Staff LifeLeader
August 24, 2022
Unbox Potential
July 2026
IN THIS EDITION:
- District Updates
- Strategic Initiatives
- Employee Engagement
- Operational Updates
- LifeLeader Smiles
Start of Year Checklist
Benefits Open Enrollment: July 14 – August 14, 2026
The 2026-2027 TRS ActiveCare plans and rates are available for the upcoming school year. Click here to see the new rates. The provider network will remain in Blue Cross Blue Shield, ensuring minimal disruption to your current medical care and continued access to trusted providers.
Full plan details, our interactive benefit guide, and the 2026-2027 plan year benefits presentation are available on The Benefits HUB at www.mybenefitshub.com/lifeschoolofdallas. Questions? Reach out to your Benefits Team at benefits@lifeschools.net or meet them in person at Convocation on July 30th (after the program in the foyer).
GEM of the Month / Become a GEM!
Congratulations to Nitia Harris at LSOC for becoming this month’s GEM. Nitia has been a GEM member since 2024! At convocation, please stop by the LSEF table to pick up your gift card. Thank you for making an impact all year long!
Last school year, more than 240 Life School employees gave through GEM (Gives Every Month), helping the Life School Education Foundation provide over $40,000 in scholarships, classroom grants, and support for Mentors Care. As Open Enrollment begins, we invite you to choose to be a GEM through a payroll deduction by selecting your benefits before August 14th. If you have already completed your benefits, you can still become a GEM by filling out this form!
New Student Enrollment - Refer a Friend to Apply to Life School Today
Life Christian Academy Pre-K - Tuition Benefit for Staff
Staff Online Resources
Frontline Employee Service Center (view paychecks and check leave balances)
EAP - Free Confidential Counseling Sessions - 888-628-4824
Staff Communication (District Newsletters and “All Staff” Emails)
Unboxing the Next Step in LifeLeader
These commitments build upon the Elementary LifeLeader School Rules introduced last year, which were collaboratively developed through input from the Superintendent Advisory Team and administrators. Together, the elementary rules and secondary commitments reflect a progression from students simply following rules to taking ownership of how they lead themselves and interact with others.
The development of the secondary commitments continued that collaborative process by incorporating student voice. District administrators partnered with students in the Education and Training classes at both high schools to help shape the language and direction of the commitments. Students emphasized the importance of language centered around ownership, accountability, and leadership rather than simply being “told” what to do.
The progression from the elementary rules to the secondary commitments includes:
Be Responsible & Respectful → Contribute to a Focused Learning Environment
Make Good Choices → Own Your Choices
Be Positive & Kind → Lead with Respect
Act with Integrity was added as a new commitment to challenge students to think critically, make ethical decisions, and do what is right even when no one is watching.
These commitments are designed to create shared expectations around student behavior while continuing to grow students as LifeLeaders who think critically, communicate effectively, make responsible choices, and positively contribute to their school community. As the commitments are introduced this school year, students and staff will continue to help shape what these commitments look like in everyday interactions across classrooms and campuses.
The four LifeLeader Commitments for Secondary are:
Contribute to a Focused Learning Environment
Own Your Choices
Lead with Respect
Act with Integrity
Discover The Potential Within (using CliftonStrengths)
Sometimes potential is obvious. Other times, it simply needs someone willing to see it, encourage it, and help it unfold. As we begin another year together, let's commit to creating a culture where every person is valued, every gift has room to grow, and potential is revealed one conversation, one relationship, and one opportunity at a time.
One of the best ways to begin that journey is to understand the unique talents each of us has within us. Your CliftonStrengths offer powerful insight into how you naturally think, feel, and act; and Gallup Access provides a wealth of resources to help you develop those talents into strengths.
As you prepare for the year ahead, take a few minutes to revisit your Strengths and the Strengths of your teammates (using the Gallup icon on ClassLink) and learn more about the people you serve alongside.
The better we understand ourselves and one another, the better equipped we'll be to help every student and every teammate reach their full potential.
Supportive and Collaborative Resources
We are excited to have everyone back on campus. If there is any support you need, please ask. Here are some quick links to help find support for any questions you may have.
Welcome Book - This is shared with new hires, but helpful for anyone. Check it out to know how to contact any department at Central Office.
Onboarding Engagement Guide - A resource for teachers new to the district, but helpful for all teachers in clarifying who to go to for academic support.
EAP - Free Confidential Counseling Sessions (888-628-4824) - Available to all employees throughout the year.
WDYT? Suggestion Box - The WDYT? Topic under Let’s Talk is available for staff to provide ideas and suggestions to help us achieve strategic, operational, and employee engagement goals.
Curriculum Planning Tools for 2026–27
As you begin preparing for the 2026–2027 school year, curriculum planning resources are now available to help you review upcoming content and begin planning for the first nine weeks of instruction.
Click Here to access the following info on the Extranet:
Year-at-a-Glance Calendars (YAGs)
1st Nine Weeks Curriculum Planning Guides (CPGs)
Please note that only the 1st Nine Weeks CPGs are finalized at this time. Curriculum Planning Guides for the remaining nine weeks will be finalized and posted at least three weeks prior to the start of each nine weeks.
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?
This month's LifeLeader Smiles celebrate teammates who ask thoughtful questions, offer steady support, extend kindness during difficult moments, work tirelessly behind the scenes, and go the extra mile to help others succeed. These everyday actions may not always make headlines, but they reveal the character, care, and leadership that bring out the very best in our Life School family.
Bryon Ding, thank you for being a critical thinker. When we meet, your strategic thinking brings up questions I would never think to ask. You cover all bases and help others become better through all you do. #CriticalThinking
Ebonii Burdett, thank you for supporting me even beyond school days and hours. Your ideas, thoughtfulness, and fun personality have helped me through more than one sticky spot. Thank you! #Collaborative
Mayda Falcon, thank you for all your help with my many different insurance questions. You have made the process so much easier and your kindness helped calm a very difficult time. Life School is blessed to have you in the family. #ProblemSolver
Cristina Piper, Art Gilchrist, Carolina Vargas, thank you so much for your efforts over the summer-our building looks fabulous! Thank you also for your grace and patience while I was moving in. You are the BEST! #Citizenship
Rogenea White, thank you for the countless hours you spent getting our summer submission completed. I saw the hours you put in over your break and evenings to get the reports done. Thank you for helping us with the submission. #ProblemSolver
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.