Staley Named New Leader of Intermediate School

Sunnyvale ISD’s Board of Trustees named SMS Assistant Principal Brittany Dlabaj the new principal of Sunnyvale Elementary School at their November meeting. 

Dlabaj’s move comes as Sara Staley, the elementary school’s current top administrator, takes on the role of principal at the new Sunnyvale Intermediate School. 

“In her time with Sunnyvale, Mrs. Dlabaj has proven to be a strong instructional leader while developing a great rapport with our teachers and students,” Superintendent Doug Williams said. “We know that she is prepared to continue the great work that has been done at Sunnyvale Elementary.”

Dlabaj is an experienced administrator with an extensive background in elementary education. She joins the elementary staff after serving as the assistant principal at SMS for the past four years, gaining valuable knowledge about SISD’s systems and procedures. Prior that that, she spent five years as the assistant principal at Walter Floyd Elementary School in Mesquite ISD. She also spent several years in the elementary classroom in Mesquite ISD.

“I am very excited to move back to an elementary school,” Dlabaj said. “I was previously an elementary assistant principal for 5 years before coming to Sunnyvale. Although I love the middle school and our sweet kids here, I can't wait for the hugs and the excitement the little ones bring into the school each day.”

Dlabaj will take over the reins from Sara Staley, who has successfully led the elementary school as principal for nearly four years. 

“I am excited to continue the wonderful work that Sara has been doing at the elementary school,” Dlabaj said. “Looking ahead to next year, when we become a PreK-2 campus, my vision for our youngest Raiders would be to create an environment where students are excited to come to school and where they will learn what it means to be a Raider. The primary years are so important in reading development, and it will be my goal to help their teachers instill a love of reading in each student.”

Staley will take on her new responsibilities at the Intermediate School principal beginning in January in order to promote a smooth transition for all elementary, intermediate and middle school students. Dlabaj will move to the elementary campus in January, as well. 

“Brittany and I have a great working relationship,” Staley said. “We share many of the same values and core beliefs in educating our students. We attend trainings and conferences together and I know that we will work to make sure that we maintain a Pre-K-5th grade campus feeling within the district.” 

Dlabaj and her husband, James, have two children: Owen and Eli, who are students in the elementary and middle school. The family lives in Sunnyvale.

“The safety and security of our students is our highest priority,” Superintendent Doug Williams said. “Before we address curriculum, personnel, or technology, our number one objective is do everything we possibly can to provide the safest environment for the students of Sunnyvale.”

While Sunnyvale has always been a safe and family-oriented community, the rash of school shootings across the nation last spring led SISD leadership to examine all campus security procedures.

A “security task force” was established by the Board of Trustees to evaluate the district’s safety practices and procedures, including security features of our facilities. The team consists of faculty and staff members, parents and community members with either law enforcement or security backgrounds, and local enforcement officers. Following a period of evaluations, and observations at SISD campuses, the team reported their findings and recommendations to SISD leadership.

The recommendations, which will take place beginning this fall, include:

• A second buzz-in entry will be added at each campus to all interior entrance doors.

• The district camera system are now web-based, ensuring instant access to not only the SISD administration command center, but to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, as well.

• All interior classroom doors will now automatically lock.

• Campus personnel received a hands-on, scenario-based “active shooter” training over the summer, in partnership with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

• Revised security procedures for all classrooms will be implemented, to encourage a unified and simplistic use of security terms.

• The SMS innovative learning expansion will feature added security enhancements.

• Office personnel at each campus will participate in training for updated security procedures.

• All faculty and staff will be required to wear identification badges.

• All SHS students will be required to wear badges.

“We appreciate all that have contributed to this process and are confident that we have enhanced the security for our campuses,” Williams said. 

How Can Parents Support SISD’s Security Efforts?

Creating a secure and safe environment is a team effort. Parents can help make SISD safer by doing the following:

• Please be patient as we adapt to a new, more secure entrance system at each campus. As our front office get to know our new parents, this process will become much faster.

• Please report any suspicious activity. You may make these reports to the building principals or to me directly. Many eyes are better than a few. You may also send anonymous tips through our SISD Tip Line by downloading the SISD App. Please encourage our students to do the same.

• Please let campus personnel know if you are aware of any situations that might be a security risk. These tips will be used to investigate potential problems and kept confidential.
  
  

Please download and review the Emergency Communications Guidelines.