Horizons - August 2023

I S S U E 7 | AU G U S T 2 0 2 3

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

SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS SIMPLIFIED SISD launches Thrillshare: a

communications platform that will make staying informed and in contact much easier.

PAGES 6-7

________

SES PLAYGROUND UPGRADE Accessible upgrades

makes the SES playground a better experience for our youngest Raiders.

PAGES 10-11

CELEBRATIONS AND INFORMATION FROM THE

SUNNYVALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Welcome Back, 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.

SISD 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

My name is Matt Kimball, and I am beyond excited to join Sunnyvale ISD as the new superintendent. Sometimes it is a challenge to be new. If you are also new to Sunnyvale, know that we are in this together. I know you, like me, will find Sunnyvale to be a special place. We are glad you are here!

I hope you’ll use this New Family Guide issue of Horizons as a way to acclimate to SISD. There is helpful information throughout this issue that will make starting the school year easier for all of us.

Inside these pages, you can find contact information for our campuses, logistics such as school start and end times, and a preview of the new instructional focus at each of our campuses.

I am particularly looking forward to reading about our new district-wide communications platform, Thrillshare, which will make connecting teachers with parents easier and much more consistent.

I am also thrilled that you will read about some of our new team members, including our new assistant superintendent, Dr. Jacob Duce, and our new high school principal, Ashlee Graham.

This is an exciting time to be a Raider!

As you read through Horizons, keep in mind that school is not just about academics or extracurricular activities. More than anything, it’s about the people who walk through our hallways. The connections and friendships you will make during your time as a Raider are very important. Throughout your time as a student, 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.

I have already met so many wonderful students, parents and community members during my first few weeks here in the Raider Nation. It’s obvious to me that one of our district’s strongest assets is the meaningful partnerships we have between our parents, students and teachers.

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.

READ MORE ABOUT There’s no place like Sunnyvale!

MR. KIMBALL HERE

Town of Sunnyvale

Raiders Rise!

Mayor Mr. Saji George mayor.george@townofsunnyvale.org

Matt Kimball Superintendent of Sunnyvale ISD

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

Town Manager Mr. Jeff Jones jeff.jones@townofsunnyvale.org

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:45 a.m.

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:20 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:45 a.m.

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:20 p.m.

Early Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:15 p.m.

SUNNYVALE MIDDLE SCHOOL

RYON THOMPSON PRINCIPAL ryon.thompson@sunnyvaleisd.com

ashlee.graham@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

972-226-2922 • fax 972-226-0982 www.sunnyvaleisd.com/sms @smslearns @smslearns

Angela Teel Assistant Principal angela.teel@sunnyvaleisd.com

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

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

End Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:50 p.m.

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

Chris Iozzi Secretary/Registrar christina.iozzi@sunnyvaleisd.com

Jere Medina Counselor jere.medina@sunnyvaleisd.com Kayce Rountree Nurse kaycee.rountree@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

PRINCIPAL

Sherrie Koerner Assistant Principal sherrie.koerner@sunnyvaleisd.com

216 North Collins Road, Sunnyvale, TX 75182

SUNNYVALE HIGH SCHOOL

ASHLEE GRAHAM

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 Jennifer Watkins Assistant Principal (L-Z) jennifer.watkins@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 Athletics & Fine Arts Secretary raquel.banno@sunnyvaleisd.com Annette Ellis Principal’s Secretary annette.ellis@sunnyvaleisd.com Erica Anguiano Attendance Clerk erica.anguiano@sunnyvaleisd.com Kathryn Morales Receptionist kathryn.morales@sunnyvaleisd.com

ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 3

CONNECT WITH US

SISD is proud to offer several ways for parents, students, faculty members and the community to stay connected to SISD. 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 tinyurl.com/SISDparentportal (grades 3-12).

MANAGE YOUR CHILD’S MEALS WITH NUTRISLICE CAFETERIA MENUS AND SCHOOLCAFÉ.

CONNECT WITH SISD FAMILIES THROUGH THE MENTOR PROGRAM

It’s easy to find information about cafeteria menus and student account

SISD wants to help

payments. Simply download the Sunnyvale ISD

make the transition

app, tap on “Menus” and then tap on “Cafeteria.”

to our district as

From there, you’ll be able to access menus, and

easy as possible for

load money on to your Raider’s lunch account

our new families.

using his or her student ID number. You Raider

Need a buddy

will receive this information from his or

family to help get

her teacher.

acclimated to your new school family?

NEW THIS YEAR: Students may see a

We can help! Sign up on the Sunnyvale ISD website,

slight increase on menu prices this year, as recommended by the Texas

and we’ll pair you with a family with similar interests

Department of Agriculture.

or activities.

4 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

CONNECT WITH US Keep up with SISD News and Updates TripSpark

SISD E-NEWS SISD’s weekly

FIND YOUR BUS RIDER EASILY WITH SISD’S BUS APP

e-newsletter will

Thanks to a partnership with TripSpark, a K-12 bus

be delivered to

transportation software company with over 30 years of experience, Sunnyvale parents

your e-mail

can track their Raiders as they travel to

inbox each

and from school via GPS using the

Friday. There’s

TripSpark/Viafy app.

no need to register

TripSpark, (previously known as

to receive the e-news. All families who

Viafy), alerts parents via app push

correctly register an e-mail address with the

notification when their student’s bus arrives or when

district upon their child’s enrollment will receive the

his or her bus is running late. By downloading the TripSpark (shown as

e-newsletter. You can receive the SISD E-News

Viafy in the App Store) parent app, parents

on the app, as well. To ensure your registration

can access real-time bus tracking, making

information is correctly on file with SISD, be

it easy to always know where their Raider’s

sure to contact your Raider’s campus front

bus is. The app is available on iOS and

office.

Android.

Parents and students can find instructions

HORIZONS -

on how to use the app on our website under

THE DISTRICT

“Transportation.” Please note that custom

MAGAZINE OF

log-in information will be sent directly to

SUNNYVALE ISD Horizons is the district magazine of Sunnyvale ISD. Horizons is distributed three times annually (August, December and May) digitally and by

the e-mail address you have registered with SISD. (Be sure to check SPAM folders.)

YOUR BUS RIDER’S SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY NEW THIS YEAR: In order to more accurately track our students, ALL bus riders must now sign up as either an “Existing Bus Rider” or a “New Bus Rider.”

Scan below to fill out the appropriate form: New Bus Rider

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’.

bulk mail carrier route. The magazine may be picked up on all district campuses or at the SISD

Any questions about transportation at SISD

Administration Building. Local business may also

or the TripSpark app should be directed to

distribute Horizons.

Director of Transportation Todd Staley at

Existing Bus Rider

todd.staley@sunnyvaleisd.com.

ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 5

CONNECT WITH US

You Asked, SISD Listened: SISD Launches New Communications Platform As the 2023-2024 school year kicks off, the SISD school community will have a new, easy-to-use way to stay informed about all things Sunnyvale ISD… all from the convenience of their smart phones.

“Our new partnership with Thrillshare will make communications in SISD much more consistent.”

- Matt Kimball, Superintendent

Now, parents will no longer need to download multiple apps to keep up with their Raider and they will be able to message their Raider’s teachers directly for quick questions and information. Parents can download one, custom-built Sunnyvale ISD app to quickly locate information about information related to Sunnyvale ISD. Introducing Thrillshare —SISD’s new communications platform. Thrillshare powers both SISD’s new website and schoolbranded app, bringing everything for all SISD communications into a single place.

“Our parents have made it clear that they want one central platform to help them learn about Sunnyvale ISD,” Director of Communications and Marketing Emily White said. “They want an easily accessible, mobile-friendly solution to locate information about the district, their student’s campus and their Raider’s teacher. We’re providing that solution.”

6 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

SISD arrived at the decision to upgrade its communications systems after surveying the community about its communications preferences. The results of that survey were discussed by the Community Relations Team and recommendations were made to the Campus Communications Team, who then made the decision on SISD’s new platform.

SISD’s new app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

From there, users can conveniently access announcements, locate staff contact information, review upcoming events and find important documents.

However, the most powerful component of this new communications upgrade is Thrillshare’s “Rooms.”

CONNECT WITH US

Now, when parents login to the new Sunnyvale ISD app, they can easily toggle to “Rooms,” which takes them to a unique login that allows them to see their students’ classes and message teachers.

Rooms takes conversations from multiple, disjointed channels and unifies them in one place. Parents will never have to wonder when their children’s homework is due, and students can ask their teacher school-related questions in a monitored, safe place.

“Rooms is going to take SISD’s communications to the next level,” White said. “Parents will get what they want because they can see classroom announcements and then message teachers

one-on-one all conveniently in the same app they get district and school news. Teachers will love it because they can find all of their messages in one platform and quickly use their phone to communicate and even send parents photos easily while on the move throughout their day. Students will like it because they won’t have to hunt for three or four different apps from all their various classes to message their teachers directly. Our school community will be able to do all of this conveniently in one place now. And best of all, Thrillshare is a safe space for student-teacher communication that is monitored by administrators.”

ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 7

STUDENT LEARNING

RISE Time Allows for Individualized Intervention to Support SES and SIS Students Focusing on small group instruction is the key when it comes to this school year’s instructional focus for SISD’s younger Raiders.

By examining each student’s very specific needs — whether it’s a targeted approach to enhancing a student’s STAAR scores, support for a student who may be learning to read, enrichment through Gifted and Talented or even technology preparation — every Raider at SES or SIS will have a customized approach to learning during a special “intervention time” at his or her campus for 45 minutes to an hour each day.

“Personalized learning is at the core of our mission to equip each learner with what they need to be successful,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jacob Duce said. “Carving out class time each day will allow our teachers to intentionally customize the support, intervention, and enrichment of their students.”

The intervention time at SIS (which is called RISE Time - Raider Intervention, Support and Enrichment) will include smallgroup rotations of learning in Math, Reading/ Language Arts, Technology Applications (Progress Learning and Typing Club), Enrichment and Problem Solving, Social Studies enhancements and Science tasks.

At the elementary level, students will rotate through Reading and Math stations in an effort to target each student’s specific needs as their teacher cultivates important small-

group learning relationships at the all-important elementary age.

“At the intermediate school, the priority for RISE Time is to help students master all their TEKS and reteach any TEKS that need more attention,” SIS Principal Sara Staley said. “This is important for our students who take the STAAR test, as its question types have changed quite a bit.”

Intervention is, of course, not a new practice in education.

However, the way this daily block of time will be organized is new for SISD teachers. To ensure the project’s success, SES and SIS piloted the concept with teachers during the 2022-2023 school year.

“Intervention was vital within the classroom for all students, not just those that were struggling,” elementary teacher Jessica Hensley said. “It allowed me to meet each student where they were and remediate, solidify, or extend learning depending on the student. My students knew that their time with me at my table was important and worked hard during the entire intervention block because they knew at some point during that time it would be their turn to get exactly what they needed-focused time with the teacher working on something they either needed help with or were extending on.”

Elementary teachers will also implement the use of decodable readers this fall, a move that Dlabaj hopes will be helpful to both parents and students for emerging readers.

STUDENT LEARNING

Give Us Five at SMS and SHS SMS Assistant Principal Angela Teel describes the Fundamental Five, an instructional practice which will be implemented

by SHS and SMS teachers this year.

WHY ARE THE “FUNDAMENTAL FIVE” IMPORTANT IN UPPER GRADES?

GE

THE FUNDAMENTAL FIVE ARE: •

Frame the Lesson - The teacher gives a clear/concise picture of what is happening in class for the day– explains the daily learning objective.

•

Work in the Power Zone Teachers use physical proximity to manage behavior and to build connections and rapport with students.

•

Frequent Small Group Purposeful Talk - Gives students a chance to “chew on” the content while discussing it with their peers.

Frequent starts and stops enhance student engagement in teens.

•

Recognize and Reinforce - Recognition helps motivate students. Reinforcing work habits that display effort helps enhance production and performance.

Descriptive praise is impactful for the student receiving it and the others who are hearing it.

•

Write Critically - If students write more, they remember more. Writing refines their thinking and makes it visible.

CIP AL

AN

When practiced and implemented with intention by classroom teachers, the Fundamental Five increase the level of LA TEE RIN P cognition and understanding in the classroom T L , SM S ASSISTAN for both the teacher and students. It brings focus to the learning objectives for every class and improves students’ retention of the content. It's also our job as educators to prepare these pre-teens and teens to be resilient, positive, and productive human beings — that begins by daily modeling those characteristics within the walls of our school.

HOW DO VETERAN TEACHERS GUIDE THIS PRACTICE? Most of our veteran teachers practice and implement the Fundamental Five naturally as part of their everyday best practices. Bringing our campus’s focus back to the Fundamental Five will help veteran teachers see what they need to “tweak” or have forgotten in their own classroom and will allow them to guide their mentee teachers in best practices focused around the Fundamental Five philosophy.

WHY IS 2023-24 THE RIGHT TIME TO REFOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTAL FIVE? Before the pandemic, SISD classrooms were not computer or device-based, and the majority of our classrooms were filled with a healthy combination of rigorous direct teaching, engaged learning units, and teachers serving as instructors and facilitators.

The Fundamental Five is a great tool for bringing these essential elements of teaching back into focus for classroom facilitation and for helping students refine critical skills such as: effective communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and time management.

HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE? Parents can support the schools by asking intentional, open-ended questions about what their students are learning in their classes each day. At SMS, our motto is Speak Life, Take Responsibility and Give Respect. Parents can simply encourage their students to take action and inquire about how they took action in each of those areas.

ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 9

SAFETY AND WELLNESS

SISD SECURITY UPDATE The safety and security of all Raiders — students and staff — is SISD’s highest priority.

Thanks to the passage of November’s VATRE last, SISD has been able to add four additional school marshals to the security staff. The marshals, who have all undergone extensive training over the summer, join two other marshals and our School Resource Officers.

SES PLAYGROUND UPDATE

Thank you, SISD Community for supporting the security goals of the VATRE!

Sunnyvale Elementary has upgraded one of it playgrounds to be even more accessible to all Little Raiders.

Other security updates:

•

Updated alarm systems at SHS

•

Faculty radio updates (walkie-talkies)

•

Addition of speed bump at high-speed areas of campus

•

Security camera replacement in key areas

•

Vape detectors installed at SHS and SMS

•

Many other upgrades

10 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

Now students with any and all abilities will find the playground at the end of the kindergarten and first grade hallway fully available to their needs at playtime.

The updated playground equipment includes 900 square feet of artificial grass to make the ground more adaptable for all students. A new manipulative wall will also be added.

“This is a wonderful benefit to our campus,” SES Principal Brittany Dlabaj said. “All of our little Raiders will enjoy playing together on this updated playground equipment.”

QUALITY OPERATIONS

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Sunnyvale teachers have always been supported by technology that is up-to-date and efficient.

This year, Technology Director Buck Baskin has lead his staff in advancing teacher’s technological capabilities.

New tech updates for SISD Teachers: 1.

Teachers will have an all-inone tablet and laptop device, meaning they will be able to seamlessly interact with their instructional resources in ways not previously possible.

2. Teachers will be able to connect wirelessly to their projector via a device called a vivi. This will allow teachers to be fully mobile in their classroom and engaged with students at all times.

3. Each of these tools has builtin functionality that will open new doors for implementing instructional strategies across all grade levels and content areas.

ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 11

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, Fall Festival, 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 2023-2024 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 more information, email: 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 8th Annual Raider Pride Band March-a-Thon! Join us August 15, 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:

anna_hughes@att.net

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.

12 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

for more information, visit: www.SunnyvaleEdFoundation.org

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

After school is where the adventure begins!

FOR RATES AND INFORMATION:

www.alphabest.org/sunnyvaletx OR SCAN:

Partnering With Sunnyvale ISD 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.

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?

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

ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 13

QUALITY STAFF

SISD Welcomes New Administrative Staff Members Dr. Jacob Duce joins SISD’s as the new assistant superintendent.

“Dr. Duce brings a wealth of leadership to Sunnyvale,” Superintendent Matt Kimball said. “He is known for elevating student success, growing leaders around him, and engaging students, staff, and parents. I look forward to him joining our amazing team!”

As assistant superintendent, Dr. Duce will primarily focus on curriculum and instruction in SISD while also supporting the superintendent.

“It’s no secret that Sunnyvale ISD is a destination for families and educators because of the district’s values and student achievement,” Dr. Duce said. “My professional beliefs and values strongly align with the instructional framework in SISD. I look forward to serving the Sunnyvale community as we continue to value student learning and enhance the outcomes of our students.”

Dr. Duce comes to the Raider family after serving Frisco ISD for the past 15 years, where he worked as a campus administrator at three different campuses.

His most recent post was as Lebanon Trail High School’s campus principal, leading the successful 5-A campus of 2,100 students and over 200 staff members.

14 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS

Lebanon Trail was rated the highest achieving comprehensive high school in Texas for two years (TEA Accountability).

“These leadership opportunities have allowed me to work with diverse perspectives and multiple stakeholders to provide a rich learning experience for all students,” Dr. Duce said.

Dr. Duce says his initial goal is to get to know SISD’s staff, students, and community.

“SISD is recognized as a leader in public education in North Texas so my primary focus will be on learning the culture and strengths of the district,” he said.

One of Dr. Duce’s strengths lies in collaborative leadership. Understanding the needs of Sunnyvale’s students, teachers and community members is one of his top priorities.

“Collaborative leadership allows

Dr. Jacob Duce Assistant Superintendent you to bring in diverse perspectives and experiences,” Dr. Duce said.

“This approach allows for a more comprehensive approach to achieving our goals in public education. Limiting leadership to one individual reduces the ideas and experiences available to learn from.”

Dr. Duce and his wife of 18 years, Melissa have three children: Delaney (13), McKinley (10), and Noah (5). They currently live in McKinney.

MORE NEW FACES IN ADMINISTRATION

QUALITY STAFF SHS Raiders will welcome new principal Ashlee Graham to campus in August.

“Ms. Graham brings a passion for serving those around her,” Superintendent Matt Kimball said. “She clearly engages staff in collaborative processes, values student voice, and constantly seeks to engage parents and the community. While she has a talent for building campus culture, she also has a deep understanding of quality teaching and learning. She understands how processes and systems support student and teacher success each day.”

Ms. Graham, who is just weeks away from being conferred with a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas, comes to SISD from Frisco ISD where she was an Associate Principal at Reedy High School.

KIRSTEN BOOTH Director of Special Programs kirsten.booth@sunnyvaleisd.com

BROOKE HOBBS Dyslexia/EL Coordinator brooke.hobbs@sunnyvaleisd.com

“I have wanted to be in Sunnyvale for a few years now,” Ms. Graham said. “I am a small town girl with small town values and wanted to lead in a place like Sunnyvale where everybody is a Raider. I was looking for a place with a sense of school pride and deep-rooted community. I have consistently heard such great things about Sunnyvale and how student-centered it is. Who wouldn’t want to work in a place like that?”

Prior to working in Frisco, she helped open Coppell ISD’s ninth grade campus as an assistant principal and collaborated with her team to create the campus’ mission, vision and campus culture. She has also taught in Lewisville ISD, Ouachita Parish Schools in Louisiana and in the community college system at Collin College and Delta Community College.

“Being a high school teacher is where I developed a love for high school students,” Ms. Graham said. “I just love seeing what students are capable of doing. And serving as a high school teacher for 11 years gave me a great understanding of what teachers need.”

Looking ahead, Ms. Graham plans to build on SHS’ existing success.

SHERRIE KOERNER SES Assistant Principal sherrie.koerner@sunnyvaleisd.com

JENNIFER WATKINS SHS Assistant Principal

“I want to know the people, where we are and what they need from me,” she said. “I want to lead a campus that strives to develop students who are not only future-ready, rooted in grit, grace and gratitude. Sunnyvale High School is already a successful campus, but I’d like to partner with others to continue down that path of greatness.”

Ashlee Graham Sunnyvale High School Principal

Ms. Graham plans to relocate to Rowlett in September with her canine fur-baby, Cinnamon.

jennifer.watkins@sunnyvaleisd.com ISSUE 7 | AUGUST 2023 | 15

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

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SUNNYVALE ISD ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORY Mr. Matt Kimball Superintendent

Mr. Buck Baskin Director of Technology

Mr. John Settle Athletic Director

Mr. Todd Staley Director of Transportation

matt.kimball@sunnyvaleisd.com

buck.baskin@sunnyvaleisd.com

john.settle@sunnyvaleisd.com

todd.staley@sunnyvaleisd.com

Dr. Jacob Duce Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Stacy Bellows Director of Human Resources

Mr. Michael Tillinghast Network Administrator

Mrs. Kristen Nester Literacy Coach

jacob.duce@sunnyvaleisd.com

stacy.bellows@sunnyvaleisd.com

michael.tillinghast@sunnyvaleisd.com

kristen.nester@sunnyvaleisd.com

Mrs. Brenda McFalls Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Kirsten Booth Director of Special Programs

Mrs. Amy Tutle Director of Assessment and Accountability

Mrs. Brooke Hobbs Dyslexia/EL Coordinator

brenda.mcfalls@sunnyvaleisd.com

kirsten.booth@sunnyvaleisd.com

amy.tutle@sunnyvaleisd.com

brooke.hobbs@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