Inside Dallas ISD

Students and staff at Dallas ISD’s Umphrey Lee Elementary School are using the  P.R.I.D.E. House system to sharpen students’ social skills and in turn boost their academic success. “It provides a deep connection between our students and teachers in various grade levels,” said Principal Roshondra Clayton-Brown. “And we have found it is really working and changing the social environment of our school.” Melanie Dadson, House Coordinator/Testing Coordinator, said a key to the program is consistency. Each week, students are introduced to certain elements: a college, a quote, a habit of mind and an essential. Watch the video to see parts…

Justin F. Kimball High School student-athletes would have otherwise headed to the State Fair of Texas’ Secondary Fair Day with their peers on Friday, Oct. 16. Instead, they agreed to venture over to Thomas Tolbert Elementary School to participate in a team community service effort. “We are excited about the opportunity to have a partnership with Kimball, our feeder school,” said Tolbert Principal Lakeisha L. Smith of Kimball’s basketball and cross country teams’ visit to her campus. “Our students need to see that older kids do give back. We’re always talking about how we are a community service or a community…

Young students holding a sea of flags representing Latin countries from around the world paraded around the William B. Miller Elementary School. The parade then led to the school auditorium, which hosted an all-grade level program featuring monologues, dance and music, all in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. “We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month each year so that our students and community have the opportunity to learn about important contributions made by the Hispanic and Latino community,” said William B. Miller Principal Sheila Aldredge. Miller’s entire student body piled into the school’s auditorium for the event, where they were joined by parents…

A recent theatre arts workshop was designed to teach aspects of theater including vocal development, creative writing, physical acting and improvisation in advance of the Irma P. Hall Theatre Arts Festivals, Jan. 23 and Feb. 6. The recent workshop was conducted at Dallas ISD’s Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. During the festivals, student groups present 10-minute original plays. In their ninth year, the events are named for Irma P. Hall, who taught in Dallas ISD for 30 years and is also an accomplished actress.