Approximately 600 Dallas ISD high school and middle school athletic coaches, trainers and stadium staff attended an all-day training at Emmett J. Conrad High School, Tuesday.
During the Dallas ISD Athletics Back to School Kick Off, district personnel held a mandatory UIL orientation and training and went over the Athletics Department rules and expectations.
Dallas ISD Athletics hosted speakers from the Dallas Police Department, the Racial Equity Office, Employee Relations and Mental Health Services, among others.
“Most people just think it’s about playing a game, and going to the game, and winning or losing, and that’s the end of it,” said Dr. Silvia Salinas, Executive Director of Dallas ISD Athletics. “But there are so many other responsibilities and duties that we have as coaches and administrators, to make sure that we’re growing. Today’s event was about the rules, but it was also about letting them know about what direction Dallas ISD Athletics is heading, what our mission and our brand is, and making sure that they understand what it is.”
Dr. Salinas has served the district’s athletic department for over two decades. She started her career coaching in Central Texas and later moved to D-FW, where she taught mathematics and served as a track and field and cross country coach at Skyline, Bryan Adams and W.T. White. At the college level, she’s coached at Richland College and Northwestern State University, and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M Commerce.
“Doing events like these brings back my coaching passion,” Dr. Salinas said. “I get super excited about Dallas ISD Athletics. We’re so proud to be here and serve our students and our communities.”