Dear Educators,

On Monday, Jan. 20, we have the privilege of celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Dr. King broke barriers, stood firmly against injustice, and led a transformative movement through his words, deeds, and actions. His relentless pursuit of justice, even in the face of overwhelming opposition, remains profoundly inspiring and relevant to the challenges we face in society today.

In 2015, I visited Dr. King’s memorial in Washington, D.C., and was deeply moved by the magnificence of the stone monument. It captured the essence of what I imagine meeting him would feel like—standing before a figure larger than life, casting a shadow of inspiration that stretches far and wide. This experience remains etched in my memory as a profound reminder of his impact and legacy.

One particularly powerful feature of the memorial is the collection of inspirational quotes engraved on the walls surrounding the monument. These words of wisdom evoke reflection and invite deeper curiosity about his vision for a just and equitable world. One quote that resonates deeply with me, especially during this season of change, is found on the North Wall:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” — Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.

Let us not forget our shared humanity and interconnectedness as we strive to make the world stronger and better for all. This reflection is critical as we continue our collective commitment to equity and justice.

Although school is not in session on Jan. 20, I encourage each of us to use this day as an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy by engaging in discussions about social justice, participating in acts of community service, and reflecting on how we can contribute to the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

Join Team DPS in celebrating Dr. King by participating in the 40th Annual MLK Marade. Please meet us on Monday, Jan. 20, at the MLK statue in City Park at 9 a.m. to honor this incredible leader and his enduring contributions to society. Click here to sign up.

Inauguration Day Resources

Inauguration Day also falls on Monday, Jan. 20. To help students learn about the inauguration, its history, and its significance, the Academics Team has compiled the following resources and guidance for our educators.

Navigating Change: This resource is grounded in tSEL and provides leaders and educators with reflective questions to prepare for supporting students and staff, as well as facilitating meaningful conversations. An accompanying slide deck is also available. Educators are encouraged to gauge the impact to youth and determine if it is best delivered in small groups or extended to a classroom discussion. 

Assessing the Strength of Democracy: This mini-lesson provides students in sixth through 12th grade with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of democracy and a framework for making meaning of news stories about the tensions and conflicts in democracies today. Materials, downloads and additional resources are also available.

Learning for Justice: A community education program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Learning for Justice provides an education space for adults and youth that offers learning for civic and political action.

Their Learning Center also offers learning series and resources such as:

• Teaching the Inauguration an article that can help educators teach about inaugural history and importance.

• Youth Learning for Justice offers book reviews and resources for youth.

• Podcasts focused on justice in education that feature scholars, educators and experts.

• Film Kits that provide free online films grounded in social justice topics.

• Liberation Lit Book Reviews for children, teens and adults.

• A Civics Literacy series to help youth develop civic knowledge and skills.

• And many more.

Supporting Students Amid Political Events: This is another NASP resource with recommendations for how parents, caregivers and educators can support children and youth in politically charged times.

Respectfully,

Dr. Tony Smith
Deputy Superintendent

As we settle into our second half with the championship in our sights, I want to reiterate my deep appreciation for your unwavering commitment to our students and your candid feedback on the current state of our Instructional Framework drivers. Your insights are invaluable as we further align effectiveness and efficiency and bridge operational challenges in 2025-26:

High-Quality Instructional Materials: We share concerns about inconsistencies in lesson internalization processes needed for each of our learners to engage on grade level, and hear challenges in balancing curriculum fidelity with necessary adaptations.

Assessment-Informed Instruction: Many of you have identified a functional gap between the breadth of student assessment data and its actionable impact on teaching and learning. We're reviewing our assessment practices and calendar to ensure they provide valuable data without overwhelming our students or compromising teaching time.

Professional Learning: Your feedback highlights the need for more differentiated, role-specific, and practical professional development opportunities, including hands-on experiences that directly connect to your day-to-day work.

These drivers continue to need a Safe and Welcoming Environment in order to prioritize our students’ well-being and catalyze their academic success. I am excited to continue these strategic priorities in the coming school year so that we are able to build momentum on key initiatives and refine systemic supports. Stay tuned for more details later this month as we continue to get better together so that Every Learner Thrives.

The second round of Student Perception Surveys will run from Feb 3-28. Only teachers who have results from the fall decide whether or not to opt in and will need to opt in by Friday, Jan. 31. Fall results can be found in GPS. Teachers who do not have data from the fall (on leave, late hire, insufficient student results) will automatically be included in the February administration. Note: For opt-ins, all results from the February administration are aggregated with fall results. If you have questions, email LEAP@dpsk12.org.

As part of the transition from Infor to Oracle, the temporary data freeze is affecting user provisioning in GPS. This freeze is necessary to ensure a smooth migration and accurate data handling during this transition. The freeze is expected to last through Feb. 4 (subject to testing and resolution of any issues). This means any teachers who have moved to a new school, had a name change or have joined or left DPS after Dec. 16 will not be updated in GPS this month. If you need to record any documentation for an educator in this position, please do so in a Google doc and then update it into GPS once we notify you that the process is complete.

The LEAP Mid-Year Conversation window is now open until Feb. 14. Access Mid-Year resources on the LEAP pages on The Commons and note that when your evaluator launches the mid-year form in the GPS, you will receive an email to inform you. Review the Teacher Directions for MY Forms in the GPS for how to view your mid-year so you can start your self-reflection. If you have questions, email  LEAP@dpsk12.org.

Feb. 14 PL Day will consist of SSP-department/Principal-led learning from 8:00-11:15 a.m. and centrally-delivered professional learning from 12:30-4p.m. Details and registration for each session are listed in the Feb. 14 Course Guide. Review the course guide and register for sessions. As a reminder, you must be registered to receive credit! If you are in need of ADA accommodations, please complete the Accommodation Request Form. Requests must be made at least two weeks prior to the scheduled session. For more information or questions, please email professional_learning@dpsk12.org.

Great news for fans of our Mindfulness for Stress Reduction PDU! Additional cohorts have opened to the district and are in the PDU Course Guide with Spring courses. 

Here’s what past participants have said about this experience:

• "The most valuable aspect of the mindfulness PDU for me was gaining practical strategies to integrate mindfulness techniques into my teaching."

• "This PDU saved me, personally and, therefore, professionally."

Email Michele Deats for more “deets!”

Learn more about additional resources and information here.

• Register for Desmos for PSAT/NMSQT Training by Jan. 26

• The Culture, Equity and Leadership Team is Excited to Announce Year Four of Achieving Excellence Academy (AEA)

• Now Hiring AEA Roles: Apply by Jan. 30

• Encourage Your Teachers to Apply for the Generation Teach Residency by Feb. 15

• Want to Learn How to Take Your Classes Outside?

• Library Services Wrapped

• Digital Resources from Library Services

• Summer Academy 2025 Interest Form

Past editions of Teacher Weekly

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