Citing his leadership navigating the school district’s students, families, and employees through the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, Dallas Business Journal has named Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa one of its Most Inspiring Leaders of 2020. Among Hinojosa’s accomplishments lauded in the award are his collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, the governor, county and health officials to maintain instruction in the early weeks of the pandemic, developing a plan to bring employees back and open schools in a safe environment, playing a leading role as an advocate for connectivity for students, and working to establish the delivery of…

“In the most recent update from the county health authorities, no recommendation was made for schools beyond ensuring that they continue to follow safety protocols. While Dallas ISD is taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of students, at this time a 100% return to virtual learning is not an option per Texas Educational Agency guidelines. To request a waiver to extend virtual learning beyond the first four weeks of instruction, Dallas ISD would have needed to apply by Oct. 5, when the county was at the orange level of infections. The agency now has restrictive requirements for districts to…

Is your child keeping up with schoolwork and attending classes regularly and on time? If the answer to this question is no, parents should be aware that virtual learning may not be the best option for your child, and as we approach the second nine-week grading period, the face-to-face model might be a better choice. Whether attending school in-person or virtually, students are responsible for a full day of participation and should check in at the beginning of each class period for attendance and instructions. Dallas ISD is meeting and talking with parents, administrators and teachers to create a plan…

With a grant from the Dallas Education Foundation, a new Dallas ISD initiative called “I Matter, We Matter, Words Matter” will prepare teachers to use culturally authentic texts written by Black authors to help students see themselves mirrored in the books they read. The program aims to increase Black student achievement in reading and expose students to read-aloud instruction. The professional development is a part of the Teaching and Learning Division’s support for the Racial Equity efforts underway in Dallas ISD, including the district’s training on cultural intelligence and unconscious bias, said Charissa Govan, executive director for Professional and Digital…