Inside Dallas ISD

Students at Irma Rangel, a member of Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN), are able learn STEM more effectively in a newly remodeled computer lab, thanks to the NEC Foundation of America. The company redesigned the space and donated equipment. Earlier this spring, NEC Corporation of America President and CEO Shinsuke Takahashi toured Irma Rangel with Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. Takahashi noticed the outdated computer lab and robotics room and decided that his company needed to help. Lynn McBee, YWPN CEO, said, “NEC believes that STEM education is important and has contributed generously…

The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) honored Dallas ISD Chief Internal Auditor Mike Singleton as a 2016 TASBO Commitment to Excellence Finalist. As part of the honor, TASBO donated $1,000 to a program of Singleton’s choice. Singleton, in turn, chose Larry G. Smith Elementary School’s Roaring Readers program as the recipient of the $1,000 donation. Singleton presented the check to Smith Elementary Principal Lora Morris on Tuesday, Aug. 30. “This goes a long way toward helping promote literacy in our community,” Morris said. Smith Elementary School donated 2,300 books to students last year. The school hosts a family…

All 3rd through 5th grade teachers in the Bryan Adams feeder pattern recently took part in a training on implementing the use of Kindle tablets in their classrooms. The Kindles, a donation from the Dallas-based Jiv Daya Foundation, will allow teachers to incorporate technology which engages their students in a way that meets their interest in digital apps and games. The training was led by representatives from the Jiv Daya Foundation and Dallas ISD’s Personalized Learning Department. The Foundation, a private, family foundation, is based in Dallas. “Their children were raised here, so they wanted to give back to their…

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,…