Inside Dallas ISD

Students who attend schools across Dallas ISD convened on Wednesday, Feb. 28, for the annual check presentations in the Common Cents Dallas “Pennies from the Heart” campaign. The program charges student-led teams with raising funds for charities of their own choosing. More than 200 students from 19 Dallas ISD schools participated this year. Common Cents grew from an idea proposed in 1988 by late Dallas philanthropist Louise Gartner. Every penny collected benefits the charities chosen by students, who also lead all the fundraising efforts. Now in its 20th year, Dallas ISD students have raised and donated more than $875,000 during…

Female students from four Dallas ISD schools are on their way to becoming the next generation of political leaders thanks to IGNITE, which builds political ambition in young women. Dallas ISD students in the IGNITE program attended the sixth-annual Young Women’s Political Leadership conference Saturday, Feb. 17, at Texas Woman’s University. These four schools have teamed with IGNITE: Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet Skyline High School Kenedi, a Law Magnet student, said IGNITE has helped her realize her future potential. “I have seen, met, and heard about so many inspirational…

Students at J.N. Ervin Elementary School met their tutors at Toyota who will help them read through TutorMate, an online tutoring program that connects volunteers with students to engage in virtual readings! Following the meet-and-greet, members from Toyota’s African American Collaborative enjoyed a Black History Month performance from the students. “We are excited to have this new joint partnership with Toyota and TutorMate to support the scholars at J.N. Ervin Elementary School,” said Tom Hayden with Dallas ISD’s Volunteer and Partnership Services. “We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on achievement.” For their part, the Toyota…

A career educator from Wilmer-Hutchins High School has been inducted into the National Association of Negro Musicians’ Dallas Chapter Hall of Fame. Dr. Beverly Chinn has spent most of her career as a secondary choral educator at Title I schools, most recently at Wilmer-Hutchins. As the product of a family of musicians, Chinn’s love of music inspired her to start teaching to pass along her love of music to the next generation. “When I started my career in education, I discovered that I am passionate about teaching and learning,” Chinn said. “I love planning for classes, identifying the needs of…