Whittling down 542 nominations to a list of 40 is no easy task. Judges for the Dallas Business Journal’s 2015 40 Under 40 list recently accomplished that task, reviewing reams of papers describing young professionals making their mark on the Dallas community. In the end, Alan Cohen, the Executive Director of Dallas ISD Early Childhood and Community Partnerships, was one who rose to the top.
“I will admit that it made me smile,” Cohen noted.
Cohen went on to say that he considers it an honor to be named to the 40 Under 40 list alongside other professionals he admires and respects. Under his leadership, Dallas ISD’s pre-K program has expanded significantly, with nearly 10,000 students enrolled for the 2014-2015 school year. Additionally, Cohen has led the charge to improve the quality of instruction in those classrooms.
“Particularly in my role in Dallas ISD, I do not believe in individual success,” Cohen said. “(Being named to the 40 Under 40 list) is an encouraging indicator that there are people throughout Dallas who believe we are taking the right steps to improve early education.”
Meanwhile, Cohen knows a long road still lies ahead. He said that limited resources make it imperative to “stay disciplined in our approach to the long-range strategies” developed to increase the odds of success for every Dallas ISD student.
The entire 40 Under 40 class of 2015 were honored at a reception on May 28, and the May 29 issue of the Dallas Business Journal featured profiles of all the honorees. Click here to view the profile on Cohen that is behind a paywall.
Photo courtesy Dallas Business Journal
