Inside Dallas ISD

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…

Dallas ISD’s goal is to educate every single student for success. In order to make that mission a reality, district principals strive every day to provide equity, safety and excellent educational opportunities. Each campus leader has a passion to help their community. They are the men and women who ensure day-to-day that our students receive a quality education, a secure environment and an opportunity for a brighter future. Derek Thomas, the new principal at Adelle Turner Elementary, and Executive Director Sheryl Wilson talked to us about the greatest qualities of a principal the district’s rigorous hiring process. Why did you…

Born and raised in Mexico, Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School Principal Alicia Iwasko followed in her mother’s and grandfather’s path and became a teacher. In Mexico, she taught English as a Second Language from the elementary to college level. In 2008, she moved to Dallas to follow her passion of teaching bilingual classes in elementary school. She served as a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Ascher Silberstein Elementary School in Dallas ISD for six years before becoming a math instructional coach for three years. “I believe in education because I know it is the best way to empower students…

Students who are moving between certain grade levels have the option of on-campus classes starting Monday, Sept. 28. Other groups of students will have the option of on-campus classes starting Monday, Oct. 5. Parents were given a survey to fill out to determine their preference of on-campus learning or to continue distance learning. The choice was for the first nine weeks of school. Students in grades prekindergarten, kindergarten, those moving to a new campus for fourth or sixth grade, from elementary to a new middle school, and from middle school to a new building for high school have the option…