I S S U E 1 | AU G U S T 2 0 2 1
NEW FAMILY GUIDE OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUE, FEATURING VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING CONNECTED AND INVOLVED WITH SISD ________
RAIDERS READ A MILLION
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY EFFORT TO READ ONE MILLION PAGES THIS SCHOOL YEAR PAGE 9
________
MEET OUR NEW FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS AND AT-RISK COORDINATOR STACIE WILSON BRINGS EXPERIENCE AND HEART TO A NEW POSITION PAGE 11
CELEBRATIONS AND INFORMATION FROM THE
SUNNYVALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
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 and Communications Intern Karo Reese. 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. cover main photo:
This is an exciting time for Sunnyvale ISD. After a year and half of our Raiders being in-school, at-home or some combination of both, we are happy to be “reuniting and reigniting” as one Raider family. Reuniting and reigniting is our theme for this school year - a year where we come back together and relight the fire of being a Raider within us all. 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 (or elbow-bumping, since COVID-19) 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 year and a half, 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!
Kenison McGregor, Third Grade
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 Mrs. Susan Guthrie susan.guthrie@townofsunnyvale.org
SUNNYVALE ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Brad Cravens, PRESIDENT Mrs. Linda Gooch, VICE PRESIDENT Mr. Michael Threet, SECRETARY Mr. Ben Wright, J.D., LL.M 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
Glenda McMahan Counselor glenda.mcmahan@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 Rae Harvill Counselor rae.harvill@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 Tiffany Miley Counselor (L-Z) tiffany.miley@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 1 | AUGUST 2021 | 3
TripSpark
SISD ADDS NEW BUS COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR PARENT AND STUDENT CONVENIENCE Thanks to a new partnership with TripSpark, a K-12 bus transportation software company with 30 years of experience, Sunnyvale parents can now track their Raiders as they travel to and from school via GPS using the new TripSpark app.
“The TripSpark app is a new tool in our transportation services department that we believe will provide our parents and students with a new level of convenience and safety when it comes to bus travel,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kyle Penn said. 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.
CONNECT WITH US SISD is proud to offer 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”.
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 Karl Williams: karl.williams@sunnyvaleisd.com.
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’s theme for 2021-2022 is
#Reunite&Reignite! 4 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS
several ways for parents, students, faculty members and the community to stay connected to SISD.
PRINCIPAL AND COUNSELOR UPDATES newsletters. Look for links to these communications on campus websites
NUTRISLICE CAFETERIA MENUS AND LUNCH MONEY NOW
and in the SISD E-News.
It’s easy to find
Our principals and counselors communicate regularly via e-mail and
information about
cafeteria menus and student account payments.
HORIZONS - THE DISTRICT MAGAZINE OF SUNNYVALE ISD
Simply visit www.sunnyvaleisd.com/
Horizons is a new publication from the
cafeteriaservices to find
SISD Communications Department.
online menus and a link to
Horizons will be distributed three times
Lunch Money Now, SISD’s online lunch account vendor. You can
annually (August, December and May)
also find this information on the SISD app. To login, you will need
digitally and, on occasion, by bulk mail
your child’s student ID number, which will be provided for you by
carrier route. The magazine may be picked up on all district campuses or at the SISD Administration Building.
your child’s teacher.
Local business may also distribute Horizons, as well.
MENTOR PROGRAM
CHECKING YOUR CHILD’S GRADES IN 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).
After a year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are ready to...
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.
REUNITE by bringing the Raider family back together to learn and support one another, and
REIGNITE by rekindling the Raider spirit and sense of community and belonging!
ISSUE 1 | AUGUST 2021 | 5
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/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? For more information, please contact emily.white@sunnyvaleisd.com. 6 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS
INSIDE THE CAFETERIA WITH ROBIN PLETT Learning and engagement have always been the primary focus of Sunnyvale schools. However, without nutritious food to fuel students’ school days, learning can become more difficult. With new Director of Child Nutrition Services Robin Plett on board at SISD, the job of keeping students satisfied with healthy food at school is in good hands. “The overarching goal is always to feed the kids,” Plett said. “To feed them nutritious, tasty food and to introduce them to new things.” Plett has always connected with the importance of nutrition and health, especially in children. After completing her degree in Food and Nutrition at the University of Texas, she went on to gain valuable experience before joining the team at SISD. “After six years with Leander ISD, I was ready for a new challenge,” Plett said. “The opportunity to move to Sunnyvale came, and I jumped on it! I feel so welcome here.” Along with working in schools, Plett also has experience in other areas of food service, expanding her knowledge of food and nutrition, including owning a catering business and managing a restaurant. “My focus has always been on food,” she said. Menus for the new school year offer many options that students can choose from, creating a great variety to help students get the nutrition they need to succeed. “This year’s menus are great,” Plett said. “Included are fresh salads, subs on fresh-baked bread, house-made pizzas, and more!” The most exciting thing about the new menu for students will likely be the sweet treat they can look forward to from their cafeterias. “Ice cream is back this year!” Plett said. Scan here for cafeteria information, including menus and lunch accounts.
Superintendent Doug Williams Leads Texas Superintendents Mr. Williams’ role as president of TASA places SISD at the forefront of Texas public education.
Educator. Superintendent. for the high school passed, we knew we had found an exceptional Administrator. Husband. leader. However, over the years, under his leadership and vision, Coach. Mentor. Texas Public SISD has grown and improved in ways we never thought possible. Schools Advocate. Servant Leader. Dad. Ultimate Raider Fan. SISD is a leader in the state in every way.” Grandfather. Traffic Director. Bus Driver. Friend. Doug Williams wears more than a Mr. Williams has also advocated for “He is an innovative, ethical, few hats around campus. school finance reform and for local student-centered leader who not accountability for school districts. only runs an outstanding district The core of Mr. Williams’ belief Over the 15 years he’s served as the Superintendent of Sunnyvale ISD, he’s but also has statewide influence at as an educator centers become more than the leader of our the Capitol. The 5.4 million children around doing what’s best students and teachers. He’s become a in Texas public schools will be the for students. lasting fixture in the Town of Sunnyvale. beneficiaries of his leadership.” “Mr. Williams’ And now, he adds one more hat to his passion roles in Texas education: President of the Texas Association of for quality education transcends School Administrators, the professional association for Texas all decisions,” Assistant school superintendents and other administrators. In his role, he Superintendent Dr. Christi leads all Texas public school superintendents and administrators. Morgan said. “He listens and seeks to understand the “The election of Doug as president of TASA is a reflection of the needs of students as we admiration his fellow superintendents have for him across Texas,” engage, equip, and Dr. Kevin Brown, Executive Director of TASA said. “He is an empower futureinnovative, ethical, student-centered leader who not only runs ready learners in an outstanding district but also has statewide influence at the Sunnyvale and Capitol. The 5.4 million children in Texas public schools will be the across the beneficiaries of his leadership.” state.” Mr. Williams’ role as president of TASA places SISD at the forefront of Texas public education not only in terms of advocacy for students and educators but for educational policies, as well. “Sunnyvale ISD is fortunate to have Doug Williams as our superintendent,” Board of Trustees President Brad Cravens said. “When we hired him in 2007, just as the bond election ISSUE 1 | AUGUST 2021 | 7
GET INVOLVED! JOIN ONE OF SISD’S PARENT GROUPS SUNNYVALE PTA AND THE WRITE-1-CHECK CAMPAIGN Partner with PTA by supporting our annual back-to-school Write-1-Check Campaign. This fundraiser provides financial assistance for activities and events for ALL SISD students and teachers while keeping you from having to write multiple checks for events all year long! Your ONE-TIME donation of $50 per student will ensure a successful school year. We also need volunteers! No job is too small and no amount of time is too brief.
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.org
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 PRIDE BOOSTER CLUB Raider Pride Booster Club is kicking off the 2021-2022 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 6th Annual Raider Pride Band March-a-Thon! Join us Tuesday, August 17, from 5:30 - 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 Stoney 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 sponsor or get involved, contact cristie carter-stewart:
ccstew85@gmail.com
to partner or get involved, contact coralie baldwin:
Coralie@thebaldwinzoo.com
SUNNYVALE EDUCATION FOUNDATION The Sunnyvale Education Foundation’s annual gala returns this spring! The gala is SEF’s primary fundraising event, enabling exciting new learning opportunities for Sunnyvale students and teachers through teacher grants. We look forward to announcing more details about the gala this fall.
8 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS
for more information, visit:
www.SEF75182.org
Raiders Read a Million ONE MILLION. It’s no question that one million is a big number. Whether it’s one million people, miles, or even dollars, seeing six zeros is enough to impress anyone. However, this year SISD is planning to embrace ONE MILLION and turn it into something to help Raiders succeed… by reading. Aimee Bartis, SISD’s Director of Library Services, is leading the “Raiders Read A Million” initiative and is helping the district to understand just how imperative reading for fun is to a student’s overall success. “Raiders Read a Million is a community effort to read one million pages this school year,” Bartis said. “Everyone at SISD will be reading for fun and logging their pages on the ReadSquared app.” Bartis says that a goal like this one has never been more important for students, especially in light of recent research. “Last year, I read some important research from Scholastic that indicates that kids stop reading for fun around age 9,” Bartis said. “Scholastic calls this the ‘Decline by Nine’. I love to read so this made me sad to think that our Raiders might stop reading for fun.” This initiative is not only for younger Raiders but for those in middle and high school grades as well. As student schedules get
busier, reading becomes less of a priority for older students. Bartis is looking to combat that SCAN FOR A VIDEO mindset in a MESSAGE FROM fun way. “In the MRS. BARTIS library, I’d hear ‘I don’t like to read’ and ‘I don’t have time to read’,” Bartis said. “I wanted to create ways for students to think about reading differently and learn to enjoy reading again.” Parents can inspire their kids to reach their reading goals throughout this fun initiative. Bartis wants to make this a family affair. “The most important thing parents can do is lead by example,” Bartis said. “Let your kids see you read and hear you talk about what you’re reading.” Especially after a year that was unlike any other, bringing the Sunnyvale community together through reading is a great way to work with one another towards a common objective. “We’ve been separated physically and mentally during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bartis said. “This is a way we can work together toward a big goal.”
ISSUE 1 | AUGUST 2021 | 9
ALUMNUS TAKES ON NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR ROLE When taking a look back in Sunnyvale history, an important year that sticks out to many is 2011, the year of Sunnyvale High School’s first graduating class. While the whole class and year itself are important memories in Sunnyvale’s heart, a piece of that memory remains with the district daily and has joined the administrative team. Michael Tillinghast, a member of the class of 2011, has always been an important asset to the district, starting his senior year of high school. Today, he serves as the district’s technology leader, the Network Administrator. “I actually started out working part-time during my senior year of high school as part of the work program,” Tillinghast said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have the right pieces fall into place over time to consistently progress in my career to reach the point where I am now.” The technology department aims to make technology as accessible and reliable as possible for all Sunnyvale schools. “Our main goal is to administer and maintain our technology for SISD staff and students in a seamless manner by laying a strong foundation of technological infrastructure and providing expeditious support when necessary,” Tillinghast said. These goals have inspired Sunnyvale’s technology department to support student access to technology in a way that has been beneficial to SISD students for many years. “Sunnyvale ISD has always heavily invested in technology for students,” Tillinghast said. “We have thousands of devices allocated for student-use, including Chromebooks, Macs, Windows PCs, and iPads.” While his expertise in technology has helped him to advance further in his career path, his knowledge and experiences in Sunnyvale have helped him to thrive in SISD specifically. “I consider myself fortunate to have been a Sunnyvale student myself,” Tillinghast said. “The sense of community and warm atmosphere is unrivaled.” The community he grew up with is still a huge part of his life today, as his workplace and now home to his sons’ schools. Going from alum to staff member, and then to a parent as well, Michael Tillinghast truly is a prime example of Raider spirit. “I grew up here and have seen it grow from a tiny school to what it is today, with my two sons attending school here now,” Tillinghast said. “Sunnyvale is our home.” 10 | SUNNYVALE ISD HORIZONS
NEW FACES IN ADMINISTRATION
TIFFANY MILEY SHS Counselor (L-Z) tiffany.miley@sunnyvaleisd.com
LAURA REINHART SHS Assistant Principal (L-Z) laura.reinhart@sunnyvaleisd.com
ANGELA TEEL SMS Assistant Principal angela.teel@sunnyvaleisd.com
RYON THOMPSON SMS Principal ryon.thompson@sunnyvaleisd.com
MEET STACIE WILSON
SISD’S NEW FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS AND AT-RISK COORDINATOR. 1 What led you to Sunnyvale ISD? I am a small-town girl from Canton, Texas but have lived in Garland for the last eight years. I take Collins Road almost every other weekend to travel back home to visit my family. So, I have watched Sunnyvale blossom over the years and love that tight-knit, small-town feel that I am used to. Therefore, when the opportunity presented itself to join the SISD family I was thrilled.
2 What are your goals as the new Federal Programs and At-Risk Coordinator for SISD? My goal as the Federal Grant Programs and At-Risk Coordinator is to make sure that SISD receives all the resources possible to assist in filling any and all of our students’ academic gaps. Parent involvement and inclusion are a big deal to me, as well. I want to make sure our parents know that we love them as much as their children that they entrust us with. Therefore, I will be working on building relationships with them as well because when parents are happy and thriving, so are our students. On the At-Risk end, I will be supporting the enhancement of the Response to Intervention (RTI) process and the interventions we provide to guarantee that students who have a history of struggling academically can break the trend and make great gains.
3 You’ve been in education for 15 years and served as a principal in Greenville ISD for the past four years. How do you plan to apply those skills to your work at SISD? My overall experience allows me to understand the perspectives of the district faculty, administrators, students, and parents. Utilizing those skills in SISD will pretty much make me a dependable ally to every department.
4 Why is it critical for school districts like SISD to have an at-risk coordinator? Is this even more important after the pandemic? These last 18 months, our students’ lives have been disrupted. Students are basically learning how to be full-time students again. Therefore, making sure I am supporting all teachers and especially RTI teachers on best practice strategies that can increase their instructional toolkits to meet the diverse learning styles and needs in their classrooms will be essential and imperative. Research shows that it will take many students up to three years to recover all they lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My goal is to shorten that time to make sure all of our Raiders RISE!
5 How can Sunnyvale parents support your work and at-risk students? Sunnyvale parents can support my efforts by seeing me as an ally and advocate for their children to have a bright future. Be open to conversations of REAL TALK!
6 Is there anything else you would like our parents, students, or teachers to know about you or your plans for this next year? I am dedicated to all things I do. I am a life-long learner and advocate for education! I believe knowledge of any kind is power and want their children to gain knowledge in not only reading, writing, and arithmetic but LIFE and the importance of personal character as well!
7 We would love to know about your family. I live in Garland with the love of my life, Kerry. We have a blended family of 4 kids - my son Carter (11), lives here with us and he will be attending SMS as a 6th grader. Our other three live in Alabama, but visit frequently. Kira turns 17 on August 31 (we share the same birthday) and will be a SENIOR this year. Kayden (10), will be a 5th grader. The superstar of the family is Kelsey (5) and she starts kindergarten this year and boy, is she excited!
ISSUE 1 | AUGUST 2021 | 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. Karl Williams Director of Transportation
doug.williams@sunnyvaleisd.com
buck.baskin@sunnyvaleisd.com
john.settle@sunnyvaleisd.com
karl.williams@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
Dr. Kyle Penn Assistant Superintendent
Mrs. Erica Lawless Director of Special Programs
Mrs. Amy Tutle Director of Assessment and Accountability
Mrs. Sherrie Koerner Dyslexia/EL Coordinator
kyle.penn@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
After school is where the adventure begins! FOR RATES AND INFORMATION:
www.alphabest.org/sunnyvaletx OR SCAN:
