Author: The Hub

The other can be almost anyone: that person who looks different or talks differently, or wears a headscarf, or isn’t popular. Any of these can be reasons to be isolated and teased especially in middle school. On Friday, Feb. 12, middle school students across the district were encouraged to look beyond surface differences and embrace those they might consider different. It was No One Eats Alone Day, and at Ann Richards Middle School, students took action to make sure everyone was welcomed to the table at lunch.

The volume and types of state-mandated tests for public school students, along with how the results are used, has been a hot button topic not only in Texas but across the U.S. in recent years. The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is giving educators, parents and business leaders the opportunity to provide input into what assessments and accountability measures will look like in 2017 and beyond. To help inform the members of the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability, the SBOE is hosting a series of community conversations across the state. On Feb. 17 at El Centro…

The fifth grade was a memorable year for Estephanie Rodriguez. She had just moved to Dallas from Mexico and started school, not understanding a single word of English. It would have been very easy to feel out of place and discouraged, but her teacher seemed determined to give Estephanie a vibrant learning experience. “I still remember my fifth-grade teacher; she inspired me so much,” Estephanie said, remembering how so many lessons felt more like games, activities and songs with new words but familiar tunes. “She didn’t speak Spanish to us, but the way she taught me, I never felt different…

Families who attend this Saturday’s African American Read-in are in for a feast of literature, music, and dance. The agenda features an African drum and dance ensemble, student dance groups, a jazz band and a Reader’s Walk showcasing students sharing poems and passages from their favorite books. This all takes place this Saturday, Feb. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1819 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The event theme is Reading is The Wave of Life. The celebration is free and open to the community. Author Cheryl Wills will share with students her love for reading and writing.  Wills’ book,…

The Accelerating Campus Excellence plan brings several components together for the seven schools in the program to boost student success and create a strong sense of community. Combining strong school leadership, effective teachers and high expectations for students and staff is doing what it is designed to do. The ACE program, formulated in March 2015, began with seven schools desginated by the Texas Education Agency as Improvement Required. Those schools are Annie Webb Blanton Elementary, Billy Earl Dade Middle School, Thomas Edison Middle Learning Center, Roger Q. Mills Elementary, Elisha M. Pease Elementary, Umphrey Lee Elementary and Sarah Zumwalt Middle…

Kobe Bryant Wrice, a senior at Dallas ISD’s North Dallas High School, played his final high school basketball game this week – days after the NBA star he is named after played his final professional game for the L.A. Lakers. Wrice, like Kobe Bryant, is a force on the court. He will end his high school career as one of the top scorers among area Class 5 players. See the full report here from CBS 11.

By the time the new Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers at 81560 S. Hampton Road was about to open for the very first time on Tuesday, Feb. 16, a long line was forming at the door and in the drive-through lane. For the community, however, the store is more than just another chicken restaurant. For years, the lot was slated to feature a payday loan store – not the type of business the community wanted to see. That plan was halted through the efforts of Friendship-West Baptist Church, Carter High School and district officials. “We’re aware that this is much more…

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,…