Subject Expert: Teacher and substitute teacher recruiting efforts aren’t taking a winter break

Expert: Toni Thompson, associate superintendent for human capital management

Though SAISD is about to go on winter break, recruiting efforts for teachers and substitute teachers aren’t taking a holiday. Recently, SAISD Board of Trustees voted to adopt an increase in substitute teacher pay to recruit highly trained, certified substitute teachers to continue classroom curriculum when teachers are out. In January, just after the winter break, SAISD will also continue hosting teacher job fairs. Associate superintendent for human resources, Toni Thompson, will speak to the efforts being made by the district to fill critical positions that will continue helping close learning gaps created by the pandemic. 

Contact: Ryan Loyd, 210-554-2263 to coordinate interviews and stories.

Calendar items

Dec. 10-14 – STAAMP full service vaccination and booster clinics (2nd dose)
Various opportunities are available to receive the second dose of the vaccine. The following is a list of upcoming events:
• Dec. 10 (Today) from 12:30-6:30 p.m., Burnet Learning Center, 406 Barrera St., 78210; in partnership with STAAMP. Click here to register.
• Dec. 11 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Burnet Learning Center, 406 Barrera St., 78210; in partnership with STAAMP. Click here to register.
• Dec. 14 from 12:30-6:30 p.m., Burnet Learning Center, 406 Barrera St., 78210; in partnership with STAAMP. Click here to register.

Dec. 10-16 – Upcoming vaccine clinics for ages 5 – 11, 12 – adult, and boosters 
2-6 p.m., various locations, in partnership with Center of Advanced Wellness. 
This series is for Pfizer vaccines and boosters. The following is a list of upcoming events: 
• Dec. 10 (Today) – Cameron Elementary, 3635 Belgium Ln., 78219 
• Dec. 10 (Today) – Bowden Academy, 515 Willow St., 78202 
• Dec. 13 (Mon) – Ball Academy, 343 Koehler Court, 78223 
• Dec. 13 (Mon) – Foster Elementary, 6718 Pecan Valley Dr., 78223 
• Dec. 14 (Tue) – Hawthorne Academy, 115 W. Josephine St., 78212 
• Dec. 14 (Tue) – Miller Elementary, 207 Lincolnshire Dr., 78220 
• Dec. 15 (Wed) – Mark Twain Dual Language Academy, 2411 San Pedro Ave., 78212 
• Dec. 15 (Wed) – Baskin Elementary, 630 Crestview Dr., 78201 
• Dec. 16 (Thu) – Highland Park Elementary, 635 Rigsby Ave., 78210 
• Dec. 16 (Thu) – Barkley Ruiz Elementary, 1111 S. Navidad St., 78207 

TODAY: Dec. 10 (Fri) – Traditional holiday posada
4 p.m., Bonham Academy, 925 S. St. Mary’s St., 78205
During Bonham Academy’s winter festival, the school will host its annual holiday posada, a tradition of celebrating culture and community with campus families and neighbors. Bonham’s choir, band, dance, folklorico and the district’s only conjunto student group will perform at intervals during the festival. These special programs are in support of the pillars of dual language and fine arts at Bonham.

Dec. 13 (Mon) – National letter of intent signing
5 p.m., Edison High School auditorium, 701 Santa Monica, 78212
Students Natalie Castoreno and Ava Moreno from Edison High School will be signing their national letter of intent to play college softball. Castoreno will be signing with Texas A&M International University in Laredo, while Moreno will sign with Bethel College in Newton, Kan. Only 1% of athletes in the world get to continue playing their sport at the college level and these young ladies have worked exceptionally hard to receive an athletic scholarship and play at the next level.

Dec. 13 (Mon) – SAISD Board of Trustees Business Meeting B
5:30 p.m., Central office board room, 514 W. Quincy, 78212
San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees will hold business meeting B in the boardroom at the central office headquarters. Masks are required to attend.

Dec. 14 (Tue) – 12 Days of Performances at SAISD
10-11 a.m., SAISD Central Office cafeteria, 514 W. Quincy, 78212
Join central office staff for a jingle bell jazz performance in the cafeteria. Students from Harris Middle School and Brackenridge High School will show off their talent in this the performance as the district counts down to winter break performance. 

Dec. 14 (Tue) – Mariachi students perform at Operations Services building
Noon, Operations Services, 1270 W. Summit Ave., 78201
Mark Twain Dual Language Academy mariachi students will perform for SAISD staff members at its operations services building to highlight the talent of the group.  

Dec. 14 (Tue) – Plant Fitness to donate gym equipment to San Antonio ISD Police Department
1 p.m., San Antonio ISD Police Station, 1700 Tampico St., 78207
Plant Fitness, a global franchisor and operator of fitness centers, will donate 30 refurbished pieces of fitness equipment, including cardio machines, strength machines and a dumbbell rack, to the San Antonio ISD Police Department as a thank you for the department’s commitment to the community. The fitness chain is also restoring the police department’s 1,500 square foot fitness center, which will be revealed at the ceremony. 

Dec. 14 (Tue) – Holiday mariachi concert
6 p.m., Burbank High School cafeteria, 1002 Edwards, 78204
Under the direction of Alvin Martinez, the Burbank High School mariachi concert will feature the school’s varsity and sub varsity mariachi students. The event is free and open to the public.  

Dec. 15 (Wed) – Mega food distribution events for the holidays
9-11 a.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Dr., 78212
The second of two mega food distribution events will allow SAISD families to receive meal items in time for the holidays, including turkey breasts and other holiday-related food. The first event distributed meals to over 700 families. Those wanting to attend the second distribution event can pre-register by visiting www.saisd.net/fooddistribution. Families unable to attend the Alamo Stadium distribution can receive non-perishable food delivered to their home by their school’s FACE specialist or social worker. Another mega food distribution event is planned for Dec. 15 at Alamo Stadium from 9-11 a.m.

Dec. 15 (Wed) – P-Tech Winter Showcase
5-6:30 p.m., Highlands High School, 3118 Elgin Ave., 78210
The P-Tech Winter Showcase will allow current and prospective students to explore the Highlands P-Tech programs and labs, as well as see the CAD design competition final round. Students will be able to talk to industry partners. An awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. in the library.

Dec. 15 (Wed) – Winter program for Rodriguez Montessori Elementary and Steele Montessori Academy
6 p.m., Cooper Learning Center Auditorium, 1700 Tampico St., 78207
All students from PK-5th grade will be participating in a program from the two Montessori schools. The Steele choir will also perform.

Dec. 16 (Thu) – 12 Days of Performances at SAISD
10-11 a.m., SAISD Central Office amphitheater, 514 W. Quincy, 78212
Central office staff will gather for a Feliz Navidad performance outside in the amphitheater to hear district mariachi and watch ballet folklorico students. Whittier students will perform mariachi, while Bonham Academy’s folklorico will take center stage.

Dec. 20-31 – SAISD schools and offices closed for winter break
All campuses and district offices will be closed for winter break. District offices will reopen Jan. 3, 2022. Students will return to class on Jan. 11 following a weeklong intercession (Jan. 3-7) and a staff development day (Jan. 10).