SDP Connect: New Year Edition
What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.
– Vern McLellan
In honor of Board Appreciation Month, we extend our deepest gratitude to the esteemed members of the Philadelphia Board of Education. Your unwavering commitment to our city’s youth is a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of education. Day in and day out, you each tirelessly work to ensure that our schools are places of learning, growth, and inspiration. Your dedication to our community’s future leaders does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your service, your passion, and your continued dedication to the advancement of education in Philadelphia. Here’s to celebrating you, not just this month, but every day. Happy Board Appreciation Month!
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
Teacher & Senior of the Month Nominations are Open
Nominations for the Senior and Teacher of the Month Initiative for January 2024 is open. We are celebrating seniors and teachers who are consistent exemplars of determination and commitment to education. The nomination window for January is now open and will close on Friday, January 11th at 5pm. Click here to submit your nominations today!
Nominate a School Counselor
School Counseling Week takes place February 5th through February 9th, and we are asking for students, families, school-based staff and central-office staff to nominate a counselor who you feel should be highlighted that week. Please use this opportunity to recognize a counselor who you feel goes above and beyond for their students and the school community. Nominations will be open until January 19th. Submit your nominations here.
New SDP Facebook Page & New Website Navigation Features
SDP is all new for the new year! We’ve launched our brand new Facebook Page. Be sure to like, follow, and share SDP’s new Facebook page. Also, we’ve updated our navigation features on the SDP website. We’re confident these new features will enhance your experience interacting with our websites. Enjoy the updates!
Equity in Practice: ODAAT
Join us on Jan. 24th for an Equity in Practice session with One Day At A Time (ODAAT). Discover ODAAT’s commitment to equity through its Youth Recovery Mode (YRM) program in North Philadelphia—a safe space for young people to develop interpersonal skills and focus on personal growth. Those who are interested can register here. Please see the flyer for more information.
Call for Proposals: Summit for Sustainable Schools
We are excited to announce a call for proposals for our upcoming symposium, focused on enhancing the School District of Philadelphia’s sustainability plan, GreenFutures. We aim to foster collaboration among regional institutions, government agencies, and corporate and non-profit partners to support a socially responsible and environmentally conscious education system. To further these objectives, the District is interested in incorporating an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework for guiding policy and program development. This live, in-person event will feature panel discussions and breakout sessions that delve into the potential applications of ESG principles within a public school system. Click here to learn more.
Pathway to Leadership Principal Preparation Program, 2024-2025
The Office of Leadership Development at the School District of Philadelphia in partnership with Temple University and The University of Pennsylvania is proud and excited to announce the launch of the 2024 cohort of the Pathway to Leadership Principal Preparation Program. This unique opportunity, beginning in the summer of 2024, will combine traditional principal certification preparation classwork, coaching, and mentorship, to prepare strong leaders within the School District of Philadelphia. The program seeks to support equity-centered leadership and diversify the pipeline of leaders seeking assistant principal and principal roles within the School District of Philadelphia. We invite future equity-centered leaders of all backgrounds, and strongly encourage future leaders of color to apply. Please visit the Office of Leadership Development Website for more information and to access the application. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2024.
Lindback Award Applications Deadlines
The nomination period for the Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals and Teachers in 2023–2024 is still open. Nominations, inclusive of completed applications for the principal award must be submitted by noon on Friday, January 12, 2024, and nominations inclusive of completed applications for the teacher award must be submitted by noon on Monday, February 12, 2024. More information on the awards, application materials and guidelines, and ceremonies can be found here. For more information, email: Lindback@philasd.org
OUR PEOPLE
SDP’s Olympian – Elaine Estes
Congratulations to Elaine Estes, the high school Spanish teacher at Horace Furness High School who is proving that Olympians can hail from our communities. A former dancer turned runner, she recently qualified for Olympic trials at the 40th California International Marathon, finishing with a commendable time of 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 8 seconds. Despite her busy schedule, she consistently finds time to run and has shown us that dedication and perseverance can turn once distant dreams into reality. Kudos to Elaine on her incredible journey and all the best as she moves one step closer to her lifetime achievement. Read more of Elaine’s story here.
Eagles + PCA Philadelphia Public League Award Honorees
Congratulations to these SDP honorees who were honored at the Eagles game on December 31st. This momentous occasion served as validation of their extraordinary contributions and achievements. Congrats to all our honorees, you guys rock!
- Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Liaralis Santiago (Jules E. Mastbaum High School)
- Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Adrian Rexach (William W. Bodine High School)
- Female Coach of the Year – Regina Jones (Julia R. Masterman School Volleyball Coach)
- Athletic Director of the Year – Regina Johnson (Martin Luther King High School)
Senior and Teacher of the Month Winners
November
Teacher of the Month
Nikki Maurer
Lincoln High School
Senior of the Month
Linda Basheir
Lincoln High School
Senior of the Month
Aichata Diarra
Carver High School
December
Teacher of the Month
Carrie Bannon
Alexander K. McClure School
Senior of the Month
Liaralis Santiago
Mastbaum High School
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Congratulations John Hancock School
The Philadelphia Tribune features “Good News” from The School District of Philadelphia each week in its Learning Key section. In addition to SDP’s “Good News,” every Tuesday the Tribune names a District school as School of the Week. Every week one of our schools is highlighted for the amazing work they are doing with our students. We’re excited to announce John Hancock School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Hancock’s feature article in the Tribune here.
Be on the lookout for more School of the Week features in SDP Weekly and SDP Connect!
JANUARY FEATURES
First Day of School at the All-New T.M. Pierce
Last week, we were thrilled to welcome T.M. Peirce students to their remarkably advanced, brand-new educational hub for the first time last week! This expansive 77,000 square-foot structure, designed for LEED Gold Certification, is ready to inspire and foster learning. Welcome to your new school, students!
Congrats Tyrek!
Congratulations to Tyrek Johnson on his remarkable journey from a passionate seventh-grader inspired by the design of engines to becoming an Auto Trades Helper for the City of Philadelphia! Tyrek’s dedication to mastering automotive technology and his commitment to providing top-notch service is truly commendable. He’s not just a proud graduate, but also the first to be hired with the CTE-five point preference. This achievement is a testament to his hard work and the progressive policies of the city. Way to go, Tyrek! Read more of Tyrek’s story here.
TELLING OUR STORIES
Language Access Storytelling | The School District of Philadelphia
The Language Access Program makes the School District of Philadelphia a more welcoming and inclusive place for our student population who speak over 155 different languages. Watch the video to learn more. Watch the video to learn more.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates:
3rd-17th: Keystone Testing Begins
15th: MLK Service Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
16th: Kindergarten Registration Opens
National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
The National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a nationwide effort to transform the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into a day of community service that help solve social problems. It was created in 1994 through federal legislation co-authored by former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Harris Wolford and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, both veterans of the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. King. Visit the District’s Cultural Celebrations Page for upcoming MLK Day of Service events.
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!
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.
Evaluation, Research, and Accountability
Read ERA News here.
TRIVIA
What popular movie sparked Tyrek Johnson's fascination with the design of engines and car body shells?
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.