Inside Dallas ISD

On Aug. 14, teachers and staff from the 35 schools in the Dallas ISD Southeast Schools Network convened at Loos Field House for a packed pep rally. The Southeast comprises schools in the W.W. Samuell, H. Grady Spruce, Seagoville and Wilmer-Hutchins high school feeder patterns. The festive atmosphere included performances from student groups representing each of the four high schools, music and dancing – the network’s principals also got into the act.  But besides the fun, leadership aimed to set the tone for the coming school year. Laura Garza, who oversees elementary schools in the Samuell and Seagoville feeder patterns,…

It’s two weeks before the first day of school, and teachers at Edward Titche Elementary School are hanging up posters, setting up their classroom work stations and making to-do lists of the dozens of tasks that must happen before Aug. 20. While this is a common scene at campuses across the district, there is extra celebration inside Titche Elementary. The school, which faced closure last year if it failed to meet state standards, is coming off some of the best academic gains in the state. Titche Elementary Principal Damien Stovall said the possibility of closure brought out the best in…

On Friday, Aug. 10, Dallas ISD’s Operations Division marked a couple of firsts. The in-service and back-to-school kickoff celebration marked the first time that all of Operations gathered under one roof. The day also marked the first time that newly hired drivers in Student Transportation Services were included as district employees. The Dallas Cowboys helped pump up the crowd Friday morning an appearance of the Rhythm & Blue Drumline and mascot Rowdy, who drilled footballs into the arms of excited fans. A crew danced to the song “Y.M.C.A.” as a break between more serious work. Superintendent Michael Hinojosa addressed the…

About 1,500 teachers new to Dallas ISD were welcomed with pep-rally fervor on Wednesday, Aug. 8, during the annual New Teacher Academy. Student performances were a large part of the event. Cheerleaders from L.G. Pinkston High School greeted the new teachers as they entered the Music Hall at Fair Park. As the Hillcrest High School JROTC color guard presented the colors, Charles Rice Learning Center fifth-grader Skye Turner led the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas pledge. The Carter High School band pumped up the crowd, and the Skyline High School drill team entertained – all before lunch. In the afternoon,…