PfISD Employee Express

National Bullying Prevention Month

National School Principal Month

Disabilities Awareness Month

Oct. 19-23: Nat’l School Bus Safety Week

Oct. 22: Regular Board Meeting

Oct. 23: Open Enrollment for Benefits Ends

Oct. 23-31: Red Ribbon Week

Each year, Pflugerville ISD puts in considerable effort to ensure that all employee information is accurate. Please take a moment to review the two annual verification steps outlined below:

Annual Required Employee Information Verification
To confirm that your records are correct, please log into OEMS using the following link: https://oems.pfisd.net/Dashboard/Verificationform

You can find detailed instructions within the link. Please complete this verification process by October 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Given the number of Employee Data Information Sheets our Human Resources staff needs to review, we appreciate your patience as we address any comments or concerns you submit.

If you have any questions about the information listed, please reach out to us at personnel@pfisd.net.

Verification of Certification(s)

• Per Texas Administrative Code 19, part of the District’s annual employee verification process, all staff are required to access their certifications in TEAL to ensure that all required certificates have not expired. If any certification required for your current position has expired, please follow the instructions below to renew your certificate(s) no later than October 30, 2026.

• TAC Reference: 19 TAC §232.1(c)

• A certification audit will be conducted by Human resources, and staff who have not updated their required certificates will be identified and can be subject to pay and employment implications.

• Six months before your certificate’s expiration date, you will receive an email reminder (sent to the address listed in your educator account) from SBEC directly.

• Please note that staff are responsible for meeting renewal requirements, even if you do not receive the notification from the District as SBEC sends notification of renewal to each staff directly.

• Should you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Certification Specialist, Keitra Johnson in Human Resources.

• Email: Keitra.Johnson@pfisd.net

• TEAL → https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us/

• Renewal Instructions (scroll halfway down the page) → https://helpdesk.tea.texas.gov/EducatorCertificationandCPE/kbadetails/?id=7eae7de1-279d-4879-887a-2c219f492bcc

This is a friendly reminder that the Annual Benefits Open Enrollment is coming to an

end soon!

The enrollment window officially closes this Friday, October 23. Please do not wait until

the last minute.

IMPORTANT: This year is an ACTIVE ENROLLMENT. To keep your medical coverage, you MUST log in to FFenroll and actively elect your benefits.

How to Complete Your Enrollment:

• Log in to ClassLink using your district credentials.
• Select the "FFenroll" tile.
• Review your benefit options and submit your elections.

Visit the Employee Benefits Center (EBC) to read more about your enrollment and

benefit options. Visit the EBC

For benefit questions or help with enrollment, please contact your First Financial Group

Account Managers:

• Cody Tarver: cody.tarver@ffga.com | 903-258-4728

• Edith Bergman: edith.bergman@ffga.com | 619-278-9497

Please take a few minutes to review and/or complete your enrollment and ensure your benefit elections are submitted before the deadline. Once enrollment closes, you will not be able to make changes unless you experience a qualifying life event.

Did You Know? Ampersand Counseling

PfISD employees have access to a local counseling resource through Ampersand Counseling, which accepts both Healthcare Highways and Optum EAP.

Ampersand offers in-person and virtual counseling for individuals ages 5 and older, as well as couples and families. Weeknight and weekend appointments are also available.

📍 Location: 701 FM 685, Suite 450, Pflugerville
📞 Phone: 512-379-7728
🌐 Website: ampersandcounseling.net

For questions about your PfISD benefits, please contact the Benefits Department

Get ready to support our high school Esports teams at the upcoming Monster Mash tournament on October 24th at 9:30 AM!

Be sure to bookmark and check out our Esports Website for the latest news, schedules, and event updates.

Monster Mash High School Esports Event

Date & Time: Saturday, October 24th @ 9:30 AM

Location: District LTC (1601 W Pecan, Pflugerville, TX, 78660)

Featured Games: Rocket League, Fortnite, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 3

Spectator Admission is Free! No registration or participation is required to attend. Come out to cheer on our students, show your district spirit, and join the fun—there will even be a Costume Contest!

Questions: Please reach out to Dustin Beauchamp & Jeri Thompson, District Esports Coaches

Every member of our PfISD Pfamily has a story worth sharing! 💙

We're excited to launch the PfISD Community Mosaic, a new initiative highlighting the people, experiences and moments that make our district special. Whether it's a teacher who made a difference, a program that inspired you or a small act of kindness, we want to hear your story!

Families, staff and community members are invited to participate in a quick, 10-minute chat-based interview. Your story could be featured in future PfISD publications and on our social media channels as we celebrate what makes our Pfamily special.

Ready to share your story?

Click Here to Participate in the PfISD Community Mosaic!

Protecting our families and community online is a shared responsibility, and Pflugerville ISD takes cybersecurity very seriously. As digital tools play an increasingly central role in our students learning and daily lives, keeping our school community safe online remains a top priority.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it a great time to strengthen cybersecurity habits both at school and at home. To support our families, we are sharing a free cybersecurity tool to help check password security and protect against online threats:

KnowBe4 Free Cybersecurity Tools CAPY

This resource is 100% free to use with no account or registration required.

We encourage parents, guardians, and community members to explore these tools as we work together to maintain a safe, secure digital environment for all of our students!

Have an idea that could spark student creativity and learning?

The Pflugerville Education Foundation is accepting applications for Mini Grants of up to $2,000 for all PfISD full-time staff.

Mini Grants can help bring innovative ideas and learning opportunities to life for PfISD students.

💰 Award: Up to $2,000
📅 Application Deadline: October 24, 2026
👥 Who Can Apply: All PfISD full-time staff

Don’t miss the opportunity to turn your idea into something impactful for students!

Did you know PfISD has calendars to help you stay up to date throughout the school year?

In addition to the District Calendar with holidays, professional learning days and other important dates, staff can also reference the Special Dates Calendar for annual recognition days, appreciation weeks, awareness months and other observances.

💡 Check the calendars regularly to help plan ahead and recognize special dates throughout the year!

H-E-B is now accepting applications for the 2027 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, recognizing Texas educators who go above and beyond to serve their students and communities.

In celebration of 25 years of excellence in education, H-E-B will award more than $1 million in cash prizes to Texas educators and their schools in 2027.

All state-certified public school educators currently teaching in Texas, as well as eligible early childhood education centers and schools, are encouraged to apply.

📅 Application Deadline: Nov. 1, 2026
🔗 Learn More & Apply: heblovesteachers.com/apply/

PfISD has announced public hearing dates for each of its five District Optimization Task Forces. These hearings give parents, staff and community members an opportunity to share feedback directly before recommendations move forward.

PUBLIC HEARING DATES

High School Schedule Task Force

October 27 | 5:30 p.m. | Admin Building, Board Room

Innovative Programming Task Force

November 10 | 5:30 p.m. | LTC, Bat Cave

Each hearing is open to the public and will focus on the specific issues assigned to that Task Force.

We encourage our PfISD community to attend, learn more and share your thoughts. Meeting notes and recordings will also be made available on the district website.

Your feedback is an important part of helping shape the future of PfISD.

For more information: https://www.pfisd.net/about-us/district-optimization

Know an elementary student who shows kindness to others, demonstrates positive behavior in and out of the classroom, and leads by example? Nominate them for Ace’s Shining Star Award!

Each month, Ace, PfISD Police Department’s K-9 officer, will select two elementary students to receive the award. Winners will receive a certificate presented by Ace himself, along with a feature on PfISD social media and in The Pflyer.

Ready to nominate a Shining Star? Submit your nomination here!

Help us celebrate the students who make our schools brighter! ⭐🐾

Welcome back to our Pfamily Kudos section! In the coming weeks, you will see messages of appreciation from staff members.

Thank you to our amazing PfISD staff members for everything they do for our students and community!

Want to recognize a staff member who goes above and beyond? Click here to submit your Pfamily Kuddos for the google form.

Hoda Mohamed – C&I (via Carrie Quinney, MES)

“Hoda stayed after hours to help support our families in understanding the transition to Bluebonnet. The resources and information was so helpful! Thank you, Hoda, for taking the time to plan and implement this for our community.”

Avery Kahl – Technology (via Emma Manaway, Kelly Lane MS)

“Avery is AMAZING. He completes a Tech Ticket fast. When on Campus he is always answering Tech questions and is so helpful. He resolves our Tech issues in a friendly manner and is very knowledgeable in his craft. He makes it look easy. Love having him at KLMS.”

Nicole Urbach – English (via Sherri Stone, PACE High School)

“Nicole challenged herself to learn more about how AI is used in the classroom and how she can best manage the essay responses when a student uses it. She has created a flyer for the students on how to use, when best to use and how she will look at what was used when grading. Good Job Nicole for stepping out of your comfort zone.”

Marshelle Fournier, Trish Hargis & Eva Estrada – Office Team (via Sherri Stone, PACE High School)

“Marshelle, Trish and Eva are a wonderful office team. Each of them work so very hard to help with not only student sucess but staff as well. They go above and beyond daily with creating relationship with students, pitching in were needed and keeping the front of the house a welcome place. They really are the best of the best.”

Elizabeth Westbrook – CHS (via Anonymous, CHS)

“Mrs. Westbrook is an exceptional instructional coach whose patience, encouragement, and dedication are evident in the support she provides to teachers and staff. Just one month into the school year, she hosted a breakfast for all new employees to ensure they felt seen, valued, and welcomed into our learning community. She consistently seeks ways to strengthen rigorous instruction across our campus and has a gift for bringing ideas to life. Her optimism, positive energy, and passion for inspiring learning make a meaningful difference for our staff and students!”

Melissa Rangel – CHS (via Anonymous, CHS)

“Mrs. Rangel recently joined our campus as our new testing administrator, and she has already made a positive impact! Coordinating campus testing is a significant responsibility, but she has jumped right in with enthusiasm and dedication. Her approachable nature and collaborative spirit make her a valued addition to our campus. We are so glad to have her on our team! We are so glad you are here Mrs. Rangel!”

Sherri Hammett – Windermere ES (via Becca Feronti, Windermere ES)

“Thank you, Ms. Hammett, for your tireless efforts to help us be the best possible teachers for our kiddos at Windermere!”

Philip Clayton – HR (via Becca Feronti, Windermere ES)

“Thank you, Mr. Clayton, for the community care you exhibit as you support students and staff across the district.”

Christopher Gregory – Instructional Coach (via Becca Feronti, Windermere ES)

“Thank you, Mr. Gregory, for invaluable feedback! Your sticky notes and video coaching leave me feeling uplifted and empowered to grow as an educator.”

Victoria Livers – Bus Driver (via Nicey, Transportation)

“Thank you for stepping up and taking on the last-minute after-school tutorial at WVMS. Despite all the challenges that came up, you remained calm, professional, and focused throughout the process. Your willingness to step in and ensure all students were safely dropped off is truly appreciated. Thank you for going above and beyond to support our students and Transportation team!”

Hendrickson Coaches and Students – Hendrickson High School (via Claire Harvey, MES/PE)

“A massive shoutout to all the coaches who rallied their students for National Walk to School Day! Showing up at 7:05 AM—a full two hours before school starts—to cheer on our younger kids made a world of difference. Our elementary students look up to these high schoolers so much, and their high-energy welcome gave everyone the absolute best start to the day. Thank you for building such a connected community!”

Kelly Lane Band – Kelly Lane (via Claire Harvey, MES/PE)

“A special thank you to the Kelly Lane Middle School Band for bringing so much energy and music to our morning! Having our talented middle school musicians play to welcome everyone set such a fun, celebratory tone for Walk to School Day. The kids and families loved every minute of it—thank you for making the morning so special!”

Genee Noel and Dr. Bloodworth – Student Affairs (via Mott Admin, Mott El)

“A heartfelt THANK YOU to Genee Noel and Dr. Bloodworth for their continuous support, collaboration, and willingness to brainstorm and work through various situations alongside campus administrators!

Your prompt responses, open communication, and willingness to step in when urgent needs arise do not go unnoticed. We especially appreciate the thoughtful systems and streamlined processes you have worked to establish, making it easier for campus administrators to navigate challenges and focus on the important work happening in our schools every day.

Your efforts have truly been a catalyst for positive change, strengthening collaboration and making a meaningful difference across our campuses.

Thank you for consistently thinking of innovative ways to support, empower, and advocate for campus administrators. Your partnership and dedication are truly appreciated!”

Ana Sanchez – Westview Middle School (via Mr. Anonymous, Westview Middle School)

“Dearest Gentle Reader, There are some among us who possess the remarkable ability to make an ordinary day appear entirely manageable. And then, there is Mrs. Ana Sanchez, who appears to have made the questionable decision to manage all of them. As the esteemed head of the English Language Arts department, Mrs. Sanchez has established herself as a woman of considerable standards. Not merely standards for others, mind you, but standards for herself so exceedingly high that on sometimes wonders whether she has ever heard the phrase “That is good enough.” I suspect she has heard it. I simply suspect she rejected it. For Mrs. Sanchez, an ELA department meeting is not merely a meeting. A lesson is not merely a lesson. A volleyball practice is not merely a volleyball practice. And apparently, being a parent is not merely being a parent. Each endeavor must be done properly, thoughtfully, and, if Mrs. Sanchez has anything to say about it, exceptionally.Her expectations for her department can, on occasion, be described as... ambitious. Perhaps even slightly relentless. There are moments when one might find oneself wondering, “Must we really do all of that?” Yet, dear Reader, this is where Mrs. Sanchez becomes rather inconveniently difficult to criticize. For time and again, those lofty expectations bear fruit. The ELA department succeeds. Students grow. Teachers improve. And the results speak rather loudly for themselves.Of course, Mrs. Sanchez's talents do not end when the final bell rings. She can be found coaching seventh-grade volleyball, where I imagine her expectations remain every bit as high. One suspects that “good effort” is appreciated, but “excellent execution” is preferred. And then there is Mrs. Sanchez the parent, another role she appears to approach with the same determination she brings to everything else. She is, in every sense, deeply invested in the people around her.Her students, especially, know exactly who they are dealing with. Mrs. Sanchez knows them too. She knows their strengths, their struggles, their habits, and, one imagines, precisely how much nonsense they are capable of producing before she notices. They may call her tough, and they would not be entirely wrong, but they also know something else: she cares.Perhaps that is the secret behind the high standards. Perhaps beneath the deadlines, expectations, corrections, and relentless pursuit of better lies a woman who simply refuses to give up on the people entrusted to her.And yet, dear Reader, there is one peculiar tragedy in all of this.Much of Mrs. Sanchez's finest work happens quietly. The extra effort. The countless decisions. The problems solved before anyone else realizes there was a problem. The support offered behind the scenes. The hours spent making sure students, teachers, and her department have what they need to succeed.Such work rarely receives applause.But Mr. Anonymous has been watching.And while Mrs. Sanchez may occasionally run herself completely ragged in pursuit of excellence, the accomplishments of the English Language Arts department stand as rather compelling evidence that her tireless determination is not without purpose. So let us raise our metaphorical (and in this author's case, literal) teacups to Mrs. Ana Sanchez: department head, volleyball coach, devoted parent, demanding colleague, formidable educator, and, whether she likes it or not, a rather remarkable woman.One can only hope she will allow herself to rest long enough to enjoy the success she has helped create. Yours Most Observantly,”

Thanks for reading all the way through this week's staff newsletter! As a little reward, here's your weekly dose of cuteness.

Meet This Week's Pfurry Friends!

🐶 Dog Pfeature of the week!

Name: Bolt

Owner: Somer D. Niemann (SPED)

Fun Fact: Bolt was named after the lighting bolt birthmark on her forehead but has grown into her name chasing after squirrels and rabbits!

🐱Cat Pfeature of the Week!

🐾 Want to see your pet featured? Fill out the form below—we’d love to spotlight your furry, feathered, or scaly family member!

👀 Check back next week to see which furry friend we feature next!