Inside Dallas ISD

Submitted by Student Activities Department Student Activities competitions are in full swing, and one of the most highly anticipated events, the High School Fall Chess Tournament, is quickly approaching. With chess being one of Dallas ISD’s most popular activities, no trophy is more sought after than first place. Lakeisha Adams, the chess coach at School for the Talented and Gifted at Townview, has been able to instill a strong culture of growth. Last year, her team secured first place in the district. “Our team stands apart because there are so many players who are dedicated to perfecting their craft and…

Teaching is a demanding career, and even the most passionate educators need a strong support system to lean on. Through the Teacher Mentor Program, Dallas ISD ensures that new teachers never have to navigate the profession alone. By investing in new teachers’ confidence, growth, and long-term success as professionals, Dallas ISD’s mentorship program goes beyond the education code requirement. The program builds nurtured relationships that make a lasting impact.  “It’s exciting to think about the possibilities and the outcomes that will come along with these relationships,” said Beverly Lusk, executive director of the HCM Employee Experience team.  “It’s important to…

Young Women’s STEAM Academy at Balch Springs is proving what girl power can really accomplish. The change to an all-girls school was prompted by the need to deal with academic and behavioral issues at the school when it served boys and girls at a time when it was also going through a major rebuild. A transformation to a new model was proposed following the example of Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School. With support from Lynn McBee, president and CEO of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, the district launched a parental opt-in pilot program in 2014. “We were all…

Being a middle school counselor can be a juggling act between providing social-emotional support and academic guidance to students at challenging ages, but Yolanda Sims, counselor at Piedmont G.L.O.B.A.L. Academy, mastered the task. “In middle school, students are at an impressionable age, trying to find their way,” she said. “They are too old to be coddled, but they want to know that you care and that you are a safe person to talk to. The goal is to make sure that if they are OK emotionally, they will be OK academically in the classroom.” She still remembers her middle school…