Author: The Hub

Trustees expressed their support Thursday night for a proposal to give $1,000 retention stipends to veteran distinguished teachers who did not receive pay raises this year under the Teacher Excellence Initiative. This school year, 148 veteran teachers who received a distinguished effectiveness level — placing them among the top-performing teachers in the district — received no raises because their salaries exceeded the amount set for a distinguished teacher. Another 20 distinguished veteran teachers received raises of less than $1,000 for the same reason. The proposal discussed at Thursday’s board meeting would provide a one-time retention stipend of up to $1,000…

Interest in the Dallas Independent School District magnet programs remains strong, with more than 9,800 applications submitted to the district during the recent application period. Dallas ISD will now review those applications. First choice notification letters will be mailed on Feb. 29. Students wait listed or not accepted in their first choice school will be assessed by their second choice school beginning March 9. Second choice notification letters will be mailed April 8. “This number of applicants demonstrates that Dallas ISD students and their parents continue their high level of interest and support in the district’s successful and nationally recognized…

Dallas ISD’s annual STEM Day highlights the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but just as important is an emphasis on fun. From flying quadcopters, to getting close to creepy-crawly critters to playing in a field coated in fake snow, a good time could be had by all. Hands-on experiments and dynamic demonstrations filled the 2016 version of the event held earlier this month. “STEM Day is a celebration/exposition of everything that has to do with science, technology, engineering and math,” said Roland Antoine, director of Education and Technology. “The idea of encouraging kids to move into those fields,…

The Dallas ISD Food and Child Nutrition Services department knows that students can have strong opinions about what they eat. That’s why the department issued satisfaction surveys to students last semester to learn what they liked—and didn’t like—on the school cafeteria menu. The department studied the student feedback and responded with a revamped menu this semester, including new menu items requested by students. “We know our students expect delicious food, and we are working very closely with students from the Teen Board, School Nutrition Advisory Committee (SNAC), and the Menu Advisory Committee (MAC). We are always working to form new student…

It’s been more than 25 years since Franklin D. Roosevelt High School alum Paul Mitchell (Class of 1990) roamed the halls of his alma mater, but what he learned there as a student—pride, respect, responsibility—still guides his life today. AlumNow, The Hub feature that profiles district alumni, checked in with Mitchell to see what he’s been up to since graduating from Dallas ISD. What are you doing now? I’m a Dallas ISD police officer assigned to James Madison High School. Briefly list a few of your career and/or personal highlights. Graduated from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in…

Upcoming Regional Wrestling competition for Class 5A Region 2 and 6A Region 2 will take place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13. Dallas ISD qualified 114 boys and girls to Regionals. Of those, the following will advance to this weekend’s Area Wrestling competition in Frisco: 5A Regional competition included 88 Wrestlers from Dallas ISD (51 boys, 37 girls) Dominque Sloan, Wilmer-Hutchins High School (Most Outstanding Boy Wrestler of 7-5A Tourney) Kaitlyn Contreras, North Dallas High Sschool (Most Outstanding Girl Wrestler of 7-5A Tourney) 6A Regional competition included 26 wrestlers from Dallas ISD (12 boys, 14 girls) Maria Vidales, Skyline High School (Most…

Declaring that “it’s a new day in Dallas ISD,” Superintendent Michael Hinojosa Thursday announced a major expansion of school choice options for next school year. In making the recommendation to trustees, Hinojosa said the district has to act aggressively and think differently to make Dallas ISD the district of choice for Dallas families. Next year’s new choice programs will be launched on new and existing district campuses. The programs proposed for the 2016–2017 school year include: 12 two-way elementary dual language programs that provide both Spanish and English instruction to students in the same classroom developing bilingual and biliterate students…

Rachel Harrah knows that many of her students have been through struggles in their personal lives, and that drives her to brings her “A” game to class every day. “The fact that I can be there for them as a person, and that I can also push them instructionally as an educator lets them know I am not going to let them down,” Harrah said. “And then they know that they’re not allowed to let me down, either.” Harrah, who teachers Theater Arts at Dallas ISD’s Thomas Jefferson High School, was named 2015-2016 Secondary Teacher of the Year. “She’s not…

While this year’s NFL season might have ended with the Denver Broncos winning the Big Game, Super Bowl memories are alive and well in several Dallas ISD high schools. The National Football League recently sent commemorative Wilson Golden Footballs to the high schools that graduated a player or coach who appeared in a Super Bowl. Dallas ISD high schools have received more than 20 Golden Footballs to honor those players. “We are very proud of our alums who have accomplished this very distinguished award that all NFL players strive for,” Dallas ISD Athletic Director Gil Garza said. “These Dallas ISD past athletes…

In honor of Black History Month, fourth-graders in Tiffany Hughes class at McShan Elementary have created some great grid art pictures of five inspirational African American figures. Here are the pictures displayed in the school hallway: