Author: The Hub

This weekend, Dallas ISD will host its annual job fair as part of its effort to get an effective teacher in every classroom. For anyone interested in attending the job fair, here is information to make sure you’re prepared. When and where is the job fair? The job fair is Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at Emmett J. Conrad High School, 7502 Fair Oaks Ave. Where can I park? You can park your vehicle in the lots behind the school. You can find additional parking at: Fair Oaks Park, 7502 Fair Oaks Ave., which is a large softball complex…

Students, staff, parents and volunteers celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with green thumbs on Tuesday, March 17, as they planted a new garden at John Quincy Adams Elementary School. Fifth-grader Raymond Arguelles relished the opportunity to grab a shovel and help with digging duties. But he’s also looking forward to making a few new friends, too. “A lot of times, you hardly see that,” he said of birds and wildlife, gesturing to a banner emblazoned with a large blue jay. “With a garden, they might just stop by.” Tuesday’s installation marks the 27th garden coordinated by nonprofit REAL School Gardens, and…

Attention Dallas ISD employees: do you want to see a free movie? If so, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is offering free admission to any movie at any time through March 22. The offer is open to all district faculty members, teachers, administrators and employees. To claim your free ticket, you just have to show your faculty/employee ID at the Alamo Drafthouse box office to claim your ticket. Alamo Drafthouse is located in Richardson at 100 S. Central Expressway. Click here for more information.

A news report from CBS DFW shows how the Mock Trial team at Skyline High School, which is ranked as the best in Texas, is learning law and how to win at the same time. To learn more about the mock trial team, you can view the CBS DFW report here.

The Dallas Morning News on March 18 came out in support of the district’s plan to address its most critical facility needs. Specifically, the editorial board said the bridge plan, as it is called, would “green-light some of the most urgent repairs, renovations and expansions” at district schools. Click here to read the full editorial.

The district is continuing to refine the draft Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) Plan that would improve the distribution of effective teachers through educator choice and incentives. In his latest Notes From the Superintendent, Superintendent Mike Miles said plans call for ACE to begin as a pilot program at six Improvement Required (IR) schools that will be identified at the end of March 2015. The district will begin the implementation of the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) Plan in the 2015-16 school year. Miles said in February that the pilot program is a part of the district’s goal to get an effective…

Alex Sanger Elementary School students shouted their favorite color, did (safe) karate chops, and performed a variety of other dance moves during a special Koo Koo Kangaroo concert on Tuesday afternoon. Koo Koo Kangaroo, an interactive comedic dance-pop band from Minnesota, performed at Alex Sanger Elementary after its students won a GoNoodle contest sponsored by Children’s Health. GoNoodle is an online service that provides “brain breaks” in classrooms through brief, interactive videos designed to encourage body movement. To win the GoNoodle contest, Sanger Elementary had the highest percentage of GoNoodle users in Dallas ISD between Feb. 9–March 6. “Brain breaks…

Based on a pay-for-performance model, the district’s Teacher Excellence Initiative offers rewards for educators who can prove their effectiveness in the classroom. J.P. Starks Vanguard Academy teacher Shalonda Alexander said she welcomes the challenge. “TEI gives educators the opportunity to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication to the teaching profession,” she said. Successful appraisals can lead to salary increases and contract extensions for those deemed to be among the district’s most highly effective teachers. Alexander is one of more than 1,400 teachers striving to document that they belong in this elite class of educators through their participation in…

Shirley Dolph, the assistant principal at David G. Burnet Elementary School, said the school’s Pre-K program is fantastic. However, the school does not have adequate room to serve as many Pre-K students as it could, Dolph said. The district’s proposed Bridge Plan, which would tackle immediate district needs, would, in part, fund a new wing with four needed additional Pre-K classes at the elementary school. View the above video to learn more.

In March, the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Youth Sports Safety Alliance commended Dallas ISD for putting athletic trainers at all 23 of its high schools over the last two years. A story from KERA looks into the benefits these trainers provide district students. Click here to view the story.