Staff Newsletter Aug. 14, 2025

Monday was an exciting day as we welcomed thousands of students on the first day of school, many of them walking in the front doors of their schools for the first time. 

As I mentioned at Convocations, our theme for the year is “Northside Unstoppable,” but it isn’t just a theme or slogan. It reflects who we are. It speaks to the grit, heart, and unity that define the Northside Unstoppable Spirit. Thank you to all of Team Northside for all you do and will do in this upcoming school year. 

Let’s have a great school year, Northside!

Dr. John Craft
Superintendent of Schools

Celebrating Convocations & First Day of School

Almost 12,000 employees attended one of six Back-to-School Convocations to hear a message from the Superintendent and Board and be entertained by hundreds of "unstoppable" Fine Arts students who certainly took the opportunity to "seize the day!"  

On Aug. 11, almost 99,000 students and 6,000 teachers returned to the classroom when 133 schools reopened this week. With new backpacks filled with fresh school supplies, students and parents entered the schools on Monday with big smiles and wide eyes as many saw their classrooms for the first time. 

"It is always heartwarming to see the students and their parents coming to their campuses and seeing the excitement in their eyes," said Dr. John Craft, superintendent.

Pictures from Convocations and the first day of school can be found here. 

Backpacks supply students with tools to be successful

A huge thanks to all who donated backpacks, school supplies, and clothing to help students be better equipped to be school-ready.

The Great Backpack Challenge met and exceeded expectations. Between both campuses and departments, more than 1,200 backpacks were donated. In addition, an additional 550+ backpacks were received from some amazing business partners. The winners of this year's challenge will be added to a plaque at NAC recognizing schools that go above and beyond to make the drive successful.

The winners of this year’s Backpack Challenge are: 

NISD Fine Arts shines at state and national levels

For the sixth year in a row, the NISD Fine Arts/Visual Arts program received the District of Distinction Award from the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA). They are one of 109 winners across the state. In addition, for the fourth time, the NISD Fine Arts Department has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. 

Safeguarding Student Data: A Shared Responsibility

Welcome back, Northside ISD educators! As we kick off a new school year, let's reaffirm our collective commitment to safeguarding student data. In today's digital landscape, protecting sensitive student information is more crucial than ever, and every one of us plays a vital role. Federal laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) establish the foundation for student privacy. These, along with Texas state laws, directly impact our daily responsibilities in the classroom and beyond.

Understanding these regulations ensures we handle student records, online interactions, and instructional materials with the utmost care, preventing unauthorized disclosures and fostering a culture of vigilance. To support you in this critical endeavor, Northside ISD provides resources that offer overviews of these applicable privacy regulations and how they apply to your role. We encourage you to visit the NISD Technology page at nisd.net/district/technology to deepen your understanding of best practices for student data privacy. Your diligence is key to maintaining the integrity of our students' information and the trust of our community.

DecisionEd: Getting to Know Your Student Demographics

As we start the school year, let us help you get to know your students! Run a drill through the enrollment report in DecisionEd to see all your students' demographic and program indicators. Apply filters for student groups to get a focused list.  Additional resources are also available on the DecisionEd Support Site on the HUB.

Course Combining and Linking in Schoology

Linking sections has now been enabled for teachers in Schoology, and teachers can link any necessary sections. Teachers can also now submit a request to have courses combined in Schoology. Before linking or combining, it is important to carefully review the instructions for both of these processes available in this document. For additional resources, visit the Schoology Support Site on the HUB - Instructional Systems Support for additional resources.  

Don't feel like cooking? Mattenga's Pizzeria offers 20% off your in-store order when you show the coupon linked here and your NISD employee badge. Offer expires May 31, 2026. 

The Roller Skating Foundation is proud to offer grants to deserving schools, educators, and volunteers to assist with funding trips to local RSA roller skating rinks for educational, STEM field trips, and/or physical education lessons. Applications due by  Sept. 1, 2025. Click here to apply or contact the Grants Dept. at 210-397-8563.