Inside Dallas ISD

The staff at H.I. Holland P.R.E.P. Elementary at Lisbon is focused on students and helping them achieve. More than 300 students attend the school, which is part of the South Oak Cliff feeder pattern and has been at the heart of its community since 1938. Principal Julie Singleton says staff members have been recognized for putting programs from Reasoning Minds, iStation and its limited technology to good use. They’ve also been honored by Dallas ISD for excellence, including Robin Jefferson, a recent Teacher Assistant of the Year; and Krystal Thornton, Division 4 Counselor of the Year. “We’ve received a lot…

Students at Ann Richards Middle School recently had the privilege of hearing from Angelo Baak, a refugee of the Sudanese Civil War. Baak told students about his struggles and how he survived the war as a teenager. The Sudanese Civil War lasted for 22 years and resulted the death of approximately 2 million people. Emily Barksdale, a social studies teacher at Ann Richards Middle School, invited Baak as a guest speaker. “I think this allows students to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and relate to some of the hardships and struggles that someone 6,000 miles away has gone through,” she…

The Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association recently honored distinguished alumni—including a published author, scientific scholar, and the daughter of a blues music legend—at a festive ceremony at the high school.  TJ seniors were invited to the ceremony to see firsthand the great things the school’s graduates have gone on to accomplish. Missy Huber, president of the Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association, and Principal Sandi Massey urged the seniors to follow the distinguished alumni’s path and strive to reach their full potential after graduation. Here are the distinguished alumni recognized at the ceremony: Lisa Evans, President and CEO of The…

With more than 67,000 Dallas ISD students speaking Spanish in their homes, the need for bilingual teachers and educators is great. Research has proven that teaching English Language Learners effectively means teaching them in both languages. However, with students entering the district at 4 years old, this means that pre-K (among other students) are having to learn both English and Spanish at the same time, something that often can hinder or hold a young child back. Jessica Carter, a Speech-Language Pathologist, has seen this problem in many young Dallas ISD students. “As they grow they can develop a speech impediment or…