Dear SAISD Staff,
 
Our work to improve the lives of students through high-quality and equitable education is getting attention at state and national levels. And it boils down to this – your hard work is making this District and its students stronger!
 
Beginning last week, the online publication The 74, which covers education in America, began publishing an extensive multimedia series about SAISD. The reporting spanned months of in-depth interviews with our administration, principals, staff and partners. The resulting stories and videos highlight how our teachers and principals are proving that our children can succeed regardless of poverty and economic segregation.
 
You may also remember, a couple of months ago, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath stated that SAISD is one of the fastest improving districts in the state, based on our improvements in reducing the number of Improvement Required campuses and the percent of students served in IR schools. Now, a national publication has taken notice, and this recognition is only just beginning.
 
As we continue to get stronger, we will become a District from which others can learn.
 
There’s so much hard work being done, and we’re beginning to see good results. In today’s competitive educational landscape, it’s especially important to let our families know the milestones we are reaching – not only at the District level, but also the great things that are happening at each of our campuses.
 
Schools can be proactive in reaching out to their parents and communities through campus newsletters, event flyers and social media – as well as being visible through block walking campaigns and community events. Let’s bring families back who may be sending their children elsewhere!
 
One opportunity to do this is rapidly approaching. On Saturday, Dec. 1, our second annual Experience SAISD will be held at the Freeman Expo Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event truly represents the strength and breadth of SAISD, and is a way to foster existing relationships and inspire new ones. I look forward to seeing all of our campuses and programs – once again – being showcased simultaneously. 
 
This year, we will have two new campuses to highlight at Experience SAISD. 
 
We recently announced the creation of the District’s second all-girls school. YWLA Primary at Page will open next school year, beginning with kindergarten and first grade, and information sessions already are scheduled this fall for interested parents. YWLA Primary will eventually become a K-5 elementary school and will be located at what is now Page Middle School. 
 
Page currently has only an 8th-grade class, which will advance to high school at the end of this school year. Moving forward, only the new all-girls elementary will be at this campus, and its curriculum will have a strong focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and social-emotional learning.
 
Over the past decade, Young Women’s Leadership Academy has demonstrated its ability to cultivate academic success and intentional leadership among its students. What better way to celebrate the school’s 10-year anniversary than to replicate its success by launching YWLA Primary for even younger students.
 
We also are developing a second CAST school with H-E-B and the Charles Butt Foundation. CAST Med will open in the fall as well, adding to the pipeline of much-needed doctors and researchers in the San Antonio area. More details about this school will be shared soon.
 
Another update to tout to parents is our expanding access to technology and the introduction of students to next-generation careers. 
 
Earlier in 2018, we announced that the District was the recipient of a Verizon Foundation grant. As result, this fall, students and teachers at four of our middle schools – Harris, Longfellow, Rhodes and Whittier – participated in the roll out of a Verizon Innovative Learning initiative that includes 1:1 technology, 24/7 data plans to cover classroom and at-home access, and a full-time technology coach from Digital Promise to help integrate technology as a tool for lifelong learning. 
 
In addition to giving students technological advances, the initiative ultimately seeks to transform how students learn and to ignite students’ interest in STEM careers so that they become creators, inventors and problem solvers in their communities. This 21st-century initiative, and similar partnerships that develop future-ready skills, are the types of opportunities we want to pursue for our students.
 
Our Bond 2016 program also is bringing much-needed and forward-thinking updates to 13 schools by modernizing classrooms and science labs to today’s standards and beyond. We have been meeting with our communities – nine meetings to date – and the response so far has been positive. 
 
Just this past weekend, the Eastside community held a day-long educational summit that incorporated the Bond 2016 meetings for Davis Middle School and Sam Houston High School. The summit also highlighted all of the great things happening at our campuses across the Eastside, as well as other resources such as scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
 
We will meet with the remaining four communities this month. Although start times for construction will vary from school to school, all renovations should be underway by early 2019.
 
Exciting things are happening in SAISD. It’s time to get the word out.
 
Sincerely,
Pedro