Inside Dallas ISD

Tatum Elementary teacher Carolyn Myers was driving to work when a car crashed into her, flipping her automobile on its side. Myers was trapped, thought she smelled smoke, and, as she puts it, “was totally freaked out.” After screaming for help, a man came to her rescue, climbing down into the car and steadily talking her through the situation—calming her down— until the ambulance arrived. “I truly believe this man saved my life,” Myers said. “I can not thank him enough.” The man turned out to be Sgt. Dewye Jiles, a veteran of the Gulf War and current JROTC instructor…

Given the benefits of a well-rounded education, Dallas ISD leaders and trustees are thrilled by the notable increase of students participating in extracurricular or co-curricular activities. Nearly 60 percent of all enrolled students this school year have participated in an extra-curricular or co-curricular activity. Here’s a look at the increased student participation by category this school year: 19,434 students participated in a student activity (up from 11,482 students in 2015–2016 and 5,248 students in 2014–2015); 12,057 students participated in athletics (up from 10,593 students in 2015–2016 and 9,914 students in 2014–2015); 54,790 students participated in the secondary level visual and performing…

Almost 200 Dallas ISD students are taking part in an innovative program that prepares them to be the next generation of Dallas leaders. The students, members of the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP), were recently honored at Southern Methodist University. During a special presentation on April 27 at SMU’s McFarlin Auditorium, FLP Recognition Ceremony keynote speaker and Emmy Award-winning CBS Dallas journalist Steve Pickett encouraged the “future leaders” to always stay committed to education – and to follow their dreams. “It has to start with you believing in yourself,” said Pickett, who was the first local TV reporter to air…

The SOLAR Preparatory School for Girls has turned lemons into a Project Based Learning experience. All students participated in the longterm project that taught them a variety of skills. The students helped build and paint lemonade stands and developed advertisements and sales techniques. Students also read fiction texts in which the main characters are selling lemonade. Parent volunteers helped the girls build the stands form scratch. SOLAR Prep is a Transformation School and part of the Public School Choice Imitative that opened in August 2016. SOLAR Prep also uses a blended learning model, in which lessons are taught in small groups. Students learn from the teacher and each…