Author: The Hub

Summer vacation is here for students, and that means families are scrambling to find activities to keep kids busy (and learning) in the warm summer months. Dallas ISD elementary students can visit the Dallas Zoo for free after the zoo donated more than 80,000 tickets to elementary schools. The tickets are valid through Aug. 31 for children ages four to 11. “We are so excited about our partnership with the Dallas Zoo,” said Jenny Christian, Dallas ISD STEM Science Director. “Learning doesn’t stop during the summer, so going to the zoo provides an enriching opportunity for students to continue expanding…

The freshman class of the Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy showcased their academic findings from the past year to a host of family, friends and school administrators on May 18th and 19th. The “Performance Assessment Exhibitions” were a big first step for the inaugural class of the Leadership Academy. In their senior year, these students will participate in a Portfolio Defense, where they will defend their scope of learning in before a panel of teachers, assistant principals, and community members. “The performance assessments were a stepping stone for the students to prepare them for their Senior Portfolio Defense,” Bryan…

The classrooms of Martha T. Reilly Elementary School are buzzing with the sounds of learning and fun, even though it’s nearly the middle of summer. Students in grades Kindergarten through fifth are participating in Dallas ISD’s first Summer Achiever’s Academy, and this site, along with a handful of others, are providing teacher candidates in the Compass Alternative Certification Teacher Academy the preparation they need to successfully lead a classroom. The teacher candidates, or interns, have just completed a week of intensive orientation to prepare them for phase two of their Compass training – five weeks of practice teaching, direct training…

Great people characterize the South Oak Cliff high School feeder pattern. Usamah Rodgers, executive director of the feeder pattern, said the schools have a outstanding community with committed parents, dedicated students, hardworking teachers and excellent administrators. From a new elementary school robotics competition and Prep U events to South Oak Cliff High School’s new collegiate academy, there is outstanding educational opportunities and enrichment options for students throughout the feeder pattern

The Lakewood Advocate recently featured a story on student athlete Darrion Green of Woodrow Wilson. Please visit their site and read about this amazing Dallas ISD student athlete and all he has accomplished. Congratulations Darrion! And best of luck and UNM!

This summer marks a milestone as the Mayor’s Back To School Fair, scheduled for Friday, August 5 at Fair Park, celebrates its 20th anniversary! Most parents agree that costs can quickly add up when preparing for the first day of school. That’s why so many community supporters come together every year to help students and families with their school-related needs at the Mayor’s Back To School Fair. From free school supplies for Dallas schoolchildren (who meet specific eligibility requirements), to free health, dental and vision screenings, immunizations and haircuts, to the latest information on education, health and social services, the…

A festive kickoff for the Mayor’s Back to School Fair, 800 Dallas ISD students getting their first college experience, and a celebration of a great partnership were some of the highlights of the past week. Watch this short video — or read below — to learn more! Mayor’s Back to School Fair A press conference provided details on the 20th annual Mayor’s Back to School Fair, which is Aug. 5 at Fair Park. Mock trial class offered at Madison Thanks to a partnership with Thompson and Knight LLP, the mock trial team at Madison High School will become a mock trial class next…

Four of Dallas ISD’s top female executives fronted leadership roundtables at the Meadows Conference Center this week to conclude the district’s Women’s Leadership Conference co-sponsored by the University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management. The 2016 Dallas ISD Women’s Leadership Conference included: Leadership workshops for 75 women leaders in central staff. Cohort debriefing sessions for workshop attendees. Roundtables with women in Dallas ISD’s top leadership. Chief of Staff Dr. Cynthia Wilson, Chief of Human Capital Management Karry Chapman, Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde and Chief of Communications Toni Cordova led discussions on various points of leadership…

Porfirio Alvarez was on vacation when he was called in to substitute at Ignacio Zaragosa Elementary for a teacher going on maternity leave. It was his first time subbing—or teaching, for that matter—but he felt a calling to cut his vacation short and take the opportunity. Much to Alvarez’ surprise, that one day subbing transformed his life. Meet A Top 100 Teacher, a Hub feature that spotlights one of Dallas ISD’s Top 100 teachers, checked in with Alvarez in his classroom at William Anderson Elementary School. Why did you become a teacher? While subbing, I established a strong connection with those…

The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district’s $1.4 billion budget for 2016-2017 at its June 23 meeting. Key aspects of the budget include: More than $13 million to support the opening of eight collegiate academies which will offer students the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree, tuition-free, while in high school. A 2-percent raise for hourly workers. The budget also includes raising the minimum hourly salary for custodians and other maintenance workers to $10.37. Approximately $4.7 million to support the continued implementation of the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) initiative, an effort to raise achievement at seven underperforming schools by providing…