Students Teach Teachers in Summer Course

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When you want to learn about technology, sometimes you have to go to the ones who never knew life without it.

Fifth- and sixth-graders from Asa Low Intermediate School were the instructors for an interactive class at the Mansfield ISD Vision 2020 Summer Conference.

The students taught educators how different technological games and gadgets can be incorporated into the curriculum.

“It’s what we call a technology playground,” said Lynn Gustafson, MISD educational technology trainer. “We invited students who have used these devices and tools in their classroom setting.”

Gustafson said a similar student-taught class was offered at an educational technology conference earlier in the year. It received such rave reviews that the team decided to bring it back for the summer.

Mitchell maneuvers Sphero through an obstacle course.

DaMont Mitchell, an incoming seventh-grader, led a session about using robotics to enhance various lesson plans. The participants learned how to steer a spherical robot name Sphero.

“It’s also waterproof, so you can use it under water for exploration lessons,” Mitchell explained. “And it has a programming feature so that students can learn how to code the robot to move in a certain direction.”

At first, some of the instructors were surprised to see students leading the lesson, but they were impressed by the children’s intelligence.

“It was pretty cool that they are the ones that are knowledgeable and showing us how to do it,” said Lynette Paulino, teacher at J.L. Boren Elementary School. “It’s pretty cool that our future generations are teaching the teachers.”

The class organizers said the teachers were very responsive and appreciative for the students. The student instructors said that it was rewarding to give back.

“It feels good to be teaching the teachers because it feels like I’m the bigger person because teachers teach me, so I get to teach them,” said Mitchell.

The teachers now have the opportunity to write a grant to the MISD Education Foundation in hopes of getting the different devices that were demonstrated to them.

MISD Elementary School Trains Leaders of the Future

An eye-opening trip to the Ron Clark Academy inspired MISD principal Tameka Patton to bring a very special program back to Nancy Neal Elementary School.

"At the Ron Clark Academy, we were greeted by students who asked us questions and asked what was our mission there,” Patton said. “I’ve got students at Nancy Neal that can do this."

Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas spent time with the Neal
Ambassadors earlier in the year teaching them the importance
of being a life-long learner.

The Nancy Neal Ambassadors are the student body representatives that assist in campus community outreach efforts and serve as hosts for special guests to the campus.

They are a key component of telling the “Neal story” to guests who visit the campus.

"Students had to complete an application and meet an application deadline,” ambassador co-sponsor Erica Carswell stated about the selection process of the students who would become ambassadors. “They were then brought in for face to face interviews. We selected the top ten students and they became Neal Ambassadors."

For Turner Hawkins, applying to be an ambassador was an obvious choice.

"I chose to join because I thought I would do a great job because I love helping people. This has taught me that if you work together, you can get more done." Hawkins said.

Through the direction of their sponsors, school leadership and the many special guests they have welcomed into their meetings, the Neal Ambassadors are learning character, responsibility and the value of a heart for service.

The students have had the privilege of learning leadership traits from a number of guest speakers. Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas spent time with students early in the year talking about what it means to have a heart for service and the importance of being a life long learner. Recently, the ambassadors welcomed Leigh Collins, district director for Senator Konni Burton, who talked about the importance of goal setting. The students listened to her speak and ask questions about her educational path and her career.

Ultimately, the Neal Ambassador Program is about building leaders of the future in areas such as public speaking, responsibility or introductions; the possibilities are endless.

Co-sponsor Monique McGrew says it’s all about their character.

"The one thing we have really honed in this year, and tried to instill on each student is character, who are you when no one’s looking."

Phoenix Academy Equips Students for Success Through Expo

The president of Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
spoke to the students about having the right attitude.

What started off as an idea to help students prepare for job interviews blossomed into a full-day business expo to prepare students for various aspects of life after graduation.

The Phoenix Academy held its “From Flame to Flight” Business Expo on Wednesday, April 13 at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. The event, made possible through a grant from the MISD Education Foundation, consisted of community and corporate leaders who gave the students real-world advice to apply in their future careers.

“I shared the idea with some staff members, and it took off from there,” said Phoenix Academy teacher Donna Craig. “So many people in the community collaborated together to make this happen.”

Students registered for sessions that included topics on business etiquette, career skills, leadership, and protecting their online reputation. Principal Regenia Crane said she hopes the event will allow students to unlock their full potential.

“It’s about creating a culture of success,” said Crane. “These kids are diamonds in the rough, and this expo will help them move their obstacles so that they can shine and be productive citizens and know their worth.”

Principal Crane and Donna Craig were excited for
the different workshops at the business expo.

Before the expo, The Phoenix Academy held financial reality classes for students. Mock job interviews will also be conducted later in the month so students can become more familiar with the corporate world.

“If we didn’t have this experience, we would be left in the dark,” said senior Glen Johnston. “We wouldn’t understand what we need to do and what we need to prepare for. The people that go to this school are going to be the next leaders of this country.”

The expo organizers said they plan to expand the program next year and continue adding components that give students the tools they need to succeed.

“It’s written into my DNA to equip. That’s what fulfills me,” said Craig. “And I’m grateful to be part of a district that encourages innovation and allows us to dream big.”

Principal and Student Swap for a Day

 Senior Karla Camacho and Timberview principal Derrell Douglas
on a normal school day

They say if you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you’ll understand their perspective better. That adage became a stark reality to Timberview High School principal Derrell Douglas and senior Karla Camacho.

The two made the principal-student swap as part of “Douglas Switch Day”—just one of the many fundraising events during Timberview’s “Helping Others Thru Giving” (H.O.G.) week.

Camacho paid to have her ticket in the raffle to become the school’s top administrator for one day and won the big prize. In return, Principal Douglas spent the day attending all the classes in Camacho’s packed schedule.

The experience can be summed up by one word: enlightening.

Douglas, who dressed in full "student" gear for the occasion, said he has a better understanding of how much students go through every day—educationally and socially.

“It was a lot of fun, but still challenging,“ said Douglas. “Karla is an involved student, and I had no idea how hard it was to get from one class to the other on time. I also had to figure out where I was going to sit in the cafeteria for lunch and who would talk to me.”

Camacho and Douglas on "Douglas Switch Day"

Camacho noted that she didn’t realize how much administrators have to manage on a daily basis.

“I observed classrooms, but I also noticed how much happens in the office every day,” said Camacho. “They have to deal with budgets, phone calls, and various requests, and they handle it so smoothly. I have a lot of respect for them after seeing that.”

She added that she is now considering becoming an administrator in education after she graduates college.

This is the fifth year Timberview has held its “Douglas Switch Day.” Principal Douglas said he likes it because it helps break barriers in stereotypes.

“A lot of the students think administrators are just trying to find ways to punish them. We don’t want to do that at all. And as an administrator, I see how much we expect out of our students. They work hard,” said Douglas.

Fourth Graders Run School News Network

Anchorwomen Allie Jarrett and Tina Tran preparing for the news.

Seconds away from making T.V. magic, the cameraman shouts, “Lights, camera, action!”

That’s a typical day for the people who run CNN. No, not the Cable News Network—the Cabaniss News Network is a news program that is broadcasted every morning through screens in the hallways and classrooms of Cabaniss Elementary School.

The morning bell rings at 8 a.m., and the newscast starts promptly at 8:03 a.m. to allow time for students to settle down and teachers to tune into the network via their classroom smart board.

Everything from the on-air talent to the information gathering and camera work is done solely by a select group of fourth graders. The students audition as third graders the prior year, so that they are all set for the first day of school. Occasionally, other students get featured on the news program as special guests to read news stories that they contributed.

For Tina Tran, positioned as the T.V. anchorwoman for the day, the choice to audition to be a part of CNN was easy.

“I like being in the spotlight. I always pretended to be a newsperson at home, so I decided to do it here, too,” said Tran.

Weatherman Adam Reynolds giving the day's forecast.

Adam Reynolds, the day’s weatherman, also enjoys the limelight; but to him, it’s also a way to give back to the school.

“We’re giving information that the students and teachers need, so I like being able to help,” said Reynolds.

Counselor David Dye oversees CNN. He started the network four years ago. He said he was thinking of producing a student-run news show when Principal Kisha McDonald came up to him wanting to start one also. Dye wrote a grant for the program to buy all the necessary equipment, and the rest is history.

Dye is very hands-on for the first two weeks of production, but he said after that, he starts handing over the reins to the students.

Cabaniss counselor David Dye after a successful newscast.

“It teaches the students to be self-sufficient,” Dye said. “It makes them have pride in their school and learn life skills. My favorite part is having the kids being able to independently produce quality work.”

And that quality work is surely being noticed. Some of the people on the on-air news team said they get treated like little local celebrities.

“A first grader came up to me and said that she wanted to be like me when she grows up,” said Allie Jarrett, the other anchorwoman on set.

Don’t think the fame is getting to their heads, though. Counselor Dye said he picks students that are very humble and know how to handle the attention.

2014 Toys for Tots Event Brings in 26k Toys

The third annual Mansfield ISD Toys for Tots event was a stunning representation of the giving spirit of our community. Parents, students, staff, and local community members opened their hearts and donated 26,000 toys and an estimated $8,000 for DFW Toys for Tots!

The event was held on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. at the MISD Center for the Performing Arts. FOX 4 was on site to capture the magic of the evening, as joyful community members flooded the big event. The festivities were kicked off by a student/staff parade, followed by photos with Santa, a giant snow tubing hill, a bounce house and obstacle course, live reindeer, food trucks, more than 30 onstage student performances, and a variety of activities for kids and families.

We are so grateful for the continued support of this fantastic event. Thanks to the many student groups, sponsors, community leaders, and volunteers who make this event possible!

 

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Special thanks to: Mansfield Police Department, the City of Mansfield, Mayor David Cook and the Mansfield City Council, MISD Board of Trustees, Mansfield ISD Police Department, MISD Warehouse Crew, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, Fox 4, Steele Freeman Construction, Huckabee, Lee Lewis Construction, Texas Trust Credit Union, Sam’s Club, Lowe’s Top of Texas Photography, Two Men and a Truck, Sports Clips, Starbucks, First United Methodist Church of Mansfield, Home Depot, Hawaiian Falls Water Park, Mellow Mushroom, BBCTA’s radio station 99.9 THE WILD, Dr. Chuck Roe from the Fine Arts Department, Mark Walker from the Athletic Department,  MISD Transportation Department, Quentin Myers the Music Man, and last but not least – all MISD schools and departments for supporting this event and helping promote the spirit of giving.