Inside Dallas ISD

Later this week, Susi Parks Grissom will turn off the lights and lock the door of the library at William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted for the last time after 16 years as the school’s librarian. She is retiring on a high note, though, as Dallas ISD’s Librarian of the Year. Grissom’s mission was to support teachers and the curriculum they teach by reinforcing and enhancing those lessons in the library. That included helping with research projects, among other things. At times, the library was simply a place to gather for students, staff and parents. “It…

Students at Madison and Adamson high schools got real-world film and advertising experience—while helping promote a City of Dallas initiative—thanks to a program offered through a partnership from the Marcus Graham Project and the Mayor’s Rising Star Council. Students in the pilot program created 90-second video spots for the city’s GrowSouth initiative, which is a comprehensive strategy to build a foundation for sustainable growth in Southern Dallas. The videos highlighted the communities the students live in and the possibilities inside for potential new residents. One of the videos, which you can watch above, was shown on the big screen at…

Leonardo Santoyo, a senior at Emmett J. Conrad High School, is a 2016 recipient of the Dallas ISD Superintendent’s Scholarship. Born in Denver, Santoyo moved to Mexico with his father when he was 10 years old after his parents separated. His mother eventually joined them in Mexico, but as Sontoyo’s father was a migrant worker, he returned to the U.S. to support the family. Eventually Santoyo began joining him to earn tuition to pay for his schooling, since public school in Mexico is not free. One day while he was near El Paso with his father, they came across some university students.…

Thursday marked the last day of a great school year that saw students, teachers and staff work together to accomplish great things. Dallas ISD released this list naming the valedictorians and salutatorians at each high school. Meanwhile, Superintendent Michael Hinojosa saluted these 300-plus employee retirees. Watch the above video recap to catch up on this week’s great news, and have a fantastic, safe summer! Fun with animals The Dallas Zoo has donated a free admission ticket to each elementary student so kids get an up-close look at the zoo’s residents this summer. (Read this) A great bookend to the year Students…