Inside Dallas ISD

The team from Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts won first place at the 42nd Annual Texas High School Mock Trial Competition on Saturday, March 6, at a competition held virtually. The competition included more than 20 high school teams from across the state to argue a hypothetical criminal court case written by local attorneys with the Dallas Bar Association. These teams, which emerged as the best among their school districts and regions, were matched against one another, culminating in the final championship round on Saturday afternoon. The Booker T. Washington team will represent the…

The third annual Dallas ISD Poetry Slam will be held virtually on Thursday, March 11, at 2 p.m., and centers on this year’s theme: I Matter, We Matter, Words Matter. The top 10 finalists will perform their original poems in front of a live Zoom audience, as well as a panel of judges. Representatives from Flocabulary, an educational company that produces hip-hop videos and instructional activities that promote literacy and spark creativity, will be in attendance as well as the event’s sponsor, Roland Parrish. Parrish will provide $10,000 in scholarships and pizza parties for the top 10 winning classes. Flocabulary…

Despite the pandemic challenges, the Pinkston High School girls basketball team reached a new height this season: they are heading to the state semifinals for the first time in school history, competing on Saturday in San Angelo. (See photos from Friday’s sendoff ceremony where the team received their regional championship trophy). For the last 14 years, Nicole Stovall has coached basketball and volleyball at Pinkston. She’s led the girls basketball team for the past four years and has helped advance the team ever since. We spoke to Coach Stovall, who told us how she’s steered her team through a monumental…

The Dallas CIO Leadership Association (DallasCIO) has named Jack Kelanic, Dallas ISD’s chief technology officer, the winner of the 2021 Dallas CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Awards in the Public Sector category. This technology executive recognition program in the United States recognizes chief information officers, and those in equivalent roles, who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. As the district’s chief technology officer, Kelanic brings more than 20 years of technology leadership experience to his post. His responsibilities include developing the long-range technology plan to enable digital learning for Dallas ISD students and improving technology support for schools and district business operations.