National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors across the country. Next week, Feb. 2-6, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success, carve out future plans and prescribe services for issues affecting student classroom performance. “By the time a student has visited the counselor’s office,” said Dallas ISD Counseling Services executive director Dr. Sylvia Lopez, “that counselor already knows what the student is dealing with—the family situation, the social situation, what’s going on with their classes. What our counselors do…

The following is a statement from Mike Miles, superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District: “Today I accepted the resignation of Carmen Darville, Chief of Human Capital Management. Both Carmen and I are in agreement that some instant messages exchanged between her and members of her staff were inappropriate. As the head of the division that oversees all personnel functions, she recognizes it as an error in judgment. Because we are an educational institution, we seek to maintain the highest standards of professionalism for our staff.  Going forward, we will use this opportunity to grow as an organization by reviewing our standards of conduct…

In search of a collaborative solution, a mix of 22 principals, teachers and parents opened a discussion on improving the Assessment of Course Performance, or ACP, exams during an initial meeting on Jan. 28. With support from Superintendent Mike Miles, the ACP Task Force is charged with exploring ways to improve the testing process for so-called specials courses (art, music and physical education) for students in grades 3-5. The task force includes a principal and a specials teacher from each academic division as well as special education teachers who provide instruction in specials, community members and parents. The collective is due…

The idea of celebrating one’s birthday by giving a gift to someone else is unusual, but makes perfect sense for an organization that’s committed to impacting the community. When leaders of The Real Estate Council, an association of commercial real estate businesses and professionals in North Texas, looked at ways to commemorate their 25th anniversary, they knew they wanted to honor the organization’s tradition of service. Eventually, they decided that establishing a $25,000 scholarship fund for Dallas ISD students was the perfect choice. The scholarship fund, which will be administered by ScholarShot, will benefit several students over time. The group…