Inside Dallas ISD

Despite all of the challenges this past year has brought to students and learning, the Dallas ISD Visual & Performing Arts Department has found innovative ways to thrive in the midst of the pandemic and beyond. “We are taking COVID lemons and making lemonade,” said Tim Linley, executive director of Visual & Performing Arts. At the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, Linley’s team set out a lofty goal of 100,000 touchpoints with Dallas ISD students. The Visual & Performing Arts Department has more than quadrupled that goal, reaching 485,000 touchpoints this year. A touchpoint represents an individual student experiencing…

Roosevelt High School alumni surprised 20 graduating seniors on Saturday, June 12, with a car caravan delivering gifts. Alumni decorated their cars and traveled from house to house to celebrate these Roosevelt Class of 2021 students. This is the second year for their Mustang Caravan of Love. The celebrations will continue this Friday, June 18, with a drive-thru celebrating Roosevelt graduates.

Walter Taylor III learned a lot about persistence over the last year. The senior at David W. Carter spent most days this school year with his eyes peeled on a computer screen attending class remotely from home. “I had to learn how to be a student,” he said of developing the discipline to consistently wake up, open the computer and motivate himself to do the required assignments to maintain a superior GPA. When he wasn’t studying, the soon-to-be collegiate academy graduate was doing conditioning exercises, sharpening his basketball skills and helping his Carter Cowboys teammates overcome their rivals on the…

The 2020-2021 Dallas ISD Counselor of the Year is someone who not only advocates for what is best for students at the school but is also always willing to share personal best practices with and mentor other counselors. For her meticulous work in auditing transcripts and her, ensuring students have the best customer service and support, her contributions to district counselors during six years at Hillcrest High School, Belia Martinez has been named Dallas ISD 2021 Counselor of the Year. Dallas ISD counselors promote and support the academic excellence and personal well-being of students by helping them focus on academic, personal,…