Stonewall Jackson Elementary School may not be eligible to receive up to $2,000 in incentive award money this year because of a lower-than-district-average daily attendance rate caused, in part, by Stonewall’s commitment to deaf education.

Stonewall’s total enrollment is 500 students, 79 of which are deaf, says principal Olivia Henderson. The deaf students are considered part of a special education program and receive separate funding; they aren’t counted in daily attendance calculations, giving Stonewall an average daily attendance of 75.6 percent. The district average is 95.2 percent.

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Attendance rate is only one of five criteria established by DISD in January that must be met to receive incentive money. The other criteria are teacher and student attendance, promotion rate (DISD looks for a low percentage of student retention) and test scores. Stonewall students placed first in Area 3 TAAS testing last fall, Henderson says.

“This discourages special education programs in elementary schools,” Henderson says.

Stonewall’s deaf education program was nearly eliminated several years ago, she says, but the community and parents rallied to save it.

“Stonewall is such a unique school because of our deaf students,” Henderson says. “Hearing students learn sign language, and deaf students have the benefit of interacting with hearing students.”

Stonewall has taken its complaint to DISD Supt. Marvin Edwards, but the final decision rests with the Texas Education Agency in Austin. Henderson says if a decision isn’t reached soon, Stonewall won’t qualify for incentive funds this year.

Woodrow Assistant Wins Apple of the Month Award

Tuyet Do, a teaching assistant at Woodrow Wilson High School, received a recent Apple of the Month award from Positive Parents of Dallas as part of its monthly program recognizing outstanding DISD employees. Do taught in Vietnam prior to moving to Dallas. Her duties at Woodrow including working with teens in English-as-a-second-language classes, sponsoring the school’s Vietnamese Dance Troupe and serving on the district’s Asian-American Advisory Committee.

Teachers of the Year Nominated

Teachers in public schools citywide have elected teacher-of-the-year nominees, with winners eligible for the DISD Teacher of the Year contest. Five district finalists will be selected in May, with each receiving $1,000; one will be selected Teacher of the Year this fall.

Nomination criteria included teacher effectiveness, instructional skills, awards and honors, professional development activity, and community involvement.

Nominees from East Dallas schools include:

Elementary Schools – S.S. Conner, Sharon E. Kline; Bayles, Bobbie J. Holland; James Bonham, Marcelina Martinez; James Fannin, Carol Barringhaus; Stonewall Jackson, Cathy Nichols; Lakewood, Bill E. Davis; Robert E. Lee, Ann M. Rozner; Lipscomb, Mary Bradley; Mt. Auburn, Nancy Salmon; J.W. Ray, Sylvia Coleman; Alex Sanger, Betty Hearn; and Ignacio Zaragosa, Elizabeth A. Taheri.

Middle Schools – Alex Spence, Ila K. Griffin; and J.L. Long, Norene Flaherty.

High Schools – Multiple Careers, Darrell Noe; Woodrow Wilson, David R. Chapa; Bryan Adams, Janice Pinyan; and Health Professions, Barbara J. Moore.

Education Calendar

March 3 – Sanger Elementary, 8410 San Leandro, hosts a coffee for student Dads at 6:45 a.m., with assistant superintendent Chad Woolery as scheduled speaker. Call 319-0260 for information.

March 5 – Sanger Elementary, 8410 San Leandro, hosts a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten round-up at 7 p.m. Call 319-0260 for information.

March 5 – Lakewood Elementary has scheduled a 7:30 p.m. pre-round-up meeting for parents only at 7103 Lakeshore. Contact Ann Gaspari, 328-3703, for information.

March 9 – Robert E. Lee Elementary, 2911 Delmar, hosts a kindergarten round-up from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. The presentation includes a theater workshop, dance performances, art workshops, and tours of the school and classrooms. Call 841-5240 for information.

March 25 – Lakewood Elementary, 3000 Hillbrook, hosts a round-up for parents and children at 7 p.m. Call 841-5250 for information.