TX”.

4 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

PRINCIPAL AND COUNSELOR UPDATES Our principals and counselors communicate regularly via e-mail and newsletters. Look for links to these communications on campus websites and in the SISD E-News.

HORIZONS - THE DISTRICT MAGAZINE OF SUNNYVALE ISD Horizons is a new publication from the SISD Communications Department. Horizons is distributed three times annually (August, December and May) digitally and, on occasion, by bulk mail carrier route. The magazine may be picked up on all district campuses or at the SISD Administration Building. Local business may also distribute Horizons, as well.

MENTOR PROGRAM SISD wants to help make the transition to our district as easy as possible for our new families.

Need a buddy family to help get acclimated to your new school family? We can help! Sign up at www.sunnyvaleisd.com/ Page/7950 and we’ll pair you with a family with similar interests or activities.

CONNECT WITH US

MONITOR YOUR CHILD’S GRADES WITH PARENT PORTAL One of the most important ways SISD communicates with our families is through regular grade updates in Parent Portal. As a new parent, you should receive an email from your campus registrar with your student’s unique Parent Portal ID. At that point, you’ll be able to access your child’s grades and attendance by linking them to your account. You can access the Parent Portal at www.sunnyvaleisd.com/ parentportal (grades 3-12).

MANAGE YOUR CHILD’S MEALS WITH NUTRISLICE CAFETERIA MENUS AND LUNCH MONEY NOW It’s easy to find information about cafeteria menus and student account payments.

Simply visit www.sunnyvaleisd.com/cafeteriaservices to find online menus and a link to Lunch Money Now, SISD’s online lunch account vendor. You can also find this information on the SISD app. To login, you will need your child’s student ID number, which will be provided for you by your child’s teacher.

TripSpark

FIND YOUR BUS RIDER EASILY WITH SISD’S BUS APP

Thanks to a partnership with TripSpark, a K-12 bus transportation software company with 30 years of experience, Sunnyvale parents can track their Raiders as they travel to and from school via GPS using the new TripSpark app.

TripSpark, (previously known as Viafy), alerts parents via app push notification when their student’s bus arrives or when his or her bus is running late. By downloading the TripSpark parent app, parents can access real-time bus tracking, making it easy to always know where their Raider’s bus is. The app is available on iOS and Android.

Parents and students may download the directions on how to use TripSpark by scanning the QR Code. Please note that custom log-in information will be sent directly to the e-mail address you have registered with SISD. (Be sure to check SPAM folders.) Users who do not receive their login e-mail should contact their child’s campus and ask the front office staff to be sure their contact information is correct within SISD’s data systems. The e-mail will come from ‘Viafy’.

Any questions about transportation at SISD or the TripSpark app should be directed to Director of Transportation Todd Staley: todd.staley@sunnyvaleisd.com.

ISSUE 4 | AUGUST 2022 | 5

STUDENT LEARNING

Looking Ahead in Mathematics New Curriculum and Instructional Coaches Set Tone for Mathematics in 2022-2023

Mathematics will have a special focus in SISD during the 2022-2023 school year.

“Our goal is to tighten our mathematics alignment vertically — between grades from year to year — so that our students have the support they need,” Assistant Superintendent

DR

Dr. Christi Morgan said. “Mathematically, we will all be on

. CH

R I ST I M

A O RG

N the same track, together.”

SISD will begin using a new Math curriculum this fall for students in grades Kindergarten-high school students taking Geometry. Those in elementary-5th grade will use Eureka Math and older students will use Carnegie. Eureka Math® is a holistic curriculum that carefully sequences mathematical progressions in expertly crafted modules. Carnegie Math® includes textbooks and digital instructional materials that work in parallel to engage middle and high school students while delivering real-time insights for teachers and administrators to ensure students master the content.

“These curricula utilize spiraling educational concepts that are data-based,” Morgan said.

“Helping students achieve common academic language will also support their learning.”

Additionally, SISD welcomes two new math instructional coaches, Mrs. Wester and Mrs. Thompson, to help students be successful in math.

6 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

STUDENT LEARNING

Q&A WITH SISD’S NEW MATH INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES Miranda Thompson

Paige Wester

HOW DO SCHOOLS BENEFIT FROM INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES? The biggest benefit of having an instructional coach on campus is content and curriculum support. Paige and I will be helping teachers with lesson planning and finding ways to integrate the new curriculum and activities into their classroom.

Instructional coaches facilitate teacher growth, development and professional exploration in ways that lead to higher student achievement. They meet regularly with teachers to assist with effective implementation of the curriculum. They provide teachers with effective instructional strategies to meet the needs of all students.

TELL US ABOUT THE NEW MATH CURRICULUM AND HOW YOU WILL SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS IN IMPLEMENTING IT. Paige and I are going to be helping our math teachers implement new curriculum this year, so our main focus, in the beginning, will be guiding them through integrating these new materials into their classrooms. We will be sitting in on math department meetings and helping with lesson planning. Our hope is that the new curriculum will help build more cohesion in the math department from grade level to grade level.

Eureka Math equates mathematical concepts to stories.

It encourages students to use mental strategies to solve problems and to focus on the process instead of the answer.

As an instructional coach, I will guide, support and help teachers implement the new math curriculum through weekly planning with grade levels and individuals, classroom observations, and professional development opportunities.

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR? My main goal for this first year is to build relationships with teachers and help them wherever I can. Adopting a new curriculum can be overwhelming for teachers, so I’m hoping to ease that burden and lighten their load in any way that I can.

My goal is to develop a supportive, collaborative working relationship with all teachers, working alongside them as their believer and encourager. Throughout the year, I will assist teachers in building an interactive classroom and serve as a resource in identifying appropriate instructional strategies and interventions to improve student achievement for all students.

HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT GOOD MATH INSTRUCTION FOR OUR STUDENTS? Parents can help our math teachers by staying connected with where students are in the math curriculum. Teachers can share the scope and sequence that shows each unit being taught throughout the year. Each curriculum has various tools that can used at home too, so parents will have more resources to work on at home and help their students gain deeper math knowledge.

Eureka Math has many resources available to our parents that provide tips on how they can support learning at home. Parents can also support good math instruction for our students by talking about math in a positive way and incorporate math opportunities into their everyday lives.

Games, household activities, puzzles and other fun activities can help support math learning.

ISSUE 4 | AUGUST 2022 | 7

GET INVOLVED! JOIN ONE OF SISD’S PARENT GROUPS SUNNYVALE PTA Partner with to support PTA Field Days, STEM and Literacy Nights, Teacher Appreciation, Senior Scholarships, Carnival, Daddy-Daughter Dance, Holiday Bazaar, Mother Son Glow Party, academic programs, and much more each year! Come be part of the fun and serve our amazing community in the process! For more info, visit us at www.sunnyvalepta.com or follow us on Facebook.

SUNNYVALE RAIDER YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION - SRYSA Sunnyvale Raiders Youth Sports Association’s fall sports season is underway!

Come out and support our young Raiders this season as they compete against neighboring towns in football, baseball, soccer and cheer!

for more information, visit:

www.SunnyvalePTA.com

for more information, visit or email:

www.SRYSA.org sunnyvaleyouthsports@hotmail.com

SUNNYVALE FFA BOOSTER CLUB Sunnyvale FFA Booster Club is looking for volunteers and members! Watch the Raider football games while doing something good for the community by signing up to help us sell visitor side concessions. Concession profits benefit scholarships and other FFA activities.

RAIDER ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB Raider Athletic Booster Club is kicking off the 2022-2023 Membership Campaign! All proceeds from membership go straight to Sunnyvale athletic programs. There will be many athletic program needs to meet this year, and each member helps to make that possible. Thank you for supporting our Raiders!

SUNNYVALE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Commemorate your days at Sunnyvale ISD and leave your mark on the Sunnyvale campus by purchasing a personalized brick. Proceeds benefit the Gwinn Blankenship Scholarship Fund. The Legacy Walk is located near the entrance of Raider Stadium.

for information contact brandi lough: sunnyvaleffaboosterclub@gmail.com

for more information, visit or email:

www.RaiderBooster.com raiderboosterclubtx@gmail.com

order a brick online at: www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/ SunnyvaleRaiders

RAIDER PRIDE BAND BOOSTER CLUB It’s time for the 7th Annual Raider Pride Band March-a-Thon! Join us Tuesday, August 16, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., as we march through Sunnyvale neighborhoods for this important Band Fundraiser! Lawn Concerts are available for purchase, and we will wrap up the evening with Kona Ice at the Stony Creek Pools!

SUNNYVALE THEATRE ARTS GUILD FOR EDUCATION The Sunnyvale Theatre Arts Guild for Education is a non-profit organization formed to support the Sunnyvale High School theatre program by providing financial and volunteer support for theater activities, performances, faculty, and students.

SUNNYVALE CHOIR BOOSTER CLUB The Sunnyvale Choir Booster Club is a non-profit organization which benefits the fabulous SISD Choral Program. With an increasingly growing group of performers, our choir programs would benefit greatly by your volunteer efforts, financial assistance and overall support.

see parade route map at: www.RaiderPrideBand.com

to partner or get involved, please contact:

jessicaderr98@gmail.com

to partner or get involved, please visit:

www.sunnysingers.com

SUNNYVALE EDUCATION FOUNDATION The Sunnyvale Education Foundation (SEF) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to funding exciting new learning opportunities for Sunnyvale students and teachers. SEF’s primary fundraiser is the annual gala held each spring. We look forward to announcing more details about the gala this fall.

8 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

for more information, visit:

www.SEF75182.org

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Five Tips for Parents to Encourage Reading

BY AIMEE BARTIS, SUNNYVALE ISD DISTRICT LIBRARIAN

Last school year our Raiders read one million pages #RRaMM! My hope is that students are rediscovering the joy of reading for fun. How can you, our Raider parents, help continue this momentum?

you to ask what books they checked out.

Set the expectation that your Raider will check out a book. You can also ask what they’re learning in the library.

3 Get on the audiobook bus. The Big Listen

of time. It could look like family TV/reading time and everyone reads during the muted commercials. It could be reading aloud each night after dinner. Make it work for your family.

(TBL) from Raiders Read a Million 5 Highlight your own reading. If you’re will continue this year. TBL is new reading on your phone, say so. You’re each month and includes two audiobook Raider might assume you’re playing Candy choices, a shorter and a longer option.

Crush. Leave your physical books in TBL books are accessed through Sora, our common spaces in your home. digital and audiobook platform. They can be listened to by anyone at any time. Other BONUS! Get a library card at the Doris audiobooks on Sora work like regular Padgett Public Library and utilize the library books — they are checked out to programming at the library. one student at time. Going on a weekend road trip? Check out an audiobook the I look forward to partnering with you to 2 Find out when your Raider visits the library.

SES and SIS Raiders visit the library each family can listen to in the car. encourage your Raider to read for fun. I week. SMS and SHS Raiders visit on a am always working to improve our school less regular schedule. Knowing when libraries and I’m excited about the future of 4 Establish a family reading time. It could be your student comes to the library allows everyone reading silently for a set amount our Raiders’ reading lives!

1 Ask your Raider what they’re reading for fun. Let them tell you about the book.

If your Raider is younger, take a breath and buckle up for a long story. Some of our younger Raiders haven’t mastered summarization yet so they might want to tell you lots of detail. The time you take listening sends a signal that you care about them and what they’re reading.

PARTNERING WITH SUNNYVALE ISD

For more information, please contact emily.white@sunnyvaleisd.com.

SISD offers opportunities for local businesses and community members to partner with us, advertise and market their brands in and around the district in a hyper-local way while supporting their local students and educators. We are thrilled to bring this program to local patrons in an effort to generate revenue that will be reinvested into our classrooms and programs where our Sunnyvale Raiders Rise!

EVERY RAIDER. EVERY YEAR. RAIDERS RISE! Show your Raider Pride and become a member of the Raiders Rise Club!

This annual spirit campaign is sure to become an annual Sunnyvale tradition.

Raiders Rise Club Membership is $100/year and includes a Raiders Rise yard sign and vehicle decal! Purchase online at www.sunnyvaleisd.com/Page/9401.

ADVERTISING WITH SUNNYVALE ISD Looking for ways to extend your brand to your local audience? SISD has great opportunities to advertise your business to our district audience including: • Scoreboard advertising at Raider Stadium • Digital advertising - SISD E-News, website, campus TVs • Print advertising -SISD Horizons magazine, brochures and guides, campus flyers • District Signage - scoreboard and stadium signage, campus marquees, sports complex signage • District Event Sponsorships back-to-school events, Gold Club luncheons, campus theme nights

VOLUNTEERING AT SISD Our campuses and parent groups are always in need of an extra pair of hands. Can you spare an hour or two to help?

ISSUE 4 | AUGUST 2022 | 9

SAFETY AND WELLNESS

iRESTORE:

USING RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TO BUILD CLASSROOM RELATIONSHIPS A focus of 2022-2023 for SISD will be helping teachers build relationships with students in their classrooms. Restorative practices offers students and teachers an opportunity to build community, create trust and manage conflict in healthy, productive ways. “iRestore is the opportunity to meet the social and emotional needs of our students by equipping teachers with needed strategies, support and resources,” Director of Special Programs Erica Lawless said.

Restorative practices offer schools a way to help students develop the very real-life need for conflict-resolution skills and selfregulation techniques. SISD teachers have been trained in these practices and have implemented them in their classrooms.

“I like to do restorative circles for relationship building,” SIS teacher Sherry Finnie said. “After sharing in the circle, I feel like they can

NEW FACES IN

COUNSELING 10 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

understand each others’ interests and can better connect through those interests.”

Teachers use a variety of tools and techniques to help restore their classrooms. Students can use calming tools to self-regulate. A teacher may implement a restorative circle in the classroom in order to help facilitate empathy and trust among classmates. A student may also wish to visit the campus’ Calming Room in order to take a break, a breath and then move on.

LEEANN HILL SES Counselor leeann.hill@sunnyvaleisd.com

JERE MEDINA SMS Counselor jere.medina@sunnyvaleisd.com

KERSTI ENGRAV SHS Counselor (L-Z) kersti.engrav@sunnyvaleisd.com

NEWS

Doug Williams Named Region 10 Superintendent of the Year the most dynamic and significant changes in its history.

Superintendent Doug Williams was named the Region 10 Superintendent of the Year at the annual Region 10 Superintendents’ Awards Banquet on June 21.

“We are blessed to have the best Superintendent in Texas as our own, right here in Sunnyvale,“ SISD Board of Trustees President Brad Cravens said. “Mr. Williams deserves this honor not only for his excellent stewardship and management of Sunnyvale ISD, but for his advocacy for all Texas students.”

As the Region 10 Superintendent of the Year, Mr. Williams represents over 130 school districts, charters and private schools in 10 North Texas counties.

880,000 students, 112,000 school staff (of which 58,000 are teachers) are a part of the Region 10 service area.

Mr. Williams has successfully led Sunnyvale ISD as its superintendent since 2007. During his tenure at Sunnyvale, he has stewarded the district through

At the start of his superintendency in 2007, SISD was home to 570 students in grades K-8 on two campuses. Through solid consensus-building and community relations, Mr. Williams and the Board of Trustees unified the Sunnyvale community and successfully passed three subsequent bond packages and a Tax Ratification Election. He then managed the construction of new campuses, athletic facilities and a competition-level auditorium. SISD is now home to over 2,100 students and four campuses.

Mr. Williams is a strong advocate for Texas public schools and the mission for transformation in education. He is committed to shifting the mindset in Texas public education from high-stakes testing to preparing students for their futures. As the President of the Texas Association of School Administrators (now the immediate past president) Mr. Williams has advocated for school finance reform and for local accountability for school districts. He is also a strong advocate for school safety.

The core of Mr. Williams’ belief as an educator centers around doing what’s best for students. He has built his administrative approach around this basic, yet vital philosophy. This guiding principle has directed all

facets of Mr. Williams’ leadership - from his work with the Sunnyvale administrative team to the advocacy he performs in Austin for TASA to one-on-one conversations in parent meetings. By ensuring that the needs of students - in Sunnyvale or in Texas at large come first, Mr. Williams leads with purpose.

“In any and all decisions, Mr. Williams always brings the focus back to our “why” - the students,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christi Morgan said. “His favorite days are those we spend engaging and getting feedback from our 3rd-12th grade student advisors, the ‘Supt Crew’.”

He is among 20 regional finalists who will be interviewed by TASB’s state Superintendent of the Year committee. The committee will select five state finalists, and one TASB Superintendent of the Year.

The district of the TASB Superintendent of the Year will receive a $5,000 award, which will be presented at the fall TASA/TASB Convention.

Since 1984, the Texas Association of School Boards Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) award program has honored outstanding administrators’ achievement and excellence in public school administration. These school leaders exhibit exemplary and visionary leadership toward improving student performance.

They are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving the quality of education in their districts, and commitment to public support and involvement in education.

ISSUE 4 | AUGUST 2022 | 11

Sunnyvale Independent School District 417 East Tripp Road Sunnyvale, TX 75182

****ECRWSS**** Rural Route Box Holder Carrier Route Presort Sunnyvale, Texas 75182

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mesquite, Texas Permit No. 256

SUNNYVALE ISD ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORY Mr. Doug Williams Superintendent

Mr. Buck Baskin Director of Technology

Mr. John Settle Athletic Director

Mr. Todd Staley Director of Transportation

doug.williams@sunnyvaleisd.com

buck.baskin@sunnyvaleisd.com

john.settle@sunnyvaleisd.com

todd.staley@sunnyvaleisd.com

Dr. Christi Morgan Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Stacy Bellows Director of Human Resources

Mr. Michael Tillinghast Network Administrator

Mrs. Kristen Nester Literacy Coach

christi.morgan@sunnyvaleisd.com

stacy.bellows@sunnyvaleisd.com

michael.tillinghast@sunnyvaleisd.com

kristen.nester@sunnyvaleisd.com

Mrs. Brenda Rodriquez Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Erica Lawless Director of Special Programs

Mrs. Amy Tutle Director of Assessment and Accountability

Mrs. Sherrie Koerner Dyslexia/EL Coordinator

brenda.rodriquez@sunnyvaleisd.com

erica.lawless@sunnyvaleisd.com

amy.tutle@sunnyvaleisd.com

sherrie.koerner@sunnyvaleisd.com

Mr. Keith Adams Director of Operations

Mrs. Robin Plett Director of Child Nutrition

Mrs. Emily White Director of Communications and Marketing

Mrs. Melissa James District Crisis Counselor

keith.adams@sunnyvaleisd.com

robin.plett@sunnyvaleisd.com

emily.white@sunnyvaleid.com

melissa.james@sunnyvaleisd.com

Mrs. Aimee Bartis District Librarian

Mrs. Jennifer Settle Director of Professional Learning

Mrs. Stacie Wilson Federal Programs and At-Risk Coordinator

Mr. Jacob Pipak Fine Arts Coordinator

aimee.bartis@sunnyvaleisd.com

jennifer.settle@sunnyvaleisd.com

stacie.wilson@sunnyvaleisd.com

jacob.pipak@sunnyvaleisd.com