Inside Dallas ISD

While local and national politicians are responding to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas ISD secondary debate students applied their researching and writing skills to propose solutions to the crisis in an essay competition sponsored by the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance (DUDA). Student Activities partnered with DUDA to give secondary students in the District debate program the option to participate in two essay contests instead of the live debate tournaments that were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, said Sharla Hudspeth, director for Dallas ISD Student Activities. “Selecting the COVID-19 essay topic was important because it allowed students to utilize their debating and critical thinking skills to create written arguments about the pandemic that is…

As he faced hardships and constantly moved around with his family, Skyline High School senior Damajai Stephens’ love of football kept him grounded. He started playing the sport as a four-year-old and shined for Skyline as an outside linebacker. “My favorite part about playing football is that it makes me feel like I can handle any adversity,” Stephens said. “When I step onto the field, nothing else matters.” Stephens will be the first person in his immediate family to graduate from high school. He will attend East Central University in the fall to study criminal justice with a full-ride football…

Dallas ISD elementary students will be receiving Scholastic book packs containing books and other activities, shipped directly to their homes beginning this week. All Pre-K to 6th grade students at elementary campuses will be receiving the book packs. The district wants to make sure students have access to quality books year-round and can share their reading experiences with their families. “When families read and discuss books together, the joy of reading comes alive for our students. We are so thrilled that our students will be able to continue reading throughout the summer with their families,” said Jennifer Burchfiel, Director of…

“We have to think of what’s ahead of us instead of focusing on what we can’t control,” says Marysol Ortega, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, as she reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the class of 2020 across the country. Ortega, vice president of her school’s senior class, participates in several sports – soccer, volleyball, cross country running and track and field. She is also an only child in her family and the first generation to go to college. Her senior year has been marked by two major unpredictable situations: a tornado demolishing her school in…