The groundwork for Dallas ISD’s innovative Teacher Excellence Initiative comes from the understanding that the one-dimensional nature of traditional evaluations fails to acknowledge the hard work, long hours and personal commitment required of an effective teacher. The Texas Education Agency’s recent mandate to replace the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS) reinforces the inability of conventional evaluations to reflect the actual effect teachers have on their students. In 2009, a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation began in more than 3,000 classrooms across the U.S., including some in Dallas ISD. The MET (Measures of Effective Teaching) Project…

Under the Teacher Excellence Initiative, teachers have a significantly higher earning potential than they do under a traditional salary step schedule. In fact, effective teachers who advance at an average progression under TEI have the potential to make a total of $100,000 more over 15 years than they could under Dallas ISD’s traditional step salary schedule. Under strategic compensation, a Dallas ISD teacher’s earning potential is very competitive compared to other Texas school districts. Using the same example above, here is the earning potential for an effective teacher with 15 years of service and a Proficient III Effectiveness Level I…

The Dallas Independent School District announced today that the management structure of the School Leadership Department has been realigned to create more efficient and streamlined processes and improve communication. The new configuration eliminates the structure that divided the district into five divisions. This change transitions the responsibilities of five assistant superintendents to two deputy chiefs who will work together to support the district’s 22 feeder pattern executive directors. One deputy chief position is already filled by Stephanie Elizalde. Israel Cordero, former assistant superintendent for Division 5, has been selected to serve in the second deputy chief position. “We want to ensure that…

Dr. Cynthia Wilson, an experienced leader of schools, has been appointed as Dallas ISD’s Chief of Staff, effective Oct. 1, 2015. Wilson is currently the superintendent of the Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5, a 7,000-student school district in South Carolina. In Dallas ISD, she will report directly to Interim Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and assist in supporting the strategic work of the district. “Dr. Wilson is a great addition to our team. She is experienced in working with both school boards and administrative teams in large urban school systems,” Hinojosa said. “She is a former college student of mine, so I…