Inside Dallas ISD

When Monique Jackson was preparing to teach her third-grade math students at Stevens Park Elementary School about division, she wanted them not only to learn division, but also to understand what division was. Knowing her students were into music, Jackson wasted no time writing a song about division to engage her students. “On the first day that I taught them division, I told them that I wrote a song for them,” Jackson said. “I literally wrote it from scratch. I used the instrumental to the song ‘I’m Different’ by 2 Chainz and they were super pumped. The reason I did…

“We all have the power, in our own spheres of influence, to make a difference, to fulfill the hopes, prayers and dreams of Dr. King.” With these words, Zihair Douglas, a fifth-grade student at Thomas L. Marsalis STEAM Academy, ended the speech that would ultimately have him win the Dallas MLK Oratory final on January 13. For this year’s competition, eight Dallas ISD students delivered original speeches addressing the topic: “What would Dr. King say to us today about hope for tomorrow?” In his speech, Zihair included a sharp critique of current policy changes limiting voting access, immigration, abortion and…

Food and Child Nutrition Services (FCNS) has launched several new menu items based on a new, healthier smoked beef. The new entrees are being piloted at L.G. Pinkston High School. The smoked beef is prepared and seasoned with special spice blends created by Dallas ISD chefs, with decreased sodium content and enhanced flavor. The beef is slowly smoked at low temperatures for about 18 hours. It has been showcased at multiple taste-testing events attended by students and Dallas ISD team members to ensure the quality and richness of the product. This new item allows different entrees to be created, such…

Jose Fernando Loaiza never expected to become a teacher, but when he entered his first classroom, he said it did not take him long to realize he had found where he was supposed to be. Today—20 years later—he relies on students’ love of reading to transform their lives and make memorable moments at San Jacinto Elementary School. “I love this job,” said Loaiza, a second-grade bilingual teacher. “Teaching is a calling. It is not for everyone, but if it’s done well and with passion, we get to go to bed every day knowing we impacted someone in a positive way.…