After more than three decades of dedicated service to Dallas ISD and South Oak Cliff High School, legendary basketball coach and athletic coordinator, James Mays II, is officially retiring.  With 34 years in Dallas ISD, including 32 years at South Oak Cliff, Mays leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of leadership, mentorship, and championship success. May served as the head boys basketball coach since 1999, guiding the Golden Bears to 26 consecutive UIL playoff appearances. Under his leadership, SOC captured four UIL State Championships (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008) and made five trips to the state tournament, along with nine regional…

Dallas ISD opened its second resource center this week, serving the students in West Dallas and their families.  Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde, Ed.D. and Joe Carreón, president of the Board of Trustees, praised the Resource Center West as a place that will make a difference in the community because of the resources it will provide, from a safe space for students to participate in after-school programs to a grocery-style pantry managed by Brother Bill’s Helping Hand.  The Resource Center West, located at 2200 Dennison St., will serve parents and students from Dallas ISD schools with a focus on the Dr.…

In August 2020, the Martin Luther King Jr. Learning Center reopened as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy, transforming into a campus for pre-K through eighth-grade students in South Dallas.  This reimagined campus was affectionately nicknamed “Baby Booker T.” as a nod to Dallas ISD’s famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. This wasn’t just a new name; it was the beginning of a new legacy. Before its rebirth as an arts academy, the school faced challenges as one of Dallas ISD’s focus campuses. Within a year, however, MLK Jr. Arts Academy  became…

For Dallas ISD students thinking about becoming teachers, a recent event gave them a real glimpse into the profession — directly from those already in the field. Thanks to a partnership between Dallas ISD Human Capital Management and Grambling State University, young men interested in education got the chance to connect with male educators, hear their stories, and gain valuable insight into what it takes to succeed in the classroom. The event was part of Call Me MiSTER, a national program launched in 2000 to address the shortage of male teachers of color. Through mentorship and support, the program helps…