The Dallas Independent School District made several staff changes Friday, October 10 at Billy Earl Dade Middle School that will go into effect Monday, October 13.
The changes are designed to improve the effectiveness of classroom instruction as quickly as possible.
Ms. Margarita Garcia, currently the principal at James S. Hogg Elementary School, will be taking over as principal of Dade Middle School. She will be joined by two assistant principals from other campuses as well as 10 instructional coaches from throughout the school district who will serve as teachers. In addition, five academic facilitators will be placed at Dade Middle School and a central staff administrator has been assigned to provide systems and data support. Dade Middle School’s current principal, two assistant principals, and 10 current Dade teachers are being transferred to other positions within Dallas ISD.
“There needs to be a renewed sense of urgency in the instructional quality at Dade Middle School,” said Dallas ISD Deputy Superintendent Ann Smisko. “Because of their experience throughout the district, these campus leaders, instructional coaches, and academic facilitators will provide both quality instruction to students and mentoring to teachers at the school.”
“It may be easier on our staff to wait until the end of the semester to make changes but our students don’t have a day to waste,” said Smisko. “Dade Middle School will now have the majority of the school year with the additional support and staff in place which we believe will benefit students greatly.”
None of the employees involved in the changes will have their salary decreased this school year as the result of a change in position. Employees who are being promoted, however, will receive an appropriate compensation increase.
The staff at Dade Middle School was notified Friday afternoon of the changes. A letter to parents has been posted on the school’s web page today. Parents will receive a hard copy of the letter on Monday. The letter invites parents and guardians to attend parent/teacher conferences on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. where they will have the opportunity to meet the new principal and staff.
