Horizons - Issue 1, August 2021

Stacie Wilson is SISD's New Risk Management and Special Programs Coordinator

MEET STACIE WILSON: SISD’S NEW FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS AND AT-RISK COORDINATOR.

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 theSISD family I was thrilled.

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 infilling any and all of our students’ academic gaps. Parent involvement and inclusion are a big deal tome, 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.

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 theperspectives of the district faculty, administrators, students,and parents. Utilizing those skills in SISD will pretty muchmake me a dependable ally to every department.

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-19pandemic. My goal is to shorten that time to make sure all of our Raiders RISE!

How can Sunnyvale parents support your work and at-risk students?

Sunnyvale parents can support my efforts by seeing me as an allyand advocate for their children to have a bright future. Be open toconversations of REAL TALK!

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!

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 inAlabama, 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!

HORIZONS - ISSUE 1 | AUGUST 2021 | 11