Staff LifeLeader
August 24, 2022
Rise & Shine
February 2026
IN THIS EDITION:
- District Updates
- Strategic Initiatives
- Employee Engagement
- Operational Updates
- Teacher and Staff Recognition
- LifeLeader Smiles
Life’s Finest - Where Students Shine Bright
Follow for Quick Family Support Tools
Our mission comes to life when schools and families grow together. The Partners for Life Instagram page highlights simple ways character, leadership, and learning are reinforced at home and at school—supporting our shared work of preparing students to be Ready to Learn, Ready to Lead, and Ready for Life.
Annual LifeLeader Award Nominations
Life School Cedar Hill Community Partner
We are honored to recognize High Pointe Baptist Church as a faithful community partner of Life School Cedar Hill. For several years, they have poured into our campus by serving as reading partners, supporting student rewards, and helping prepare incentives throughout the year. They consistently show appreciation for our staff through monthly snack carts, a back-to-school breakfast, a teacher appreciation lunch, generous gift cards for every team member, and support for campus events like Math Night and Fall Festival. Above all, they faithfully cover our campus in prayer. Their generosity ensures our staff feel seen, valued, and supported, and we are truly grateful for their partnership in developing strong LifeLeaders.
New Student Enrollment - Refer a Friend to Apply to Life School Today
Enrollment for the current school year for new students is still open. If you have family or friends interested in attending Life School this year, please share their contact information by completing this referral form or have them visit Life School Enrollment to apply today. New enrollment for 2026-2027 opened February 1st for all new students.
Life School Career Fair - Earn a Referral Bonus
We will be hosting a Career Fair on Monday, April 27th, from 5:30-6:30 pm at our Life School Central Office.
Please share with great people like yourself who might be interested in joining the Life School Team…AND earn a referral bonus if they are hired! To complete the referral form, please visit the extranet under Forms and Documents or use this link.
Staff Online Resources
EAP - Free Confidential Counseling Sessions - 888-628-4824 (NEW provider))
Frontline Employee Service Center (view paychecks and check leave balances)
Staff Communication (District Newsletters and “All Staff” Emails)
The mission of Life School is to develop leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community.
K–2 Literacy on the Rise (DIBELS)
Our K–2 DIBELS data is showing encouraging growth. The percentage of students scoring at or above the composite benchmark has increased by 6% since the beginning-of-year data. Thank you for your continued focus on providing intervention support based on individual student needs. Your intentional work is helping students make meaningful progress.
Secondary Spotlight: Life High School Waxahachie – SAT Preparation
We want to highlight the strong work happening at Life High School Waxahachie to prepare students for SAT success. The campus is supporting students strategically through a clear, team-driven plan:
Daily practice: Teachers embed SAT-aligned bell ringers in Math and Reading.
Student ownership: PSAT results are reviewed with students to help them clearly understand their strengths and growth areas.
Personal challenge: Students complete a 7-module online study plan to build skills and confidence.
Thank you to the staff leading this work. Your collaboration and focus on student readiness strongly align with our district goals.
Rise Together - Building Trust Instead of Tension
At Life School, we know that strong teams do not happen by accident. They are built when people understand themselves and take time to understand one another. This month, we are excited to share our new CliftonStrengths Teamwork Cards with all staff. These cards were designed to help you see how your strengths show up in everyday work, how they can support your teammates, and how to navigate conflict in a way that builds trust instead of tension. Each card offers practical guidance for teaching, collaborating, and working through challenges, grounded in the unique value you bring to your campus.
The Way of Life in Athletics & Fine Arts
At Life School, extracurricular activities are a key opportunity for students to learn and apply LifeLeader attributes in real-world settings. To support this belief, The Way of Life Playbooks were created for Athletics and Fine Arts, providing coaches and directors with ready-to-use character and leadership lessons rooted in activity-specific examples. With a clear and practical framework, educators can intentionally connect character development to practices, performances, competitions, and teamwork—allowing them to focus on meaningful conversations that reinforce our mission beyond the classroom.
In Fine Arts, students recently led peers through discussions on writing effective artist statements by identifying key ideas, determining what information mattered most, and responding to questions. (Click here to view The Way of Life Playbook for Fine Arts)
In Athletics, coaches are guiding student-athletes through character lessons that encourage reflection on collaboration, effective communication, and information literacy in real game and practice situations. (Click here to view The Way of Life Playbook for Athletics)
The Way of Life is an example of how our mission transitions from words to action, cultivating meaningful connections to purpose in our daily work.
K-6 4th Nine Weeks Planning Guides
We’re excited to share that the Elementary Curriculum Planning Guides for the 4th Nine Weeks will be updated by the end of February for:
K–6 Literacy
K-6 Math
K-6 Science
These guides are designed to help teachers:
Navigate and use our district curriculum resources more easily
Access key information in one streamlined document
Receive clear, aligned support for strong instruction across the district
LSEF GEM Spotlight
Congratulations to Amanda Powell, District Life Habits Coach, our G.E.M. (Give Every Month) Member of the Month! Amanda has been generously giving every month since 2024, and this month her name was drawn to be recognized for her consistent support of Life School. Thank you, Amanda, for your ongoing generosity and dedication, you truly embody what it means to be a LifeLeader! You have won a gift card! The Education Foundation will deliver your card this week.
LifeLeader Smiles
LifeLeader Smiles are a great way to share all the amazing things our people are doing every day! All SMILES get published to the Extranet. Have you shared a smile lately?
When we Rise & Shine, we don’t all shine in the same way—and that’s what makes our work so powerful. This month, we’re celebrating staff whose everyday actions reflect a range of LifeLeader attributes, each showing up in meaningful, mission-driven ways.
Whether it’s leading with integrity, communicating with clarity, supporting others with heart, solving problems with care, or working collaboratively behind the scenes, these examples remind us that our light shines brightest when we use our strengths to serve others. Below are this month’s LifeLeader Smiles—five moments where our staff clearly Rise & Shine.
Calvin Davis, you are doing great things with the Mock Recruiting Interviews. It is well organized, thorough, and helpful for the students. Thank you for supporting our student athletes on and off the field. You are a difference maker! #EthicalLeadership
Angie Talbert, thank you for being such an amazing coach and for how you consistently show up for our LIP meetings. From exemplars to explicit instruction, you provide clear guidance that truly helps us grow as educators. Your support pushes us to be better for our students. I appreciate you more than you know. #EffectiveCommunicator
Valencia Cavitt, I was SO impressed with your Life Habits lesson this morning! You led incredible discussions with your students. I loved the worry bubble at the end. Thank you so much for investing in our students' social and emotional well-being! #SocialAwareness
Traci Mills, I’m so proud of you and the strength you continue to show. You always show up for others with so much heart, and I truly appreciate the way you care and support those around you. #Collaborative
Our Mission
The Mission of Life School is to develop leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community.