Inside Dallas ISD

Sixty district directors from across the country visited two Dallas ISD schools to see their successful AVID programs in action. AVID, which stands for Advancement via Individual Determination, is a global organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and postsecondary opportunities. The directors visited Felix G. Botello Elementary School and A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School to see the students, unique instructional strategies and dedicated staff that help make the AVID program a success on their campuses. The AVID Center typically chooses at least two school districts each school year to expose District Directors to exemplar campuses nationwide.…

Carter High School graduate Bridgette Bennett is now an engineer, and she credits her high school physics teacher for getting her to where she is today. In addition to physics, Bennett treasured her time in JROTC, and she has some great advice for students today. The Hub checked in with Bennett as part of the ongoing AlumNow series. What was your favorite subject/activity/involvement in high school? Physics for a subject and JROTC for an activity. Those two opened so many doors for me after high school. Although, I gave the military a try at West Point, I ultimately decided to pursue…

It’s a weekday at Julius Dorsey Elementary School, and Elia Lopez, the mom of a Dallas ISD student, is doing some learning of her own. Lopez is one of 18 parents of students at Dorsey Elementary who is attending English as Second Language classes (ESL) held at the campus every Tuesday and Thursday. “With what I’ve been learning in class, I am now able to better help my children with their homework,” Lopez said. In a partnership with Dallas County Community College District’s Eastfield College, the free program helps parents to acquire the language skills that will help them communicate better, leading them…

Spend the next 62 seconds catching up on many of the great things that happened across the district this week! Watch this video, or read below, to learn more. Flying high William Hawley Atwell Law Academy students enjoyed an F-35 cockpit simulator and other activities at an Engineering Day presented by Lockheed Martin (watch this). Crystal clear Thanks to the Essilor Vision Foundation, several students at George H. W. Bush and Jerry R. Junkins elementary schools received eye exams and new glasses at no cost to them (watch this). Power of poetry A Dallas Poetry Slam workshop saw eighth-graders at L.V.…