Students across Dallas ISD are reporting they feel a sense of safety in their school.
During the December Board of Trustees briefing, school leadership briefed board members on the progress the district is making on its goal to ensure a high quality student experience for all.
Divided into three subcategories, this goal takes into account nuances like campus climate, campus safety, and campus sense of belonging. Each of these subsections have a benchmark the district aims to hit by spring of 2025.
Tiffany Huitt-Powell, chief of school leadership, said it’s a fine line of ensuring these goals are met while also focusing on academic improvement.
“There are opportunities for strategic adjustments, but one thing I want to take ownership in is making the balance between supporting the whole child and increasing opportunity for academic outcomes,” she said.
The district objective regarding campus safety was to increase the percentage of students feeling safe in their schools from 48% in fall of 2022 to 58% in spring 2025. Dallas ISD is well on their way to reaching that goal, with 56% of students responding positively in the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year.
Huitt-Powell credits this to teamwork among all stakeholders across the district.
“I want to celebrate the coordinated work of campus security and principals to our central staff,” she said. “All of our coordinated efforts make students feel safe, and this data shows that.”
Dallas ISD provides safety training every year, and continues to increase their security personnel. Additionally, campuses can implement student-led campus safety teams, which propose initiatives to increase safety in their schools, based on their lived experience. They also have the agency to raise concerns and find solutions.
“It’s a coordinated effort that’s seen and felt by students and staff,” Huitt-Powell said.
