Inside Dallas ISD

Wesley Stoker, a fourth-grader from Harry C. Withers Elementary School, took the top honors in the 26th Annual Gardere MLK Oratory Competition. Eight finalists competed on Friday, Jan. 12, at W.H. Adamson High School. The students wrote their own speeches and delivered them based on their answer to the question, “What is your dream for today’s world?” The theme was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Stoker used a refrain in his speech that tied into the theme. “I may not look like Dr. King,” he said.…

Dallas ISD will honor its 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year finalists and announce the winners next week at a special reception sponsored by Central Market. Learn who the finalists are below. Elementary Finalists Tamesha Connaughton, physical education, George Bannerman Dealey International Academy Gina Maffucci, fourth-grade reading language arts/social studies, Arthur Kramer Elementary School Sarah Jane Rust, second-grade math/science, Stonewall Jackson Elementary School Josue Tamarez Torres, fifth-grade math, Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School Courtney Thomas, kindergarten, Urban Park Elementary School Secondary Finalists Jennifer Cambre, Pre-AP Biology, Pre-AP Chemistry, AP Chemistry for grades 9-12, School of Science and Engineering Beth Poquette Drews,…

The National Society of High School Scholars has named Thelvie Cullins, Jr., an Advanced Placement Calculus teacher at the School for the Talented and Gifted, as a Top Ten 2017 Claes Nobel Educator of the Year. This is the second year in a row that Cullins has received this honor. According to the National Society of High School Scholars, Cullins aids students in both grasping difficult mathematical concepts and developing into hard-working, passionate learners. “Mr. Cullins’ personal classroom results are astounding, but what is most impressive is the impact he’s had on those around him and our school,” TAG Principal…

Robert E. Lee Elementary School, which will become Geneva Heights Elementary School in July 2018, is officially now an International Baccalaureate campus! The campus is now a Primary Years Programme (PYP) school, which assists students ages 3-12 in developing the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to excel in their studies and in their personal growth. To become an official PYP school, the school participated in a nearly three-year process that included a review of qualifications and achievements, several months of consultations and trial implementation, and verification visits. “This IB authorizations means we will be focused on turning our kids into…