W. T. White Vertical Team

“Student work tells us whether our plans are working. Our next steps must reflect what we find.”

In Week 12, we focused on disciplined execution through PLCs, timely spot observations and feedback, and intentional lab blocks and tutoring. As we enter Week 13, we must look closely at the results of that execution. Did students learn what we intended? Where are they still struggling, and what will we do differently? This week, our focus is on meaningful look-back PLCs grounded in student work.

Teams should bring the standard, the task, an exemplar, and student work samples that represent different levels of understanding. Examine what students were expected to know and do, then compare that expectation with what their work actually shows. Look beyond whether an answer is correct. Can students explain their thinking, apply the skill independently, and demonstrate the depth of understanding the standard requires?

The conversation must move beyond “students did not understand.” Pinpoint where understanding broke down. Was there a gap in prerequisite knowledge, a procedural error, or a misconception? Did the task give students an opportunity to demonstrate the full standard? These distinctions matter because they determine the instructional response. Repeating the same lesson will not necessarily address the problem.

Every look-back PLC should end with a specific plan. Identify the students who need additional support, the exact skill or concept to address, and how instruction will change. Teams should plan the modeling, questions, and practice students need, along with a brief check to determine whether the reteach worked. Students who have demonstrated mastery also need purposeful opportunities to extend their learning. Establish when teams will bring new evidence back to the table.

Leaders must connect these decisions to classroom practice. Use spot observations to determine whether the adjustments planned in PLCs are showing up in instruction, and provide timely feedback that helps teachers strengthen their response. Lab blocks and tutoring should reflect the same findings. Update groups and targeted skills based on current student work, then check whether students can demonstrate learning independently.

This week, leadership teams should be able to answer: What did student work reveal about the impact of our instruction? Which misconceptions require immediate attention? What will teachers adjust, and when will we know whether those adjustments worked?

Looking back is an essential part of moving forward. Protect the time, press for specificity, and ensure that what we learn from student work changes what happens next for students.

Charge on!

Sunday, November 1st

• 🕐Daylight Saving Time 🍂Fall Back🍂

Monday, November 2nd

• Fall Roster Verification of SPED Teachers Above Ratio
• DTR Round 2 Opt-In Task Launches in Cornerstone
• Staff Climate Survey (Tentative window 11/2-11/13)
• TSIA2 Test procedures due
• ED Campus Visit
• Caillet
• N. Adams
• Marsh

Tuesday, November 3rd

• Professional Development - Flex Day 2
• Staff Climate Survey (Tentative window 11/2-11/13)
• Election Day See WAIP for more info (10/29 WAIP) / No School for students

Wednesday, November 4th

• School Leadership/Superintendent Campus Visits Day (Have your one data page ready)
• Staff Climate Survey (Tentative window 11/2-11/13)
• TSIA2 Test (Grades 10-12) Window 11/2 - 11/6 Secure Assessment Protocols Required
• 4 Week Progress Reports Distributed
• ED Campus Visit
• Prestonwood
• Walker
• Bush

Thursday, November 5th

• School Leadership/Superintendent Campus Visits Day (Have your one data page ready)
• Staff Climate Survey (Tentative window 11/2-11/13)
• Round 1 DTR Application Window Closes at 12:00 pm (noon)
• TSIA2 Test (Grades 10-12)
• ED Campus Visit
• Chapel Hill
• WTW
• DeGolyer
• Board Meeting

Friday, November 6th

• Staff Climate Survey (Tentative window 11/2-11/13)

• RVI-IF Huddle
• 26-27 ED Meeting
• RVI ED Huddle Mtg.
• PEIMS Fall Snapshot date
• Field Trip & Fundraiser DEADLINE
• SBDM Meeting Due to Title 1 Crate
• Window to document designated supports for eligible students in MyData Portal Oct. 14 - Nov. 6. (9/24 WAIP)
• Discover Dallas ISD Set Up: Campuses are encouraged to set up their space from 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Friday, November 6 (9/17 WAIP)

Saturday, November 7th

Monday, November 9th

• ED Leadership Series: Planning Session @ 9400

Tuesday, November 10th

• Conduct fire drills before the 15th

• School Leadership/Superintendent Campus Visits Day (Have your one data page ready)

Wednesday, November 11th

• Veterans Day
• School Leadership/Superintendent Campus Visits Day (Have your one data page ready)

• Region VI AP Meeting @ Cigarroa

Thursday, November 12th

• School Leadership/Superintendent Campus Visits Day (Have your one data page ready)
• 10:00 a.m. Mandatory Office Manager & Financial Clerk Mtg (8/27 WAIP)

Friday, November 13th

• RVI-IF Huddle
• 26-27 ED Meeting
• RVI ED Huddle Mtg.
• The SCEI Goal-Setting Task will launch in Cornerstone on October 19, 2026, with submissions due November 13, 2026. Primary appraisers are responsible for scoring the submitted goals. (10/15 WAIP)
• Required Fire Drill Completed
• Submit December Testing Plan to ED
• Deadline to request special administrations for TELPAS and spring STAAR 3-8 and STAAR EOC. (9/24 WAIP)
• Quality Check Spot Observations with Admin. Team (status, feedback, follow up)
• PtE/SSS campus principals monitor Teacher Acceleration Plans (status and review)
• Monitor Teacher Support Plan for any teacher Progressing 1 or below created (status and review)

Saturday, November 14th

• ADSY Campuses: Saturday Session

The 2026-2027 Principal Monthly Maps are a working document. Items and dates are subject to change, even up until the month they occur. Please check back regularly for updates, as new items and adjusted deadlines will be added continuously as new WAIP memos are published throughout the school year.

November

National Native American Heritage Month

National Family Literacy Month

National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

1- All Saints Day

2- All Souls Day

2-6 TSIA2 GRD 10-12

2-6 National School Psychology Week

3- Professional Development

4- National Stress Awareness Day

8- National STEM Day Diwali

9-13 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) GRD 10-12

10- Birth of the Bab

14- World Diabetes Day

14- ADSY Instructional School Day

15- America Recycles Day

16-Dec. 4 End of Course (EOC) Physical Fitness Assessment (Fall semester only courses)*PE Teachers Only Grades All

18- National Educational Support Professionals Day

20- Future Teachers of America Day Substitute Educators’ Day

27- Native American Heritage Day3 - Professional Development

23-27 Thanksgiving Break Staff/Student Holiday

30-Dec.4 i-Ready Reading-English & Math-English & Spanish (MOY) i-Ready Reading-Spanish Secure Assessment Protocols Required for grades 1-8 Grades K-8

30-Dec 4 Primary Week STAAR EOC: English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History Grades 9-12

30-Jan. 4 G/T Testing (NNAT-3) Grades K-5

December

1 - Happy Birthday Principal Miller

4- First Day of Hanukkah*

7-11 Make-up week STAAR EOC: English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History Grades 9-12

7-11 Standards Mastery Check Q2- Reading Language Arts & Math Grade 3-8

8- Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)

12- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

14- ADSY Instructional School Day

14-18 Advanced Placement (AP) Mastery Assessments-Quarter 2 (AP courses only) Grade 9-12 AP Students Only

16-17 Secondary Early Release Day

18- All School Early Release Day

18- End 2nd Nine Weeks

21-31 Winter Break Staff/Student Holiday

21- Yule/Winter Solstice

25- Christmas

26- Kwanza (through Jan. 1) Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra)

January

National Mentoring Month

School Board Recognition Month

1- New Year

1-4 Winter Break Staff/Student Holiday

Happy Birthday, Principal Wallace

5- Professional Development

6-15 CIRCLE MOY Grade Pre-K

6-20 Assessment of Course Performance (ACP) Makeup window (*Grade 5 has an ACP for science only) Secure Assessment Protocols Required for District ACPs Grades 5-12

6- Begin 3rd Nine Weeks

6- Epiphany

9- ADSY Instructional School Day

18- Martin Luther King Jr. Staff/Student Holiday

22- *Registration deadline Credit by Examination for Acceleration (CEFA) & Credit by Examination (CBE) Testing Window: Feb. 22-Mar. 26 Grades K-12

22- Mahayana New Year*

25- High School Parent Conference

26- Middle School Parent Conference

26 - Happy Birthday Principal Davila

28- Elementary School Parent Conference

February

Black History Month

1-5 National School Counseling Week

1-5 Spanish Language Proficiency Exam Participating campuses will receive an email Grades 6 & 8

3- Setsubun

6- Lunar New Year

6- ADSY Instructional School Day

8- Mar. 30 Iowa (for Emergent Bilingual Reclassification/Exit) *Score Report Date: May 21 Grades 1,2,11,12

8- First Day of Ramadan

10- Ash Wednesday

11- International Day of Women and Girls in Science

15 - Mar. 5 DISD Deadlines Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) Grades K-12

15-Mar. 26 Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System Alternate (TELPAS Alternate) (2- 12 Holistic) Grades 2-12

15- Nirvana Day

15- Presidents' Holiday Staff/Student Holiday

16-19 Standards Mastery Check - Q3 English I & English II Grades 9-12

22-26 National Public Schools Week

22-26 Standards Mastery Check - Q3 3-8 Reading Language Arts Grades 3-8 Standards Mastery Check - Q3 Algebra, Biology, US History Grades 9-12

March

Women’s History Month

1-5 Standards Mastery Check - Q3 Math Science 5 & 8 Social Studies 8 Grades 3-8

1–5 National School Breakfast Week

1-12 Preview STAAR Alternate 2 Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 3-8, EOC Subjects

2- Read Across America Day World Teen Mental Health Day

3- SAT School Day (Primary Date) Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 11

4- Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day

5- Employee Appreciation Day

5 - End 3rd Nine Weeks

8 - Begin 4th Nine Weeks

8-12 Make-Ups (K-1 Holistic; 2-12 Online Reading/Writing & Listening/Speaking) Grades K-12

8-12 National School Social Work Week

8-25 Data Entry EOC (End of Course) Physical Fitness Assessment (Spring semester only courses & yearlong courses)*PE Teachers Only Grades ALL

9- Eid al-Fitr

9-12 Fast-Track ACP- Semester 1/Quarterly ACP *Score Report Date: 24 hours after testing Grds9- 12

15- April 16 Assessments (State Windows) STAAR Alternate 2 Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 3-8, EOC Subjects

15-19 Spring Break Staff/Student Holiday

20- Nowruz Ostara

21- Palm Sunday

21-28 Senior Survey Grade 12

22- Purim* Holi

24- SAT In-School Test Day (Make-Up Date) Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grade 11

22-26 Panorama Student Experience Surveys Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 3-12

22-26 TSIA2(*10-11 Pre-Reqs./Single subject only) Grades 12 *10-11

26- Staff/Student Holiday

26- State Deadlines (K-1 Holistic; 2-12 Online Reading/Writing & Listening/Speaking) Secure Assessment Protocols Required grades K-12

28- Easter

29 - Inclement Weather Day

29 - Happy Birthday Principal Carter

April

National Arab American Heritage Month

Stress Awareness Month

School Library Month

2- Happy Birthday, Principal Sigurdson

4- School Librarian Appreciation Day

5-9 National Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

5-9 Primary Week STAAR Reading Language Arts STAAR EOC English I, English II Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 3-8 & 9-12

7- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

9- Registration Deadlines Credit by Examination for Acceleration (CEFA) Credit by Examination (CBE) Testing Window: Jun. 14-25 Grades K-12

12- Theravada New Year

12-16 Make-Up Week TAAR Reading Language Arts STAAR EOC English I, English II Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 3-8 & 9-12

12-16 Primary Week STAAR Science Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 5,7Advance, 8 STAAR Social Studies Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 8 STAAR EOC: Biology, U.S. History Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 9-12

19-23 Public Schools Volunteer Week

19-23 Make-up week: STAAR Science Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 5,7Advance, 8 STAAR Social Studies Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 8 STAAR EOC: Biology, U.S. History Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 9-12

19-23 Primary Week STAAR Mathematics 3-8 Secure Assessment Protocols Required

Grades 3-8 STAAR EOC: Algebra I Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 9-12

19- Inclement Weather Day

21- Passover* National Administrative Professionals Day

22- Earth Day

26-30 Make-up week Primary Week STAAR Mathematics 3-8 Secure Assessment Protocols Required

Grades 3-8 STAAR EOC: Algebra I Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 9-12

26-May 7 EOY CIRCLE Pre-K

27- School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

May

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month

National Mental Health Awareness Month

1- School Principals’ Day Beltane

2- Orthodox Easter

3- Yom HaShoah

3-7 Teacher Appreciation Week

7- School Lunch Hero Day

10-14 TSIA2 (Upon completion of English III/Algebra II) Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grade 9-12

12- School Nurse Day

14- School Communicators Day

17- Eid al-Adha

17-21 TSIA2 Math (8th grade Accelerated Testers only)

20-21, 24-26 Assessment of Course Performance (ACP)Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 6-12

24-25 Secondary Early Release

26- All Early Release

26- Teacher Workday

27- Teacher Workday

27-June 10 Assessment of Course Performance (ACP) Makeup Window Grades 6-12

31- Memorial Day Staff/Student Holiday

June

Pride Month

6- National Higher Education Day

14- Ashura*

14-17 STAAR EOC: English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 9-12

19- Juneteenth National Independence Day

21-24 STAAR EOC: English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History Secure Assessment Protocols Required Grades 9-12

23- International Women in Engineering Day

29-Happy Birthday, Mrs. Alfaro

July

9 - Happy Birthday Principal Ruiz

14 - Happy Birthday Principal Singh

*

SDS = Student Data Services (registrars, data controllers, etc.)

ADA = Attendance Administrator (Truancy, etc.)

VTAC = Vertical Team Athletic Coordinator

OM/FC = Office Manager/ Financial Clerk

NAEP Assessment Window = Late Jan.-Early March (Math Grades 4/8; Reading Grades 4/8; Civics Grade 8: US History Grade 8)

Begins at Sunset

District Links

Talent Management System https://resources.dallasisd.org/adfs/ls/

Cornerstone https://www.dallasisd.org/cornerstone

School Leadership https://sites.google.com/dallasisd.org/schoolleadershipb/home

Laserfiche https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/49053

PowerSchool https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/49868

Employee Resources https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/6226

MyData Portal https://mydata.dallasisd.org/

TEI https://tei.dallasisd.org/

Teach Like a Champion https://texastlaconline.org/

Personalized Learning Toolbox: https://www.thepltoolbox.com/

The high school and vertical team, named in honor of the Dallas school superintendent who served from 1946 to 1968, is located in Northwest Dallas, about a mile southwest of the Interstate 635 (LBJ Freeway) and Dallas North Tollway intersection. Parts of North Dallas are zoned to W. T. White, and sections of Addison, Carrollton, and Farmers Branch

Email: gfeimster@dallasisd.org

Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/

Location: Dallas Independent School District, 9400 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX, USA

Phone: 972-925-3185

Twitter: @wtwhitevt