Inside Dallas ISD

On Thursday, Aug. 25, students in Samara Barron’s third-grade classroom at James Hogg Elementary School received school supplies funded through Kroger’s annual Backpack Boosters collective drive. Thanks to donations from shoppers and community partners, the 2016 effort raised $461,552, which will provide for 65,936 students. The items distributed at Hogg represent a small part of the collection, ultimately donating school supplies to nine Dallas-area school districts. Between July 27 and Aug. 9, Kroger shoppers had the chance to purchase prepackaged school supply kits or contribute monetary donations at the checkstand. Other partners in the Backpack Boosters effort included KDFW-FOX 4,…

Leslie Moore got an unexpected call on her way to work – a Richardson church wanted to take donated backpacks and school supplies to W.A. Blair Elementary School that morning. Just after 9:30 on Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, a black SUV loaded with items pulled to the front of the school. The bounty came as a donation from First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park. Pastor Gregory Foster, staff and church members dropped off the donations. There are about 100 backpacks and the school supplies to fill them – notebook and construction paper, spirals, boxes of crayons, folders, glue and glue…

Walk into a prekindergarten classroom, and you’ll hear laughter and see children playing. To most people, it looks like unstructured playtime. But the fun environment is actually a carefully designed structure which gives our youngest students the best chance for success. According to Derek Little, Dallas ISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning, the games and interactions are helping children with language development, and building the skills necessary to become effective readers. “We want every student in Dallas ISD to ultimately read on grade level and to be literate, and that work starts in early learning,” said Little. PreK classrooms meet…

When Israel Rivera, the principal at the new Joe May Elementary School, was 29 years old he embarked on a journey that would completely transform his life.  He adopted his brother’s four sons and decided to change careers so he could spend more time with them. “They are the reason I’m a principal today,” said Rivera. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” Rivera left his career in advertising at The Richards Group to coordinate his schedule with the boys. He became a teacher at James Bowie and Mountain Auburn elementary schools and later principal at Harrell Budd…