I didn’t want you to go on break before telling you how thankful I am for you and the work you do for our students. Because, as the Dallas Morning News just wrote, the results of our work are “worth celebrating.” Truly, we have a lot to be thankful for.  A non-profit that rates schools serving students from less well-off families awards Gold Ribbons every year to schools that do an exceptional job. This year, the number of Gold Ribbon schools in North Texas nearly doubled, largely due to Dallas ISD. Check this out:  7 of the top 10 Gold…

As Thanksgiving approaches, students in Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation’s culinary arts program are serving up more than delicious food; they’re serving the community. Under the guidance of Cheryll Harris, a chef who leads the Culinary Arts Pathway, they prepare dinner and volunteer at community events each Thanksgiving season, continuing a long-standing Roosevelt tradition of giving back.  “It takes several weeks of planning, organizing donations, and coordinating volunteers,” Harris said. “Prep has been busy but exciting as everyone works together to get everything ready.” This year’s menu features classic Thanksgiving favorites, which were chosen based on both tradition…

Kyria Hart knows what it’s like to be underestimated. A graduate of Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School and native of west Dallas, she said adults had preconceived notions based on her background.  “Those moments stuck with me, and they planted a seed,” Hart said. “I wanted to become the kind of educator who saw students for their potential, their strengths, and their dreams. Not the stereotypes placed on them or the zip code where they live.” As a teacher, her goal was to provide a safe space for students that encouraged them to be successful while making learning fun.…

Through the American Indian Education Program, Leah Y., a Sunset High School senior, brings her Comanche culture to life, sharing traditions and stories with her community. Recently, she created a display board and presented at the district’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day Fair, deepening her knowledge of her tribe’s history and values.  “I learned a lot through the program, like how we used to live before technology and outside influences affected our way of life. It’s important being in AIEP because we’re a really unique group. There aren’t a lot of us, so it means something to the community
to be a strong…