A Time of Thanksgiving

This week in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District, our students and most staff are out for a  week-long break due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Thanksgiving has been an important time throughout our country's history, with President Abraham Lincoln issuing the first Presidential Proclamation designating a Thanksgiving Day.

 Forty-Year Pin Recipients  Kay Edmondson, Sara Gambrell
with Board President Nancy Cline and Dr. Burns

We in C-FB ISD have much to be thankful for when it comes our public school system.  We have great facilities and the latest technology.  But, what really makes our school district stand out from all the rest are the people who have chosen our district as their professional home. 

In early November, your Board of Trustees hosted a service awards dinner for district staff members. The individuals honored had completed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and even 40 years of service in C-FB ISD.  In fact, we had 273 staff members with those years of service.  These team members have made life-long commitments to C-FB ISD and make our district what it is today.

Along with a service award pin, the School Board approved a compensation plan to honor these employees for theirs years of service.  For every 5 years, an individual is a C-FB ISD staff member, he receives $500.  For example, a 10-year staff member receives a $1,000 service award check.  This is the fourth year that we’ve included this incentive for employees who return to C-FB ISD year after year. I've heard some staff members call it “longetivity pay.”   This project is just another way that we thank our team members for their loyalty to our district, to our students and our goal of "high achievement for all students."

Thirty-five Year Pin Recipients Deborah Holmes, Cathy Webb
Mary Bass with Board President Nancy Cline and Dr. Burns

Mark Twain once wrote, “Your work is a self-portrait, autograph it with excellence.” This quotation describes the people who are C-FB ISD employees. Our staff strives for excellence in every assignment. Our team members give incredible hours. Regardless of the job or role, our staff goes the extra mile. And, they believe in this district.  For the past two years, we have asked the Human Resources Department of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to conduct a survey of C-FB ISD employees.

We have used the information to determine how our team perceives specific issues and also learned how they feel about C-FB ISD.  As community members, you should be proud that nearly all (99%) like the work they do.

Ninety-two percent indicated they would recommend C-FB ISD to a friend as a good place to work. The vast majority of the participants say that they have the support of their co-workers, and there is a sense of camaraderie within their work group.  Our C-FB ISD team members are the "unsung heroes" who are shaping tomorrow's leaders.
What our educational team thinks about C-FB ISD mirrors the viewpoints from our annual parent survey. Our 2011 parent survey told us that 90 % of our parents were satisfied with their child’s campus. 

We in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District are thankful that our parents are satisfied with their child's campus.  However, in our district, we believe in a model of continuous improvement, which means that we are always striving to do better.  After all, our goal is "high achievement for all students."