Inside Dallas ISD

The Beat has interviewed Master Teachers across the district to share their stories and introspections about their careers, including tips for teaching. Meet Master Teacher Flor Mendez Gonzalez. Flor Mendez Gonzalez, a master teacher at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, has been a teacher for 20 years, 11 of them at Dallas ISD. Before coming to the district, she was in Monterrey, Mexico, teaching at a private school when one of her colleagues told her about the Dallas ISD Visa Program, which offers the options of the H-1B visa and the J-1 Exchange Visitor Teacher Program. She sent an email inquiring about the…

Submitted by The Dallas Education Foundation With its new book vending machine, every day is a book fair at Marcus Leadership Academy. The elementary school hosted a literacy event in September – sponsored by NEC Foundation of America (NECAM) with the support of the Dallas Education Foundation in partnership with Catch Up & Read (CAR) – to highlight the school’s current and emerging programs that are accelerating academic outcomes for students. “[Students] can have the experience of a book fair every single day at their fingertips. They can access a new book, a new experience, new learning,” said Dallas ISD…

Submitted by The Dallas Education Foundation The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF), the direct and designated, non-profit, philanthropic partner of Dallas ISD, hosted its third annual HeART of Teaching gala on Nov. 1 at the historic Longhorn Ballroom. This year’s gala featured an innovative way of uniting the Dallas community and Dallas ISD by partnering Dallas ISD dance teachers and notable Dallasites with a fun and friendly dance competition — Dancing with the Stars of Dallas.  Not only were Dallas ISD dance educators highlighted, but the energy of the evening was amplified with musical performances by teachers throughout the art disciplines…

A familiar and friendly face for students and community members at Francisco “Pancho” Medrano Junior High School is Carlos Rodriguez, an education support professional, who has worked for the district for over three decades. In fact his journey as a Dallas ISD team member began when he was a teenager. In recognition of all they do to support learning, team members like Rodriguez, can be celebrated on Nov. 15—Education Support Professionals Day. The day was first celebrated in 1987 by the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly to honor the contributions of all school support staff. To learn more, click here. Rodriguez…