Four new career institutes in Dallas ISD will provide students with workforce-ready skills that high-wage employers need now and in the future. Dallas ISD Chief Academic Officer Ivonne Durant and Assistant Superintendent Oswaldo Alvarenga briefed trustees on Sept. 12 about the updated plan to open four career institutes in the four quadrants of the district. “We understand that while some students will enter college directly after high school graduation, other students will need to join the workforce immediately, and still others may need to work while they attend college or pursue postsecondary education,” Alvarenga said. “This is a career and…

An innovative new job application system will make it easier for high-quality Dallas ISD job candidates to match with a potential job that’s right for them. On Oct. 1, Dallas ISD will replace AppliTrack with the Talent Management System (TMS). TMS can match candidates who upload their resume with potential jobs, notify them when new jobs are posted, and, through the Watson Assistant, answer general questions about the district and position. TMS will also make it easier for district officials to identify and select the top candidate for a position. “Adding the power of Watson – Artificial Intelligence (AI) to…

Dallas ISD celebrates the rich culture and important contributions of Hispanic Americans during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is Sept. 15-Oct. 15 each year. Special events and educational lessons help bring the history to life for students. The time period is an important one for several Hispanic countries. On Sept. 15, the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate becoming independent nations. The next day, Sept. 16, is celebrated as Independence Day in Mexico. Chile celebrates its independence on Sept. 18. Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, is celebrated on Oct. 12. The observation started in 1968…

All qualifying employees who are not part of a district excellence initiative will see board-approved salary increases reflected in their September paychecks. Those whose salaries are determined through one of the excellence initiatives— most teachers, assistant principals, principals and executive directors of schools—will see salary increases, if eligible, reflected in their October paychecks. As part of recommendations from a recent Texas Association of School Boards study to align Dallas ISD to industry standards, the board approved increase will be an equal rate increase based on 2 percent of the pay range midpoint of an employee’s pay grade, which was determined…