PfISD Employee Express

• 🗓️ Upcoming Events & Holidays
• ✋ Standard Response Protocols & Campus Emergency Drills
• 📝 PSAT Test Prep - Student Workshop
  
• ✅ Benefits Brief
• 🎶 Fine Arts
• 💬 Join the Conversation!
• 🎉 PfISD Spotlight
  
• 🖊️Trustees Meeting Brief
• 👏 Staff Recognitions
  

Sep 15–Oct 15 : Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept. 8-14: National Arts in Education Week

Sept. 17: National IT Professional Day

Sept. 19: Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Sept. 26: Benefits Baby Shower

Sept. 30: Pfestival of the Bands

We train our staff and students in the Standard Response Protocols (SRP); Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter, and Hold. These five simple procedures give our staff and students the tools they need to properly initiate emergency response actions for any emergency that may occur on campus.

These SRPs are practiced regularly each school year at all campuses through drills. State law dictates that number of times each semester each drill has to be practiced.

Each week we will go over one of our SRP's that will be listed below along with a brief description of the protocol. For more information about each protocol, please visit: www.pfisd.net/srp

Hazard and safety strategy.

Activated in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

Shelter is called when the need for personal protection is necessary. Training should also include spontaneous events such as tornado, earthquake or airborne irritants.

In anticipation of PSAT Day on October 9th, PfISD Advanced Academics will host a one-day, PSAT Test Prep workshop for students taking the PSAT. This includes all 10th & 11th-grade students, as well as, any 9th-grade students who are currently enrolled in Algebra 2 or higher.

It will be held at Pflugerville High School (1301 W Pecan St, Pflugerville, TX 78660) on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, serves as a vital stepping stone for high school students preparing for college admissions. It not only provides a glimpse into the SAT format and content but also helps identify areas for improvement in academic skills. Attending an in-person test-prep session can significantly enhance a student's performance by offering targeted practice, valuable test-taking strategies, and familiarity with the exam structure.

This session will:

• foster a supportive learning environment

• enable students to build confidence and reduce test anxiety

• set students up for exam success

COST: Typically, $25 to $100 per session, but this event will be FREE to current PfISD students who register & complete the full-day session.

REGISTRATION: On completion of this form, participants will receive a PSAT Prep Registration Confirmation in their student Gmail with further details regarding the event including day-of-the-event directions.

Please note: PSAT Prep Workshop seats are limited. So, the sooner you register, the more likely you are to get a seat.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Additional PSAT practice and study tips can be found at:

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice

Andi Brosché, Advanced Academics Coordinator

andrea.brosche@pfisd.net

Starting September 1st all PfISD staff members and their families will have access to the premium version of Calm at no additional cost. Calm is the #1 rated app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation.

Calm provides member access to meditations, sleep stories, daily check-ins and a diverse library of content.

Calm has 4.8 out of 5-star rating on the App Store.

Registration will be open September 1st from the www.liveandworkwell.com site using our PfISD access code.

Already have the Calm app?

1. Open the app

2. Go to: Profile ; Settings ; Link Organization Subscription

3. Enter organization code “Optum EWS”

4. In the “group code” field, enter PfISD

Happy Arts in Education Week!

Fine Arts students have had a fantastic time joining with other student groups to support our PfISD High Schools under the Thursday and Friday night lights!

We appreciate the countless hours of practice put in by our band, color guard, dance and choir programs to prepare for this!

Thank you to our students, teachers and coaches who share their passions of the arts with our schools!

The student cadets joined the Pflugerville Fire Department and community members in the annual stair climb at the Pfield to honor those who gave their lives in service to others.

Without the support of the Pflugerville Fire Department/Travis County ESD #2 the Fire Career Academy and Healthcare Therapeutics-EMT program would not be possible. Thank you to Chiefs Segura, Anderson, and Perkins for their continued support, instruction, and provision of resources to help PfISD students become certified first responders in our community! They are pictured with the Fire Career Academy Instructor, Captain Michael Rhea.

The Pflugerville ISD Fire Career Academy is open to all 11th- grade students and is hosted at Hendrickson High School. Students complete the Texas Commission on Fire Protection & Structure Fire Suppression certification, Emergency Medical Technician certification, and many hours of skill training and live fire exercises under the direct supervision and guidance of professional firefighters and firefighter instructors. Additionally, students can earn the Level 1 Firefighter Certificate from Austin Community College just weeks before high school graduation at no cost. Students who graduate from the academy are eligible for hire in Texas fire departments directly from high school!

The Healthcare Therapeutics-EMT program of study is available to all Healthcare Therapeutic students in Pflugerville ISD who are in grade 12 and is based at Hendrickson High School. As part of the program, students participate in hospital emergency room rotations, ambulance ride-outs, and extensive in-class and lab-based instruction. They also receive training on the PfISD Mobile Ambulance Laboratory in order to obtain their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license in Texas. Many students use this certification to work as full- or part-time EMTs while continuing their education in the healthcare field.

We invite you to be a part of the district's next Strategic Plan by participating in Dr. Shepherd's 100-Day Listening and Learning Tour.

Dr. Shepherd is excited to begin his role as Superintendent with a 100-day plan called "Discovering Pflugerville." He will focus on engaging with the community through a listening tour, gathering insights to shape our district’s future, and fostering a transparent and inclusive administration. Dr. Shepherd is eager to hear from you about what’s working well and where we can improve—your feedback is essential to our shared success.

This is your chance to share your insights, ideas, and feedback to help guide the direction of our schools and community. Your voice matters in shaping the future of our district!

👇Click below and let us know what you feel is working well in the district, and what you think the district needs to improve on in the survey below!

During Dr. Shepherd's 100-day plan, he is visiting schools across the district to connect with students, gather their input, and discuss their vision for both their schools and the district as a whole.

Throughout the semester, he will continue meeting with various campuses. His first stop was Hendrickson High School, where he engaged with students about their experiences and ideas. These visits are a key part of his effort to foster open communication and collaboration within the district. Dr. Shepherd's goal is to ensure that students' voices play a crucial role in shaping the future of PfISD.

Get the inside scoop on all things PfISD! This section of the newsletter is your go-to spot for the latest on upcoming board meetings and easy access to past board meeting minutes.

Did you miss the September 5 Board of Trustees Special Meeting? Watch below!

September 5, Board Workshop Meeting

If you would like to subscribe to receive agendas when posted, please visit the Agendas and Minutes page and scroll to the bottom to complete the subscription form. Stay connected and stay informed!

Pflugerville ISD has launched a new Administration Report to promote transparency and ensure that stakeholders are informed about administrative decisions, board meetings, and district-wide initiatives. This comprehensive resource supports student success and community trust by keeping everyone engaged and informed.

To see the most recent Administration Report, visit www.pfisd.net/administrative-report.

Welcome back to our Staff Shoutout and Pfamily Kudos section! In the coming weeks, you will see messages of appreciation from parents, students, community members, and other staff members through Staff Shoutouts and Pfamily Kudos.

Thank you to our amazing PfISD staff members for everything they do for our students and community!

Want to recognize a staff member who goes above and beyond? Click here to submit your Pfamily Kuddos for the google form.

Bijal Patel, Lorraine Huber, Beth Harris, Amy Gunter, Sarah Walters - Mott Kinder Team (via: Ms. S)

Had this fresh batch of Kindergarteners in for a fun story time this week. I was SO IMPRESSED with the students. The amount of work that Kinder teachers put in at the start of the year is endless. Our Kinder team is so strong and our students are so lucky to have them! Proud to be a Mott Owl for sure!

Julie Eastman and Jackie Stockman BES (via: Amanda Castro)

Jackie and Julie are amazing Kindergarten teachers who go above and beyond to be there for there students and other students they encounter. I am so blessed to be apart of a team of ladies who out there students first and go beyond the call to better there students.

Mr. Francisco and his team BES (via: Amanda Castro) Mr. Francisco is a wonderful, caring and hardworking each and everyday to help our school look it’s very best.

Belinda Goyeneche and Barbara Mitchell BES (via: Amanda Castro) Belinda and Barbara are so hardworking and dedicated making sure we as a staff have all we need and are ready to help where ever they can.

WES employees All staff (via: Sarah Gragg)

The staff at WES truly care about our students and families. Thank you for all that you do and for making our campus such a fantastic place to learn. Love to you all!

Rosanne Croteau PMS (via: anonymous) Croteau is off to a super start as campus instructional coach! Her positivity and sense of humor are infectious!

Claire Calvey Brookhollow (via: Emily Swain)

Your content knowledge, dedication to growth for yourself and your students, and your commitment to our families will be sorely missed at MES. Thank you for your positive impact on our campus; Brookhollow is so lucky to have you!

Yolanda Reyes HPES - Librarian (via: Heather Kelley)

We have the MOST AMAZING librarian. Mrs. Reyes often goes above and beyond not only in the library, but with helping teachers and students with other things. This week the District library system crashed twice. The second time she didn't want the students to miss out (again!) on checking out books, so she still let them come to the library and she was taking pictures of the books and barcodes so that she could enter them after the system came back up. If you have ever spent time in an Elementary Library, you know how much work there already is. So for Mrs. Reyes to willingly create extra work for herself just so these students could still check out books deserves to be recognized.

Mrs. Manning (Music) and Mrs. Bloom (Art) Riojas Elementary School ( via: Dr. Leslie Vazquez-Nieves Riojas ES)

Both of these fantastic educators not only teach and build relationships with their students but also inspire them to be creative, explore, and inquire. When I visit either classroom, it's clear that students are not only learning but also enjoying themselves, collaborating, and thinking outside the box. From their engaging approach to music and art to encouraging students to embrace color and creativity, we at Riojas are truly fortunate to have such exceptional teachers.

Kate Branam (Coach Kate) ROES and EDP Summer Camp (via: Anonymous)

Coach Kate not only goes above and beyond as a PE EA at her home campus River Oaks, she also goes above and beyond over the summer with the EDP Summer Camps. She's always looking to see how she can help her coworkers and students more, and she's active in PTO helping parents. You can almost always find her at school early or staying past her time after school happily working on projects for others, on projects to help beautify her school, or on the yearbook that she helped bring back last year. You can tell Coach Kate really loves her school, loves her school kids, and loves what she does - thank you Coach!!!

Carol Kenebrew PCMS Behavior Support (via: Shelly Sanchez)

Welcome Back Ms. Kenebrew!!!! You we missed. Thank you for being flexible with our schedules and always prepared to jump in where you are needed. The students love to engage with you and you are always there with a solution to their needs. :):):)

Lori Wallace Art (via: Selena Blackmon) Lori has been a great support for teachers. She goes out of her way to check on them and help them when they are struggling. I am so appreciative of her help and guidance that she has given me. She is an earth angel!

Candace Haywood & Jennifer Casey Intervention @ SHES (via: Selena Blackmon)

Ms.Haywood and Ms.Casey have gone out of their way to share strategies with me to help support the students in my class. Their help and guidance has made me better equipped to handle the challenges in my classroom! Thank you both for being so helpful and kind.

Joel Quirindongo & George Kabirzadeh Maintenance - Plumbing (via: MES front office)

We would like to thank Joel and George for truly going above and beyond at their job and handling all our plumbing emergencies in record time. We see you and appreciate everything you do for us!

Kinzie Registrar (via: Mima & Carrie)

Being a brand new registrar Kinzie jumped right into a busy begining of the year schedules and is been handling it LIKE A CHAMP .... all registrations, daily attendance, all the buttons and window duties, list goes on ...... while making us laugh. Way to go Kinzieeeeee!

Phillip Clayton, Mrs. Lo, Coaches and 7th grade teachers of Pflugerville Middle School (via: Anonymous)
The staff/teachers/coaches and especially Mr. Clayton have all been so wonderful in a difficult situation with my 7th grader. They are always available, responsive, and very kind and understanding. They all have been so supportive in a difficult situation and I really couldn't ask for a better support team. I 100% believe it's the employees of a school who make it successful for our kids.

Entire RLES Staff of Rowe Lane Elementary School (via: Anne Morris)
Hats off to the entire RLES staff for a smooth start to the school year! From the crossing guards, to the teachers (especially Belz and Goach :) ), all the specials and support staff, to Mrs. Waggoner and the front office crew - you all make it look easy and made the return to school seamless! My son looks forward to his school day every morning - and that has NEVER happened. LOVE our school!

Mrs Mendez pk of Highland Park Elementary (via: Gleydis)
Responsable, amable y muy profesional con los niños de ésta edad

Ms. Arnold of River Oaks Elementary (via: Kaitlin S.)
Ms. Arnold is the best :) Her positivity and kindness makes my shy son excited to go to school. I really appreciate how patient she is with the kids. She goes above and beyond to make parents and kids feel comfortable, heard, and safe. Thank you, Ms. Arnold!!! <3

Darin Waggoner of Windermere (via: Anonymous)
Darin is one of the unsung heroes of Windermere! He jumps in to help out students and staff, and all the kids love him. Windermere would be lost without him!

Alan Cardon of John B. Connally High School (via: Michelle T.)
Mr. Cardon has taught my (JB)CHS Alum of 2022 and my current (JB)CHS Senior. Every student that I have met sings his praises and speaks of how much they learned in his classes. Mr. Cardon’s 9th grade AP Human Geography course prepares students to succeed in future AP classes. I am excited for my current Senior to have him again this year for AP Government and AP Econ. He is an asset to the John B. Connally High School family! Cougar Pride!

Vanessa Valdez of Murchison Elementary (via: Maddie W.)
Mrs. Valdez is a safe haven and a loving light for so many of our kids at Murchison. Due to poor planning and questionable decision making (not at all on her part), today was her last day at MES. This is a devastating loss to all, our children will feel her absence daily, please make this situation right.

Mrs. Amy Swetnam of Rowe Lane - Pre K (via: Julia C.)
My son Loïc comes home from school saying the sweetest things about Mrs Swetnam. Showing up and loving our littles ones every day is not an easy task and it can be quite overwhelming, but we are so thankful for her and the care & love she puts into teaching our precious little ones.

Mrs. Blackmon of Spring Hill Elementary School (via: Vicky A.)
Shout out to Mrs. Blackmon for making learning so fun and inspiring! My daughter is so excited to go to school every day to be in your classroom. Your dedication and positivity make such a difference in our child's life every day. We're so grateful for everything you do!

Mrs. Alma Balbuena of River Oaks Elementary School - Kindergarten Teacher (via: Jessica W.)
Mrs. Balbuena has been a wonderful and supportive teacher for our introduction to elementary school. She is really communicative, creative and put us right at ease knowing our daughter was in good hands from day one. Grateful for the amazing team at ROES!

Ms. Fleet and Ms. Schneider of Hendrickson High School (via: Frida A.)
You two are the best directors ever for the Silver Dancers! I’m so happy to be part of a team with you guys as my directors! Love you both so much! #SD4L

Ms. Lisa Betz of Murchison Elementary (via: Haley Simonton B.)
Ezra was so excited to start Kinder and we feel very blessed he is in your class! He tells me every day about his friends, the activities and learning he is doing and how nice you are. Thank you for creating a classroom community he is excited to wake up for each and every day!

Ms. Cuchapin of Windermere Elementary (via: Kelsey P.)
She works hard with all the student to gain their trust. She keeps in contact with parents on a daily basis when needed. She is happy and loving. She was blessing when my son needed it the most.

Mr. Tony (Bus driver of bus 610) of Transportation (via: Preston T.)
Mr. Tony is THE MAN! He is what every parent wishes and hopes their child's bus driver will be. He is kind, knows each child's name, and takes time to connect with the kids that ride the bus. He even went out of his way to get to know and wave every day to our student's younger sibling that doesn't even go to school yet! We love Mr. Tony and appreciate him taking care of our most precious cargo in both a safe and kind way!

Ms. Patton of Windermere Elementary (via: Mel)
This lady is absolutely amazing. Ms. Patton is so full of love + personality, she greets every single kid that walks into Windermere Elementary each and every morning with such a positive and welcoming energy. Her bright and positive spirit even makes my day! Thanks for all you do for our Windermere children, we are blessed to have you!

Nicole Schweggman of Hidden Lake (via: anonymous)
Ms. Schweggman helped my SPED child get used to school acting as their shadow the first week. She was helpful, kind, and so patient with them.

Erynn Barnes and Jay Adams of Rowe Lane (via: Anonymous)
Thank you for all you are doing. My fourth grader is excited about coming to school and doing homework! As a parent, I very much appreciate that she is practicing math skills at home so I see what kind of work she is doing. I am also thrilled she is reading more at home and is able to talk about what she is reading. Thank you for challenging my daughter.

Mrs Tyrell of Spring Hill Elementary (via: Dana M.)
We just cannot thank Mrs Tyrell enough for the time and encouragement she has given to our youngest as he started experiencing some intense school related anxiety this week. She’s helped him find a safe space and use communication skills to express what he needs. We also want to belatedly thank her for her skill in helping his older sibling transition to in person school a few years ago and manage his own anxiety. Mrs. Tyrell’s skill and dedication are a huge asset to SHES. Thank you!!!

Amy Lebakken & Stephanie Riley of 4th Grade Teachers @ Murchison Elementary (via: Emily Alvers)
We are incredibly grateful to have such amazing teachers! Ms. Lebakken and Ms. Riley have already gone above and beyond this year for our 4th graders. My son loved both of them instantly the first day of school because, in his words, "They are just SO NICE!" As a parent, we want our kids to learn and be challenged of course, but even more so we want to know they are nurtured in a positive classroom environment. I genuinely appreciate the extra love they have given to our kiddo, as he battled some health issues the past few weeks. These ladies have been attentive, empathetic, fantastic communicators, and willing to help in any and every way possible. Ms. Lebakken puts a lot of extra thought into creating fun themes throughout the year to keep things exciting for the students (looking forward to Floor is Lava!), and Ms. Riley finds some really cute and unexpected ways to bring smiles to students' faces (like turning her electric pencil sharpener into a "robot" named Roz!). THANK YOU Ms. Lebekkan & Ms. Riley for all the little and BIG things you are doing already to make this such a fantastic year!

Kinzie Vaughn of Registrar @ Murchison Elementary (via: Emily A.)
Ms. Vaughn has brought so much positivity into our front office this year as our new school registrar. She greets everyone with the most beautiful smile and presence, an upbeat attitude, and willingness to help anyone who walks through the door. No matter how busy she is, Ms. Vaughn stops to make eye contact with all the kids who love her and makes them feel as though the whole world revolves around them; This is such a BIG DEAL to us families more than she may ever know; My daughter literally lights up like a star anytime she sees Ms. Vaughn. She is absolutely crushing her new role as registrar this year, and we feel extremely blessed that she's the first face we see when coming into the school office! Her incredible spirit is simply undeniable. We love you, Ms. Vaughn!

Nicholas Howell of Pflugerville High School (via: ND)
PHS is lucky to have the best College and Career Counselor in the district. Mr. Howell makes himself available to students any time they need him. He met with seniors and their parents indivdually over the summer to discuss college/career planning and goals. My daughter has been in his room almost daily since school started getting assistance on writing her college essay, completing Common App, etc. He is so knowledgeable and truly wants to see all of the PHS students succeed. As a parent, I am grateful for Mr. Howell and all he has done to help my daughter.

Fourth Grade/Kindergarten Teachers of Murchison Elementary (via: Heather A.)
The teachers in both grade levels are just plain amazing. Our kiddos at MES are beyond lucky to have them!!

Crossing Guard Mr. Brian of Murchison Elementary (via: Heather A)
Mr. Brian was Murchison’s friendly, happy, smiling face at the Kelly Lane crosswalk. He was always happy to see each child. He’d chit-chat with them and their families. He knew who belonged where and even knew the littles in the strollers. He always waved as parents drive by. When he’d come into the building, he’s say hello to every kid and staff member in the halls. Just a ray of sunshine, the perfect man for the job! Everyone loved him and he brought smiles to faces everyday!! The protector of our kiddos is already sorely missed. Rest in Peace.

Megan Darlington of Windermere Elementary (via: Anonymous)
Ms. Darlington always works to make music fun for her students. She engages them in fun games and lessons to make music exciting.

Katie Korte, Gina Wood and Melissa Lehman of Riojas (via:Teri and Brian H. )

These three amazing teachers coordinated an opportunity for my daughter to be able to read aloud to her brother's class. My family felt so loved by their recognition that literacy is built by memorable shared experiences with books. Thank you for finding such a unique way to celebrate our daughter's reading progress!