CollaboRATE Leadership Feedback Portion Now Open |
|
|
|
The leadership feedback portion of CollaboRATE, DPS’ all-employee survey, is now open through March 22. You should have received an email from DPS Collaborate on March 7 with a unique link to complete the confidential survey. Please set aside time to complete it before it closes. Your feedback is essential in helping individuals grow and become more effective leaders, in turn best supporting our students.
We know this has been yet another unique and challenging year. As a reminder, we ask that everyone keep in mind these challenges, and encourage extra grace and empathy when completing the survey. This is an opportunity for team members to identify celebrations and lessons learned from this past year. For more information, visit thecommons.dpsk12.org/collaborate.
|
|
|
|
Updated Timeline for Shift to the New Employee Space |
|
|
|
The At Your Service (AYS) Project Team has shifted the timeline to ensure a successful transition to the New Employee Space for Team DPS. Finance (Phase 2) will go live on July 5 as originally planned, and HR and Payroll (Phase 1) will go live on Oct. 1. Please note that there will be no changes to hiring processes until fall 2022. Please continue to check The Commons for future updates.
The transition to the New Employee Space will impact many tasks managed by office support personnel, such as posting for jobs, registering for training, purchasing items for schools or departments, preparing budgets, and more. All office support personnel are encouraged to join the network of Employee Space Champions to help support their school with the transition. Check to see if your school or department already has a champion or sign up here.
|
|
|
|
Top 5: School Social Worker Shoutouts
|
|
|
|
In celebration of School Social Work Week, team members submitted shoutouts thanking their school social workers, and highlighted the important work they do every day to ensure kids feel safe and supported. Check out the Top 5 below and read more shoutouts here!
|
|
|
|
5. “We have the two best social workers at Summit Academy! Britt Rosenquist (left) works tirelessly and diligently to meet students' needs with excellent groups, supportive check-ins, a vibrant GSA, and great communication and collaboration with all staff! Antonio Robinson (right) selflessly gives so much of his time to one-on-one check-ins with students, always being available to support with de-escalation and restorative conversations. Both of our social workers care deeply about all of our students' stories and work incredibly hard to help them build social-emotional skills necessary for success. We are so thankful for our social workers!”
-- Kimberly Gray, Summit Academy
|
|
|
|
4. “Our social worker, Stephanie Manville, is simply amazing! She collaborates with other mental health professionals and school staff to meet students' physical, mental and emotional needs -- from one-on-one sessions to home visits to deliver food. She was instrumental in applying for grants that allowed us to open the Village at CLA, a collaboration with FACE that provides wrap-around services on site for our students and their families. She is passionate and relentless about breaking down systems of inequity, and she is a joy to work with every day.” -- Lisa Wolford, Contemporary Learning Academy
|
|
|
|
3. “I would like to recognize our newest social worker and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College (DMLK) alumni, Gabriela Bonilla! Ms. Bonilla is wonderful at always advocating for our students and supporting them fully. She has so much love and passion for our community. DMLK is lucky to have her as part of our family and our students are so grateful for all she does for them on a daily basis!” -- Lori Presley, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College
|
|
|
|
2. “Tiffany Casares’ impact on our school and students is second to none. She can be found supporting students one-on-one, in small groups, or even teaching an entire class social-emotional skills. Because of her calm, warm demeanor, she creates trusting relationships where students feel seen and heard. Tiffany also works tirelessly to make positive connections with our families, helping them navigate homelessness, financial difficulties and barriers to school attendance. Most of this work happens behind the scenes. Tiffany does all of this without any need for accolades or recognition. Tiffany is truly a gift to our school community.”
-- Brown International Academy
“I would like to give Tiffany Casares, our social worker here at Brown International Academy, a big shoutout for always being there to support our AN team! I also want to thank her for everything she does for all of our students and their families! Thank you, Ms. Tiffany! You rock!” -- Trish Sanchez, Brown International Academy
|
|
|
|
1. “I would love to shout out our social worker at Lake Middle School, Brandi McKenzie. She has poured her heart and soul into the students at Lake. She has built lasting and trusting relationships, and she has an amazing heart. We are so lucky to have her.”
-- Kristin Cowgill, Lake MS
“Brandi McKenzie at Lake Middle School goes above and beyond for her students! She is constantly responding to crises while balancing the paperwork and needs of all the students on her load that she consistently adds to. She stays in the loop of all things with her 30 students on IEPs. She will spend hours upon hours with one student for weeks as their trusted adult to fill the student's needs. She ensures families have resources they need in the community and provides things like grief counseling. There is no challenge that Brandi can't handle!” -- Grace Hauck, Lake MS
“I want to shout out Brandi McKenzie! She is our social worker at Lake Middle School and she is always putting Students First. She is always checking in with students -- even if they are not on her caseload -- and going above and beyond for everyone at our school.”
-- Adriana King, Lake MS
|
|
|
|
Top 5 Callout: Pet Photos |
|
|
|
Do you have an animal friend at home or in the classroom that brightens your day? Whether you have a cat, dog, bunny or lizard -- we want to see your best pet photos! Share your photo through this form for a feature in next week’s edition!
|
|
|
|
Final Reminder: Submit Your District Accountability Committee Application by March 11 |
|
|
|
Do you have a passion or desire to help improve DPS by serving on an advisory board? Apply to the District Accountability Committee (DAC) by tomorrow, March 11. The DAC is open to DPS parents, staff and community members. The DAC application is available in the Consent Decree languages -- access the one-pager in your language for the link to apply.
The mission of the DAC is to serve as an advisory committee to the Denver Board of Education on matters such as budget priorities, SIP, charter school applications and other matters outlined in state statute or identified by the Board and superintendent. Questions? Reach out to Sofiya Erman.
|
|
|
|
Registration Now Open for the March 22 Equity Boot Camp |
|
|
|
The Culture, Equity and Leadership Team invites Team DPS to a virtual Equity Boot Camp on Tuesday, March 22 from 2:30-5 p.m. "My Voice: Speaking My Truth, My Culture, My Experience and My Thoughts," will be led by Dr. William Anderson, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Teacher Education Program at the University of Denver. This discussion will center on Dr. Anderson's research of Black English Vernacular from the experiences of Black/African American and bilingual students. Learn more and register here.
|
|
|
|
Know your Benefits: Customize Your Benefits Package |
Did you know DPS offers benefits outside of medical insurance? Manage your ongoing costs through legal, commuter, or long-term care coverage. Get peace of mind for unexpected medical costs with critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity policies. And protect your car, home, and pet through optional insurances. Secure short-term leave pay with Sick Leave Bank -- DPS’s unique and comprehensive solution to short-term disability pay.
Learn more about our plan options:
Open Enrollment is April 18-May 6 this year, and as a reminder, every benefit eligible employee must enroll or waive benefits, regardless of what they elected last year.
|
|
|
|
|
Nominate an Educator for Touchdowns for Teachers |
|
|
|
DPS’ partner Delta Dental of Colorado has partnered with the Denver Broncos to launch Touchdowns for Teachers, a program that recognizes local MVTs (Most Valuable Teachers) for outstanding service to their schools and communities.
Do you know a game-changing teacher who goes the extra yard to educate and inspire? All members of Team DPS are invited to nominate an educator (K-12) to be considered for this recognition.
Ten honorees will be selected each semester by a panel of community members, the Denver Broncos and Delta Dental of Colorado. Click here to learn more and nominate a teacher by 5 p.m. Friday, March 25.
|
|
|
|
Discount Alert: DPS Appreciation with the Colorado Rockies |
|
|
|
Join the DPS Foundation to watch the Colorado Rockies in four games at Coors Field on April 15 and 17, May 14 and 30! Discounted tickets start at $15, and $2 from each ticket sold will go back to the DPS Foundation to support student success and initiatives! Get your tickets here.
|
|
|
|
Elisabeth White
Social Worker, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy
Fun
"Elisabeth White is an amazing social worker and we are so lucky to have her on our team at KCAA. She is such a great resource for our students, staff, and families, and really lives our Shared Core Values through her interactions every day. She demonstrates our value of Fun by incorporating really cool social-emotional learning games with our students. They just decorated cookies, made slime, took hikes outside, and lots of laughter can be heard coming from her office! We just can't thank her enough for her support and dedication to her (sometimes very challenging) job as a social worker. She brings such a positive energy to our school, we are so lucky to have her!"
-- Shannon McKinney, KCAA
|
|
|
|
Denver Public Schools sends all district newsletters and critical employee communications through Constant Contact. Please do not unsubscribe your dpsk12.org email address from any message; if you unsubscribe from one newsletter or one communication, you will be removed from all other district-managed email lists in Constant Contact. If you have any questions, please email newsletters@dpsk12.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
