Author: The Hub

It’s quite a sight to see—fresh mulch and tiny seedlings in an area that just a few months ago didn’t grow anything but weeds. But the new Billy Earl Dade Middle School Community Garden is sprouting more than just plants: it’s growing partnership and responsibility between the school and the surrounding area. “This is such an exciting time,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said at Friday’s garden ribbon cutting ceremony. “It’s always a good thing when a school steps up to implement a new way of creating community and leadership.” The garden concept has been an ongoing process that involved many conversations between the…

Dr. Seuss was on the loose at Herbert Marcus Elementary on Friday, Feb. 26, to kick off the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America Reading Tour. The Dallas school was the first stop on a tour that will travel to six states. The annual event celebrates the March 2 birthday of the late children’s author Theodor Seuss Geisel, best known as Dr. Seuss. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is co-sponsoring this year’s tour, which is the 19th national Read Across America celebration. At Marcus, students were treated to their own red-and-striped hats and goody bags that included copies of The Cat…

On Sunday, Feb. 28 beginning at 11 a.m., more than 400 AMC theatre managers from every AMC around the country will come together at the Hyatt Regency Dallas to give something back to the Dallas community. In partnership with Kids in Need Foundation and the Dallas Independent School District, as well as AMC’s Ring of Honor partners, AMC theatre managers spent part of Sunday working together to fill 10,000 backpacks with non-perishable food items and school supplies for Dallas ISD students. Items for the students include ravioli, juice, muffins, crackers, fruit cups, chips, pens, pencils, glue and crayons. Representatives personally delivered 90 backpacks…

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…