SDP Connect: Back to School Edition
One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.
- Malala Yousafzai
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
All-New SDP Website
Have you seen the all-new SDP website? The SDP website has been fully redesigned with a sleeker and cleaner look! The home page has new features including upcoming events, a new blog design, and more to keep updated with all things SDP. Be sure to check out the new Employee Hub making everything you need easier to find.
New Employee Perks Website and Mobile App is Here
Your new employee perks are here! We’re excited to present our new Employee Perks Website with all new perks just for you! To view your new employee perks, visit the brand new employee perks website or download the new SDP Employee Perks Mobile App.
School Selection Opens September 15
The school selection process for the 2024-2025 school year opens on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. and will close on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Visit the school selection website to learn more about the school selection process including the additional changes that were made to the process this year. For more information, please email schoolselect@philasd.org.
Research Roundup
The Office of Research and Evaluation hosts a regular Research Roundup webinar to share data/research on a variety of topics. Our next Research Roundup is Wednesday, September 13 from 3-4 pm. In the September webinar focusing on English Learners in SDP, researchers from the Philadelphia Education Research Consortium (PERC) will present their report on the diversity and experiences of SDP English Learners as they prepare to transition to high school. Please register here if you’d like to attend!
Honor Our Coaches with PrimoHoagies
PrimoHoagies is looking to honor coaches making a difference in the lives of children in their communities through its Most Valuable Coach Contest. Student athletes in grades 6-12 are invited to nominate their favorite coach for a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas, NV for the Big Game in February 2024. The judging panel includes Philadelphia Eagles Defensive End Brandon Graham and Villanova University Women’s Basketball Coach Denise Dillon. Players can submit a nominee here and upload either an essay of 200 words or less or a video under one minute describing why their coach deserves the title of “Most Valuable Coach” and should win the grand prize of round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for the Big Game in Las Vegas in February. The winning nominator will also receive a $100 PrimoHoagies gift card. The deadline for nominations is October 30.
OUR PEOPLE
New District Leadership Announcements
Dr. Jermaine Dawson
Deputy Superintendent of Academic Services
Jeremy Grant Skinner
Deputy Superintendent of Talent, Strategy, and Culture
Kaylan Connally
Chief Strategy Officer
Markita Floyd
Assistant Superintendent, Learning Network 2
Richard Gordon
Assistant Superintendent, Learning Network 1
Hilderbrand Pelzer
Assistant Superintendent, Learning Network 13
Lynne Millard
Special Advisor, School Impact
Presidential Excellence
Congratulations to John Smith III ( J.F. Trey Smith) as he’s been named a Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching. Trey is currently the Digital Literacy Teacher at Marian Anderson School and previously served as a 7th/8th grade Science and Social Studies Teacher at Andrew J. Morrison School. Thank you, Trey for your ability to motivate and enable our students to be successful. Thank you for all of your hard work and commitment to the students of the School District of Philadelphia! Be sure to check out Trey’s classroom website here.
No Substitute for Aurora
Congratulations to Aurora Alushllari, a substitute teacher in the School District of Philadelphia who was recently recognized as a 2023 Substitute Teacher of the Year by ESS. Aurora a building substitute teacher at Overbrook Educational Center, was selected as a winner of ESS’s 9th Annual Impact Awards! This award came with a $1,000 cash prize. An additional $500 was awarded to OEC.
SEPTEMBER FEATURES
Gerald the GEM
Congratulations to one of our former graduates, Gerald Whitters. Gerald is a former SDP graduate via the Community College of Philadelphia’s Gateway to College program. Gateway to College is an alternative education program for School District of Philadelphia students, ages 16 to 21, who have disengaged from high school but desire to get back on track and earn a diploma. Through this initiative, he was able to earn his high school diploma as well as associate degrees in computer science and math, simultaneously. Now, Gerald is one of three 2023 GEM Fellowship Interns. He is currently pursuing his PhD in computer and information science. We couldn’t be more proud of our gem, Gerald. Read more about the 2023 GEM fellowship interns including Gerald’s story here.
Nurses on the Field
Our SDP nurses kicked off the school year Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D. at Lincoln Financial Field last week! They are such a valuable resource for our District and school communities and their presence directly impacts student health and academic achievement daily.
Thank you for all that you do! Have a great school year!
2023 BTS Bus Tour – Thank You!
Thank you to the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, Classix Philly, RNB Philly, staff, volunteers, families and vendors for making the Back-to-School Bus Tour a huge success this summer! We distributed 18,425 backpacks to approximately 13,770 families. We couldn’t have done it without you!
TELLING OUR STORIES
Check Out SDP’s Paraprofessional Program
See how talented paraprofessionals in our schools are taking advantage of a unique opportunity to earn teaching degrees that will allow them to continue to do great things in the classroom.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health and Wellness Coaches
Did you know that SDP offers Health Coaches who are registered nurses who are available to answer your health-related questions and help you meet your health goals? You can speak to a Health Coach 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-ASK-BLUE (1-800-275-2583; TTY/TDD: 711).
Stay on top of personal health information.
Stay on top of personal health information, screening reminders, health tips, and more!
Exclusively for Independence members, IBX Wire™ is a new mobile communication service that gives you a direct connection with Independence so you stay informed.
Text IBXSDP to 73529 or call 1-888-700-1078 to sign up for text alerts today.
View the Wellness Page for more Wellness-related information.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
- 9/5 – First Day of School for Students – Welcome Back!
- 9/5 – 9/11 – Kindergarten Interview Days (Three Hour early dismissal K only)
- 9/25 – Yom Kippur; Schools Closed for Students and Staff; Administrative Offices Closed
- 9/29 – Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
Additional Important Dates:
- 9/16-17 – Rosh Hashanah (Weekend)
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month! We couldn’t be more honored to acknowledge the many contributions and accomplishments of Hispanic Americans who have paved the way for others to succeed. Learn more here.
Suicide Prevention Month
It’s Suicide Prevention Month and we want to do our part by helping to prevent suicide by bringing more awareness. We can all prevent suicide by educating ourselves more about mental health and suicide, aiding others in crisis; thereby changing the conversation around suicide. Learn more here.
International Day of Peace
September 21 is International Day of Peace also known as World Peace Day. This day is devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. What are you doing to promote peace?
Human Resources Professionals Day
September 26 is Human Resources Professionals Day! Thank you to our dedicated team in the Office of Talent. The District could not run without the work you do!
OFFICE SPOTLIGHT
THE OFFICE OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT & PLACEMENT
The goal of the Office of Student Enrollment & Placement supports K-12 children and families in accessing the District’s educational programs and services. Our goal is to ensure equitable access and placement for all students across the K-12 schools.
The School District of Philadelphia has a clear vision; for all children to have access to a great school close to where they live. The mission of the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement is to support K-12 children and families in enrollment, registration, and school placement. Our goal is to ensure equitable access for all students across our K-12 schools.
What’s New for School Selection?
In the fall of 2022, a diverse project team composed of principals, teachers, counselors, assistant superintendents, parents and students along with an external auditor reviewed the 2022-2023 School Selection process. This summer, the project team delivered valuable feedback and recommendations to improve the process. Here are the changes we’ve made to the school selection process based on those recommendations:
- Revised the existing communications strategy.
- Increased the amount of training for District staff.
- Enhanced the individualized review (formerly Legare) process.
- Provide offers to all eligible 8th graders who already attend a middle/high school and meet that high school’s criteria.
- Determined a process to secure spots for qualified students with no offers, where there are open seats.
- Enabled schools to select best-fit criteria.
- Optimized lottery, ranking and waitlist features (for implementation at the beginning of sy 2024-25).
Visit the school selection website to learn more about the school selection process including the additional changes that were made to the process this year.
DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTERS
Check out what's going on in other departments around the District
Check out the Equity Coalition newsletter for upcoming events, podcasts, professional development opportunities and more!
Equity in Practice: Spotlight on Taller Puertorriqueño
Wednesday, September 20th, | 12 p.m. -1 p.m. via zoom
RESOURCES
Feeling Perky
As a district employee, you have access to various deals and discounts. Check out our Employee Perks here.
Get a Little Extra
See the Office of Grant Development’s list of grant opportunities on its website. View the newsletter for more information.
Observe & Report
Your help is essential in ensuring the School District runs efficiently and fairly. Report suspected wrongdoing within the district to the Office of Inspector General here.
Spread the Word
We’re hiring. Everywhere! Know someone who’s searching? Send them to workinphilly.com for our school-based support roles & teachinphilly.com for our instructional roles.
Keep Track
Follow the District’s progress towards the Goals and Guardrails and stay up to date through research reports and webinars from our Office of Research and Evaluation.
Stay Sharp
Cornerstone has PD for all employees, some specific to Central Office.
Climate & Culture
Need Climate & Culture Resources for your school? See what’s available here.
TRIVIA
At this year’s Back to School Bus Tour, how many backpacks did we give away and to how many families?
The first central office employee and the first school-based employee with the correct answer will win a prize!
Communication's Corner
The Office of Communications strives to make news, information, and resources easily accessible. Every month we will provide information and reminders to help keep you connected.
Working on a project or campaign in your office? The communications team provides helpful resources like branding and color guides, presentation templates, and photo catalogs, to help you keep your project stylish and on-brand. Just click here.
Have a story to share or someone to celebrate? Submit your story idea click here.