Inside Dallas ISD

In the conference room of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School library, senior Zechary Thomas signs his letter of commitment to accept a full-ride scholarship to play college basketball and study kinesiology at Fort Scott College. The commitment represents the first step toward realizing his lifelong dream to play in the NBA and pursue a career as an athletic trainer. Getting to this point wasn’t easy for the Mustang stand-out point guard who played football until a severe concussion convinced him that basketball was a better fit.  “Zack never picked up a basketball until he was 13,” says proud mom Gina Grant Thomas. “He came to me and…

It’s an obvious statement this time of year: Dallas is hot. Because of its concrete jungle, Big D is among cities where the average temperature is rising the fastest. A recent project coordinated by the Texas Tree Foundation aims to create a “Cool School” at Dallas ISD’s Dan D. Rogers Elementary. “By the 90 trees that we planted here, as these trees grow up, it will physically cool this campus,” said Matt Grubishich of the Texas Tree Foundation. “Our Cool School program is about leaving no child inside. It’s about getting kids outside, interacting with the natural environment.” Studies point to…

A party at Stonewall Jackson Elementary School celebrated four retiring teachers who combined together have worked 118 years at the campus. Art teacher Cheri Flynn and deaf education teachers Melissa Alloway, Heather Wood, and Cyndy Jaremko are also the last group of teachers to technically retire from Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, as the school will change its name to Mockingbird Elementary School in August. “This is a culmination of our history. These teachers are a legacy, having worked here for so many years,” Principal Melanie Mans said. “We are so proud of them and we want them to know today…

With the support of Trustee Joyce Foreman and in collaboration with the Dallas Examiner and Mollie Belt, students from four Dallas ISD schools were inspired by the newly released documentary “Malcolm X: An Overwhelming Influence on the Black Power Movement” at IBOC Church, which is led by Pastor Rickie G. Rush. The documentary taught students from Carter, South Oak Cliff, Madison and Kimball high schools about past historical events that shaped United States history. Students also learned from local and national civil right leaders such as Dr. Zan W. Holmes, Jr. and other prominent leaders and pastors in the City of Dallas.…