August 28, 2024

Sherman ISD has laid out a plan for teaching and learning to guide the district for the next three school years. The strategic plan was developed last school year through a series of district meetings and emphasizes the following focus areas:

• Research-Based Instructional Strategies (RBIS)
• Instructional Capacity Building (Coaching)
• Talent (Recruitment, Development and Retention)

The committee also updated the district’s vision, mission and values and envisioned a student experience to reflect the strategic goals and outcomes desired for students. SISD will continue to work with Region 10 on year two of the Texas Strategic Leadership (TSL) process to track progress toward student outcome goals.  

Sherman ISD is slated to receive additional state funds to reward top teachers. The district’s application for the Teacher Incentive Allotment was approved this summer, and starting at the end of next school year, eligible teachers could receive stipends from $5,000 to $24,000, depending on their designation. The district’s TIA handbook and FAQ are available online for more information.

If you received an email inviting you to take a survey about the implementation of TIA, you are encouraged to respond by the September 13 deadline.

The 126th Battle of the Ax is this Friday, and you can show your support for the Bearcats at the BOTA Community Pep Rally set for 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Sherman High School Hudspeth Athletic Complex!

The Sherman High School Student Council is collecting canned goods at the Community Pep Rally and at all Sherman ISD schools through Friday morning to support Master Key Ministries. You can also make monetary donations through the link below! 

Campus vaccine clinics will be held for staff September 16-20 and will offer an array of vaccines, from the flu to the Shingles vaccine. All vaccines will be covered under TRS-ActiveCare plans as well as some Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Humana, United Health Care, Medicare Part B and Scott & White plans. Please bring a printed copy of your insurance card and ID. No electronic proof of insurance will be accepted. Times will be finalized soon and will be sent to staff.

The shots offered are: 

• Flu Vaccine
• High Dose Flu Vaccine (age 65+)
• Preservative Free Flu Vaccine
• COVID-19 Vaccine (Age 18-64)
• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B
• HPV (Gardasil) up to age 45
• Meningitis
• MMR
• Pneumonia (Prevnar 20) ages 50-64 if using insurance

• RSV ages 50-64
• Shingles (Shingrix) ages 50-64 if using insurance
• Tetanus Diphtheria Pertussis up to age 64
• B12 Injection ($25 charge)

To improve our network security, Sherman ISD will be rolling out two-factor authentication through Duo Security throughout the fall semester. Two-factor authentication provides a second layer of security by requiring extra information or a physical device (such as a phone) to log in to your district account along with your username and password.

When logging in outside of the Sherman ISD network (off-campus), Duo will require you to complete a method of second-factor authentication in addition to entering your username and password. If you are logging in on the district network, you will not be prompted.

Look for more information sent separately to your district email.

The Sherman Education Foundation 5K & Bubble-K Fun Run will be held bright and early on Saturday, September 21 starting at 8 a.m.! Register now through September 12 for the early registration price and a guaranteed T-shirt. All proceeds benefit the Sherman Education Foundation, which supports educational enrichment opportunities for Sherman ISD staff and students.

You can find more information, such as the race schedule and a “Sleepin’ In” option, here.

Help spread the word that Sherman ISD is looking for substitutes to assist in our schools and classrooms as the new year gets underway! Subs are vital in supporting our district! Pay rates and more information is available at www.shermanisd.net/subs.

New benefits go into effect on September 1, and remember that you can order a dental insurance card online through Cigna Dental, Sherman ISD’s dental insurance provider. You can easily register for an account and receive a card online, over the phone or on their myCigna app, available on Google Play and the App Store.

Please note that any changes you made to your benefits and associated deductions during open enrollment will be reflected in your September paycheck.

You can now create high-quality graphics in no time that are on-brand with your campus and Sherman ISD! Canva is a free online graphic design program with an excellent library of customizable templates and a wide selection of stock photos and illustrations. Sherman ISD employees now have access to branding tools, such as approved campus logos and colors, through Canva. Log into Canva.com using your district username and password, and apply your brand kit to create attractive handouts, posters, social media graphics and more!

If you need assistance with the brand kit, please contact the Communications Department. For information on using Canva to support student learning, please put in a Technology Helpdesk ticket and someone will contact you to schedule training. Not into Canva? The Communications Department also has logos and other branding resources available at www.shermanisd.net/internalresources. 

As we settle into the new school year, please remember that there are check-in/out procedures in place for Sherman ISD employees visiting campuses. All staff, except student nutrition, technology, maintenance and police officers, are required to sign in and out when visiting a campus that is not their assigned campus. Please enter the front entrance to sign in at a campus, and be sure to sign out when you leave. Don’t forget your SISD badge!

When at your campus or another campus, please be observant and aware of anyone who does not have a SISD badge or a visitor badge. Vendors, such as delivery drivers, also need to sign in and out, and if the vendor is new, their ID should be scanned through Raptor.

Please contact the SISD Police Department with any questions.

Be sure to complete the required annual trainings for the 2024-25 school year through the Canvas learning management system. 

Completing these trainings satisfies one of the requirements for the three Professional Exchange days this school year. To get credit, you should complete the trainings when you are outside contract time or off the clock if you are an hourly employee. Once you complete the trainings, retain a digital copy of your certificate and have it ready to present to your supervisor when requested.

Don’t forget to tend to the little details that can make a big difference as we kick off the new school year! An on-brand email signature looks professional and clean, and making the change is easy! By using this document, you can create an email signature with your official campus logo and colors. Thank you in advance for helping SISD look our best! 

The All Sports Pass is on sale now! This ticket will get you into all Sherman ISD home athletic events for the 2024-25 school year (excluding varsity football). Get yours now at www.shermanisd.net/athletics/tickets. Go Cats!