Marlin ISD reports on achievements
Marlin Independent School System Superintendent and Rotary International member Dr. Darryl Henson spoke to the Marlin Rotary Club about the district recently.
He opened the presentation of an exciting and thorough report on achievements of the 2020-2021 school year and the future goals for our students attending three campuses in Marlin – Marlin Elementary School, Marlin Middle school, and Marlin High School.
At a Rotary Club weekly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, six members of the Marlin ISD Executive Cabinet expounded in areas of Financial Transparency, Technology Initiatives, Multi-Purpose Activity Complex, All Things Literacy, 2020-2021 Data Overview, and “What if…” Vision Overview.
“The state’s school financial accountability rating system, known as the School Financial Integrity Rating System (FIRST), ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and that they improve these practices,” Lawrence M. Galloway, Marlin ISD’s Chief Operating Officer said. “The system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes. The Marlin ISD Board of Managers receives monthly reports regarding the status of the district’s finances. The previous month’s revenues, expenses, and trends are discussed and approved. In addition, the Board of Managers are presented with e three-month review with highlighted trends.”
The monthly financial report provides detail information regarding payroll, contracted services, supplies, and miscellaneous operating expenses by operating function. All data was shared with Rotarians and remains available to the public.
”On June 21, 2021, the Marlin ISD Board of Managers approved a $12M+ operating budget that strategically funded several new initiatives that include Academics, Athletics, CTE, and Fine Arts,” he said. “2021-2022 Budget Initiatives include Early Childhood Literacy trainings, curriculum, and renovated classrooms. Teachers receive training on the implementation of the new ECL guidelines. Classrooms are redesigned, creating an improved and effective learning environment. There are enhanced dance facilities and new musical instruments. The Budget Initiatives also call for the expansion of CTE programs to include Construction and Digital Communications.”
J. Adam LeJeune is Director Technology at Marlin ISD. Technology initiatives at the Middle and Elementary Schools were described as “collaborative and modular.” Today there are Real-World and Real-Work Learning Centers, that is, multi-purpose space for learning, training, and streaming. At the high school, there are “café-style hang-out areas for blended learning.”
LeJeune further explained the 1:1 Pilot, Access to Digital Devices thusly, “Through COVID-Related and Local Funds, Marlin ISD distributed over 750 devices to grades PK-12 and over 350 HotSpots to families without WiFi in Marlin. These devices helped Marlin bridge the digital divide and lower educational losses due to the difficult situations experienced by our students during the year. “
Re-Evaluating 1:1 means redefining the process.
“Going forward, Marlin ISD will be implementing a Hybrid 1:1 plan for digital services. Grades 3 through 8 will be 1:1 for intervention and targeted instruction programs. Grades 9-12 will remain 1:1 full-time,” he said.
In tech tools, students found stability, security, and collaboration.
“During the 2020-2021 school year, Marlin ISD quadrupled the number of devices in student’s hands,” he said. “It meant improved stability and access through networking improvements, following Texas Department of Information Resource guidelines to improve digital security standards. 2020-2021 was the first of a three-year plan to meet every metric in the Marlin ISD yearly Cybersecurity Audit.”
The future will bring more access and less downtime, by removing barriers. WiFi has been added to every classroom, opening wide the digital experience across the district. Marlin ISD’s Technology continues to work towards seamless transitions in the role and use of Technology in education.
Jesse Bustamante is Director of Human Resources at Marlin ISD. He spoke on the Multi-Purpose Activity Complex (MAC). This potential project is to improve student safety and physical education for Marlin ISD students. This project will convert the grass area in front of the Marlin Elementary into the Marlin ISD’s MAC. This project will also renovate the existing practice track surface at Legion Field. Every student in Marlin will have access to use the Multi-Purpose Activity Complex.
This Bulldog Vision means 3-4 lane running track and surfacing; 100-yard synthetic turf field; chain link fencing and access gates around the perimeter of the field. It doesn’t end there. Plans include the resurface and relocation of existing basketball court; new baskets; removal and relocation of existing playground equipment.
Patrice Woodson is Director of Curriculum at Marlin ISD. Her emphasis is, “All Things Literacy!”
“Marlin ISD Early Literacy initiative and key goal is to ensure our students are reading on level or higher by the end of Second Grade,” Woodson said. “How will Marlin ISD educators do this? They will place “emphasis on Early Literacy Pre-Kindergarten through First Grade; ongoing explicit phonics training PreK-1 teachers; and alignment of phonics Scope and sequence.”
Plus, the new innovative Pre-K Classrooms makeover means “classroom setup will align and include all materials required by TEA – PreK guidelines.
“Through House Bill 3 (HB3), the State of Texas is requiring all K-3 Teachers and K-5 grade Special Education and/or Inclusion Teachers to be trained in the Texas Reading Academy curriculum before the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year,” she said.
Marlin ISD’s 2021-2022 Implementation Plan began with K-3 teachers’ training having begun on July 12, 2021, for the use of: 1. Comprehensive Model through Region 12 (requires the completion of 12 Modules); 2. Ongoing monthly district/campus support, and; 3. K-1 teachers will receive additional phonics professional learning.
For HB3 Reading Academies, Science of Teaching Reading is likened to Scarborough’s Reading Rope. It embodies the statements of practice and teaches students how to become independent readers and thinkers. Teachers focus on one strand at a time through the Reading Academies Implementation – will complete artifacts to demonstrate mastery of content. K-3 teachers will receive ongoing district/campus support through monthly campus meetings to ensure they have demonstrated mastery on artifacts submission.
#BulldogsREAD held a social media challenge to promote independent reading. Firstly, students followed Marlin ISD on Facebook or Twitter. The #BulldogsREAD Challenge ran June 7-30, 2021. Secondly, every day during this Challenge period, a student posted a picture of where he/she read that day. Thirdly, in his/her post, he/she used the hashtag #BulldogsREAD and tag @MarlinISDTX.
And the winners of the challenge are Marlin Elementary students Morgan Batisse, Holden Hartsfield, and Tricia Outland. These winners will receive the following prizes for having the most #BulldogsREAD posts on social media: 1) Bicycle sponsored by WalMart, 2) McDonald’s Gift Card, 3) Marlin ISD Bag of trinkets (Dr. Seuss book, Marlin ISD face towel, Marlin ISD cup, and Marlin ISD small crayon bag).
Dr. Stacy Parker is Executive Director of Academics at Marlin ISD. She provided a 2020-2021 Data Overview. All Grades - All Subjects (%) – Approaches showed percentage increases in ELA/Reading from 41 percent in 2019 to 48 percent in 2021 and in Writing from 29 percent in 2019 to 38 percent in 2021. All Grades-All Subjects – Meets showed percentage increases in All Subjects from 19 percent in 2019 to 20 percent in 2021, ELA/Reading from 18 percent in 2019 to 24 percent in 2021, Writing from 10 percent in 2019 to 12 percent in 2021. Fifty percent of the fields showed significant increases.
Reading 3-Year Comparison (%) – Approaches declared impressive increases in five of eight fields. ENG 2 from 41 percent in 2019 to 63 percent in 2021, 8th Grade from 53 percent in 2019 to 69 percent in 2021, 7th Grade from 30 percent in 2019 to 51 percent in 2021, 5th Grade from 45 percent in 2019 to 50 percent in 2021, and 4th from 35 percent in 2019 to 53 percent in 2019.
A Reading 3-Year Cohort Comparison (%) – Approaches showed percentage increases in four out of six levels. Math 3-Year Cohort Comparison (%) – Approaches also pointed to percentage increases in four out of five levels.
Marlin ISD Superintendent Dr. Darryl J. Henson explained Vision 2025: Driven by Pride, Committed to Excellence.
Mission: “Marlin ISD will prepare students with the academic and life skills necessary to ensure that their potential turns into performance. Key influencers are students’ expectations of themselves, teacher-student relationships, feedback, individualized instruction, community collaboration, and quality of instruction.” The Guiding Statements are the next five statements. Early Literacy: Students will read on level or higher by the end of the second grade. Middle Math: Students will demonstrate proficiency of Algebra I by the end of the ninth grade. CCMR: Students will graduate college-, career-, or military-ready by demonstrating academic proficiency in English and mathematics or by earning industry-based certification. Co-Curriculum: Students will participate in a variety of Academic, Athletics, and/or Fine Arts activities.
Superintendent Dr. Darryl Henson exclaimed, “What if…?” If today’s grade after just one year is a D - “I never thought I would be so happy to receive a D.” - what if we persist and follow the plans - imagine where our students can be in two years and then in 2025!”
Rotary International congratulates and thanks the dedicated and persistent educators for their unselfish and professional labors during the 2020-2021 school year. Rotary International thanks in advance the educators who during the 2021-2022 school year stand ready to present daily lessons to educate and train our children, the future of our society. Rotary International extends its congratulations and gratitude to every Marlin Independent School District staff.