Skyline High School alum Levatta Dean Levels (1982) knows firsthand the power of great teachers who invest in their students’ lives, pushing them to excel and expecting them to achieve. Levels, assistant superintendent at the DeSoto Independent School District, recalls caring teachers who helped give her the tools needed to succeed and a school that prepared her for a world of diversity.
AlumNow, the Hub feature that profiles Dallas ISD alumni, checked in with Levels for an update.
What are you doing now?
[I am] Assistant Superintendent for DeSoto Independent School District.
Briefly list a few of your career and/or personal highlights.
- Currently enrolled in the education administration doctorate program at Texas A & M University at Commerce.
- Earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education with a focus on Education Administration from the University of North Texas.
- Completed the Superintendent Certification Program from the University of Houston Victoria.
What was your favorite subject or activity/involvement in high school?
The Man and His Environment Cluster was my favorite class. We studied political science, law, psychology, education, etc. It was mostly independent study with small group instruction. This experience prepared me to be successful in college and my career.
Who was your favorite teacher?
My favorite teachers were Bessie Moody and Vivian Taylor from T.D. Marshall. They showed me unconditional love, while expecting me to perform at my greatest ability.
What lesson did you learn in high school or beyond that has served you well through the years?
Skyline High School was very competitive educationally, socially, and athletically. With a class of almost 900 students, you couldn’t be successful just on good looks! I was challenged in my advanced classes. My social skills were perfected as I needed to interact with an extremely diverse (ethnically, racially, religious, educationally) group of students and staff.
What advice, if any, would you offer to high school students today?
Utilize your high school years to the utmost. Know that your junior year is the most critical year. It can make or break you so please put forth your best effort in classwork, assignments, test, SAT/ACT, etc.
College/University and degree earned:
University of North Texas, B.S., and M.A. in education with focus on educational administration.
If you are a Dallas ISD alum and would like to be considered for an AlumNow spotlight, please complete the questionnaire and submit along with a recent high-resolution headshot. We look forward to catching up with you and sharing your accomplishments.
