ConnectEd November 2018 | Page 3

3 Anonymous Alerts ® app offers easy, secure reporting method Garland ISD recently introduced its partnership with Anonymous Alerts®, a digital tool students, staff and community members can use to report urgent student concerns to school officials. Although the district has a hotline and an online form available for reporting, this new digital resource allows users to easily submit concerns—including screenshots, photos and videos—via a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. “This app provides us with a platform that allows us to communicate with the reporter but still not know who that person is,” said GISD Security Coordinator Kiel Pankonien. “Kids can be afraid that somebody is going to think of them badly for saying something.” The Anonymous Alerts® app was loaded on to every district-issued iPad and Chromebook, giving staff, as well as all middle and high schoolers, direct access to report anything from bullying to vandalism anonymously. Students, parents and community members are also encouraged to download the free resource on their personal smartphones. To expand the tool’s reach and effectiveness, Anonymous Alerts® worked with the district’s Translation Department to create a Spanish version of the app. A Vietnamese version is also in the works. Reports are monitored by GISD Security 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Download the app today by searching Anonymous Alerts in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Enter the activation code garlandisd when you open the app. One goal. One focus. What is the impact of more than 8,000 employees uniting to achieve one common goal? Profound. In Garland ISD, the district is collaboratively focused on ensuring all students graduate prepared for college, careers and life. The GISD Board of Trustees adopted this shared objective in 2018, which also includes performance targets for areas such as early literacy, English language acquisition, scientific understanding, mathematical proficiency, post-secondary readiness and student management. To view all of the targets, please visit bit.ly/gisdgoal and join us as #goaldiggers for student success. november 2018