Inside Dallas ISD

Dallas ISD’s Special Education Department has implemented Partner PE, an inclusionary Physical Education program designed to meet the unique needs of students with various disabilities, and its focus is peer teaching and individualized instruction.   Partner PE provides activities pairing age-appropriate general education (GENED) and special education (SPED) peers in an integrated setting at the secondary level. The class is taught by a certified physical education teacher and is established as a regular unit of instruction in the master schedule. The purpose of the program is to encourage physical activity, increase knowledge of health and fitness strategies, and assist in the…

Dallas ISD Spanish teacher Akash Patel, from Ignite Middle School, has just been elected to the highest office in the country for foreign language teachers. Patel will serve the next three years as president-elect, president and immediate past president of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). His main focus will be on addressing the foreign language teacher shortage. In his role as leader of the national organization, he will advocate for equitable access to foreign language certification, support the teaching of multiple languages in elementary school, and address state legislatures to push for foreign language teacher…

A book donation and rally at Rusk Middle School kicked off Dallas ISD’s Homeless Youth Awareness Month this week. Rusk cheerleaders welcomed students as they arrived at school on Tuesday, and a community donor stopped by to hand out books about homelessness, which students will be discussing in small groups throughout the week. Students with “thank you” signs greeted the donor in the school library. Throughout the month of November, librarians will hold readings and discussions about homelessness. Schools are encouraged to join in by wearing purple, the color of homelessness, every Friday. Last year, Dallas ISD counted 4,400 students…

Principal for a Day brought business and community leaders from the private sector into Dallas ISD schools on Wednesday, Oct. 27! About 200 volunteers accepted the opportunity to shadow Dallas ISD principals at 190 schools to gain an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the school district. Capital One Bank and the Dallas Regional Chamber again partnered with Dallas ISD for the annual event, which looks to form ongoing partnerships between individuals and businesses with Dallas ISD schools. Check out some photos from the great day in the above slideshow and on social media through the #PFAD21 hashtag.