Inside Dallas ISD

Whatever combination of skill, belief system and principles is required to work effectively with students in challenging neighborhoods, Alpher Garrett-Jones clearly has it. The veteran teacher, assistant principal and principal has served as a district education leader for more than three decades, much of that time in south Dallas schools. If anyone can rightfully call Dallas ISD home, it’s Garrett-Jones, former principal of Charles Rice Learning Center, now at the helm of Paul L. Dunbar. She has deep roots in south Dallas, where she grew up in Bonton alongside seven siblings and attended H.S. Thompson Elementary and  Pearl C. Anderson…

As part of an initiative aimed at recruiting teachers who represent the students they serve, Dallas ISD will hire 20 male professionals of diverse backgrounds who will serve in high-priority campuses. In the Fall of 2021, the soon-to-be educators – 10 Black and 10 Latino men – will be paired with exemplary educators as adjunct teachers in Dallas ISD classrooms. At the same time, the Human Capital Management department (HCM) will support them on their path toward becoming licensed teachers through the district’s Alternative Certification program. “Our ongoing effort to transition career professionals of diverse backgrounds to educators strengthens our…

A graduate from the School for the Talented and Gifted has been named a 2021 Truman Scholar, the premiere graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States. Tatyana Brown is one of 62 exceptional college students from 51 U.S. colleges and universities selected as 2021 Truman Scholars. Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government. The 62 new Truman Scholars were selected from…

Five months after a tornado destroyed their campus, Thomas Jefferson High School students faced another challenge in March when the pandemic caused all learning to go virtual. After learning from home this school year, seniors like Alejandra Resendez and Lilah Alarcon returned to campus on April 12 to finish out their high school career together and with a sense of normalcy. While keeping safety as the priority and following all established safety measures, Dallas ISD launched the Finish Strong ‘21 campaign to strongly urge seniors like Resendez and Alacon to return to on-campus learning five days a week. Eyes on…