June 1, 2020

Dear Irving ISD Family,

Over the last few hours, I have seen several members of the Irving ISD family expressing their hurt and anger over injustices in our world. I understand the pain that our students and families are feeling. I SEE you and I HEAR you. Your voice matters to me.

I want you to know how much we love EVERY single one of our students. We are PROUD to be one of the most diverse communities in the nation, and we proudly celebrate all of the beautiful cultures that comprise our district.

As a school district, it is our responsibility to value and serve ALL people in the Irving community – EVERY single person – with respect, equality and compassion. I can assure you that the type of behavior hurting our world is not tolerated in Irving ISD and is not an accurate depiction of the caring, compassionate and empathetic staff we strive to hire.

In 2015, Irving ISD began culturally responsive training for all teachers. This course is designed to help teachers understand the importance of culturally relevant teaching. We will remain committed to educating our staff about the importance of celebrating cultural diversity. Additionally, every teacher takes a course on ethical standards, bullying and hazing.

We are committed to continuing to build a culture of kindness and compassion. We recognize that there is still work to be done across the nation. I am grateful that we are in this journey together, and I look forward to engaging in this work with broad participation from our #myIrvingISD family.  I love you all.

 

In this TOGETHER,

Magda Hernandez

Superintendent of Schools