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School and Community Engagement
Plano ISD develops community partnerships to promote collective responsibility, involvement and support of public education to
ensure student success. A few of the many collaborative efforts are spotlighted here.
BE BRIGHT
|
BE BOLD
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BELONG
Carlos Sastoque, Plano ISD Education
Foundation; Donna Shepard, M&A Technology;
Manoj Chhabra, DCS Global Systems; Mike
Evans and Mary Jo Dean, Texas Health
Presbyterian Hospital Plano; Kirk Bell, Plano
Rotary Club; Beth Kolman, Cisco Systems;
and Harvey Fishero, Plano ISD Education
Foundation board of directors president-elect.
Not pictured: Methodist Richardson Medical
Center. School trustees seated at the board
dais are Missy Bender, Carrolyn Moebius, Mike
Friedman, Nancy Humphrey, Superintendent
Richard Matkin, David Stolle, Tammy Richards
and Marilyn Hinton.
Corporate and Civic Donors Gift More than a Half Million Dollars to the Academy Programs of Plano
The Plano ISD Board of Trustees in October 2013 recognized six donors whose contributions to the Academy Programs of Plano —
through the Plano ISD Education Foundation — totaled $511,000. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano led giving at the Silver
Level with a $250,000 donation. Bronze partner Plano Rotary Club contributed $100,000. And, $50,000+ contributors were Cisco
Systems, DCS Global Systems and Methodist Richardson Medical Center. M&A Technology donated $10,000. These generous gifts
support the innovative programs for students attending the Plano ISD Health Sciences Academy, IB World School at Plano East Senior
High School and the Plano ISD Academy High School. “Plano ISD understands the need to be progressive and innovative in our
financial management, while also continuing to serve as good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Karla Oliver, assistant superintendent
for government, community and planning initiatives. “Our district is committed to having the Academy Programs of Plano thrive as a
result of corporate and community giving.”
Superintendent’s student advisors are:
Plano West Senior High School—Cassi Pollock, Matthew
Abernathy, Alex Hancher, Ethan Wright;
Plano Senior High School­—Avery Atterstrom, Taylor
Chambers, Hudson Kuykendall, Jason Head; and
Plano East Senior High School—Justin Johnson, Britni
McElvy, Kali Staples, Ernesto Arvayo Manzano. Students
are pictured here with Associate Superintendent for
Campus Services Patty Meyer, Superintendent of Schools
Richard Matkin and Associate Superintendent for
District Services Dr. Cathy Galloway.
Superintendent and Student Advisory Committee Share Issues of Importance
Superintendent Richard Matkin meets monthly with student representatives from the district’s three senior high schools to share
issues of mutual importance. During meetings, the juniors and seniors share their concerns and celebrations with Mr. Matkin and his
leadership team and offer their input and perspective on district issues and initiatives.
“Significant to my role as superintendent of schools is gaining community input from a variety of leaders, including our student
leaders,” noted Mr. Matkin. “The Student Advisory Committee affords an opportunity for me to hear what is important to our
students, to share information with them about new and innovative district programming and to seek their advice regarding
programs that directly affect them.”
Annual MLK Tribute Event Showcases Student Talent & Celebrates Community Diversity
Hundreds of students, educators and community leaders attended Plano ISD’s Martin Luther King, Jr., tribute event in January,
2013, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King and the diversity in our community. Held at Williams High School, the MLK Tribute
showcased students through musical entertainment, essay readings and theatrical performances. Awards were presented to MLK art
contest winners and for diversity leadership.
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Plano ISD and Law Enforcement Partner for Added
Security
Many Plano ISD Schools Host Cultural Diversity Celebrations
In addition to the school district’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Tribute held each
January, many schools host celebrations of diversity at the campus level. Schools
across Plano ISD celebrate the numerous cultures that make up their communities
during evening and other school-wide events. PTAs, families, teachers, parents and
students gather to share food, facts and fun as they appreciate their differences and
similarities in these district-wide occasions.
Plano ISD launched the Campus Protection Patrol Program
in August 2013, when uniformed police officers contracted
through local law enforcement agencies began patrolling
middle, elementary and early childhood schools in marked
police vehicles provided by Plano ISD. This program and
other new security features complement Plano ISD’s existing
measures and provide added safety to all campuses. The
security of campuses and school facilities remains at the
forefront of district priorities.
Key Communicators Program Encourages Dialogue Between District and
Parents
The Plano ISD Key Communicators program is one of many valuable aspects of the school district’s ongoing, two-way
communications efforts with parents, students and other citizens in the district. The communications department coordinates
the Key Communicator program with a planning committee led by parent volunteer and national PTA board member Sharon
Goldblatt. Each school selects three parents to serve as Key Communicators during each school year. Key Communicators attend
meetings throughout the year at which time the superintendent and other key staff share information and interact with the group.
They also facilitate balanced and factual communication between the district and schools.
Plano ISD Partners with Local Youth Groups & Heritage Farmstead Museum for First-Ever ‘Funtastic Fair’
Plano ISD and the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano partnered with local youth organizations to support the first-ever
“Funtastic Fair” recruitment for Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council and the Plano Family
YMCA in September 2013 at the Farmstead Museum. The free event drew approximately 1,300 students and family members
who came to learn more about the participating youth groups. Families had the opportunity to participate in activities such as
bounce houses, games, crafts, Dutch oven cooking, leather working and more.
“We appreciate Plano ISD and its vision for partnering with local youth organizations and the Farmstead to provide this
opportunity. We had a great first-time event,” said Jayson Killough, Plano Family YMCA vice president of operations. “We look
forward to continuing this successful partnership and building even stronger relationships among these groups.”
School PTAs and District PTA Council Awarded by State for Leadership
Plano ISD Council of PTAs and school PTA members are pictured at the Texas PTA Summer Leadership Seminar held in Dallas.
Plano ISD Council of PTAs, comprising 70 local units with more than 28,000 members, is the key link in the line of communication
between the local, area, state and national PTAs as well as with the school administration and general public. The council serves
to strengthen local PTAs, develop leadership potential, promote membership and serve the community and its children. For its
excellent service, the district council captured the Texas PTA Gold Award for “Outstanding PTA Council,” and several school
PTAs were awarded by the state PTA for their websites and newsletters, parent education, legislative action, arts education and
environmental education.
Plano PTA leaders pictured at the 2013 Texas PTA Summer
Leadership Seminar held in Dallas.