Author: The Hub

Recycling saves money, conserves natural resources and cuts down on waste dumped into landfills. It just so happens it can also pay off for schools. Students at three Dallas ISD schools have embraced the practice in a major way by collecting paper waste, soft drink cans, and other recyclables on a consistent basis. Their efforts won their schools a $1,000 cash award. Funds for the awards were donated by Waste Management, Inc., the district’s waste management service provider. The award-winning schools are Skyline High School, which recycled 80.02 tons; H.W. Lang Middle School at 45.72 tons; and Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary…

There might be 10 months left until the start of next school year, but the Dallas ISD Human Capital Management department is already hard at work recruiting effective teachers for next August. Last week, HCM staff kicked off their effort to recruit bilingual teachers from outside the United States with a trip to Puerto Rico. More than 100 people signed up for interview slots in Puerto Rico, and HCM staff selected 26 candidates to move forward in the recruitment process. Dallas ISD recruiters are scheduled to travel to Spain and Mexico later in the school year. “There is a critical bilingual…

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr made a stop at Dallas ISD’s James Bowie Elementary School on Monday, Oct. 26. Carr talked to fifth-graders about the importance of making good choices when it comes to nutrition and saying no to drugs. His visit was during Red Ribbon Week, an annual event set aside to focus on avoiding drug abuse. He also answered questions about his early life, his start playing organized football in the fourth grade and his professional football career. After talking with the fifth grade as a whole, Carr joined about 30 students in the school’s gym. Under the guidance…

As a theater arts student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Darnna Banks (Class of 2004) always loved science, but she never knew that her dream of being a doctor would take her so many miles from home. Today, she is back home applying for residency and AlumNow, a Hub feature that checks in with district alumni to see what they’re doing, caught up with her for an update. What are you doing now? I recently earned my doctor of medicine degree and am currently applying for residency. Briefly list a few of your…

When retired NFL great, Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown is formally recognized Friday, Nov. 6, lots of local fans will share the pride of his storied accomplishments. Many of those in the stands at the game will doubtless be alums of Woodrow Wilson High School, which is where Brown got his start on the school’s varsity football team. The first and only Dallas ISD grad to achieve hall of fame success in football, Brown began his career on a team that won only four games in his three years on varsity. From humble beginnings, the…

On Oct. 17, 29 robotics teams gathered at Ellis Davis Field House for the inaugural Dallas ISD Intra District VEX-IQ Robotics Competition. Each team of students built their robots, learning to work together and problem solve during the process. Each team had 60 seconds for their remote-controlled robot to capture as many orange balls as possible and hoist them over the competition barrier. The event gave students a glimpse into what a career in technology and robotics would be like. The event was organized by the Dallas ISD Educational Technology and Student Activities departments. Watch the above video to learn more.

Mockingbird Bridal has donated approximately 150 dresses to Sunset High School students with the hopes of making their homecoming memories a little sweeter. Click here to view the WFAA report on the donation.

On Nov. 3, voters will weigh in on a proposed $1.6 billion bond for Dallas ISD that is anticipated to create nine new schools, 326 new classrooms, facilities for a variety of new educational programs, and facility improvements. Click here to see a map of the proposed Dallas ISD projects that are currently anticipated to be funded with bond proceeds. Based on certain assumptions regarding property values, interest rates, and other factors, the proposed bond is not anticipated to raise tax rates. The road to the proposed bond started back in 2013, when the district commissioned a study from an engineering…

Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is hosting informal discussions with teachers and parents/community members in October and November. Attendees are invited to ask questions and provide feedback and suggestions at the meetings. Here is the schedule for the upcoming dialogue with teachers: And here is the schedule for the upcoming community conversations: Hinojosa will hold similar meetings across the district through May.

Representatives from 20 large urban public school districts convened in Dallas this week to focus on strategies, techniques and programs that encourage healthy habits among schoolchildren. Participants at the Urban School Wellness Conference spent much of its second and final day touring three Dallas ISD schools to see some of the district’s innovative programs in action. The tour highlighted programs at Francisco “Pancho” Medrano Middle School, James Bowie Elementary School and Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy. Longtime Bowie PE teacher Sharon Foster showcased a classroom that will become a fitness center for students, staff and parents. Foster has used grant…