Inside Dallas ISD

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…

The Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence Middle School celebrated its first day as a single-gender campus in an innovative way. Male leaders from around the community formed a tunnel to welcome the students. “This tunnel welcomed our young men and helps give them a sense of focus and support,” said Dawn Walker, YMLA at Florence Middle School principal. Watch the above video to see the welcome tunnel in action and to learn more about the new school.

Before the serious work of educating their students begins on Monday, Aug. 22, staff members from the schools in the H. Grady Spruce Feeder Pattern joined together for a fun and not-so-serious pep rally on Aug. 17. Spruce Principal Danielle Petters welcomed the other schools, and mentioned that she and her staff had been walking the neighborhood to reach out to more than 300 incoming freshmen earlier in the day. Executive Director Brian Lusk noted that the feeder – among the largest, if not the largest group of schools in Dallas ISD – serves about 10,500 students. With significant academic…