Author: The Hub

The Dallas Independent School District announced today the appointment of Colorado educator Ivan Duran, Ed.D. as the district’s new deputy superintendent. Duran will join the district in July to replace the district’s current Deputy Superintendent Ann Smisko, who is retiring. A veteran of 26 years in public education, Duran most recently served as assistant superintendent for Elementary Education for Denver Public Schools, where he led and supervised the system’s Elementary Education Division comprised of more than 90 early childhood centers, elementary and K-8 schools. His previous experience includes service as instructional superintendent, director of Instructional Technology, principal, assistant principal and…

Work performed by volunteers and resources provided by partnerships help Dallas ISD schools do more for their students. The job of securing and managing those efforts often falls on a staff member whose duties include serving as volunteer/partnership coordinator. On Thursday, April 21, those coordinators were honored and recognized for the jobs they do. Dallas ISD’s Volunteer and Partnership Services also highlighted the coordinators who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Honorees were: Gold Award: Sonya Cameron, Roosevelt High School Rising Star Award: Micaela Gomez, Cigarroa Elementary; Michelle Lewis, E.D. Walker Middle; Lisa Smith, W.T. White High School;…

Great things happen every day across Dallas ISD. This Week In Dallas ISD showcases some of the great things that happened across the district over the past few days.  Dallas ISD (still) has the best school in the nation Quote of the Week: “There is not just one thing that makes our school great. The hard work and dedication that our students and teachers put in every day—combined with the strong support of our parents, greater community, and district leadership—all help make our school successful. It’s great to be recognized, but we will not rest on our laurels and we still have…

South Oak Cliff High School parents, teachers and community members are coming together this week with a team of architects and designers to help reimagine the physical space of the campus. Dallas ISD has committed up to $40 million* of 2015 bond revenue for facility improvements at South Oak Cliff High School (SOC). Ashley Bryan, Dallas ISD Director of Planning and Special Projects, said this week’s design charrette is an important first step in generating ideas for the look and feel of learning spaces that align to SOC’s academic vision. “When it comes to reimagining a school facility, a design…

On Saturday, April 23, high school students will have the chance to hear from and speak to a variety of professionals who will offer information and advice on becoming independent adults and finding success in their chosen careers. The Life Project event is this year’s service project conducted by the Dallas ISD Teen School Board. The event is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School, 3030 Stag Road. The event is free, and lunch will be provided. Spots are filling up, register today here: tinyurl.com/LifeProjectRSVP The Teen School Board is a student advisory group comprising…

The May 7 election will fill four Dallas ISD trustee seats and more. Here are the important upcoming dates and information: Early voting: Monday, April 25—Tuesday, May 3 Election day: Saturday, May 7 Early voting locations: DallasCountyVotes.org Election day locations: DallasCountyVotes.org To check registration status:  DallasCountyVotes.org To see sample ballot: DallasCountyVotes.org Information on candidates & issues: Vote411.org What does a trustee do? The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees establishes the policies by which schools operate. In carrying out the task of setting policy, the board identifies needs and establishes priorities for the school system, allocates financial and human resources among the priority areas, and evaluates school performance.…

Dallas ISD’s Franklin D. Roosevelt High School received a donation of Under Armour athletic clothing and shoes this week from Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities. The 100 boxes of gear is valued at more than $100,000, and is just one of many recent donations the charity has presented to Dallas ISD schools. Besides athletic gear, the charity has helped provide school uniforms. Roosevelt cheerleaders and band members provided a pep rally-style atmosphere as students – many of them athletes who will benefit from the donation – unloaded the truck, which was provided by Two Men and a Truck. Representatives from…

Some of George W. Truett Elementary School’s first teachers and families joined more than 150 community members, advocates, families and district officials to celebrate a ribbon cutting for the school’s new additions and renovations. The 2015 Interim Bridge Plan funded $13 million in classroom additions and renovations at Truett. This includes a two-story building addition with 24 classrooms, a science lab, updated library, music room, gym and computer labs.  The Truett expansion added 55,000 square feet to the campus and increased the school’s capacity to 1,400 students. “These new spaces are just amazing,” Truett Elementary School Principal Terre Evans said. “It’s rejuvenated…

More than 50 students from Dallas ISD’s Justin F. Kimball and H. Grady Spruce high schools were recently pampered with mentoring, shopping, jewelry, makeup and hairstyling thanks to TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom event. The day culminated in a high-fashion runway show, where the girls and boys strutted their stuff with their new looks. “TLC the brand believes that self-confidence, feeling as if someone is there for you, can mentor you, work with you is very important,” Adria Alpert-Romm of Discovery Communications. “That’s really what it’s all about. It’s about confidence, it’s about pride, and it’s about feeling like…

An all-boy assembly at Kimball High School served as a “wake-up call” to encourage the students to reach their full potential. Distinguished guests such as Judge Ernest White, Councilman Casey Thomas, radio personality J Kruz, and spoken word artist Joe Wesley Patton III talked with students about issues such as morality and the chivalric code. “Don’t minimize yourself and don’t ever let anyone minimize you,” said Lawrence Stokes, a felony criminal court coordinator. “There is nothing in your life but opportunity.” The all-boy assembly followed an all-girls assembly held at Kimball High School in February. Both assemblies aimed to bridge…