W. T. White Vertical Team

“Strong instruction begins before the lesson. Protect the time, prepare for the work, and make every PLC count.”

In Week 13, we examined student work to determine what our instruction accomplished and where adjustments were needed. As we enter Week 14, our focus shifts to executing look-forward PLCs that prepare teachers for upcoming instruction. This requires a consistent schedule, preparation from administrators and teachers, and clear responsibilities for everyone at the table.

Start with the schedule. Every PLC should take place on an established day and at a designated time, with clear start and end times. Communicate the location, instructional focus, and required materials in advance. Protect this time from competing meetings and routine interruptions. When leaders consistently prioritize PLCs, they establish the expectation that collaborative planning is essential to our instructional work.

Administrators must arrive prepared to lead and support the conversation. Review the upcoming standards, curriculum, and assessment expectations before the meeting. Examine the tasks students will complete and anticipate where teachers may need support. Establish an agenda with enough time to unpack the learning, plan instruction, and rehearse. Preparation allows leaders to ask focused questions, address gaps, and help teams make sound instructional decisions.

Teachers must also complete the preparation needed to contribute. Bring the upcoming lesson materials, complete the selected student task, and develop or review an exemplar. Consider what students must know and do, which prerequisite skills they will need, and where they may struggle. Arriving with that thinking underway gives the team time to strengthen instruction together.

Assign clear roles so the meeting moves with purpose. Identify who will facilitate, monitor time, capture instructional decisions, and bring the team back to the standard when the conversation drifts. Every teacher should contribute ideas, ask questions, and be ready to practice. Roles provide structure, while the responsibility for strong planning belongs to the entire team.

During the PLC, keep the conversation anchored in upcoming instruction. What does the standard require? What will successful student work look like? How will teachers model the thinking students need to do? Anticipate misconceptions and plan the questions, scaffolds, and practice that will help students work through them. Agree on how students will demonstrate understanding independently and how teachers will respond when additional support or extension is needed.

Make rehearsal part of the work. Ask teachers to practice the model, deliver a key question, or explain how they will respond to a likely misconception. Give specific feedback and allow time to refine the approach. A plan becomes more useful when teachers have worked through how they will teach it.

Close with clear commitments. Confirm what will be taught, when it will be taught, and which materials or adjustments must be ready. Each teacher should leave prepared to deliver the lesson. Administrators should leave knowing which instructional practices to look for during spot observations and where follow-up support is needed.

This week, leadership teams should be able to answer: Are PLCs happening on the scheduled day and time? Are administrators and teachers arriving prepared? Does everyone understand their role? Are teachers leaving ready to execute the instruction they planned?

The quality of a PLC depends on how we prepare, how we use the time, and how we follow through. Set the conditions, lead the work, and ensure that every look-forward PLC strengthens the instruction students will receive.

Charge on!

Garet Feimster

Executive Director

W. T. White Feeder Pattern

Monday, November 9th

• Staff Climate Survey (Window 11/2-11/13)
• Submit TSIA2 Results to ED
• Dallas ISD Kindness Week - November 9-13
• ED Campus Visit
• Junkins
• Caillet

Tuesday, November 10th

• Conduct fire drills before the 15th

• School Leadership/Superintendent Campus Visits Day (Have your one data page ready)
• ED Campus
• Marcus
• Walker
• N. Adams

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)
• Thanksgiving Meal
• TSIA2 Test Make Ups Due (Grades 10-12)

Friday, November 13th

• Staff Climate Survey (Last Day 11/2-11/13)
• Operation: Math Magic (UPDATE DISTRICT TRACKER)
  
  • Checkpoint 3 due date November 13th, 2026
• SCEI Goal-Setting Task submissions due November 13, 2026.
  
• 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)
• Designate a Campus Employee Giving Campaign Champion. Submit your champion here.

• DTR Opt-In Task for Round 2 Teachers

• Primary Appraisers must approve DTR Applications by 5 PM

• Dallas ISD Kindness Week - November 9-13

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

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