Author: The Hub

Janet McDonald Fuller, a Dallas ISD teacher at the Environmental Education Center, had the opportunity to train at NASA’s Educator Professional Development Institute this summer. Fuller applied for the program after attending an Astronomy training through the district taught by Brandon Hargis of NASA. Hargis encouraged all participants to apply for EPDI. EPDI is a five-day program taught at Johnson Space Center in Houston, focusing on training teachers in the field of science. Fuller has always been intrigued by science. “My mother was a Life Science teacher and would bring home frogs, possums, and all kinds of marvelous things,” she said.…

Leslie Moore got an unexpected call on her way to work – a Richardson church wanted to take donated backpacks and school supplies to W.A. Blair Elementary School that morning. Just after 9:30 on Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, a black SUV loaded with items pulled to the front of the school. The bounty came as a donation from First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park. Pastor Gregory Foster, staff and church members dropped off the donations. There are about 100 backpacks and the school supplies to fill them – notebook and construction paper, spirals, boxes of crayons, folders, glue and glue…

Teachers at Umphrey Lee Elementary School geared up for the 2016–17 school year with aviation-themed professional development. Umphrey Lee Elementary is one of seven Dallas ISD ACE schools, which staff low performing schools with highly effective teachers and leadership teams to raise student performance levels. Watch the above video for an inside look into the training.

Dallas ISD is one of nine area school districts that will benefit from the Backpack Boosters collection drive, coordinated by Kroger and several community partners. On Thursday, Aug. 25, James Hogg Elementary will receive and celebrate its share of the donations. During the 14-day program, conducted July 27-Aug. 9, shoppers could buy pre-packaged school supply kits for $7 each, or make donations of $1, $3 or $5 at the checkstand. The drive surpassed its initial goal of providing school supplies for 60,000 Dallas-area students. In total, the collection collected $461,552, enough to provide for 65,936 students – a 5 percent…

The Dallas ISD Police Department announced that Lieutenant Jason Rodriguez has been promoted to Assistant Police Chief. Rodriguez has been on the force for 11 years. Rodriguez has a BA from Sam Houston State University and a Masters Degree from Amberton University. Rodriguez is also a graduate from the FBI National Academy, the Law Enforcement Management Institute Leadership Command College, and a part of the 42nd class for Leadership Dallas. “I am humbled by this opportunity to serve our students and employees as Assistant Police Chief,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez is the first Hispanic appointed to be a part of the Police Executive Staff…

Walk into a prekindergarten classroom, and you’ll hear laughter and see children playing. To most people, it looks like unstructured playtime. But the fun environment is actually a carefully designed structure which gives our youngest students the best chance for success. According to Derek Little, Dallas ISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning, the games and interactions are helping children with language development, and building the skills necessary to become effective readers. “We want every student in Dallas ISD to ultimately read on grade level and to be literate, and that work starts in early learning,” said Little. PreK classrooms meet…

Parents and community members are invited to talk with district trustees and the architects and project managers charged with making the school improvements funded by the district’s $1.6 billion bond program approved last November. Plans call for construction of several new schools. A number of existing schools will receive classroom additions and upgrades to their lobbies and facades; others will get less visible improvements such as heating and air conditioning or plumbing upgrades. The meetings will give parents and community members information about projects scheduled in their school communities and the opportunity to make suggestions and ask questions about the…

When Israel Rivera, the principal at the new Joe May Elementary School, was 29 years old he embarked on a journey that would completely transform his life.  He adopted his brother’s four sons and decided to change careers so he could spend more time with them. “They are the reason I’m a principal today,” said Rivera. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” Rivera left his career in advertising at The Richards Group to coordinate his schedule with the boys. He became a teacher at James Bowie and Mountain Auburn elementary schools and later principal at Harrell Budd…

The purpose of the HBCU EXPERIENCE is to expose students to a myriad of college opportunities, specifically historically black colleges and universities. Students will be exposed to the educational and exciting experience of college life on an HBCU campus. Equally important, Dallas ISD high school bands and drill teams will perform and showcase their talent! The following bands will be showcased during the HBCU EXPERIENCE: – Sunset High School – Wilmer-Hutchins High School – South Oak Cliff High School – Lincoln High School – Pinkston High School Date: September 21, 2016 Location: STEAM Middle School at D. A. Hulcy Time:…

Eduardo Huerta, orgullosamente observó a su hija, Ximena, comenzar su primer día de clases de prekínder en Jose “Joe” May Elementary School. Para Huerta, la ansiedad de observar a su hija comenzar su primer día de clases disminuyó al saber que él estaría cerca: Después de todo, él es uno de los maestros de segundo grado en el mismo plantel. “Voy a hacer el mayor esfuerzo para no ir a revisarla cada hora”, dijo con una sonrisa. Jose “Joe” May Elementary es una de las cuatro nuevas escuelas de Dallas ISD que abrió sus puertas este año, y la última…