Birdville ISD NEWS for 05/25/2017

Board of Trustees Meeting Summary

May 25, 2017 09:39 pm

The Board of Trustees met in regular session on Thursday, May 25. The following link will provide you a summary of actions taken at their meeting.

> View May 25, 2017 e-review
> View Trustee Webpage

Trustees Announce Director and Two Principals

May 25, 2017 09:37 pm

At their regular meeting, Birdville ISD’s Board of Trustees announced the appointments of Allison A. Vinson as director of career and technology education, Carol Adcock as principal of Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning (BCTAL), and John P. Davis as principal of North Ridge Middle School. Vinson is replacing Dr. Linda Anderson, who is retiring from BISD; Adcock is replacing Paul Andreason, who passed away earlier this year; and Davis is replacing Steve Ellis, who was named principal of North Richland Middle School.

Allison Vinson has been a coordinator for Career and Technology Education at the BCTAL since 2007. Prior to the BCTAL, she was a counselor at Haltom High School from 2004–07; a counselor at Glenview Elementary (now known as Binion Elementary) from 2002–03; reading specialist at Richland, South Birdville and Hardeman elementary schools from 1994–2003; reading teacher at North Ridge Middle School from 1989–94; and second-grade teacher at Watauga Elementary from 1988–89.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University.

Adcock has been coordinator of online learning and advanced studies for BISD since 2016. Prior to online learning, she was an assistant principal at Richland High School from 2008–16; online summer school principal from 2012–16; and assistant principal at Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena ISD from 2004–08.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and master’s degree from the University of Houston–Clear Lake.

Davis has been the assistant principal at North Ridge Middle School since 2013. Prior to the assistant principal position, he was a seventh-grade Texas history teacher at North Ridge Middle from 2010–13; a fifth-grade teacher at Hardeman Elementary from 2004–10; and a fifth-grade teacher at Daniels Elementary Academy in Grand Prairie ISD from 2001–04.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University and master’s degree from Lamar University.

BISD Receives 2017 Mitch Poe Public Service Award

May 25, 2017 02:06 pm

Birdville ISD (BISD) recently received the Mitch Poe Service Award at the Tarrant County Sexual Abuse Advisory Council (TCSAAC) Conference. This award honors professionals and individuals who distinguish themselves as passionate defenders of victims of sexual abuse. Such service on behalf of victims includes: increasing public awareness, assisting other service professionals, providing treatment for victims, lobbying for legislative changes on behalf of victims, and helping victims of sexual abuse receive fair treatment in the judicial process.

In 1987, BISD recognized the benefit of incorporating school-based education and prevention of child sexual abuse to children in their district. After researching credible and effective programs, and determining the importance of having professionals provide the education, staff from The Women’s Center began providing the Play it Safe!^® program to students at one of the elementary schools. Twenty years ago, BISD’s Administration mandated that all schools provide Play it Safe! ^® throughout the district, prekindergarten through high school, resulting in over 18,000 students per year receiving sexual assault and abuse prevention education. With consistent and repeated, grade-specific, programing across the district, BISD students are empowered with the ability to recognize, respond to, and report abuse, and learn healthy behaviors and attitudes to help in the prevention of sexual violence. Throughout the last 30 years, BISD has been the epitome of a community partner, working with The Women’s Center staff, CPS, and law enforcement to ensure the safety of children who make outcries during or after Play it Safe! ^® presentations. Where some might hesitate to follow through with a child’s report of abuse, BISD responds effectively and efficiently, while following the law for mandated reporters, believing that protecting one student, is protecting all students. Various other community agencies are brought into classrooms to ensure that students receive education on difficult topics, provided by professionals in their respective fields. SafeHaven of Tarrant County is brought in to provide primary prevention education within the schools, helping students break the cycle of relationships built on manipulation and control, and to instead develop relationships built around care and support.

BISD recognizes the importance of system change as a component of ending violence. By providing training to staff on trauma-sensitive issues and opportunities for parents to be engaged in the process of preventing child abuse, all levels of the system become educated on ways to end sexual violence. This district works to not only build academically sound individuals, but also students who understand and value the importance of respect and healthy boundaries, thereby building responsible bystanders to help prevent sexual violence in our society.

For more information on the Play it Safe!^® program in BISD, contact Donna Layer, director of counseling, at 817-547-5700.

The Mitch Poe Public Service Award was submitted by Katharine Collier-Esser, The Women’s Center, kesser@womenscentertc.org.

Birdville ISD Team Earns Recognition in National Competition for Deaf, Hard of Hearing

May 25, 2017 01:53 pm

Five students from Birdville ISD’s Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, placed among the top four teams in the nation in the Battle of the Books competition, and won the Green Team Best Sportsmanship Award. The team competed against 26 other middle school teams at Gallaudet University (based in Washington, D.C.), a university designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Team member Amy Nguyen was named Green Team MVP.

Shown from left to right, teacher Christine Gaston, Eduardo Bustillos, Nate Coats, Destiny Chavana, Amy Nguyen, Max Ridgway, teacher Teresa Fuller, and Smithfield Middle School assistant principal Jason Turner.

Source–ESC TODAY: Timely Information and Resources for Region 11 Schools, May 10, 2017

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