Inside Dallas ISD

Dallas ISD announced today the 2016 Campus Teachers of the Year. Each campus selected its Teacher of the Year based on demonstrated excellence in and out of the classroom. Go here to see the full list of Campus Teachers of the Year as of Nov. 3. The campus Teachers of the Year exemplify the following traits: Leads students of all backgrounds to demonstrate learning. Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to create a culture of respect and success. Deliberately connects their classroom to the community and the community to the classroom. Engages in leadership opportunities that contribute to the work…

The early morning rain couldn’t put a damper on the Big Dig at John H. Reagan Elementary as more than 200 volunteers from Sprouts and AT&T tramped through the mud to create a REAL School Garden at the small Oak Cliff campus. Students got in on the act finishing up artwork and decorating colorful flagstone pavers that will lead students to hours of outdoor learning and exploration. Staff also lent a hand painting, coordinating, and beautifying the school that has a special meaning for so many. “This was my school when I was little,” said Blanca Vazquez, Reagan’s fifth-grade science…

Dallas ISD is piloting a program that allows several schools to accept credit cards, debit cards, or an online “e-check” to pay for everything from field trips to fees. The pilot program is active at Hillcrest High School and Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, and will become active this spring at Skyline High School, Marsh Middle School, Bowie Elementary and Stemmons Elementary schools. The pilot program means parents can pay for school-related expenses online and not have to send a check or cash to school with their kid. “We have long heard from parents who wanted to use their credit…

In celebration of Halloween, the community of Anne Frank Elementary School united in one of the most creative events under the stars for the annual Trunk or Treat event. Twelve-year-old special guest Nashville singer Taylor Gayle opened the ceremony with an original song inspiring young students to write their own music. A hundred princesses and superheroes danced enthusiastically around her, eagerly awaiting the opening of the gates to the Trunk-or-Treat lot. There, in the parking lot, hard-working teacher and parent volunteers decorated cars with themes such as Candy Land, Jurassic Park, and even a spectacular pirate ship. The students were invited…