Inside Dallas ISD

The Dallas ISD Uniform Assistance Program (UAP) offers one free uniform (one top, one bottom) to eligible students in grades PK-8th each school year. The program issues uniforms to qualified students in the official district colors, which are white for the top and khaki, black and navy for the bottoms. In addition to these colors, the Uniform Assistance Program also provides red and navy tops. Bottoms available include pants, skirts, skirts, and shorts. All students attending any of the district campuses can wear the official district colors cited above. If a school has elected to allow additional colors through the…

Curbside meal grab-and-go service now open to all children Starting Thursday, Oct.1, all children ages 1–18 can pick up a week’s worth of meals at no charge through curbside grab-and-go service at participating Dallas ISD schools. The district is switching to the Seamless Summer Option to ensure no child goes hungry during the pandemic. “This new strategy gives more children access to qualify for the grab-and-go meal service, while allowing our department to distribute more food per person,” FCNS Director Julie Fletcher said. “It will look very similar to our summer meal distribution.” Meals are being distributed on Thursdays from…

National Hispanic Heritage Month gives us a chance to recognize the stories, contributions, achievements, and lived experiences of those leaders who embrace the culture as their own and educate our youth. Richard Heffernan is currently the executive director of the Bilingual ESL department. Heffernan supports the development of bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism for all participating students in the Dallas ISD, which currently leads the largest dual language program nationally, serving 158 schools. “Dual Language is the most powerful tool we can leverage in serving historically marginalized students,” said Heffernan. “For Spanish speaking students, the Dual Language program not only validates…

Chef Juanita Mejia is a food service specialist in Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services, where she has the honor of training school cafeteria staff members to provide delicious food and impeccable service to students and staff members. In her role, Mejia utilizes her more than 20 years of culinary experience to empower trainees to be more efficient in the kitchen, read recipes, and prepare food that is tasty and visually appealing. Mejia is well respected and regarded by those in her charge, because she has an amazing ability to connect with each individual in a personal way. “I…