A Message from Dr. Pam Wells
It is that time of year when we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. Our Region 4 teachers are working hard to adapt and innovate their teaching practices in order to educate their students through remote learning. It takes a special kind of dedication to be a classroom teacher every day, but that commitment is even more evident now. We thank all teachers for their whatever it takes attitude to serve their students. I also want to acknowledge our Region 4 team members, who provide professional development and coaching to our educators so that they can be the best they can be. These “teachers of teachers” should also be recognized during Teacher Appreciation Week.    
I want you to know that I have been thinking about each one of you on our team. I praise you for your dedication to our core values. Collaboration, Excellence, Innovation, Integrity, Reliability, and Service Mindset are values you continue to embrace as you support our customers and each other.
 
I continue to receive feedback telling me about the fantastic job that all of you do, most recently from our superintendents. This is at the heart of what it means to be leaders, which each of you are. I am grateful for all you do on behalf of Region 4, no matter what your job. Keep up the good work!
 
Here are some of the comments our superintendents made about you during our Superintendents’ Executive Committee Meeting that was held last week – 
 
  • Dr. LaTonya Goffney, Superintendent, Aldine ISD – I have served as superintendent in three regions and Region 4 is hands down the very best.
 
  • Mr. Victor White, Superintendent, Deer Park ISD – I could not agree more with all of the comments regarding the benefits provided by Region 4.
 
  • Dr. Thomas Randle, Superintendent, Lamar Consolidated ISD – I want to thank Region 4 for all you do to support us. It is appreciated.
 
  • Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora, Superintendent, Tomball ISD – Thank you to the Region 4 team for all that you do to support us!!
 
Their words matter. It is important for you to know what our top school leaders from small, medium, and large districts, say about the support you provide. I’m so proud of all that you are doing to support our districts and charter schools. Thank you.
 
My hope is that you and your families continue to stay healthy. I miss our being together face-to-face, but until then, stay safe. #TogetherApart
FLY OVER HOUSTON
In honor of those that served and sacrificed during World War II, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the Lone Star Flight Museum and its supporting partners will fly nearly 30 rare and historic warbirds over the Greater Houston area. This epic aviation event called the Fight to the Finish Fly Over Houston will take place Sunday, May 10 at 2 p.m. Read more and get the flight plan by clicking here .
Sunday, May 10, 2020
2:00 p.m.
Open Texas to Restart and Revitalize
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently released the Report to Open Texas that lays out the plan for reopening some businesses across the state using a phased approach. The plan calls for allowing many customer-oriented businesses, such as restaurants and retail stores, to reopen with restrictions on capacity. He then plans to loosen the capacity restrictions and allow additional businesses to open mid-May, provided Texas does not see a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The governor issued three executive orders to start this plan:

Read more about what is being done to ensure our safety against the COVID-19 pandemic from Texas State Department Health Services by clicking here .
May is Mental Health Month
May is Mental Health Month, and Region 4 recognizes that being healthy means taking care of both our physical and mental well-being. According to Daniel H. Gillison Jr., CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the stress of COVID-19 is an additional challenge for people living with mental illness. “During these difficult times, we encourage you to take care of yourselves and check in on loved ones. You are not alone, and we will get through this together,” said Gillison.
Region 4 continues to provide mental and emotional wellness resources during this time. Team members can access information on the Region 4 Mental and Emotional Wellness page.
Distance Yourself from Identity Thieves
Region 4 employees have been receiving an increasing number of external emails since our recent suspension of normal business operations. To be safe and prevent any breach of security, let's consider a common cyber-attack called “phishing.”

Phishing attacks can be emails designed to get sensitive information about you such as login or credit card information, or bank account details.
Art Peterson, Data Center and Network Solutions (DCNS), said, “Although we maintain controls to help protect our networks and computers from a breach in security, we rely on all Region 4 employees to be our first line of defense against cyber threats.”

We can avoid phishing schemes by following some simple steps.
  • Do not click on links or attachments from senders that you do not recognize, especially .zip, .exe, or other compressed file types.
  • Do not provide usernames or passwords in emails.
  • Watch for misspelled words in emails and links with misleading domain names.
  • Do not open shared documents you are not expecting to receive.
  • If you suspect an email is not legitimate, please forward it to spamnotifications@esc4.net.
  • If you receive an email with a warning banner indicating that it originated from an external source, do not open attachments or click links if you don’t know the sender.

Thanks again for helping to keep our network, and our team members, safe from these cyber threats. If you have any questions, please contact Art Peterson at art.peterson@esc4.net.
Tips for Professional On-Camera Meetings
As we continue to telecommute, technology allows us to connect by video to individuals and groups. Find out how to make each on-camera meeting more professional using some practical and inexpensive ideas. Familiarize yourself with the latest video platforms and get tips from the Region 4 Distance Learning Planning & Facilitation Support page by clicking here.
US CENSUS - EVERYONE COUNTS
Participating in the census is required by law. A complete and accurate count is critical for each person and every community because the results of the 2020 Census will affect community funding, congressional representation, and more. If you have not yet participated, fill out a Census 2020 form by clicking here and then clicking the "Respond" button.
COVID-19 Resources 4 Schools Update
The Region 4 COVID-19 Resources 4 Schools website continues to lead the way in providing up-to-date and useful information throughout this pandemic . The recent analytics numbers show yet another consecutive uptick in visits from people seeking information.

As of April 30, our COVID-19 main page received 19,734 page views and an additional 75,133 views on the individual instructional resources page . In just under a month, the number of visits to the main page has nearly doubled, while visits to the instruction page have increased more than 2.6 times. 
Congratulations to the Region 4 staff members who update resources for the Instruction, Child Nutrition, Health and Wellness, and Business and Operations websites and ensure Region 4 continues to provide Excellence in Service for Children.
Virtual Technical Assistance

Just-in-time subject-area assistance from the following departments is available on the Region 4 COVID-19 page. Click the links below for details.