Author: The Hub

While most Americans know that black soldiers served proudly in all of the country’s modern wars, it may come as a surprise to some that thousands of black servicemen fought in the Civil War. This year, as part of black history month, several hundred Dallas ISD elementary school students received firsthand history lessons about the role of these troops, nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sponsors reenactments of the stories of the Buffalo Soldiers. Volunteers in full regalia recently visited several African American Success Initiative schools to share the history of these soldiers with students. At Mark Twain Elementary,…

The 2016 theme for Black History Month—Hallowed Ground: Sites of African American Memories brings to mind the many educators who, because of their contributions to students, parents and this city as a whole, have Dallas ISD schools or facilities named in their honor. Every day, students traverse these hallowed halls and can’t help but absorb some insight about their school’s extraordinary namesake and their accomplishments. During this month, we have profiled the contributions of some of these beloved educators, many who continue, years after their deaths, to impact students. We close out Black History Month with a profile of Kathlyn…

Family and friends of the late Dallas Independent School District trustee and civil rights pioneer Kathlyn Joy Gilliam will hold a ribbon cutting this weekend to mark the opening of a museum created in her honor. The public is invited to attend the museum opening at noon this Sat., Feb. 27. The museum is housed in Gilliam’s former home located at 3817 Wendelkin in South Dallas. The home was designated a city of Dallas Historic Landmark in 2015. The new museum will serve as a community learning space and house artifacts of Gilliam’s longtime involvement in education and civil rights.…

Dallas ISD is encouraging qualified high school students to vote early in the March 1 primary election. Early voting locations are open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. through tomorrow. Friday, Feb. 26, is the last day for early voting in the primary election. Students can contact their school voting lead teacher to ask for an election guide that includes a list of all candidates on the ballot. Teacher leaders can also provide students with voter registration cards. The completed cards can be returned to the teacher who will submit them to complete the students’ registration. “It is important for (students) to…

WFAA recently reported on how schools across Dallas ISD are working to make sure students are college and career ready. Specifically, the schools’ focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.), which includes topics from robotics to calculus, is helping prepare students for a successful future. “It’s where the future is going to go,” Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said in the WFAA report. “Our students need to be prepared for that.” Click here to read the full story from WFAA.

Trustees approved a resolution on Jan. 28 to call for a general election on May 7, 2016, to fill the open seats on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. The resolution also approved holding a special election on May 7, 2016, to fill the open trustee seat vacated by Mike Morath, who resigned from the board to serve as Texas Education Commissioner. Here are the details on the upcoming election: Which trustee seats are up for election? These are the trustee seats up for election in May: District 2: This seat represents parts of East Dallas and North Dallas. Morath…

At Saturday’s African American Read-In, it seemed that everywhere you looked you saw the event’s theme — Reading is the Wave of Life. Held at Cornerstone Baptist Church, the Read-In drew hundreds of parents and students to the Black History Month celebration that focused on culture, books and reading. After students filed in and picked up their souvenir shirts and badges, the event opened with a rousing performance by the Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble. Multiple elected officials urged students to read and study to learn about their heritage and prepare for the future. Charles Rice student and…

Teacher Rose Bolden is a staunch advocate for her students who are working toward graduation in the Reconnection Center credit recovery program at J. Leslie Patton Academic Center, the district’s high school for overage students. Bolden describes herself as cheerleader, coach and chief encourager for the 54 students enrolled in her classes. “Every single, solitary one of them comes here with a goal. They know I’m in their corner, that I’m here to help them. They know that I’m pulling for them and I want them to have the success they desire.” In addition to teacher facilitators like Bolden, Reconnection…

Please note: Dallas ISD recently made it easier for staff and students to access Youtube for professional and academic purposes. Here is how to view the above Youtube video: Staff signed into YouTube with their Google login (district email and EAD password) will have unrestricted access to YouTube. Staff signed into Chrome browser or a Chrome device will not be required to enter credentials for YouTube again, but may need to click the sign in button in the top right corner of the YouTube page to gain unrestricted access. B.H. Macon Elementary is a Dallas ISD school located in southeast…

Students from the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School are participating in a panel tonight addressing child sexual exploitation and trafficking in Texas. The panel will also include Texas State Representative Linda Koop; Judge Harlin Hale; Judge Lena Levario; Assistant District Attorney Brooke Grona-Robb; Melissa Miles of the City Attorney’s office; FBI Special Agent Deborah Michaels; and Lisa Shedden with the Department of Justice. The panel is from 6–7:30 p.m. at the George W. Bush Institute auditorium at SMU, 2943 SMU Boulevard. The Rangel students are participating in the panel after learning about child sexual exploitation and trafficking through a…