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Mr. Carlos Cupido Pending TIA Designee for the 2021-2022 School Year! One of our seven pending TIA designees, Mr. Carlos Cupido has been teaching at East Grand Preparatory since 2015.  He currently teaches 8th grade mathematics. Before coming to Cityscape, Mr. Cupido taught for Dallas ISD for seven years and before that, taught university courses in math, statistics, and marketing in Mexico.  Mr. Cupido has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in business administration.  Upon learning of his pending TIA designation, he was both proud and happy. When asked about his high marks on the T-TESS and the MAP assessment (student growth), he responded “I like to teach!” He added, “It is super important to enjoy what you do.  I like to convey knowledge and ensure my students understand the lesson content.” He also admitted that to perform well as a classroom instructor, one must master their content. “As a former engineer, I know my subject,” he added.  “How can one convey information to others if they do not know it, themselves?”     When asked what advice he would give to a beginning teacher, he replied, “Be professional! You’re being paid to perform a job.  You must expect the best from yourself; be responsible; get results; and focus on your work with your students.” When asked to share what he admires about Mr. Cupido, EGP Assistant Principal, Dr. Israel Garcia, said, “Mr. Cupido is so protective of his instructional time because he wants to ensure that every single one of his students shows growth. It is an honor to serve such a dedicated and passionate educator.” Finally, on a personal note, I taught a Spanish course…

His search for a better living and a competitive professional career that would enable him with the needed resources to better serve students, led Angel Rodriguez-Colon to make one of the hardest decisions of his life – to leave his island of Puerto Rico. With over ten years of teaching experience, Mr. Rodriguez-Colon made the move to Dallas and has now been with the Cityscape Family for 5 years. He says joining Cityscape schools was the best decision he could’ve made. “When I first started teaching at Cityscape Schools it was a great challenge and transition into a new educational culture. But, with the support of my faculty colleagues as well as the administration staff, little by little I started to learn the ropes here at East Grand Preparatory.” Mr. Rodriguez has certification in English as a Second Language and currently teaches 8th Grade ESL. He was also one of the seven designees by the Teacher’s Incentive Allotment in the respective Recognized designation. At first, Mr. Rodriguez-Colon took a while to understand the institutional culture, the ins and outs of teaching in a very different scenario and society, but found encouragement through his peers at Cityscape. “After years of trials and errors, with the support of my 8th grade teachers and the administration, I've developed effective teaching strategies and built relationships that make my job more enjoyable.” Some of the reasons why Mr. Rodriguez-Colon has stayed at Cityscape Schools for so long has been the teamwork, being able to serve a community that may not have the same support as neighborhood schools, and his students. “What I love about teaching is making connections with the students, meeting them where they…

Cityscape needs you! Help us make a difference in our students by gifting part of your time as volunteer. Volunteering opportunities include district and campus events such as reading days, school festivals, book fairs and many other fun and engaging activities.To ensure the safety of our students and staff, everyone wishing to volunteer should first register through our new system – VOLY, by visitingwww.cityscapeschools.voly.orgSteps to become a volunteer are simple:1. Complete Application2. Complete Orientation3. Complete Background Check ConsentA complete volunteer guide can also be found by scrolling down to the bottom of the page:www.cityscapeschools.voly.org Once background check is approved, you can sign up for opportunities on VOLY. All registered volunteers must contact their campus for instructions prior to showing up to volunteer.Thank you for gifting part of your time and helping us grow one child at a time!

It all started with a Newspaper advertisement that motivated Norma Gomez-Fuentes to pursue her career goals outside of her hometown, a small island in Puerto Rico or “Islita” - as she calls it.  Ms. Gomez-Fuentes moved to Dallas, Texas joining Cityscape Schools in pursuit of her passion for teaching. She joined Cityscape’s family back in 2016 and has been here ever since. She says that she knew great things were coming for her the moment she stepped into the interviews. “They welcomed me and accepted my vibrant and unique personality, since day one they celebrated my culture and knowledge, and that’s how I knew Cityscape Schools was going to be my second home,” said Ms. Gomez-Fuentes. In the seven years that Ms. Gomez-Fuentes has been here, she has earned certifications in MTA, Life Sciences 6-12, Bilingual Supplemental, EC-6, ESL, Reading Specialist and Special Education and also became an Esperanza interventionist, while also leading the Dyslexia and related disorders program, and is currently the first Bilingual Dyslexia Lead Teacher and Reading specialist of the district. She says all of this was possible with the support she found at Cityscape Schools. “Cityscape has been my academy when it comes to the teaching experience. I started teaching here and I have learned a lot throughout the years, I have met and worked with great campus leaders, who share their knowledge and expertise without hesitation. One of the many things that makes Ms. Gomez-Fuentes admirable is her resilience when it comes to embracing challenges and finding a positive aspect in all situations. She was able to find people with the same qualities and values at Cityscape Schools.  “I have stayed for so long because…

On February 7, 2023, Cityscape Schools received a congratulatory email from Commissioner Mike Morath stating that our TIA program, pending designations, and all supporting data have been APPROVED!   Congratulations to the following teachers who are now recognized as Texas’s top teachers and their respective designation:   Ms. Sol Acuña –               Recognized    Mr. Carlos Cupido –        Recognized Ms. Margarita Esquivel -   Exemplary Ms. Naima Howard –       Exemplary Ms. Lindsey Miles –         Recognized Mr. Angel Rodriguez -      Recognized   The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was created by the Texas Legislature as part of House Bill 3 to provide a realistic pathway for top teachers to earn competitive salaries and to help attract and retain highly effective teachers at traditionally hard-to-staff schools.   Our designees will learn in April 2023 what their allotment funding will be, according to TEA’s formula based on their campus’s rural and Title 1 status.   Again, congratulations to these dedicated and talented Cityscape instructors. May they continue to positively affect children’s lives in a positive way for many more years to come.   Mr. Carlos Cupido Mr. Angel Rodriguez Ms. Lindsey Miles Ms. Margarita Esquivel surrounded by students Ms. Naima Howard and class