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Medicare Agent in Richardson, TX
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Richardson, TX or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
- Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
- What is Medicare?
- The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including
- Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Richardson, TX
- Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
- Medicare Agent in Richardson, TX
- How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
- Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
- Paying for Your Medicare Agent
- The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Richardson, TX
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Richardson, TX is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Medicare Agent in Richardson, TX
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer Medicare Agent in Richardson, TX. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Medicare Agent
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 57 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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Latest News in Richardson, TX
Richardson City Manager Appoints Director of Strategic Initiatives
richardsontoday.comhttps://richardsontoday.com/richardson-city-manager-appoints-director-of-strategic-initiatives/
Shayla Lee brings experience leading cross-departmental initiatives, strategic planning, government relations, and data-informed organizational improvement.(Richardson, TX) – City Manager Don Magner has announced the appointment of Shayla Lee as the City of Richardson’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. Lee will begin her new role Sept. 21, 2026.The Director of Strategic Initiatives is a newly created position within the City Manager’s Office, and Lee will serve as a member of the City’s leader...
Shayla Lee brings experience leading cross-departmental initiatives, strategic planning, government relations, and data-informed organizational improvement.
(Richardson, TX) – City Manager Don Magner has announced the appointment of Shayla Lee as the City of Richardson’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. Lee will begin her new role Sept. 21, 2026.
The Director of Strategic Initiatives is a newly created position within the City Manager’s Office, and Lee will serve as a member of the City’s leadership team. The role was established to lead high-priority projects, advance strategic priorities, support public-private partnerships, and help turn major ideas into measurable community outcomes. Working across departments and with a wide range of stakeholders, the director will help build consensus, encourage innovation, and move transformational initiatives from concept through implementation as Richardson continues planning for the future.
Lee currently serves as Director of Strategic and Government Affairs for the City of Sugar Land, where she supports City leadership in translating organizational priorities into coordinated, cross-departmental initiatives. She also leads implementation of Sugar Land’s 2025-27 Strategic Action Plan and oversees the City’s Office of Data and Innovation and Intergovernmental Relations efforts.
“Shayla has demonstrated an exceptional ability to bring people together, translate complex priorities into action and keep major initiatives moving toward measurable results,” Magner said. “Her experience working across departments and leading strategic programs will be an important asset as Richardson continues advancing projects that require strong coordination, accountability, and long-term focus.”
Lee has served the City of Sugar Land since 2021, beginning as a management analyst before advancing to assistant to the city manager and then to her current director position. Her work has included managing multidisciplinary projects, tracking performance measures, developing policy recommendations, supporting budget oversight, coordinating internal communications, and evaluating the effects of legislative and regulatory changes on municipal operations.
During her tenure, Sugar Land earned Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities Gold Certification in 2025, recognizing the City’s use of data and evidence to guide policy, evaluate programs, and improve services. Lee was also selected as a recipient of the International City/County Management Association’s 2025 Early Career Leadership Award and is a graduate of the 2024 Texas Women’s Leadership Institute.
“Richardson is known for thoughtful leadership, strong public services and a commitment to planning for the future,” Lee said. “I am honored to join the City and look forward to working with employees throughout the organization to advance strategic priorities, strengthen collaboration, and support initiatives that make a meaningful difference for the community.”
Lee earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She serves on the University of Georgia Master of Public Administration Advisory Board and has participated in professional mentoring and leadership programs supporting emerging public-sector professionals.
Richardson TX Residents Face Rising Water and Gas Uncertainty
Matthew Silkwoodhttps://www.einpresswire.com/article/947130930/richardson-tx-residents-face-rising-water-and-gas-uncertainty
Increased gas prices and local water main breaks heighten need for local plumbing serviceRICHARDSON, TX, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A recent trend of plumbing-related issues have Richardson, TX residents concerned about rising costs and service interruptions.On September 29, 2026, a water main break on East Collins Boulevard caused water outages that affected Yale Park homeowners and Yale Elementary School. Residential service interruptions and street congestion along the main thoroughfare occur...
Increased gas prices and local water main breaks heighten need for local plumbing service
RICHARDSON, TX, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A recent trend of plumbing-related issues have Richardson, TX residents concerned about rising costs and service interruptions.
On September 29, 2026, a water main break on East Collins Boulevard caused water outages that affected Yale Park homeowners and Yale Elementary School. Residential service interruptions and street congestion along the main thoroughfare occurred as the city conducted emergency repairs.
Two days later, Richardson customers of Atmos Energy experienced a rate hike for natural gas service. Community Impact reports the average monthly gas bill will rise from $94.48 to $107.85 for Richardson homeowners.
The week of water and gas issues left locals concerned about the future of home plumbing in the city- in both the cost and reliability of residential service.
For local plumbers, the evolving goal is to provide stability for homeowners in the face of this uncertainty.
"It's been a stressful few weeks for our Richardson customers," says Steven Smith, Responsible Master Plumber at Mother Modern Plumbing. "Folks aren't just calling for repairs and installs. They're wondering when the next problem's coming."
Concerns are highest in Richardon's mid-century housing stock, where aging water and gas infrastructure are prone to leaks underground and behind walls. These hidden breaches cause service interruptions and surprising utility bill increases, making the recent municipal gas and water issues hit home.
"Out-of-towners hear all about the new builds in Greenwood Square and Swan Lake Estates," Smith reflects. "But the heart of the city is in Canyon Creek, Heights Park. And the problems in these properties are little reflections of the bigger problems that make the news."
Smith notes an influx of new service calls to Mother's Richardson office location on North Colt Road. He reports the top three local service issues over the last six months are in-wall pipe leaks, gas line repair and underground water line repair.
According to Smith, these services require extra security for the customer in the face of rising local uncertainty. His advice: opt for plumbing contractors who offer fixed-rate service and transparent warranty packages on repairs.
“You can’t always predict what the gas company’s going to charge or when your old pipes are going to go,” Smith states. “So make sure your plumber gives you control over as much of the rest as possible.”
Mother Modern Plumbing +1 979-220-1702 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube
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Technology With Purpose: RISD prioritizes active, student-centered learning experiences.
Richardson ISDhttps://web.risd.org/home/technology-with-purpose-risd-prioritizes-active-student-centered-learning-experiences/
At Richardson ISD, our North Star Goal is clear: Every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goal. Achieving that goal requires us to be intentional about every instructional tool we use—including technology.As we prepare for the new school year, we want to share updates to our Technology with Purpose guidelines. Our approach is simple: students should be learning with technology, not from technology.Technology is an important part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and hel...
At Richardson ISD, our North Star Goal is clear: Every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goal. Achieving that goal requires us to be intentional about every instructional tool we use—including technology.
As we prepare for the new school year, we want to share updates to our Technology with Purpose guidelines. Our approach is simple: students should be learning with technology, not from technology.
Technology is an important part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and helps prepare students for college, careers, and life beyond graduation. However, technology is not a replacement for high-quality teaching. We know the most meaningful learning happens through strong relationships with teachers, engaging classroom discussions, hands-on experiences, and active student participation.
We have heard feedback from families and staff about the importance of creating a healthy balance between technology use and traditional instruction. In response, RISD is strengthening expectations for how technology is used in classrooms.
What matters most is how technology is used! Not all screen time is the same. RISD prioritizes productive screen time, where students are actively creating, collaborating, solving problems, researching, and engaging with learning. Passive screen time—such as primarily watching videos or presentations—will be limited based on age-appropriate daily recommendations.
| Grade Level | Max Passive Time | Recommended Format |
|---|---|---|
| PK-Kindergarten | 10-15 Minutes | Single Session |
| 1st-4th Grade | 15-20 Minutes | In Chunks |
| 5th-6th Grade | 20-30 Minutes | In Chunks |
| Secondary (7-12) | 15-20 Minutes | Per Class Period |
To support this balanced approach, RISD will:
In RISD, we believe in learning beyond the screen. Technology is just one of many instructional tools. Richardson ISD remains committed to providing students with rich learning experiences that include:
These experiences are essential to developing strong academic foundations while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful connections in the classroom.
Technology continues to play an important role in preparing students for the future and helping students develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. When used intentionally, it supports the TEKS, aligns with the RISD Graduate Profile and Learner Growth Experience Framework, and helps students build digital citizenship and other real-world skills they will need beyond the classroom.
RISD firmly believes that technology enhances great teaching—it does not replace it. As we implement these updated guidelines, we will continue to monitor their effectiveness, evaluate implementation, and make adjustments as needed to ensure they best support teaching and learning. We are equally committed to a robust communication and professional learning plan that equips teachers, informs families, and supports the consistent, high-quality implementation of these expectations across every classroom.
We appreciate the continued partnership of our parents, staff, and community. Together, we will continue creating engaging, balanced learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive through meaningful instruction, hands-on experiences, and purposeful technology use.
Richardson ISD rolls out classroom screen time guidelines, emphasizing hands-on learning
Alanna Quillenhttps://www.nbcdfw.com/news/back-to-school/richardson-isd-rolls-out-new-classroom-screen-time-guidelines-emphasizing-hands-on-learning/4058151/
Richardson ISD is implementing new classroom technology guidelines this school year aimed at reducing student screen time and increasing opportunities for hands-on learning.The move follows months of feedback from parents and community members.District leaders announced the changes this summer as part of a broader initiative called "Technology with Purpose," which emphasizes using technology to enhance learning rather than replace traditional instruction and teacher-student interaction.Superintendent Tabitha Br...
Richardson ISD is implementing new classroom technology guidelines this school year aimed at reducing student screen time and increasing opportunities for hands-on learning.
The move follows months of feedback from parents and community members.
District leaders announced the changes this summer as part of a broader initiative called "Technology with Purpose," which emphasizes using technology to enhance learning rather than replace traditional instruction and teacher-student interaction.
Superintendent Tabitha Branum told NBC 5 concerns about screen time emerged repeatedly during conversations with families throughout the spring.
"As we evaluate what's happening in our classrooms, how can we best support learning, one of the areas that we continue to receive feedback, specifically from parents, were concerns around the amount of screen time," Branum said.
The district spent about six months gathering input from parents and assessing existing practices before updating its guidelines. Branum said RISD already had expectations in place for technology use but wanted to provide greater clarity for teachers, students and families ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
"We already had some guidelines in place, but we recognized we needed to be a little bit clearer with those guidelines," she said.
The new guidelines include grade-level recommendations for screen use, extended restrictions on YouTube access for secondary students, increased classroom monitoring and transparency, and the elimination of technology as a behavior incentive or indoor recess activity.
Branum said she expects many parents will support the changes, though some may want the district to go even further.
And she knows some students may have a different reaction, especially when they find YouTube is now blocked unless a teacher provides a specific approved link.
"I know I'm gonna get emails from our students saying, please unblock YouTube. But again, we know our students’ frontal lobe is still developing. And having that discipline to not go to YouTube and watch something that is off task can just be hard," she said.
For the district's youngest students, screen time limits will be especially restrictive.
"When you're talking about our pre-K fours and our kindergarten students, we know how powerful it is for them to be able to write and work with manipulatives hands-on and that they're experiencing learning," Branum said. "We wanted to make sure we had very strict guidelines for our littlest learners, where they're not looking at a screen for more than 10 to 15 minutes a day."
District leaders say the goal is not to remove technology from classrooms but to ensure students are using it in productive ways.
"We are constantly looking and researching and trying to understand what adjustments do we need to make. Because [there are] 35,000 kids that are our responsibility," Branum said.
According to RISD, technology should support activities such as creating, collaborating, problem-solving and critical thinking rather than passive content consumption.
"We know technology is a tool of the future and we know that it's incumbent upon us to give our students the skills to know how to use technology, to be creative, to be efficient, to demonstrate outcomes," Branum said. "But when it's used passively, just for entertainment, that is not always a productive use, and that can be detrimental."
The district's approach echoes a growing national conversation about youth screen use and its impact on child development.
Dr. Stevie Puckett-Perez, a pediatric psychologist at Children's Health, said screens became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing children to access education and remain connected to others. But she said many families have struggled to scale back screen use in the years since.
"For a lot of families, they've had a really hard time shifting gears to putting those screens in the back seat again," Puckett-Perez said. "And we know more from research now, having looked at some COVID times and the increased use of screen time."
She pointed to research that has found links between increased screen use and a variety of emotional, behavioral and health concerns among children.
"In fact, last year, there was a large meta-analysis of almost 300,000 kids across multiple countries, primarily in the U.S., not looking specifically at COVID times, but just screen use in general. And it validated kind of what we all expect and what we know about screens just from observing kids. Is that greater screen use really is linked to more problems," she said.
According to Puckett-Perez, studies have associated heavy screen use with higher rates of anxiety, depression, attention problems, hyperactivity, behavioral issues, sleep disruption and obesity. Elementary-aged children are among the groups most vulnerable to the negative effects, she said.
"I think for younger kids, when we think about very young kids, more than half of toddlers and babies touch a screen every day. And it is incredibly common," Puckett-Perez said. "And what we know in those early years, those very early years, is they really don't need it at all. Even if it is educational and valuable and doing those kinds of thoughtful educational things, it does not replace conversation with an adult.
At the same time, Puckett-Perez emphasized that technology itself is not the problem.
"Balance is everything. We are not trying to encourage families to avoid screens entirely," she said. "It's not just all screens are bad all of the time. Any amount of screen time is going to create issues. Essentially, what kids are accessing matters. How much matters and how matters."
Instead, she encourages families and educators to be intentional about how students use devices and to ensure screen time is not replacing sleep, physical activity, face-to-face social interactions or other important developmental experiences.
"Making sure it's not displacing anything of value, meaning it should not be happening when we should be sleeping, it should not be happening when we're eating, it shouldn't be happening in place of interacting or playing outside with other kids, in place of sports or extracurricular activities," said Puckett-Perez. "Just like we think about it's important to nourish our bodies with food. Sure, we can have treats and other things that we enjoy, but it's also we have to balance that out with things that help us grow and nourish us. Same thing with sleep and Same thing with other activities."
RISD officials say the district's new guidelines are rooted in that same philosophy.
"The challenge is finding that balance. I'm a mom -- I have three older kids who, technology looked very different for them. And then I have a 12-year-old in which the moms in our neighborhood are having discussions who will be the first one to give them a cell phone because and trying to delay that as long as possible," Branum said.
The district's new guidelines state that students should learn with technology, not from technology. Leaders also stressed that exceptional teaching and meaningful relationships remain the foundation of classroom learning.
"We still want teachers to be their creative self. We just wanna make sure we're doing it in a way that it's healthy and in best practice for our kids," Branum said.
She said the district continues to view technology literacy as an essential skill as students prepare for an increasingly digital world shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
"We hear from our industry partners how important it is that our students have the skills that they need to be successful," Branum said. "Yes, we have to prepare them for their future, but we have to do it in a way that meets where they are right now," Branum said.
RISD has previously taken steps to limit technology-related distractions. The district was among the first in Texas to remove cellphones from secondary classrooms by requiring students to place devices in locked pouches during the school day.
Branum described the new screen time guidelines as the next step in the district's ongoing effort to reset instructional expectations and strengthen partnerships with parents following the pandemic.
"It's very much a return to big books and students reading lots of tangible, hands-on books. And I have so many teachers that they're thrilled to see those being delivered to their classrooms," Branum said. "And then I have a lot of teachers who are like, exemplars for how to use technology in the classroom. And I've just reassured them that if they are using technology in that productive way, in a way that really is ensuring our kids are leaving better at the end of the day than when they walked in, that they can continue to do those learning experiences and to communicate and partner with their parents."
RISD plans to continue gathering feedback throughout the school year and adjust as needed.
"I would just want all of our parents to know that we love their kids and that we are going to continue to work and become the best district," Branum said. "We know that our parents trust us with their most important treasure, and we don't take that lightly."
District officials said additional details about implementation will be shared with families as part of back-to-school communications. Click here to learn more.
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