CoSN, a association of K-12 education technology leaders, and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, this week named Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and  Jeff Stephens, superintendent of Weber School District (WSD), the 2021 EmpowerED Digital Superintendents of the Year in recognition of their efforts to assist schools in making the digital leap during this particularly transformational year. The EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year Award, sponsored by ClassLink, is given annually to a district leader that has championed the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. This year, as superintendents across the country navigated massive shifts in the education…

Following Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order lifting the mandatory mask-wearing requirement, Texas Education Agency released guidance for schools to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Schools must continue to require students and staff to wear masks. Based on these guidelines and our commitment to student and staff safety, Dallas ISD will continue following our current health and safety protocols requiring that students and staff wear masks over their nose and mouth and adhere to hand-washing and social distancing practices when on district property. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation. We will bring updates as they are provided.

Transparency, equity and collaboration are three words Construction Services executives are using to describe their approach to the rollout of bond 2020 renovations and construction projects. In their first public report to trustees on Feb. 11, the leadership team shared the philosophy they said will guide the construction plan and shared a list of  29 construction projects underway,  21 set to begin and 13 schools assigned for replacement. Also announced was news that the 2020 bond program will fund new furniture for all district schools and that middle and high schools will all receive wrought iron fencing and all high…

Evening Academy is one among many options Dallas ISD provides to students to help overcome obstacles to high school graduation. Now pre-registering students for a March 8 launch, the online self-paced classes meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and are designed for 9-12 students who may face obstacles that prevent them from attending traditional classes. Others like the online platform or want to make up lost credits or earn additional credits. The online curriculum gives students 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week access to their coursework. Evening Academy administrator Erlene Williams says the program is also designed to assist…