Author: The Hub

If approved by voters, proceeds from the proposed $1.6 billion bond package are anticipated to fund several new schools and a variety of school and facility improvements that support academic programs. Click here to view an interactive map of every proposed bond project. Click on the below links to learn more about the proposed projects separated by trustee district. All proposed bond projects remain subject to district discretion. Election Day is Nov. 3 Proposed bond projects for District 1 Proposed bond projects for District 2 Proposed bond projects for District 3 Proposed bond projects for District 4 Proposed bond projects for…

Almost everyone who knows Preston Hollow Elementary teacher Leanne Woods says she has a gift for teaching students with Down syndrome. Principal Tom Brandt describes her as a teacher of boundless energy who applies tough love to get her special needs students to grow when other teachers might give up. “Ms. Woods’ ability to connect with and address each student’s unique talents and specific needs is absolutely incredible,” he said. Parents echo the sentiment. Celina Abeyta-Barry, whose son is one of Woods’ students, says the veteran special education teacher is “kind and loving yet firm and determined.” Woods also takes…

For Hillcrest High School alum Katherine Hall Jelliffe (Class of 2004), the lessons she learned from one of her favorite teachers taught her that women can excel in science. Today, Jelliffe is a fourth-year Obstetrics & Gynecology resident physician at Parkland Hospital where she teaches younger residents and interns. AlumNow, a Hub feature that checks in with district alumni for an update on what they’ve been doing, checked in with Dr. Hall to find out how things are shaping up for her. What are you doing now? Each month, I work in a different area of OB/Gyn (gynecology, obstetrics, gynecology oncology,…

Hugo Duran, a student at Garza Early College, spent part of his summer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston as part of the High School Aerospace Scholars program. Duran was one of 270 students across Texas who will participate in the program. The students worked in teams to develop a mission to Mars. His team was the Alpha Team, and it was their job to develop the space base where the astronauts would live. Other teams developed space suits, rovers, and rockets. The Aerospace Scholar teams created videos showing off their work, and the team with video that gets the…

At Charles A. Gill Elementary School, teachers and school leadership encourage as many parents to be as involved as possible. MySchool is a Hub feature that spotlights a different Dallas ISD school each week. Watch the above video to learn more about the good things happening Gill Elementary.

A great educational strategy doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. For Dallas ISD, one new strategy revolves around a simple phrase: “Always speak in complete sentences.” And while the effort to promote pre-K and early elementary students to speak in complete sentences seems simple, Alan Cohen, who oversees early childhood education for the district, said the strategy could bring significant benefits. “Getting our kids to speak in complete sentences will do great things for their oral language development, which is a critical building block of literacy development,” Cohen said. “It’s really important that we take a holistic approach…

Amber Harris, owner of Mockingbird Lane Bridal Boutique, knows how much teenagers want to look and feel good during their homecoming dance. Harris spends much of her week helping brides, bridesmaids, and women preparing for a formal event pick out the dress that is perfect for them. Knowing the power of the perfect dress, Mockingbird Bridal donated approximately 150 dresses to Sunset High School students with the hopes of making their homecoming memories a little sweeter. “When you wear a beautiful dress, you feel great about yourself and it helps build your confidence,” Harris said. “We were excited to be able…

After 20 years working as a teacher assistant at Ben Milam Elementary School, Claudia Rodriguez has achieved her dream of becoming a teacher. After recently finishing her bachelor’s degree, she obtained a teaching certificate and now has a classroom of her own. “My journey to become a teacher was long, and it had its ups and downs,” Rodriguez says. “There were many sleepless nights, it was stressful days, hard work. But I was resilient, and I finished my bachelor’s degree in education at the University of North Texas at Dallas.” Milam Principal Anna Gamez said that she and the staff…

From the owner of a luxury home firm who served on charitable boards to an actress and director who has appeared in films such as “Minority Report” and “Charlie Wilson’s War,” six Hillcrest High School distinguished alumni will be recognized for their noted accomplishments on Oct. 14. In addition to recognizing the Class of 2015 HHS Distinguished Alumni, the HHS Alumni Association’s second-annual Platinum Panther Celebration will also honor alumni who graduated 50 years ago. Proceeds from the event, which is by reservation only and held at the Prestonwood Country Club, will benefit the HHS Alumni Association Scholarship fund. “We…

Student discipline and truancy are the topics of today’s episode of Ed Talk with Dr. Bob Bravo. Dr. Robert Bravo, Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership, talks with Martha Hawkins, supervisor of attendance improvement and truancy reduction, and Dr. C.A. Williams, director of the Office of Student Discipline and Truancy, about the changes in truancy law that went into effect this school year. The conversation also provides tips for teachers for what they can do to keep their students on the right sides of the rules. Click here to listen to the podcast.