Inside Dallas ISD

“Oh wow! Colors are brighter, and I can see the words on the board! And I didn’t know things were supposed to look this clear!” These were just a few of the enthusiastic comments echoed as nearly 60 Dallas ISD students at Jerry R. Junkins Elementary received new high-quality eyeglasses (at no cost to families). Coinciding with World Sight Day – an annual day of awareness focusing global attention on blindness and vision impairment – eye care professionals with Essilor Vision Foundation were on hand to present and fit the children with their new eyeglasses. They also explained to the…

With a background that includes working in education and serving at a child abuse center helping kids overcome trauma, Dianna Smoot knows how the world outside the classroom can impact a child’s success inside the classroom. Now as the recently hired Dallas ISD Director of Youth and Family Centers, Smoot is looking to bridge the outside world with the inside of the classroom. “I am dedicated to helping ensure students achieve their full potential because all of their needs are being addressed,” Smoot said. Dallas ISD currently has 11 Youth and Family Centers (YFC), with two more expected to open…

Leah Longoria Huggins ran into a professional challenge when she started teaching dance in Sunset High School. The recently-hired dance director opened the costume closet on her first day in 2010. She was shocked to find only Baile Folklórico costumes. “It terrified me because I did not know anything about Baile Folklórico,” she said. “I knew that the kids must have done Baile Folklórico and that it was important here at the school. In order to teach them and to feel confident in bringing this program up, I needed to take lessons.” She spent a year learning technique, skirt-work,…

Mita Havlick was recently named executive director of the Dallas Education Foundation, the development partner of the Dallas Independent School District. Havlick is active in the community, advocates for public schools and volunteers with a variety of organizations. Most recently, Havlick served as executive director of Emanuel Community Center in Old East Dallas, as chairperson of the Dallas ISD Superintendent’s Districtwide Advisory Committee, and as public education adviser to U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. A strong proponent of equity and access, Havlick co-chaired the committee and spear-headed the effort that led to Dallas ISD being designated a District of Innovation. She…