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TASA’s online Member Services Center is the place to go to become a member of TALAS. Please read these step-by-step directions or contact Debbie O’Donnell at 512.852.2108.
Texas News
Former Dallas leader Stephanie Elizalde is lone finalist for superintendent job
Elizalde left to lead Austin ISD two years ago

A former top Dallas school administrator is set to return to DISD after trustees unanimously named Stephanie Elizalde as the district’s sole finalist for its next superintendent.

Elizalde had established herself as one of outgoing superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s top deputies – and a strong candidate to take the reins upon his retirement — before she left in 2020 to oversee the Austin school district.

DISD needs to lean on someone they can depend on to move the needle for students, particularly post pandemic, board members said. They emphasized she is a known quantity well aware of Dallas’ key initiatives – in many cases because she helped develop them.
Rio Grande Valley TALAS affiliate launches
A new affiliate of the Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (TALAS) has launched in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to create a professional network of like-minded professionals in the region. The goal of this group is to continue to place the RGV on the state and national map for innovative programs and initiatives.

The affiliate, spearheaded by Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD’s Executive Officer Dr. Iris Guajardo and Chief Academic Officer and TALAS Board Member Dr. Rudy Treviño, invited area administrative educators to join and be part of the new Executive Board and general membership.
Robstown ISD leader named regional Superintendent of the Year
Robstown ISD Superintendent Jose Moreno was named 2022 Superintendent of the Year for the region by the Texas Association of School Boards.

Moreno, who joined Robstown ISD in 2018, was chosen for the award by school board members in Education Service Center, Region 2, which encompasses Nueces County and surrounding counties.

In the past two years, superintendents at West Oso ISD and Corpus Christi ISD were recognized. In 2017, Moreno’s predecessor, former Robstown ISD superintendent Maria Vidaurri, earned the award.
Premont school board appoints interim superintendent
Dr. Kristina Gonzalez was appointed as the Interim superintendent for Premont Independent School District. She was appointed on Monday night by the board of trustees.

Dr. Gonzalez will assume her new responsibilities effective Monday, June 6. She succeeds Steve Van Matre.

Van Matre was recently appointed as the superintendent at Tuloso-Midway ISD. He was with the Premont ISD for five and a half years.
Charles Butt Foundation selects Edcouch-Elsa ISD leaders for Harvard institutes
Cohort includes more than 85 school leaders from across Texas 

Carlos F. Truan Principal, Dr. Darren Cole-Ochoa, Assistant Principal Dr. Mauro Tijerina, Teacher and Department Chair Celina Silva, and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Marisol Rocha are among the 85 school leaders from across Texas selected as the 2022 cohort of educators to attend summer institutes at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education sponsored by the Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships.
Inside Dallas schools’ attempt to eliminate most suspensions to help kids of color
A massive discipline overhaul keeps students on campus while trying to improve behavior.

Nine girls slumped onto bean bags and rocking chairs inside Kennedy-Curry Middle School’s Room 225. Think of it as a place of peace, a Dallas ISD staffer told them.

“Any conflict that you had outside of here has to stay outside of here,” Albert Brown stressed. “What we’re doing here, now, is that we are just having a conversation.”
Upcoming Events
Save the Date!
Save the date for the TALAS Summer Conference 2022:

Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Kalahari Resort
Round Rock, TX

Stay tuned for continued updates on this exciting event.
Looking for a new opportunity?
Leadership opportunities available:
Take a look at who’s hiring:
National News
Does Your School Have a ‘Slander’ Account?
During lockdown, hallway gossip migrated to anonymous ‘slander’ or ‘confession’ accounts. Many still operate & disrupt school culture, students say

Even at Stuyvesant High School, one of the most academically rigorous and sought-after public schools in New York City, teenage gossip is, well, teenage gossip: who’s crushing on who, who just broke up, who’s the cutest in the grade.

But rather than comments whispered in hallways, students frequently share those juicy nuggets through anonymous online “Stuyvesant Confessions” accounts on Facebook and Instagram that much of the student body follows religiously.
Here’s a solution for attracting more Black, Latino and Indigenous talent to STEM — Start early
Unless we address elementary school math education, we won’t have a pipeline

In the movie “Stand and Deliver,” teacher Jaime Escalante tells his largely minority and low-income students: “You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of these two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume you know less than you do.”

He added encouraging words that still resonate today: “Math is the great equalizer.”
Report: Professional development needed to address early childhood discipline disparities
Disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of young children are a long-standing issue that has been exacerbated by the pandemic, said Chrisanne Gayl, chief strategy and policy officer at Trust for Learning, a philanthropic partnership focused on expanding early learning environments for underserved children. 

“It’s important to note this is an ongoing issue. It’s not one that is going to go away unless we’re really intentional about addressing it,” said Gayl, who is also a former senior policy advisor for early learning at the U.S. Department of Education.
The Pandemic Created ‘Childcare Deserts,’ and This Bilingual Education Company Is Stepping In to Fill the Void
Canadian brand Maple Bear had been eyeing expansion to the U.S. for a while, but changing demographics during the pandemic finally made the time right.

Bilingualism is much more than a mark of cultural proficiency or something that looks good on a résumé. Research shows that people who speak more than one language have stronger attention and task-switching capabilities, and bilingual children as young as seven months adjust better to environmental changes. Understandably, more U.S. parents want these benefits for their kids, and Maple Bear — a bilingual education company headquartered in Canada, operating 550 schools in 32 countries — is stepping in to meet demand.
Renaissance Launches Art Contest to Honor Bilingualism in America
Students who submit an original artwork to the contest can win up to $500 and see their work featured by Renaissance during Hispanic Heritage Month

Renaissance today launched the “Shine a Light on Bilingualism” art contest to celebrate Hispanic culture and bilingualism.

All students in grades K–12 are invited to create and submit a painting, drawing, or mixed media piece on the theme of “celebrating Hispanic heritage and bilingualism.” Entries are due on June 30. On July 15, a winner will be selected for each grade band of K–3, 4–8, and 9–12. Each winner will receive a $500 Visa gift card and have their art featured during Renaissance’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place between September 15 and October 15.
Las Tienditas
This Week’s Featured Sponsor
TALAS sponsors make this newsletter and other TALAS activities possible. Please support them. Click on the logo to learn more!
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Sheryl Colaur – 708-565-3545