Inside Dallas ISD

At a Montessori recognition ceremony earlier this semester, Elena Hill, deputy chief academic officer, addressed a room of Montessori-credentialed teachers with a childhood anecdote that stressed the need to offer this program in public schools like those in Dallas ISD.  Hill attended a Montessori program for one year when she was 4 years old. Decades later, she asked her mother, a retired teacher, why she didn’t keep her in the Montessori program.  “Do you know what she told me?” Hill paused to let the room think for a moment. “She said that it was too expensive.”  Which is why, Hill…

For thousands of students, the school day begins on the bus. Each day, yellow buses fill the streets, doors open, and stop signs pause traffic.   Bus drivers play a vital role in the Dallas ISD community, often serving as the first and last point of contact for students each day. From pickup to drop-off, they help ensure students arrive safely while building meaningful connections along the way.  Each driver is part of a highly coordinated transportation system that supports student success and invests in their future.   Dallas ISD celebrates the dedication of its drivers and the care they show to…

On a special day in first grade at H.S. Thompson STEAM Academy the cafeteria didn’t feel like a cafeteria at all.  The stage was framed by balloons and a colorful backdrop. Children arrived dressed as princesses, princes, and storybook characters. Then, to a chorus of excited whispers, Cinderella and Prince Charming walked in, took their seats on stage, and began to read aloud. This wasn’t a district initiative; it was the vision of Carrie Bhasin, a volunteer who  is one of Thompson Academy’s most dedicated advocates. Bhasin also represents one of thousands of volunteers in Dallas ISD whose contributions and…

At Personalized Learning Preparatory at J.W. Ray Learning Center art teacher Carla Renteria is transforming plastic trash into a powerful lesson on ocean conservation, and giving her students a platform in the Dallas art world along the way. Renteria, founder of Artful Young Minds, spent the past year leading third through eighth graders in an ambitious weaving project that blends environmental science, cultural tradition, and contemporary art.  The installation, created with upcycled plastic bags on large cardboard looms, is inspired by Mayan weaving techniques and a documentary her students watched called “Our Oceans.” “This project means a lot to us…