Author: The Hub

Submitted by the Student Activities department Dallas ISD debate coaches partnered with the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance (DUDA) to create Community Action Debate (CAD), a new debate format centered around local issues. With 158 Dallas ISD elementary and secondary campuses participating in the district’s debate program, DUDA is the second-largest urban debate league in the nation.  Michelle Read, Student Activities coordinator, said Dallas ISD debate provides students with an equal shot at success. “As the district continues making debate accessible to all students at every level, we take steps closer to educational equality where voices are heard and civil discourse…

Submitted by the Student Activities department Excitement about chess swept across Dallas ISD when, on two back-to-back Saturdays, nearly 3,000 students competed in the fall chess tournaments hosted by the Student Activities department. With the increased number of elementary and secondary students participating in the district’s tournaments, Dallas ISD boasts the largest districtwide chess program and hosts the largest chess tournaments in North Texas, said Dennis Raveneau, Dallas ISD tournament director. “Through playing chess, students learn to think critically, plan strategy, and execute a plan,” Raveneau said. “In addition to strengthening cognitive skills, playing in chess tournaments promotes good sportsmanship…

A Carolyn Galván le encanta ser maestra sustituta, y a los estudiantes les encanta que esté con ellos. Los estudiantes se acercan a ella y le saludan con el puño o con un abrazo, y ella los conoce por su nombre. Los miembros del equipo dicen que ilumina el salón de clases cuando entra. Galván dice que muchos de sus estudiantes la tratan como a un familiar, pues les muestra compasión y comprensión en clase, sin importar como le vaya el día al alumno. Se siente valorada en Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, que es lo que la Asociación…

The Beat entrevistó a maestros expertos de todo el distrito con el fin de compartir sus historias e introspecciones sobre sus carreras, incluyendo consejos para la docencia. Le presentamos a la maestra experta Flor Méndez González. Flor Méndez González, maestra experta en Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, lleva 20 años ejerciendo como maestra, 11 de los cuales han sido en Dallas ISD. Antes de venir al distrito, vivía en Monterrey, México, y enseñaba en una escuela privada. Un compañero le contó sobre el programa de visa de Dallas ISD, el cual ofrece las opciones del H-1B y el programa de…

Dallas ISD substitute teacher Carolyn Galvan loves being a substitute teacher, and students love her being there. Students come up to her and give her a fist bump or a hug, and she knows them by their first name. Team members say she lights up a room when she enters. Galvan says many of her students treat her like family, as she offers compassion and understanding in the classroom, no matter what kind of day the student is having. She feels appreciated at Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, which is how the National Education Association hopes that all substitute…

The Beat has interviewed Master Teachers across the district to share their stories and introspections about their careers, including tips for teaching. Meet Master Teacher Flor Mendez Gonzalez. Flor Mendez Gonzalez, a master teacher at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, has been a teacher for 20 years, 11 of them at Dallas ISD. Before coming to the district, she was in Monterrey, Mexico, teaching at a private school when one of her colleagues told her about the Dallas ISD Visa Program, which offers the options of the H-1B visa and the J-1 Exchange Visitor Teacher Program. She sent an email inquiring about the…

Quería enviarles un mensaje rápido para ponerlos al día de los acontecimientos más recientes en Austin. El gobernador ha convocado a los legisladores de regreso al capitolio del estado para llevar a cabo otra sesión especial sobre los subsidios a las escuelas privadas (también llamados escuelas de elección, vales, cuentas de ahorro para educación, etc.), y el financiamiento a las escuelas públicas, la seguridad escolar y asuntos fronterizos. La semana pasada, el comité selecto de la Cámara de Representantes dedicado a las oportunidades y enriquecimiento educativo, propuso un proyecto de ley (HB1) que permitiría que el dinero de los contribuyentes…

I wanted to send a quick note to catch you up on the latest developments in Austin. The Governor has called lawmakers back to the State Capitol for another special session on private school subsidies (also called school choice, vouchers, education savings accounts, etc.) as well as public school funding, school safety, and border issues. Last week, the House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity & Enrichment sent a bill (HB 1) to the House floor that would allow public taxpayer money to be used to pay for tuition at private and religious schools. I have nothing against private schools. Some…

Varias escuelas primarias y secundarias de Dallas ISD recibieron clasificaciones superiores según un reciente informe de U.S. News & World Report. Más de 100 000 escuelas de grados kínder a ocho fueron analizadas con base en datos públicos del Departamento de Educación de EE. UU. Entre los hallazgos se aprecia que 108 escuelas de Dallas ISD están en el 40 % superior del estado, lo que incluye a 92 primarias y 16 secundarias. Asimismo, a nivel del distrito y del estado, William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard está clasificada en el puesto número uno. U.S. News calculó las clasificaciones K-8 basándose en…

Dallas ISD elementary and middle schools received top rankings in a recent report from  U.S. News & World Report. Over 100,000 schools at the K-8 level were analyzed based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. Among the findings, 108 Dallas ISD schools are among the top 40% in the state, including 92 elementary schools and 16 middle schools. Overall, at the district and state levels, William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard ranked No.1. U.S. News calculated the K-8 rankings based on students’ proficiency on mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. According to U.S. News, “there is no national…