Your Mansfield ISD

The Mansfield ISD Blog Site Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Can't get enough of our weekly district features? No worries! We still cover the great things happening around Mansfield ISD; we just moved locations.

Since the MISD website has been redesigned to a responsive platform, we thought it would be best to migrate our blog to the new website to enhance accessibility.

Find our new blog location here: https://www.mansfieldisd.org/news-events/misd-blog.

MISD Teachers Kick Off Summer with a Week of Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 May 2019 21:45:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

The students are gone, and the school bells are silent; but instead of packing for a vacation, some teachers in Mansfield ISD decided to begin their summer break by honing their skills even more.

Hundreds of educators attended the district’s free annual summer curriculum from May 29 through May 31. The sessions are open to all teachers in the district for a chance to learn new teaching techniques while earning their staff development equivalency hours.

“The teachers especially love that it’s them doing the presentations,” said Teresa Francis, advanced academics coordinator. “It’s not some person who hasn’t been in the classroom or doesn’t know what’s going or talking about some educational theory that doesn’t really have anything to do with what they do in their day-to-day job.”

A bulk of the planning for the conference begins January. Organizers said they research what’s relevant in teaching and use objectives they learned in other trainings to customize each session.

“We’re always looking for what we can offer our staff members that will be helpful to them,” Francis said.

Along with the core subjects, the classes covered topics such as leadership, CPR, gifted and talented, special education, dyslexia, college readiness and more. The sessions are centered around the district’s strategic plan, Vision 2020, which guides how Mansfield ISD will fulfill its mission of inspiring and education students to be productive citizens.

“It continues year after year to be a very popular event for our teachers,” said Christie Alfred, MISD’s chief innovative officer. “They really appreciate the fact that it’s focused on Mansfield ISD to the things that are specific to our teachers and to our district.”

The summer curriculum classes are held at Legacy High School, a centralized location for the staff. Organizers said that the goal each year is to provide quality lessons that can be immediately implemented in classrooms.

Mansfield ISD Names Teachers of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:26:00 +0000

Two teachers have been named as the 2018-19 Teachers of the Year. The Teacher of the Year finalists are chosen by a selection committee who review all campus teachers of the year and identify the top three candidates from elementary and secondary education. Each finalist then participates in an external interview process with professors from TWU who identify the top teacher.

The elementary Teacher of the Year is Heather Carson, a fourth grade teacher at Carol Holt Elementary.

Can't see the video? View it here.

Heather Carson teaches fourth grade math and science at Carol Holt Elementary. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies with a specialization in English as a Second Language from Texas Tech University. Her mission is to increase student engagement in the classroom by movement and extraordinary educational experiences. She stands true to her values by always putting her scholars first, building positive relationships with parents and scholars, amping up academic rigor, challenging her scholars to think beyond the standards, and always keep learning as an educator.

“She’s the kind of teacher you wish you had in elementary school,” said Thelma Foster, principal at Carol Holt. “The teachers admire her and respect her and I think they all want to be her when they grow up. I want to be Heather when I grow up.”

The secondary Teacher of the Year is David Roberson, the culinary arts teacher at Ben Barber Innovation Academy.

Can't see the video? View it here.

David L. Roberson was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK. Sooner born and bred, Roberson is the youngest of eight children which helped develop his character as a person, chef and educator. He is a Culinary Arts instructor for grades 9-12 at Ben Barber Innovation Academy and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education with a concentration in Theology from Liberty University. Chef Roberson co-wrote the curriculum for Culinary Arts, which includes ProStart industry certification and Certificate of Achievement developing real world opportunities on and off campus.

“Not only does he love the students, which is very important, he loves the staff,” said Ben Barber principal, Catherine Hudgins. “He brings a bright light to us every day he is on campus.”

Congratulations to these teachers.

Mansfield ISD Hosts Third Annual Innovation Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 May 2019 21:18:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

Mansfield ISD held its third annual Innovation Conference on May 6-9 at the Dr. Sarah J. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners.

The theme this year was focused on early childhood education and featured the research and plans that resulted in the Academy for Early Learners facility.

“We are very proud of what we do here in MISD and we want to share what we’ve learned,” said Mansfield ISD Associate Superintendent, Dr. Sean Scott. “Also, we grow incredibly from our visitors and colleagues from around the state and so we want to learn from them and make sure that we continue to stay on the cutting edge of education.”

The conference, which drew educators and leaders from across the state, included a tour of The Academy, history and research behind the creation of the unique facility and techniques/tips on how to provide experiential learning and instructional strategies for early learners. The conference featured four one-day seminars for participants to be immersed in the active explorative experiences.

“We first heard about the academy at the mid-winter conference and so we were very blessed to be able come and experience this opportunity for ourselves,” said Kelley Estes-Jones, assistant director of Region 10 for early childhood services. “To be able to see the young children engaging in their everyday learning through these wonderful experiences was magical.”

Over four days, the Innovation Conference served about 160 educators.

“We’ve gotten to learn from the staff here at Mansfield ISD,” said Estes-Jones. “I have enjoyed being here for the Innovation Conference because we are all about high-quality early childhood experiences, learning and anything that we can gain and take back to further the cause.”

The Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners, which opened in January, is the first prekindergarten campus of its kind in Mansfield ISD and throughout the state of Texas. It was designed for inquiring young minds using creative, hands-on, interactive experiences within a researched-based early childhood program.

For more information on The Academy for Early Learners, visit their website.

Ben Barber Students Partner with NASA to Make Packages for Space

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 May 2019 20:21:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

Mansfield ISD Ben Barber Innovation Academy students are working with the NASA HUNCH program to create secure packaging that will allow NASA to send objects to outer space.

The NASA program -- HUNCH, which stands for High schools United with NASA to Create Hardware -- is a STEM outreach effort designed to bring students new educational experiences with NASA projects.

“I saw an advertisement through Facebook and I just reached out to them to see if it was something we could get involved with,” said Tim Sherwood, the manufacturing teacher at Ben Barber. “They had us come down and take a look at their facility and here we are making parts for them now.”

The HUNCH partnership requires the students at Ben Barber to make lids for 40 storage boxes each year. Once completed, the boxes will be sent to space stations containing food, supplies and experiments.

“My favorite part of the project is probably just the challenge of doing it,” said Ryan Weisblatt, a Mansfield High School senior. “A lot of people don’t get this opportunity, so this part alone has really made me think and challenge myself.”

In preparation for making the lids, the students learned how to operate drawing files, manual coding and programmed software for machines.

“The students are really enjoying this type of work and to be able to see the parts and put them to real use, it really shows them what they can look forward to after high school,” said Sherwood. “A lot went into it and the kids were able to overcome it all."

After making the boxes, the students are allowed to sign their name onto the fixture.

“My name is going to be in space one day and that’s an amazing accomplishment that I can tell my friends,” said Weisblatt. “It’s an awesome experience all around.”

Elementary Schools Hold Senior Clap Out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 20:59:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

On April 26, Mansfield ISD held their annual Senior Clap Out for high school seniors all over the district to return to their elementary schools. The senior clap out allows high school seniors to walk through the halls of their former elementary school while the students and staff give them high fives and clap for them.

“It’s really nostalgic being able to come back to Annette Perry and see all my old teachers,” said Audra Slater, a Lake Ridge High School senior. “It’s so crazy just seeing all these kids supporting you not even knowing who you are but they still look up to you as if you’re their big sister or big brother.”

The teachers enjoy seeing their old students just as much as the graduates.

“There’s a couple emotions that you get,” said Kevin Dodge, a fourth grade teacher at D.P. Morris. “First you’re really jarred by how old they are which in turn makes you feel really old and you start contemplating how much longer you have left on this Earth. Then you think, but that’s okay because I was able to make an impact.”

When the students meet with their former teachers they often reminisce on memories from their time in elementary school.

“You get all these great memories back from when you were young,” said Lake Ridge High School senior, Omar Quinones. “Walking through the hallways, the school is so much smaller than it usually was because when you were a little kid you thought the school was humongous.”

The seniors also share what their plans for the future are.

“My heart fills just with pride to hear what their choices are and the decisions they’re making,” said Sondra Thomas, the principal of Annette Perry from 2009-2014. “I can’t wait to hear in five years what they’ve accomplished.”

The seniors wear their cap and gowns to show the current elementary students that they, too, will graduate one day.

“One day when I grow up I want to be just like one of those high schoolers,” said D.P. Morris fourth grader, Liliana Garcia.

Mansfield ISD Holds District Art Show

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 18:32:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

Every year, the Fine Arts Program at Mansfield ISD hosts an Art Show at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. This year, student artwork was displayed from April 11th - 18th.

The art show is free and open to the public to view. Teachers from all campuses chose 10 pieces from each grade level or class to be entered into the showcase.

“We feel participation in a district-wide art show is very important so all of our kids can see the talent that we have across the district,” said Dr. Chuck Roe, MISD Assistant Director of Fine Arts. “They can see other students’ work. They can see other teachers’ styles of art. They get to show off their work and have a good time.”

The artwork includes drawings, paintings and sculptures created in art classes throughout the school year.

"I like art because I can express myself,” said Jazmine Johnson, an eighth-grader at Brooks Wester Middle School. “Art makes me feel great so I can fit in with my other classmates and other artists.”

The goal in hosting the event is for the district to be able to emphasize the importance of fine arts in schools.

"Fine Arts for our students whether its art, dance, theatre or music provides our students with the opportunity to express themselves creatively,” said Roe. “It also helps them really create connections to other curricular areas. Studies have shown that students that participate in Fine Arts score better in language arts, writing and math.”

For more information on the Mansfield ISD’s fine art program, click here.

STEM Students Create Empowering Girls Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:46:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

The Empowering Girls Club, started by four Jerry Knight STEM Academy learners, held their kick off event on April 6 at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. The event was meant to help build middle school girls self-esteem.

The club began as a school project created by seventh-graders Erica Christenson, Lillian Osborne, Rebecca Peck and Anna Tomlinson, and is now blossoming into an ongoing resource for female students to be empowered and inspired for years to come.

“The purpose of creating Empowering Girls was to mainly help teenage girls with their self-esteem,” said Tomlinson. “We saw a problem with their social and emotional learning and we really just wanted to help them maintain a higher self-esteem throughout their education careers.”

The event was for moms and their students. It featured guest speakers, breakout sessions and the Debully Band.

“I loved seeing all the girls during it and seeing how interested they were in the actual event itself,” said Peck. “It made me very proud of all the work we did.”

The event stemmed from a project focusing on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a psychology theory that states that there are certain needs that must be met before becoming self-actualized.

“We tasked all of our learners with identifying a need in the community,” said Jeremy Beckwith, a designer at the STEM Academy. “This is a significant need with the young girls in our society right now. I’m very proud that they chose something that is near and dear to them.”

Using the engineering design process, the creators began planning for the event in the fall of 2018 and in December, Empowering Girls was awarded a grant from the MISD Education Foundation.

“The research part of this project was probably one of the longest stages,” said Tomlinson. “We needed a lot of information to try to make our club the best it can be.”

In the future, the creators hope to expand the event to make it more purposeful and impactful.

“I’m proud of the event and the work we’ve done,” said Osborne. “Overall it was a lot of work, but it was really great.”

MISD Students Place in a National Video Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:41:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

Six students from Ben Barber Innovation Academy and Frontier High School placed in the top three for StudentCam, an annual C-SPAN documentary competition.

Students in grades 6-12 were asked to create a five to six minute video documentary on what it means to be American.

“I told them don’t just find something. Make sure it’s something that you believe in,” said Ryan Tuomey, arts and audio/visual teacher at Ben Barber. “All my students hit that note, but there were a couple that stood out that I thought did very well.”

The students competed in groups of three. One group from Ben Barber placed second, receiving a cash prize of $1,500. The other group placed third and received $750.

“They did an amazing job,” said Tuomey. “We’ve done this competition for a few years and each year it gets better and better. They really put thought into it and we tried to make sure the actual message is there and it’s not just coming from a film production aspect. We actually want that message to hit home.”

Jenae Green from C-SPAN awarded the StudentCam winners on April 4 at Ben Barber Invitation Academy and Frontier High School.

“We figured we would do well, but we didn’t think we would do this well,” DJ Elliott, Frontier High School senior. “We’re very proud. It was cool to see that email saying we got third and it was a cool experience.”

When making the documentaries, the students set up interviews to convey the stories they wanted to tell. One team landed an interview with Lupe Valdez, a 2018 democratic nominee for Governor of Texas. The other interviewed the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban.

“Our process was very unconventional to most people,” said Tanner Fenton, Frontier High School senior. “We reached out to many different interviewees and we actually got a response from a politician. That was the biggest surprise that they wanted to talk to us kids.”

The deadline for submissions was on January 20.

“We’d gotten the prompt around the first of December, but the problem is obviously winter break,” said Fenton. “The time constraint hurt, but it also helped because it helped us be efficient and helped us not to sit there and lull around.”

The second place video, “’Til We Reach That Day” will air on C-SPAN throughout the day on April 10.

“I believe that being an American means that you have the opportunity to make a difference,” said Elliott. “You live in a place where if you want to do something, you can go out and have lots of resources available to you to go out a make that possible.”

To see the second place winner, “’Til We Reach That Day” go here. To see the third place video, “America: The Land of Opportunity!” go here.

MISD Elementary School Celebrates Namesake’s Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:27:00 +0000

Can't see the video? View it here.

The students and staff at Nancy Neal Elementary School invited the school’s namesake to the campus to celebrate her birthday.

“Today’s family time was extra special because Ms. Neal was here with us for her birthday celebration,” said Cheryl Ferrell, assistant principal at Nancy Neal Elementary.

All of the students signed a birthday card and sang Happy Birthday in the school’s gymnasium. The staff bought Ms. Neal balloons and flowers to honor her.

“They are all so loving and give me cards and give me hugs and they tell me how much they love my school,” said Nancy Neal, the school’s namesake. “I think they all think I own it, but it’s fun to hear them say they love being here.”

The students appreciate that Neal comes to spend time with them.

“My favorite part is when everyone was cheering for her and she was smiling, because I love when people have a smile on their faces,” said Neal Elementary fourth-grade student Evan Bedford.

Much like Bedford, Neal’s favorite part of visiting the campus is the smiles she sees on students’ faces and the high-fives they love to give her.

“Watching them laugh with me and just being there to say ‘Hi’ to me is the fun part,” said Neal.

Before retiring in 2003, Neal taught in MISD for 30 years. She now tutors at Roberta Tipps Elementary School, but she enjoys returning to Nancy Neal Elementary as often as she can.

“Any time we want her to come up and read to our students or do something special she’s always up for it,” said Ferrell. “She never says no. She’s always coming up to campus to be with us.”

Neal will turn 69 on Sunday and plans to spend the day with her family.

“My family will get together and they are going to take me somewhere,” said Neal. “I don’t know where because they won’t tell me, but we’re going somewhere.”