AISD Austin Independent School District

Investing in 21st Century Educators • Meeting Our Human Capital Needs

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ContentS

IntroductIon 4 Superintendent’s Message6 Important Milestones

ABout uS 8 Human Capital Framework 9 Human Capital Strategy PrIorItIzIng Student AchIevement12 Achieving Our Vision14 College, Career, Life Readiness

InveStIng In humAn cAPItAL18 Board Priorities 20 Strategies for Success22 We Salute You

oFFIce nArrAtIveS28 Human Resources36 Technology44 Educator Quality

mAKIng the dreAm WorK52 Meet Team AISD58 Human Capital Team

AddreSSIng our chALLengeS62 Changing Demographics63 Our Commitment

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Student achievement begins with exemplary

teaching. That is why the Austin Independent

School District works to recruit, retain and

reward great teachers and administrators.

We know that the integrity, knowledge, diversity and

talent of our employees—our human capital—are our

most valuable resources. One of our most important jobs

is providing our teachers, principals, administrators

and other staff members with the support they need

to do their best work, because when they succeed, our

students succeed.

Each of our more than 12,000 employees brings a unique

skill set to AISD. We must embrace the challenge of

developing and implementing systems and supports

that will consistently expand our teachers’ and

administrators’ knowledge to support the ultimate

success of our students.

Because Austin is one of the most dynamic and

competitive marketplaces for talent in Central Texas,

our work to recruit, develop and retain top talent has

never been more important. Every day, AISD competes

with neighboring districts and other urban districts for

the best teachers and administrators to serve in our more

than 6,000 classrooms, and we do this in an environment

of tightly constrained resources at the local and

state levels.

Having a holistic Human Capital Strategy to recruit,

develop and retain the very best teachers and

administrators is essential if we are to meet our goal

of providing high quality teaching to every student, in

every classroom, every day.

This means that we must adjust our strategies. We must

devise ways to recruit the best talent as early as possible

and provide these employees with the high quality

support necessary to be successful from day one.

Addressing our human capital needs also means

radically re-thinking everything we do to support our

teachers and principals. For our central office staff,

there’s one bottom line: How are you helping to improve

student achievement?

“ “We know that the integrity, knowledge, diversity and talent of our employees—our human capital—are our most valuable resources.

SUPERINTENDENT’S MeSSAGe

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Meria Joel CarstarphenSuperintendent

Together, we are seeking innovative approaches

and options that reflect and respond to the varied

needs and interests of all of our staff members.

There is still much work to be done, but by

ensuring that we have a strong academic vision

and educational plan tied to our human capital

strategy, Team AISD now has a roadmap for our

transformation, guiding our efforts to become a

nationally recognized urban school district.

As part of our commitment to openness

and transparency, this publication provides

information about our human capital services.

From induction protocols and innovative

compensation programs to our internal leadership

pipeline, AISD is committed to ensuring high

quality teaching in Austin’s schools every day.

Sincerely,

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IMPORTANT MILeStoneS

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Human Resources, Educator Quality and Technology are under one Human Capital Services roof, to provide prospective and current AISD employees with the support, technology tools and services necessary to be effective in their current roles and advance in their career paths.

AISD now offers one of the most generous benefits packages in Central Texas and works hard to ensure that teachers will find support and growth opportunities in our district that they won’t find elsewhere.

The district is providing greater support in the form of job-embedded professional development opportunities and instructional support as well as stipends to those able to demonstrate excellence in the classroom. These serve as important building blocks in our goal to ensure that all students achieve at higher levels of academic excellence.

Approximately one-third of our schools are currently participating in our REACH—Strategic Compensation Program. This program, built in collaboration with Education Austin and the Austin Chamber, has gained national attention because it empowers, supports, and rewards educators for innovation and success in the classroom. Through REACH, AISD is promoting competitiveness and rewards for high performance at some of our hardest-to-staff schools.

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On June 18, the AISD Board of Trustees approved a one-time compensation adjustment to provide the equivalent of a 3 percent increase for all regular employees during the 2012-13 school year. Although this one-time compensation adjustment is not permanent, it represents a sincere commitment to our employees and may become permanent in a future tax ratification election.

Knowing that salaries are only one component of a compensation package that includes salaries, benefits, professional development and working conditions, AISD also is working its way toward a total compensation package for teachers that will be competitive with any district in the state.

The district is building a better teacher evaluation system designed to provide teachers with consistent, meaningful performance feedback, to ensure that there is quality teaching in every classroom, every day.

Ultimately, AISD is committed to creating a climate of mutual respect, trust and collaboration as we seek common ground behind a shared vision to prepare all students for college and a globally competitive world.

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Student Achievement

HuMAn CAPITAL STRATEgY

deploymentWithin and across

schools

mentoringEmbedded

support

recruitmentTargeted outreach

technology21st Century learning

environment

SelectionScreening tools/

interviews

inductionOnboarding/ orientation

profeSSional development

Priority areas

performance management

Evaluation/remediation/ removal

compenSationBase salaries/

benefits/rewards/ recognition

ABOUT US

the AiSd human capital Framework is linked to the district’s academic vision—allowing our work to center around the end result of achieving better student outcomes.

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recruIt retAIn InnovAte reWArdSuPPort

Austin’s top talent for AISD schools

high quality teachers and principals

Austin classrooms with cutting edge technology

the success and career growth of Team AISD

effective teachers, principals and staff members

AiSd HUMAN CAPITAL StRAteGYAISD Human Capital Services consists of the Offices of Human Resources, Technology, and Educator Quality—which operate under one human capital roof to provide prospective and current employees with the support, technology tools, and services necessary to be effective in their current role and advance in their career path.

• humAn reSourceS—recruits, selects and deploys employees.

• technoLogy—empowers educators with cutting-edge technology and student and teacher data tied directly to instructional tools.

• educAtor QuALIty—supports educators through induction protocols, provides professional development and helps to build a strong internal pipeline of talent through leadership development and strategic compensation.

Explore pages 26 to 49 of this publication to learn more about our approach to developing, empowering and retaining Austin’s top talent.

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AiSd is a richly diverse urban school district, committed to providing a high-quality education where every child can and will learn.

PRIORITIZING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

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“From the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents, it's the person standing at the front of the classroom.”

- President Barack Obama

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• the Austin metropolitan area is the 38th largest region in the nation and the city of Austin is the 16th largest city.

• Austin is one of the most dynamic and competitive marketplaces for teachers and principals in the entire country.

• Forbes lists Austin as the second most innovative city in the country with the second-highest number of patented inventions.

• Kiplinger predicts Austin will be the #1 best city to live in for this decade.

• Austinisagloballeaderintechnology,isdefinedbyalove of education and is passionate about the arts.

A citY On the RiSe. A dIStrIct WIth A vISIon.AuStinAuStin At A gLAnce

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viSiOn: AuStin iSd Will Be nAtiOnAllY RecOGnized AS An OutStAndinG SchOOl diStRict,InSTIllIng A PASSIOn FOR lIFE-lOng lEARnIng In All STUDEnTS.

1. All students will perform at or above grade level.

2. Achievement gaps among all student groups will be eliminated.

3. All students will graduate ready for college, career and life in a globally competitive economy.

4. All schools will meet or exceed state accountability standards, and the district will meet federal standards and exceed state standards.

AiSd’s StrAtegIc goALS

A citY On the RiSe. A dIStrIct WIth A vISIon.

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AISD QUICK FACT:

graduation rates for AISD’s class of 2011 increased to

80%.

CoLLeGe, CAREER, LIFE ReADIneSS

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AISD schools focus on providing students with the knowledge and the strong academic skills to graduate ready for college, career, and life in a continually changing, highly competitive, and very exciting world:

• ACAdeMiC skills: to ensure college success;

• CAreer skills: to prepare for success in a rapidly evolving global economy;

• deCision-MAking skills: to graduate informed citizens who can fully participate in a democracy and who have the education and experience to succeed in the constantly evolving global economy.

In the last three years, the district has continued to make incredible progress in reducing achievement gaps between student groups, creating a college-bound culture, and boosting the expectations for and the achievement of English language learners and special education students.

• AISD students continue to score higher on the SAT and ACT exams than their counterparts across the state.

• The 2012 average SAT score for AISD students was 1496—greater than the average state score of 1434 and comparable to the national average score of 1498.

• Achievement gaps between student groups in AISD have narrowed by nearly one half since 2003 and more students are applying—and ready—for college.

• Post-secondary enrollment rates for AISD graduates went up five percentage points to 67%.

• Graduation rates in 2011 increased by nearly two percentage points to 80%.

• AISD elementary and middle school students made gains on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) in every subject area.

• Amid increasing No Child Left Behind standards for all student groups, AISD had the highest campus passing rate for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) compared to all of the other Big 8 urban school districts.

• On the new End of Course exams, AISD students ranked first in reading, writing and algebra compared to all of the other Big 8 urban school districts.

• On our Nation’s Report Card, AISD ranked first in the nation in 8th grade mathematics and second in the nation in 4th grade math, compared to all NAEP urban districts.

However, there is still much work to be done to close the achievement gap and we are committed to getting better for every student.

Study after study has shown that the most critical factor in closing the achievement gap is teacher quality. investments in human capital development can bring about widespread and lasting change throughout our district.

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INVESTING IN OUR HUMAN CAPITALGreat educators are central to achieving AiSd’s vision. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining high quality talent lays the groundwork for accelerating student achievement and ensuring effective instruction in our more than 6,000 classrooms.

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1. PROMOTE effective campus leadership

2. MAXIMIZE learning time

3. INCREASE parent/community engagement

4. IMPROVE school and district climate

5. DEVELOP teacher effectiveness

AiSd humAn cAPitAl OBJECTIVES

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Expansion of academic (intellectual), physical (health, wellness, and safety), social, and emotional initiatives and programs to enhance the education of the whole child.

Expand and enhance advanced academic programs to prepare all students for college, career and life.

WhOle child, eveRY child

cOlleGe-ReAdY cultuRe

Rich PORtFOliO OF OPtiOnSExploration and establishment of new delivery models to provide an enhanced portfolio of academic options to promote graduation rates and higher achievement for students.

humAn cAPitAlRefinements to our human capital strategy to recruit, retain, promote, reward, evaluate and develop the highest quality educators.

SYStemSSystems improvement through accessible performance management, shared data, technology integration, facility master planning and aligned operations.

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to focus the district’s work and make progress on Strategic Plan goals, the AiSd Board of trustees set the following priorities for the 2012–13 school year.

inveStinG in teAChInG exCeLLenCe

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As one of the fastest growing urban school districts in central Texas, AISD must fill hundreds of teaching and principal vacancies each school year. Thus, it is crucial to build a strong pipeline of the highest-quality educators with the right skills to serve in our classrooms.

• AISD is transforming its recruitment strategies to staff our classrooms with high quality teachers and principals who are tech-savvy, bilingual and can address the challenges faced by our economically disadvantaged students.

• The district is committed to supporting its newest teachers— whether new to the district, new to an assignment, or new to teaching—to ensure each one is successful. Better prepared teachers translate into effective teachers with recognized growth in student achievement.

• AISD supports high-needs schools in attracting, retaining, and rewarding great teachers and principals–so that all students receive a quality educational experience. Educators receive targeted robust support and guidance, and principals are provided training and support on selecting and onboarding effective teachers. By supporting schools that need effective educators the most, AISD ensures that all students will have access to teachers and staff members who can help them reach their full potential.

• The one-size-fits-all approach to professional development is a thing of the past. AISD is working to align professional development to district priorities and initiatives and using an individualized approach tailored to the specific strengths and development needs of each educator. In order to help educators learn and grow on a continual basis, the district also provides a variety of job-embedded and “just in time” professional development opportunities.

• AISD is working to incorporate data as a means for driving instruction and using best practices to evaluate and continuously improve our numerous instructional programs.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSAiSd is working to dramatically change the landscape of educator effectiveness –from recruitment and retention–to how principals and teachers are developed, supported, and rewarded.

• AISD offers a comprehensive induction program for teachers and administrators, designed to provide leadership opportunities, quality professional development sessions, and robust support throughout each semester. New teacher leadership pathways also allow teachers with strong track records of success to expand their influence and support more teachers and students in their schools across the district.

• The district is focusing on creating tools and resources to demonstrate our vision for good teaching and support educators in implementing those practices in their classrooms through coaching and professional support. Demonstration Classrooms serve as exemplars of practice to help reinforce a common vision of instructional rigor throughout AISD.

• AISD’s recognition strategies are designed to elevate the teaching profession within the district and shine a spotlight on the far-reaching and profound impact our educators have on their students.

• Through partnerships with the Region XIII Education Service Center, the district offers various pathways to prepare employees for a rewarding career in teaching or as a campus leader.

• In a city known for its high-tech industry, AISD is implementing innovative technology solutions and systems to support success in the classroom and across the district. AISD is committed to a new digital learning environment that embraces 21st Century learning standards, assessment and accountability to positively transform teaching and learning for our students and teachers.

• By using the latest technology, the district also has the power to communicate with staff members and the community in new ways, while being eco-friendly. For example, AISD recently launched a Public Dashboard—a new online tool that helps staff members, families and stakeholders gauge the current state of the district. View the Public Dashboard at www.austinisd.org/dashboard.

Recognizing talented staff members continues to be one of the district’s top priorities.

In May, AISD and Austin Partners in Education paid tribute to teaching excellence at Salute, an annual event recognizing exceptional teachers and staff members throughout the district.

Among the top honors presented were AISD Principal of the Year, AISD Teacher of the Year, and AISD Classified Staff Member of the Year.

Teachers of Promise—outstanding first year teachers—and National Board Certified Teachers were also recognized.

Explore the next few pages to learn more about our Salute award winners.

WE SALUte YOU

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Matt Earhart, AISD Teacher of the Year, teaches five sections of Advancement via Individual Determination and one section of Contemporary Issues at Anderson High School.

During the fall of 2008, Earhart requested to take over the uncertified and dilapidated AVID program. He started from scratch, recruiting a class of incoming freshmen from a feeder middle school, and nearly four years later, the Anderson AVID program has 122 students and plans to expand to 150 students this year.

Earhart grew up wanting to teach and spends his days inspiring students to follow their dreams. “Too many students face an uphill battle in their paths to success, and I find comfort through empowering these students to truly follow their dreams.”

He also is a National Board Mentor Teacher and Mentor Teacher for his campus, manages the Students as Teachers Program and continues to facilitate ample professional development trainings on how to best support AVID students.

While Earhart considers his roles in supporting underserved students as his most significant contributions to education, he also is proud of the work he has completed within social studies.

As the leader of exit-level TAKS preparation, Anderson High School has achieved 96%, 99%, 97%, and 98% passing rates in the last four years.

Earhart will serve as the district’s nominee for the Texas Teacher of the Year award.

Learn more about the AISD Teacher of the Year Program at http://austinisd.org/salute/toy

Asafirst-generationcollegestudentwith a somewhat tumultuous childhood, i take pride in advocating for students who come from underprivileged backgrounds. “ “

AISD Team Member

MATT EARHARTAVID Coordinator and uS History Teacher, Anderson High School

Leading the Way -

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

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Leading the Way -

PRINCIPALOF THE YEAR

Donna Houser served as an educator in her home state of new Mexico before beginning her career in AISD as the assistant principal at Bowie High School in 2001.

In 2007, Houser became the principal at Anderson High School.

During her time at Anderson, the school has been named to newsweek’s and the Washington Post’s Top High Schools in America, recognized by the Texas Business and Education Coalition as one of the Top 20 High Schools in Texas, and named as a Top Ten High School in Texas by Children at Risk.

AISD Team Member

DONNA HOUSERPrincipal,

Anderson High School

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AISD Team Member

DIANA LUNA DE VALLADARESHead Custodian, Cunningham Elementary School

Leading the Way -

CLASSIFIEDSTAFF OF THE YEAR

Diana luna began her career with AISD in 2008 as a substitute food production specialist. She earned the positions of food production specialist, assistant head custodian, and head custodian.

luna has worked at Paredes Middle School, gorzycki Middle School, Walnut Creek Elementary and Cunningham Elementary School.

During her time with AISD, she improved the cleaning areas and assignments to better meet the campuses’ cleaning needs.

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As a vibrant community made up of more than 12,000 employees, AiSd recognizes the value of its human capital—our employees are the district’s most valuable resources.

RECRUITING & RETAINING AUSTIN’S TOP TALENT

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AISD QUICK FACT:

During the 2011-12 school year, AISD’s Employee Assistance Program provided counseling and other support to

1,060 staff members.

HUMAN ReSoURCeS

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• AISD maintains one of the lowest teacher attrition rates in central Texas.

• During the 2011-12 school year, AISD’s Employee Assistance Program provided counseling and other support to 1,060 staff members.

• All new hires have personnel files that are completely electronic and all active personnel files are being converted.

• The district is implementing a new Substitute Management System during the 2012-13 school year.

• Talent Map—the district’s principal selection process—is now managed by an interactive paperless system.

• More than 1,300 new employees joined Team AISD for the 2012-13 school year.

86 campus administrators 168 professionals 168 classified employees 869 teachers

• AISD is one of 17 Texas school districts contributing to social security.

Austin schools need educators and support staff who have the motivation, drive, compassion, and commitment to ensure that all students reach their full potential. AISD campuses and office sites also have a variety of needs that must be addressed.

As part of the AISD Human Capital Services Team, the Office of Human Resources is committed to the implementation of programs to attract, recruit, and retain high quality employees to serve AISD students.

The Office of Human Resources is comprised of three divisions designed to serve present and prospective employees: Recruiting and Staffing, Human Resource Services, and Employee Relations.

The HR Team enhances the district’s vision and mission by supporting all employees and promoting a positive work environment.

The HR Team also helps employees as they navigate all aspects of their work environment by providing guidance in many areas: compensation, performance management, training, wellness, district policies, and conflict resolution.

In an effort to honor the diversity of AISD employees, the Office of Human Resources maintains strategic and comprehensive action plans to maximize the productivity of our workforce by focusing on the following:

• recruitment–attracting quality candidates;• selection–identifying talent; and• deployment–placing employees in the

“right” positions.

The success of AISD students is dependent upon the quality of our employees. Thus, the HR Team continually reviews the status of our workforce and makes the necessary adjustments in recruiting and staffing plans to sustain staffing every position in the district with a high quality employee.

DID YOU KnoW?

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UsefUl Links:

Employee Assistance Program: http://archive.austinisd.org/inside/hr/eap/

New Employees: www.austinisd.org/hc/new-employee

AISD Careers: www.austinisd.org/hc

HR DIVISIonS

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Recruiting and Staffing is typically the first contact with AISD for many employees. From serving as an information source for potential employees to establishing partnerships with community stakeholders, the Recruiting and Staffing Team works diligently to attract, recruit, hire and retain highly qualified staff members and substitutes.

Areas of Service:• Recruitment for all positions: administrative,

professional and classified • Management of the selection, hiring and

placement process• Administration of staff allocations for campuses

and departments• Development of external partnerships which

result in pipelines for potential teachers and administrators

Employee Relations monitors adherence to Board Policies related to employee welfare and personnel-management relations. The Employee Relations Team supports employees by providing services in the areas of formal and informal problem solving processes such as grievances, investigations, conflict coaching, team development and mediation.

The Employee Relations Team also monitors national criminal history reports and oversees the appraisal process.

Areas of Service:• Employee to employee mediation• Employee Assistance Program• Criminal history monitoring• Conflict coaching, investigations and grievances• Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act

accommodations• Team development/communication training• Performance concerns and appraisal processes

Human Resource Services provides a variety of service and support functions to AISD employees. The Human Resource Services Team also provides support to other portions of the Office of Human Resources and works with all district offices to provide information, guidance and planning advice on a number of issues.

Areas of Service:• Wage and salary administration• Employee personnel files and records• Employee assignment and salary information• District leaves and absences• HR electronic infrastructure• HR information services

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HOW hR IS LeADInG

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REGION XIII PARTNERSHIPTheOfficeofHumanResourcesformeda

partnership with the Region Xiii education

Service center to recruit and certify 49

candidates to teach elementary bilingual

and secondary math and science. the candidates will have their tuition paid in

full via our title ii monies and the cohort will

include six of our current teacher assistants.

ADMINFIT

An electronic screening tool

for campus administrative

candidates was successfully

implemented in the district.

STAFFING FOR THE 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR All principal positions were filled prior to

June 30, 2012. On the first day of school,

only ten of the approximately 6,000 teaching positions were open.

TALENT MAP

the district’s principal

selection process is now

managed by an interactive

paperless system.

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AiSd is committed to using the latest cutting-edge technology—that many of our students are already mastering—in order to provide advanced academic programming and prepare our students for college, career, and life in a highly competitive environment.

INNOVATING AUSTIN’S CLASSROOMS

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teChNOLOGY

AISD QUICK FACT:

The Office of Technology supports more

than 95,000 end users and has delivered more than 34,000 new devices to AISD campuses this year.

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In today’s digital world most students come to school computer and technology savvy. Technology development has resulted in a widespread change in the way students learn, teachers teach, administrators manage and parents connect. Therefore, we must be able to adapt quickly to this fast changing environment.

As part of the AISD Human Capital Services Team, the Office of Technology unleashes the district’s human capacity to innovate, communicate, educate and transform lives.

The Office of Technology is comprised of four divisions that address data, computer, phone and other district needs: Customer Support Services, Information Management Support Services, Technology Project Management, and Technology Standards and Compliance.

The Technology Team supports more than 75,000 instructional devices to provide AISD staff members, students, and parents seamless services and online access to relevant educational resources from anywhere at any time.

Technology also provides our educators with the tools they need to make data-driven decisions, strategically plan instruction and interventions, and spend more time teaching.

AISD remains committed to a new digital learning environment that embraces 21st Century learning standards, assessment, and accountability to positively transform teaching and learning for all students and staff members.

technology is about people. the most powerful network on earth is not a network of cables and boxes; it’s the human network.

• AISD leads the nation in cloud education technology. The Cloud saves the district money in applications, support and equipment costs.

• Through the new myTraining platform, AISD staff members have access to high quality relevant training content on every core application used by the district from anywhere at any time.

• The district has wireless access in every classroom and administrative location.

• AISD students can access district resources and work online at any time. Currently, more than 90 percent of student textbooks and instructional materials are available online.

• To ensure the safety of students and staff members, AISD has more than 3,000 advanced security cameras throughout the district.

• AISD’s Technology Team supports more than 75,000 computers and 14,000 phones.

• The AISD Help Desk team answers hundreds of calls every day.

DID YOU KnoW?

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UsefUl Links:

AISD Cloud: https://my.austinisd.org

Technology Website: www.austinisd.org/technology

Resources: www.austinisd.org/technology/employees

TECHNOLOGY DIVISIonS

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Information Management Support Services manages and maintains the district’s hardware and software infrastructure to make technology a year-round asset to the district.

The IMSS Team is comprised of four groups: Business Systems Support, Data Management and Reporting Support, Infrastructure Support and Student Systems Support.

Areas of Service:• Data Management and Reporting• Infrastructure Support Services• network Security Services• Student Systems Support• Business Systems• System Integration and

Development

Technology Standards and Compliance supports AISD by providing services related to technology standards and regulatory compliance. The Technology Standards and Compliance Team provides information and guidance on technology processes and procedures and facilitates necessary communication with vendors regarding technology purchases.

The TSC Team also is responsible for software licensing compliance and education and provides ongoing training and audits to support this process.

Areas of Service:• Hardware and Software Standards• Software licensing Audits, Compliance

and Education• Technology Processes and Procedures,

Hardware and Software Acquisitions• State and Federal Regulatory

Compliance• Datashare Agreements• Technology Contracts and

Teacher laptops

Technology Project Management provides project management for technology solutions from concept through completion.

The Technology Project Management Team works with campuses on specialty technology projects of their choosing, as well as projects designed by the technology department as they endeavor to lead the way in classroom technology.

Areas of Service:• District-Wide Project Manag-

ment• Bond Projects, large Scale

Campus Projects and Pilots• Technology Inventory

Management and Refresh Programs

Customer Support Services provides world-class support and training for AISD staff. The CSS Team does much of its work directly with technology users in the district.

The office also is comprised of five teams assigned to a specific number of schools with a zone leader whose primary responsibility is to ensure that these schools receive timely support and technology training.

Areas of Service:• Campus Technology

Support Services• Help Desk• Employee personnel files and

telecommunication records• Administrative and

Instructional System Support Services

• Telecommunications

AISD Cloud: https://my.austinisd.org

Technology Website: www.austinisd.org/technology

Resources: www.austinisd.org/technology/employees

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HOW teChnoLoGY IS LeADInG

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We InnoVAte AnD CoMMUnICAte thRoUGh the CLoUD...Clunky desktop machines are a thing of the past. AISD launched the Cloud in August of 2011 to give students, teachers, and staff members access to AISD programs, resources, and data from almost any device, any time of day and from any location. Cloud users have access to more than 80 district core applications, in addition to electronic textbooks, email, video conferencing, educational apps, google apps, Microsoft Web Office and many more.

We enGAGe...Engaging the digital generation in the way that they learn is critical to AISD’s success. Teachers, students, and parents must be able to rely on and have access to the latest devices from anywhere at any time. This year, the Office of Technology distributed 2,500 iPads, 700 iMacs, 20,000 netbooks, 11,000 multi touch 22” (huge iPads) wireless all-in-one computers. All of these devices are wireless, engaging, and mobile so teachers and students can use them for learning and instruction anywhere at any time.

We eMPoWeR oUR teACheRS...Frequent meaningful assessment allows educators to form and tailor instruction to the needs of students. For the first time, AISD’s instructional technology is linked to a Performance Management Platform. By providing access to integrated human resources, financial, student and assessment data, the district is using a more holistic approach to decision-making to improve student achievement. The platform also supports teacher craft and more efficient budgeting.

We Do MoRe, eVen WIth LeSS…With AISD’s ever shrinking resources and the demands to do more with less, the district must look for new ways to manage its operations. An Enterprise Management Platform is part of our long-term plan to provide an integrated platform that will support the district’s operational and financial systems.

Additionally, AISD is implementing a new document imaging system designed to completely transform the district’s processes and workflow. The new system will be completed by the end of this calendar year.

Well-trained, motivated, and empowered employees are critical to the district’s success in ensuring that students receive a world-class, 21st century learning experience.

SHAPING THOSE WHO SHAPE THE FUTURE

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“ “- Kimiko Cartwright executive director of educator Quality

We are committed to helping team AiSd—our more than 12,000 employees, learn, grow, and advance their careers—to ensure our students’ ultimate success.

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EDUCATOR QUALItY

AISD QUICK FACT:

AISD has more than 200 national Board Certified Teachers—more than any Texas school district.

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The quality of AISD educators is the single most important factor in advancing student achievement and closing the achievement gap. It’s a simple equation: well-trained, motivated, and empowered employees equal improved outcomes for all students.

As part of the AISD Human Capital Services Team, The Office of Educator Quality positively impacts and supports the recruitment, development, and retention of effective teachers and administrators throughout the district.

The Office of Educator Quality is comprised of three divisions designed to provide all educators—novice to veteran—support, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth throughout their careers: Professional Development, Leadership Development, and Strategic Compensation.

The EQ team provides robust, differentiated support to AISD staff members, including job-embedded professional development, professional learning opportunities, and leadership pathways for teachers and administrators.

In addition, through REACH—the district’s strategic compensation program—AISD staff members receive supports and rewards for raising the academic achievement of our students.

By strengthening the capacity of Team AISD, the district will achieve learning gains for all students.

AiSd is committed to placing an excellent teacher in every Austin classroom. Students have the greatest chance for success when taught by a highly effective teacher.

• AISD has more than 200 national Board Certified Teachers—more than any Texas school district.

• The district was awarded a $62.3 million federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant—the largest TIF grant awarded by the federal government, to expand its REACH-Strategic Compensation Program.

• The Office of Educator Quality has implemented a program designed to improve cultural proficiency and inclusiveness and the district’s overall work environment.

• The district is looking for a robust, sophisticated human capital management system to support multi-platform access to professional learning opportunities and to address the diverse needs of our staff members.

• Austin has made significant strides in its induction efforts by coordinating a seamless onboarding process and implementing a multitiered support system for new teachers.

• Teacher quality is the most important school-based factor of a child’s success.

DID YOU KnoW?

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UsefUl Links:

Professional Development: www.austinisd.org/pd

Educator Quality Website: www.austinisd.org/edquality

Leadership Development: www.austinisd.org/ld

Strategic Compensation: www.austinisd.org/reach

EDUCATOR QUALITY DIVISIonS

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Professional Development offers many services that speak to different stages of our employees’ careers to help them learn, grow and advance.

The PD Team helps to meet the diverse needs of our staff members, ensuring they have the support and guidance necessary to provide their students with a rich and engaging instructional experience.

Areas of Service:• Teacher Induction• Teacher Mentoring• Professional Development • Cultural Proficiency & Inclusiveness• national Board Certification

REACH—AISD’s strategic compensation program—offers educators incentives for raising the academic achievement of students and combines significant performance rewards with targeted supports and leadership opportunities.

The REACH Team also supplies full-time mentors who support novice teachers with high-quality, individualized professional development, guidance and classroom support.

Areas of Service: • Student learning Objectives• Professional Development Units• leadership Pathways• Mentoring• Peer Observation

Leadership Development provides a rich array of pathways to ensure the district’s top talent can grow into high quality campus leaders.

The lD Team also provides a quality induction experience to improve retention, and to ensure AISD has a strong pipeline of internal candidates ready to serve our many diverse campuses.

Areas of Service:• Administrator Induction• Principal Certification and Mentoring • Teacher leadership • leadership Speaker Series • Advisory Forums

Professional Development: www.austinisd.org/pd

Educator Quality Website: www.austinisd.org/edquality

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We SUPPoRt QUALItY teAChInG...AISD has a long history of supporting teachers in achieving national Board Certification, with the first cohort of ten teachers earning their certification in 2000. Since that time, the district’s program has continued to grow and we currently employ more than 200 national Board Certified Teachers—more than any other Texas school district.

We InVeSt In toP tALent...AISD makes supporting and rewarding its employees a top priority. Through our groundbreaking REACH-Strategic Compensation Program, the district is rewarding highly effective teachers, principals and other educators.

The program provides school-wide and individual incentives for meeting a variety of performance measures including: campus performance, student growth, professional-development units, as well as serving in hard-to-staff schools. Approximately one-third of our schools are currently participating in REACH.

On average, AISD educators received approximately $5,350 in 2010-11 for student performance gains, teacher recruitment at high-needs schools, and successful completion of targeted professional development.

These stipends are investments in AISD teachers and principals, which will help the district recruit and retain high quality educators for Austin schools.

learn about REACH at www.austinisd.org/reach.

We MeASURe PeRfoRMAnCe... AISD launched a transformative new teacher appraisal system—a remarkable tool for development and continued growth—which is being piloted at select REACH campuses during the 2012-13 school year.

Through the new teacher appraisal system, teachers receive regular feedback

throughout the year to help them continuously improve their instruction. The district is also piloting the use of peer review for the first time, leveraging the trained eyes of expert teachers to provide feedback to their colleagues.

Armed with a common vision of what makes a great teacher, our teachers—from novice to master—will be able to develop their skills and improve their overall effectiveness.

The new teacher appraisal system is an important step toward helping teachers advance their practice and will help ensure we have an effective teacher in every Austin classroom.

We bUILD An InCLUSIVe WoRKPLACe...In 2011-12, The Office of Educator Quality launched an initiative designed to improve cultural proficiency and inclusiveness and the district’s work environment. great outcomes: 69 AISD schools and central administration earned the no Place for Hate® designation.

Cultural Proficiency and Inclusiveness (CP & I) supports the district’s efforts to ensure that anti-bias and diversity education are an integral part of school curriculum and an inclusive school environment. Our goal is to achieve the designation as a no Place for Hate® district by May 2014.

learn about CP & I at www.austinisd.org/cpi.

HOW eDUCAtoR QUALItY IS LeADInG

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leAdeRShiP PROGRAmS At A GlAnce:

At the heart of every great AiSd school is an exceptional school leader.

• AISD’s new leAd (leveraging excellence to Achieve the dream) speaker series brings national speakers to the district to promote dialogue among principals, aspiring principals, and administrative interns on effective leadership issues and practices.

• The Austin isd/region Xiii Principal Certification Program supports qualified teachers’ efforts to pursue a career in administration.

• leadership development schools and the Aspiring Principals Program promote career advancement for select teachers and administrators by providing job-embedded and professional learning opportunities to build the leadership talent pool for future assistant principals and principals.

• The Teacher leadership network cultivates a cadre of district teacher leaders in a virtual community of learners who are given the opportunity to share best practices, serve on the Superintendent’s Teacher Forum, and promote teacher professional growth.

We GRoW LeADeRShIP CAPACItY fRoM WIthIn...It takes quality leaders to build, lead, and sustain outstanding schools. AISD recognizes that teacher quality won’t improve without improving the quality of principals and administrators.

The district continues to deepen its efforts to cultivate leadership at all levels of the organization to support student growth and long-term sustainability. • AISD invests heavily in its leaders by creating leadership

pathways, providing individualized coaching, and ongoing leadership development opportunities. Our goal is to ensure participants hone the leadership competencies and management skills necessary to be successful in their specific roles.

• The district prepares school leaders to effectively attract, develop, and retain talented teachers and provides the tools and support they need to grow in their craft.

• AISD is also focused on supporting principals, not only to be strong and effective instructional leaders, but also results-oriented individuals who drive student learning and achievement. By aligning a rigorous selection process with clear expectations for what it takes to be an effective leader, the district is building a pool of new leadership talent with the skills to be successful from day one.

AISD’s commitment to leadership development has been critical to our ability to grow to more than 120 schools with excellence and sustainability.

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teamwork makes the dream work. From teachers and principals to bus drivers, cafeteriaworkers,andourcentralofficesupport,everyoneofouremployeescontributes to the district’s success in preparing our students for college, career, and life in a globally competitive environment.

meet some of the talented team members behind our student success stories.

MAKING THE DREAM WORK

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6,095 Teachers

971 484 Administrators

4,676 Classified Staff

non-teaching Professionals

AISD Employees as of 10/10/12Data stource: AISD Public Dashboard

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AISD Team Member

CHRISTY COCHRANLibrarian/Information Specialist, Murchison Middle School

WHAT I DO: I wear many hats as the Librarian—I am a champion for reading and the information literacy teacher. I promote the library as the heart and soul of our campus where learning happens and students have access to materials to build a love of reading.

I also teach research and how to incorporate 21st Century skills in the curriculum and work with students, staff, parents, and other schools and community members to ensure everyone has access to information. I have the best job on campus!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AISD:I graduated from AISD, so I love being able to work with the district and give back to the community. The students are amazing and I love the diversity found within the district.

I also enjoy the camaraderie formed with colleagues on campus and with librarians across the district. We have an amazing group of people who serve from the heart and love what they do.

The passion for reading and integrating technology into curriculum is catching and I love the challenge to stay on top of current trends in both literature and technology.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT MY JOB: It is an amazing experience asking questions and learning about students to help them find that one book that ends up lighting a spark of love for reading. It’s also very gratifying to help students and staff members find information while teaching them the tools so they can go back and be successful on their own.

Collaboration with faculty members is another joy of mine. I love working with other teachers on curriculum and being a site member of AVID and IB.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS I INITIATED THIS YEAR:As a vertical team, I partner with the feeder school librarians and hold a transition book club at the end of the school year for incoming 6th graders.

I’ve also initiated WIRED Wednesdays in the library to promote 21st Century Skills and offer faculty and staff opportunities to learn more about available technologies to integrate into their curriculum.

MY MOTTO:Everybody has the right to learn and it’s our job to expose our students to all the possibilities—with respect and dignity—so they can embrace and thrive on their education and become life-long learners.

talking about books and technology with students and staff and getting them as excited about reading and working with technology resources as i am, is incredibly rewarding!“ “

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AISD Team Member

NATASCHA BARRETO-ROMEROAssistant Principal and Instructional Coach,

Blazier Elementary School

WHAT I DO: I have the honor of working for the students of Blazier Elementary as the Assistant Principal. I take pride in supervising the day-to-day operations of our school to ensure it is running smoothly. My main responsibilities lie in building relationships with my students, families, and staff members to ensure we are living up to the mission and vision of Blazier.

As an Instructional Coach I get to participate in classroom observations where I give feedback and sustained support to my teachers.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AISD:When I reflect on what I love about AISD, I am drawn back to the amazing students and families, the creative teachers and professionals, and the opportunities for growth AISD affords its employees.

I have participated in many of the programs offered by the district, including the Teacher Leadership Academy, National Board Take One, and I am currently in the Region XIII Principal Certification Cohort.

I truly feel like AISD believes in its employees enough to invest in their futures.

AISD also is a district with so much diversity that each student we work with brings many strengths and talents with him/her to school every day. I have learned so much from my students and am constantly awed by the unique stories each one of them has to share.

I also love working in a school district that employs so many talented and creative teachers and staff. I have found so many great resources and networks from the people I have come to know in my time with AISD.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT MY JOB: The most rewarding thing for me is to see the changes and growth not only with the students that I work with, but also in the communities I serve. There is nothing more satisfying than to see a community come together to solve their own problems and take ownership of their school. It is very rewarding to start the change process and then be able to step back and watch the families continue the self-sustaining work.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT ME:I am actually from Kansas, but I don’t know Dorothy and Toto! I grew up in Kansas City—an urban town, similar to Austin.

“ “Whether it is a custodian who is charged with keeping our schools safe and clean or a veteran teacher explaining science concepts—AiSd employees take pride in the jobs they do.

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WHAT I DO:I work with students in instructional and classroom activities at the direction of the teacher. I supervise and accompany special education students to the office, bus, nurse, classroom, cafeteria, playground, etc.

I am also responsible for assisting special education teachers in preparation of materials and instruction as well as meeting the physical needs of students with disabilities.

I always look for the best ways to tailor my teaching methods to a student’s learning style. Some students learn by playing, walking, touching objects, and discovering things on their own.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AISD:I have found that I like to work at Rosedale School because its been challenging and a great opportunity to work with special needs students. In my time here, I have also discovered that I love teaching even more than I could’ve imagined.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT MY JOB: I look forward to being successful in supporting and ensuring the safety of the students and staff at Rosedale School.

AISD Team Member

LUIS A. GUERREROTeacher Assistant,

Rosedale School

“ “there is so much joy in experiencing the little pieces of growth my students have. Seeing themlaughorsmilefortheveryfirsttime,isamemory that stays with you forever.

There is so much joy in experiencing the little pieces of growth my students have. Seeing them laugh or smile for the very first time, is a memory that stays with you forever.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I studied law in Mexico and worked for seven years in the family court. I love to learn and share my knowledge with my students. I also read every night.

WORDS I LIVE BY:Perseverance is important. Have the right goal, get an education, have good health, and think positively. I have a mission to accomplish that is more important than my life—teaching!

MY FIVE FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN:1. Working at Rosedale School2. Well Branch Park and the area where I live3. Austin area public libraries4. Austin YMCA programs and services5. The good people and things that I have yet

to discover about Austin

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AISD Team Member

SHEILA L. HENRY Principal, Lyndon B. Johnson Early College High School

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AISD:What I like most about AISD is the support system that is in place for principals. The High School office has been amazing in their roles and in providing resources to the school.

I am always able to talk to personnel and resolve any and all issues that we have had to face. They are very resourceful and have made sure their Solutions Team is purposeful in their work with the school.

This has truly been an awesome experience—as a newcomer to the state and the district.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT MY JOB: I cherish the scholars that come through our doors each and every day, willing and ready to learn and work. It’s wonderful to see the smiles on their faces and the comfort level that they feel when they are safe and surrounded by a positive environment.

Making those connections to our families and the community is certainly rewarding when they are willing to come back and give back to the school that they love and appreciate so dearly.

“ “i cherish the scholars that come through our doors each and every day, willing and ready to learn and work.

WHAT I’D SAY TO A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the best decision that I could have made when I decided to relocate to Texas. The leadership in our district is human. They do get involved at the campus level and are very willing to interact with personnel.

WORDS I LIVE BY:Be the best person that you can be. You never know who is looking.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I am one of nine siblings, five of which are girls who went on to gain post graduate degrees. All of my female siblings now work in the field of education.

MY FIVE FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN:1. Great food2. Friendly people3. Great entertainment opportunities4. Family oriented5. Cost of living is awesome

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AISD Team Member

DR. SHARY SHIMRAY Math Department Chair, International High School

WHAT I DO: I teach English Language Learners Math (Geometry, Math Models and Math Lab). I also mentor new teachers and student teachers from universities.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AISD:We support each other just like a family.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT MY JOB: Seeing students succeed and their “Aha!” moments.

WHAT I’D SAY TO A POTENTIAL CANDIDATEYou will never regret the time and effort invested in your students.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT ME:You can find me in almost every math professional development workshop. It’s guaranteed!

MY MOTTO:Empower students to become self-directed learners.

MY 5 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN:1. Multicultural2. UT - provides support for teachers3. Music – enrich your life4. Go green attitude5. Technology advancement

“ “You will never regret the time and effort invested in your students.

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WHAT I DO: I am a Spanish 1; AVID Coordinator, and AVID Teacher at Murchison Middle School.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AISD:I have phenomenal colleagues, the best students on the planet, and we stay abreast to the latest trends in education and best practices. We also have access to great resources.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT MY JOB: I enjoy watching my students become productive members of our global society–bilingual (at least)!

WHAT I’D SAY TO A POTENTIAL CANDIDATEMake sure your heart is in this-for the kids whose lives you will impact. You will have amazing colleagues-get to know them!

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT ME:I love to sing!

WORDS I LIVE BY:If a task is once begun, never leave it ‘til it’s done. Be thy labor great or small, do it well or not at all.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS I INITIATED THIS YEAR:We have AVID strategies on display in the library. Teachers voluntarily teach their classes in the library when using an AVID strategy so that colleagues can come down and see the strategies being modeled.

MY 5 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN:1. Location to other cities in Texas2. Casual wear always3. Town Lake4. My church5. Health conscious city

AISD Team Member

NINA WILSON Spanish Teacher, national Board

Certified Teacher, AVID Coordinator Murchison Middle School

“ “make sure your heart is in this-for the kids whose lives you will impact. You will have amazing colleagues-get to know them!

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Making the dreAM Work!AISD HUMAN CAPITAL SERVICES TEAM

“ “We are committed to ensuring we have high quality teachers and principals serving in AiSd classrooms—ready to prepare the next generation of global leaders for success.

- AISd human capital Services team

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Pamela HallExecutive Director, Human Resources

Michael HouserChief Human Capital Officer

John AlawnehExecutive Director, Technology

kimiko CartwrightExecutive Director, Educator Quality

Meet oUR teAM

left to right:

Making the dreAM Work!AISD HUMAN CAPITAL SERVICES TEAM

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Austin is currently one of the most dynamic and competitive marketplaces for talent in central texas. AiSd’s work to recruit, develop, retain, and place effective teachers and principals—in the right positions—at the right schools, has never been more important.

ADDRESSING OUR CHALLENGES

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86,600+ students, 123 schools & GROWING!AISD continues to grow at a rate two-to-three times faster than the state’s student population, which itself is growing at a faster rate than the nation’s student population.

Over the past five years, the number of students in AISD has increased by 6 percent and we now serve more than 86,600 students at 123 campuses. On average, the district continues to grow by about 1,000 students per year.

While neighboring districts are also serving more students each year, much of the new growth in AISD is among economically disadvantaged students, which comprise 63.8 percent of our student population. The demographic makeup of the district’s student population has shifted and now more than ever, many of our students have educational needs that must be met with additional resources. However, we must address the increasing needs of our students in an environment of tightly constrained resources on the local and state levels.

Austin is also one of the most dynamic and competitive marketplaces for talent in Central Texas. While we are building capacity to address student growth, we also must compete with neighboring districts and other urban school districts for the best teachers and principals.

Despite these challenges, AISD remains focused on the goals and strategies that will best prepare all students—current and future—for college, career, and life in a globally competitive environment.

graduation rates for AISD’s class of 2011 increased to94+

Average years of teaching experience with AISD

AISD bythe

nuMBERS

86,612Total AISD Students

52,170 21,536

5,394

Hispanic White

Other7,512African

American

{ Limited English Proficiency 20,152 }{ Economically Disadvantaged 55,262 }{ Special education 8,769 }

80%

500+AiSd operates

buses daily

8.7There are

different languages spoken among students in AISD

CHANGING DeMoGRAPhICS

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High-quality teachers and principals are the foundation for raising academic achievement.

To significantly improve student outcomes, AISD will continue to refine its human capital strategy to meet the needs of our current and future students as well as the changing community.

The district will address critical issues such as whether teachers are returning year after year to teach in our schools, and the strength and depth of our internal school leadership pipeline.

We will also continue to invest in great educators for every school and district site, with a focus on cultivating the educators who will lead AISD to achieve its vision in the years to come.

OUR COMMITMENTFrom educator recruitment and retention to technology, evaluation and professional development, the AiSd human capital Services team is committed to ensuring the right educators—with the right skills—serve in Austin’s schools.

viSit uS Online: www.austinisd.org/hc • FOllOW uS On tWitteR: @WeAreAISd

Produced by the AISD Human Capital Services Team: Offices of Human Resources, Technology and educator Quality.