Geoffrey Canada, the former CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone who was profiled in the documentary “Waiting for Superman,” got a first-hand look Thursday at the great work happening at Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy. As the Dallas Morning News points out, Canada is a rock star in the national education world. Teachers at BOMLA were noticeably excited to see him as he toured the campus and saw classes in action. Canada visited BOMLA to see how the campus is closing the achievement gap for students of color from low-income families. In speaking on education, he credited the great teachers who,…

Dallas ISD’s Office of Transformation and Innovation today announced plans for two new Choice Schools. Martin Weiss Elementary School, located in southern Dallas, plans to launch as an Innovation School with a Leadership Model beginning in August 2016. Innovation Schools are existing neighborhood schools that re‐purpose the existing campus into a new, schoolwide academic model.  They stay in their existing facilities with current staff and continue to enroll students from their traditional attendance zones without admissions requirements, maintaining their neighborhood identities. CityLab High School (proposed name pending Board approval) plans to launch as a brand new, open enrollment Transformation School with an…

It’s quite a sight to see—fresh mulch and tiny seedlings in an area that just a few months ago didn’t grow anything but weeds. But the new Billy Earl Dade Middle School Community Garden is sprouting more than just plants: it’s growing partnership and responsibility between the school and the surrounding area. “This is such an exciting time,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said at Friday’s garden ribbon cutting ceremony. “It’s always a good thing when a school steps up to implement a new way of creating community and leadership.” The garden concept has been an ongoing process that involved many conversations between the…