Inside Dallas ISD

As industries and the work force continue to evolve, requiring new fields of study and expertise, so goes the evolution of what constitutes college and career readiness in preparing students for tomorrow’s jobs. Jamila Thomas of Dallas Independent School District’s African American Success Initiative (AASI) will join such a conversation when she visits the White House this month on behalf of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative and the Office of Science Technology and Policy. In the nation’s capital, Thomas will join others from around the country to participate in a discussion about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and entrepreneurship. The discussion…

Students at James S. Hogg Elementary already know how to create computer code, and they also know it’s not difficult. “It’s fun, and it helps you learn,” said student Keeper Rendon, who is also on the school’s robotics team. “You don’t even realize it helps you learn, actually.” On Monday, Dec. 7, Code.org presented a $10,000 check to the school to help it purchase even more technology for students to use, kicking off Computer Science Education Week and participating in an Hour of Code. Both are meant to highlight the need for computer science education by encouraging everyone to try their…

A recent event at Dallas ISD’s W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy gave students and their families a chance to see and experience science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM). The Family STEAM Fest was conducted by students in the school’s AVID program, which is a college-readiness program that stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. Principal Yvonne Rojas said AVID students created the booths, which demonstrated several aspects of STEAM. It was the school’s first such event. Jennifer Hatcher, a teacher and AVID coordinator at the school, said the event had more than one purpose. “Our goal is to increase their interest…

Mercy Blanco was casually shooting hoops on the playground when some fellow classmates walked by and suggested she try out for the basketball team. Blanco, a fifth-grader at the time, had never seriously considered playing basketball. But she took the classmates up on their offer, made the team, and, by the next year, was running the basketball court. “I just fell in love with the game very quickly,” she said. “I have always liked having to push myself physically and mentally, and I kept on working to become a better basketball player.” Blanco’s hard work has paid off: now a…