Browsing: Headlines
Dallas ISD’s alternative to suspensions addresses behavioral issues head on, instead of pushing them aside
0Gerre Cortez, a 29-year veteran educator at H. Grady Spruce High School, is among the 52 employees tasked with implementing Dallas ISD’s vision of eliminating out-of-school suspensions for students. The district this school year eliminated both in-school and out-of-school suspensions for middle and high school students, while still having any serious infraction go through the disciplinary alternative education program. “Suspensions and in-school suspensions (ISS) never really fixed why some students were continually misbehaving and doing things that got them sent to ISS or suspended,” said Cortez, the Spruce High School Reset Center Coordinator. “Now, we’re actually trying to fix the…
Dallas ISD is notifying families of all students in a classroom if someone in the class tests positive for COVID-19
0Following updated guidance from the Texas Education Agency, Dallas ISD is notifying all teachers, staff and families of all students in a classroom if someone in the classroom tests positive for COVID-19. The district is also notifying all teachers, staff and families of all students in an extracurricular activity or after-school program if someone from that activity or program tests positive for COVID-19. The district is primarily using the School Messenger automated call out system to notify families. Dallas ISD strongly encourages parents to make sure they have their current phone number and email in the system to receive these…
Dallas ISD wins 2021 TAEA District of Distinction Award
0The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) announced the 40 winners of the 2021 District of Distinction Award. Among the list of honorees is Dallas ISD. The districts received the honor for providing a well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and build social emotional learning that connect learners to their community and beyond. TAEA is the leading advocate for the visual arts in the state. The organization has previously honored outstanding TAEA members for work in their classrooms and districts. This is the third year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as…
Reckoning With Segregation: How Dallas ISD is working toward racial equity
0We’ve been celebrating a Dallas hero this week – Mr. Sam Tasby, who filed the lawsuit that led to a court order 50 years ago to desegregate Dallas ISD. Yet, we know that court decision was not the last word. We spoke with Sharon Quinn, deputy chief of the district’s Racial Equity Office, to ask about some of the vestiges of segregation and what the district is doing to address them. What are some of the lasting impacts of segregation in the district? Segregation seeks to divide, disrupt, and ultimately destroy the futures of marginalized families and students. It perpetuates…