Inside Dallas ISD

Sixteen campuses have advanced to the next round in the NCAA’s Read to the Final Four contest for Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) third-graders. The bracket-style reading competition is similar to the NCAA Final Four tournament schedule, with schools advancing based on how many minutes students read outside school hours. Since reading efforts began in November, Dallas ISD third-graders have read a total of 521,411 minutes. Top readers Mireya Martinez (Harry Stone Montessori Academy), Jaqueline Santamaria (Jill Stone Elementary School), Daisy Navarro (Pleasant Grove Elementary School), and James Perez (Highland Meadows Elementary School) will receive certificates in recognition of…

The African American Success Initiative sponsored a team of three young men from Mark Twain Elementary to participate in the African American Male Academic Bowl. The competition was held Saturday, Jan. 28, and the Mark Twain Elementary team won the elementary school division! Jim Parsons coached the Mark Twain team of Demarcus Banks, Corey Hamilton and Jadarrion Waites with help from school counselor Keith Anderson. “It was amazing seeing the team of three young scholars from Mark Twain Elementary win the finals,” Parsons said. “I know this will be something they will remember for the rest of their lives.” “With this being the ninth year of the Bowl, it…

Third-graders at Charles A. Gill Elementary School have created, marketed, and sold their own board game to benefit the school’s Parent Teacher Association. Turkey Math is a dice/numbers game that helps make math fun, in part by having the game’s winner do the “Turkey Dance.” As part of their project, the students did a market survey to see if other teachers and students would be interested in the game, secured initial investors, wrote a full business plan, and meticulously track all profits and expenses. “For me, the best part for these students is to have them experience watching this go…

To celebrate the first 100 days of school, parents and community members paraded around Charles Rice Learning Center with 100 numbers to congratulate students on all their great work so far this school year. Watch the above video to learn more!