Parent and Community Involvement Opportunities
Parents, Community Members, and Business Partners: Want to be more involved in GISD?
Several district committees include non-school members and need your help if you are interested. Some of these committee groups are:
- African American Advisory Committee –
- Serves as a community communication forum for district objectives, initiatives, and programs. The committee meets five to eight times per school year at 6:00 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. District administrators and staff serve with committee members. The current committee members recommend interested community members.
- Department: Community Liaison
Contact: Mary Whitt 972-487-3263 - Athletic Booster Clubs –
- Works with organization coaches in support of the school teams. The number of meetings varies by campus – consult campus organization coaches. Membership is usually restricted to parents of students in organization.
- Department: Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - Cheerleader/Drill Team Booster Clubs –
- Works with organization directors in support of the school organization. The number of meetings varies by campus - consult campus organization director. Membership is usually restricted to parents of students in organization.
- Department: Fine Arts
Contact: George Jones 972-487-3174 - Building Trades Advisory Committee –
- To offer suggestions for program improvement and expertise in keeping abreast of the building trades industry.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Dr. Phillip Gilbreath (972) 487-3170 - Business Education Advisory Committee –
- The committee provides a link between the community and the school district for the purpose of improving Business Education programs to equip students with current workplace skills. The committee meets twice a year and is composed of community members from business and industry, Career and Technical Education counselors, parents, and students.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Jan Williams (972) 487-3167 - Campus Improvement Team on each school campus –
- Each campus team meets at least six (6) times a year to oversee the campus improvement plans for each campus. Principals appoint from two (2) to four (4) parents, two (2) community representatives, and one (1) business representative to their team, representing the diversity on their campus.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - Coffee with the Principals –
- Parents and community members meet with principals for give-and-take talk sessions throughout the school year.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - District Calendar Committee –
- Meets once per year in late fall to develop the calendar proposal for the next school year.
- Department : Communications and Community Relations
Contact: Steve Knagg (972) 487-3256 - District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) –
- meets six (6) times per year from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. The group discusses district programs, sets district performance objectives, etc. (Number of parents/community members/business representatives needed: 3 of each.).
- Department : PRE – Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Contact: Dr. Martha Vannoy (972) 487-3206 - Elementary Teaching Internship/Ready Set Teach Advisory Committee –
- To provide suggestions for program improvement and field experiences. The committee offers expertise in the field of the education and the teaching profession as a whole.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Judy Knight (972) 487-3166 - Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Career Preparation Advisory Committee –
- This committee provides suggestions for program improvement and expertise in keeping abreast of the most recent job market and workforce information.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Judy Knight (972) 487-3166 - Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Comprehensive & Technical Advisory Committee –
- To offer suggestions for program improvement and innovation in order to offer students knowledge and skills for managing multiple family, community and workplace roles in a rapidly changing and technology driven world.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Judy Knight (972) 487-3166 - Family Engagement Activities –
- The goal of this
- Department is to bring the most up-to-date parenting information to the families of our students.
- Department : Student Services/ Community Relations
Contact: Pat Mullins (972) 487-3196 - Family Involvement Month –
- Special events planned to emphasize partnerships between families and schools in November.
- Department : Student Services/ Community Relations
Contact: Pat Mullins (972) 487-3196 - Family Math/Reading/Science Night –
- Allows parents, students, and teachers to participate together in hands-on activities designed to reinforce math/reading/science concepts.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - Field Trip Chaperone –
- Involves parent supervision of small groups of students while away from school on field trips.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - Fine Arts Booster Clubs –
- Works with organization directors in support of fine arts groups such as band, choirs, orchestras, theatre arts, etc. The number of times each club meets varies by campus-consult campus organization director. Membership is usually restricted to parents of students in the organization.
- Department : Fine Arts
Contact: George Jones (972) 487-3174 - Food Production, Management, and Hospitality Services Advisory Committee-
- To offer suggestions for program improvement and expertise in the field of the food service and hospitality industry.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Judy Knight (972) 487-3166 - Garland Livestock, Plant, and Poultry Show Advisory Committee –
- To offer suggestions for program improvement and expertise in the changing technologies affecting the livestock, plant and poultry production industry. One of the major functions of this committee is to assist in the planning of the annual Garland Livestock, Plant and Poultry Show. The existing committee invites new members to join the committee as program needs are identified and addressed. Committee members are invited to join based on fields of expertise.
- Department : Career and Technical Education
Contact: Dr. Phillip Gilbreath (972) 487-3170 - Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee -
- Meets 3-4 times per year to discuss how to: continue to improve the G/T Education program in grades K-12; promote the program within the community; meet the professional development needs of the district; and encourage student applications.
- Department : Gifted and Talented Education
Contact: Linda Phemister (972) 487-3193 - Health Science Technology Advisory Committee –
- To offer suggestions for program improvement and to ensure that we offer students cutting edge workplace experiences in the healthcare field.
- Department : Career and Technology Education
Contact: Judy Knight (972) 487-3166 - Hispanic Community Advisory Committee –
- To advise and make suggestions for programs, strategies, and initiatives. The committee meets five (5) times per school year and is comprised of community members, parents, and Business Partners, along with one (1) Elementary Operations director, one (1) Secondary Operations director, one (1) representative from Bilingual/ESL Education, one (1) representative from Human Resources, and the Assistant Superintendent for the Division of Student Services & Community Relations.
- Department : Community Liaison
Contact: Javier Solis (972) 487-3263 - Horticulture Advisory Committee –
- This committee advises the program regarding program improvement and offers expertise in the newest technologies and scientific developments that will affect or can be implemented in the horticulture industry.
- Department : Career & Technical Education
Contact: Dr. Phillip Gilbreath (972) 487-3170 - Input Opportunity for Curriculum –
- To provide suggestions for district curriculum.
- Department : School Improvement
Contact: Dr. Barbara Mason (972) 494-8519 - Input Process for Textbook Selection –
- To provide input on textbook choices.
- Department : School Improvement
Contact: Dr. Barbara Mason (972) 494-8519 - Kids on the Block (Puppet Group) –
- Provides 3 rd grade students information on disabilities via a puppet show.
- Department : Special Education
Contact: Montez Tice (972) 487-3300 - Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) –
- Volunteer must be the parent of an LEP student. The LPAC is a campus-based committee responsible for reviewing bilingual education and ESL student performance each year for the purpose of making educational decisions that will support student achievement and language acquisition. A campus administrator, bilingual teachers, ESL teachers and a parent of a bilingual education or ESL program student serve on the committee. The committee meets periodically throughout the year, typically in mid-fall (October), early winter (January) and later spring (May).
- Department : Bilingual/ESL Department
Contact: Shannon Terry (972) 494-8699 - LIGHT Program Advisory Council –
- The LIGHT Advisory Council is a coalition of school officials, counselors, and community members who provide a link between the school and the community for the purpose of promoting activities that encourages healthy lifestyles for the youth in the Garland ISD communities.
- Department : PRE – Planning, Research & Evaluation
Contact: Ruby Armstrong (972) 487-3195 - Marketing Education Advisory Committee –
- This committee meets annually to ensure that the Marketing Education program is consistent with labor-force demands. The committee is comprised of representatives from business, Career and Technical Education counselors, parents and students to create a school and community partnership.
- Department : Career & Technical Education
Contact: Jan Williams (972) 487-3167 - Meet the Teacher Events –
- To encourage interaction between parents and teachers at events such as Porch Parties, PTA Meetings, Meet-the Teacher Night, Parent-Teacher Conferences, etc.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - Migrant Parent Advisory Committee –
- Meets twice a year. All Migrant parents are sent a letter of invitation to discuss Migrant policies and services and plan the program for the next school year as well as talk about the needs of the program. Officers are elected by the parents for the committee. Migrant Parents, District Migrant Recruiter/Liaison, Region 10 Migrant NGS Specialist and Federal Programs/Grants Manager also attend. Migrant Administrator from Region 10 attends when available.
- Department : Federal Programs
Contact: Dr. Cathy Ostmeyer (972) 487-3185 - New Horizons Advisory Committee –
- Meets in small monthly focus groups to discuss program needs and work on yearly goals. The committee is made up of social service agency representatives, community members, parents, students and district personnel. The goal of the committee is to prevent school age parents from dropping out of school.
- Department : Career & Technical Education
Contact: Sandra Parmer (972) 487-3168 - PTA/PTSA Board –
- To support parent and school relationship. Meets once every month – 6 weeks.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - Reading Pals –
- Parents and community members work with individual or small groups of students to strengthen and encourage reading.
- Department : Individual School
Contact: Local Campus - School Health Advisory Council –
- To make recommendations about the district’s health education instruction. The council meets 2-3 times during the school year and consists of 12 non-school members.
- Department : School Improvement
Contact: Dr. Barbara Mason (972) 494-8519 - Special Education Advisory Committee –
- Provides input to the Special Education Department regarding special education programs in GISD.
- Department : Special Education
Contact: Montez Tice (972) 487-3300 - Strategic Planning Committee -
- Meets three (3) times every third year to develop the District’s three (3) year plan.
- Department : PRE – Planning, Research, & Evaluation
Contact: Dr. Martha Vannoy (972) 487-3206 - Student Code of Conduct Committee –
- Meets two (2) times in March to discuss proposed changes in the Student Code of Conduct Handbook. Any proposed changes are presented to the Board in May for their approval. The committee consists of two (2) students, five (5) parents, and two (2) SRO officers from either the Garland, Rowlett, or Sachse Police Departments as well as administrators in GISD.
- Department : Secondary Operations
Contact: George Lyons (972) 487-3163 - Title I Parent Advisory Committee –
- Meets two (2) times a year, normally in the fall and late spring. The committee discusses Title I programs and budget as well as makes suggestions for future programs and approves the following year’s fiscal budget plans. One (1) parent and one (1) administrator from each campus will attend as well as others that oversee/administer the programs funded by Title I.
- Department : Federal Programs
Contact: Dr. Cathy Ostmeyer (972) 487-3185 - Title III Advisory Committee –
- Supports the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by providing input that inform decisions regarding programs and activities for English language learners. The committee is comprised of community members, parents and district personnel and meets one (1) time during the year, typically in the spring.
- Department : Bilingual/ESL Education
Contact: Shannon Terry (972) 494-8699 - Volunteer Organizations –
- To provide student support in various programs such as reading, mentoring, tutoring, etc.
- Department : Student Services/ Community Relations
Contact: Pat Mullins (972) 487-3196