Inside Dallas ISD

The Dallas Independent School District announced today the appointment of Colorado educator Ivan Duran, Ed.D. as the district’s new deputy superintendent. Duran will join the district in July to replace the district’s current Deputy Superintendent Ann Smisko, who is retiring. A veteran of 26 years in public education, Duran most recently served as assistant superintendent for Elementary Education for Denver Public Schools, where he led and supervised the system’s Elementary Education Division comprised of more than 90 early childhood centers, elementary and K-8 schools. His previous experience includes service as instructional superintendent, director of Instructional Technology, principal, assistant principal and…

Work performed by volunteers and resources provided by partnerships help Dallas ISD schools do more for their students. The job of securing and managing those efforts often falls on a staff member whose duties include serving as volunteer/partnership coordinator. On Thursday, April 21, those coordinators were honored and recognized for the jobs they do. Dallas ISD’s Volunteer and Partnership Services also highlighted the coordinators who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Honorees were: Gold Award: Sonya Cameron, Roosevelt High School Rising Star Award: Micaela Gomez, Cigarroa Elementary; Michelle Lewis, E.D. Walker Middle; Lisa Smith, W.T. White High School;…

South Oak Cliff High School parents, teachers and community members are coming together this week with a team of architects and designers to help reimagine the physical space of the campus. Dallas ISD has committed up to $40 million* of 2015 bond revenue for facility improvements at South Oak Cliff High School (SOC). Ashley Bryan, Dallas ISD Director of Planning and Special Projects, said this week’s design charrette is an important first step in generating ideas for the look and feel of learning spaces that align to SOC’s academic vision. “When it comes to reimagining a school facility, a design…

More than 50 students from Dallas ISD’s Justin F. Kimball and H. Grady Spruce high schools were recently pampered with mentoring, shopping, jewelry, makeup and hairstyling thanks to TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom event. The day culminated in a high-fashion runway show, where the girls and boys strutted their stuff with their new looks. “TLC the brand believes that self-confidence, feeling as if someone is there for you, can mentor you, work with you is very important,” Adria Alpert-Romm of Discovery Communications. “That’s really what it’s all about. It’s about confidence, it’s about pride, and it’s about feeling like…