Author: The Hub

To better share information and ensure the safety of students, parents and community members who speak Spanish as their first language, Dallas ISD launched a companion version of its COVID-19 dashboard in Spanish. The platform allows users to track internally confirmed positive cases at schools and facilities across the district. Data is derived from confirmed positive self-reporting information based on students attending in-person classes and extracurricular activities, and is updated daily at 5 p.m. Last month, the district released the English version upon return to in-person learning. To access the COVID-19 dashboard in Spanish, click here and select the option ‘en español’ on…

As part of a major effort to create an equity mindset in Dallas ISD, all 23,000 district employees by August 2021 will receive training on unconscious bias, dismantling racism and cultural intelligence. The district’s goal is for 100% of staff to show an increase in their understanding of cultural intelligence (CQ) based on pre-tests, individual action plans, and post-tests. “No matter where you turn and what office you enter, racial equity is at the forefront of the work we are doing,” Deputy Chief of Racial Equity Sharon Quinn told trustees at the Oct. 8 board briefing. Another element of this…

It’s the first day welcoming students across grade levels back to on-campus learning, and Edward Titche Elementary School Principal Jazmume Jenkins is waving a sign and personally greeting students as their parents drop them off. “We are so excited you are here with us today, thank you for being a part of our family!” Jenkins says to a second-grader as his temperature is checked and he walks to the front door. “Are you ready for the best school year yet?” Jenkins is still in disbelief from the Sept. 24 announcement that Titche is one of three Dallas ISD schools to…

Es el primer día de vuelta a clases presenciales para estudiantes de todos los grados, y Jazmune Jenkins, directora de Edward Titche Elementary School, sostiene un letrero y saluda a los estudiantes mientras caminan para la escuela. “Estamos muy emocionados de que estés aquí. ¡Gracias por ser parte de nuestra familia!”, dice Jenkins a un estudiante de segundo grado que pasa por una revisión de temperatura y camina dentro de la escuela. “¿Estás listo para el mejor año escolar?”. Jenkins sigue sin poder creer el anuncio del 24 de septiembre de que Titche es una de las tres escuelas…

Dado que los datos preliminares muestran que los estudiantes están rezagándose académicamente debido al covid-19, la administración de Dallas ISD informó a la Junta Escolar sobre una posible estrategia para dar a las familias la opción de una extensión de tiempo educativo para mitigar la pérdida de aprendizaje. Dallas ISD está considerando distintas opciones para el año escolar 2021-2022 que sumarían tiempo educativo y enriquecedor para algunos o todos los estudiantes. La Ley 3 de la Cámara de Representantes ofrece fondos adicionales a los distritos que agregan tiempo educativo al día escolar en primaria. Los fondos de medio día de…

While Veronica De La Torres is no longer assisting physicians with open-heart surgeries, she potentially helped save the lives of Dallas residents and Dallas ISD families this summer. The registered nurse worked tirelessly–inside and outside her clinic at Young Women’s STEAM Academy (YWSA)–to make sure that her students, their families, and the patients at a local hospital survive Covid-19. YWSA is an all-girls middle school with a number of Special Education units, including an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) classroom. ADL units serve students who exhibit severe to profound cognitive delays and who may also exhibit varying degrees of physical…

Luego de trabajar como arquitecta profesional por más de década y media, Lorena Toffer se sintió llamada por la docencia. Este es su primer año como educadora e instructor líder del curso Principios de la Arquitectura en el Instituto de Profesiones del Este (Career Institute East). Luego de obtener una maestría en arquitectura de Texas A&M University en 2004, Toffer empezó a trabajar en Corgan, firma líder de arquitectura y diseño en Dallas. Al ser promocionada a gestora principal de proyectos, llevó a cabo supervisiones de proyectos desde el primer boceto hasta la construcción. Toffer siempre sintió la necesidad de…

With preliminary data showing students falling behind academically due to the Covid-19 impact on schools, Dallas ISD administrators briefed trustees Oct. 8 on a possible strategy of giving families the option of extended learning time to help mitigate learning loss. Dallas ISD is exploring three different potential options for the 2021–2022 school year that would add learning and enrichment time for some or all students. House Bill 3 offers additional funding for districts that add learning time for elementary students. The half-day funding for grades pre-K–5 is for up to 30 days beyond the normal 180 days of instruction. The district…

El 19 de octubre, el Dallas ISD llevará a cabo un seminario web para compartir con el personal, estudiantes y padres del distrito las medidas que está tomando para transformar el distrito en una comunidad escolar antirracista. El seminario web incluirá una breve presentación en que se definirán términos como ‘racismo’ e ‘inteligencia cultural’ y las herramientas que pueden ayudar a formar una organización antirracista. Los líderes ejecutivos del distrito también compartirán lo que sus departamentos están poniendo en práctica para reformar los programas y operaciones. Esta es la primera de una serie de reuniones y se llevará a cabo…

Dallas ISD is holding an Oct.19 webinar to share with district staff, students and parents actions the district is taking to transform Dallas ISD into an anti-racist school community. The webinar will feature a brief presentation defining terms such as racism and cultural intelligence and how those tools can help create an anti-racist organization. The district’s executive leaders will also share what their departments are doing to reform programs and operations. This first in a series of gatherings will be held as a virtual meeting at 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19. It will be headed by Dr. Sandra Upton, a…