Inside Dallas ISD

If you’ve ever been to a Dallas ISD community event at a school or throughout the city, chances are you’ve seen Sgt. Simon Tapia, one of the faces of the Dallas ISD Police Department’s UNIDOS program. He, along with fellow officer Lt. Juan Cedillo, co-founded the Dallas ISD chapter of UNIDOS, an outreach program that provides assistance and information to the district’s Spanish-speaking community, with a focus on parents and students. “UNIDOS is a collaboration with multiple police organizations and the purpose of the program is to connect our Spanish-speaking community with resources and to address areas of need that…

Ana Casas Sanmartín, a geometry teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, was sitting in her classroom recently when a former student, Aaron Castro, came up to her and made her day. The senior told her, “Last year was the first time I understood math. I really was struggling. I never figured it out until your class.” And then he added, “I love angles now.” For Casas, that is what teaching is all about: helping students feel successful and proud of what they can achieve. Her passion shines through to her fellow teachers and students alike. “Mrs. Casas’ dedication to her…

The South Oak Cliff Golden Bears continue to be recognized for their historic win of the UIL Class 5A Division II Football State Championship. During the January board meeting, the Golden Bears were officially recognized by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, and the Board of Trustees for their back-to-back state championship. The coaches, team captains and the entire football team were in attendance to hear praises from the board. Read more about how the Golden Bears climbed their way to the top here. Check out the gallery of photos from the team’s visit.

In anticipation of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Final Four, students at T.G. Terry Elementary School helped kick off the 2023 “Read to the Final Four” reading program. Dallas ISD Hall of Fame member, Andrea Riley and Veronica Burton of the Dallas Wings joined the students for the celebration and encouraged participation in the challenge. T.G. Terry Elementary School took top honors in 2017 when the Women’s Final Four was hosted in Dallas. That year, 61 students read an average of 1,841 minutes each. The 2023 “Read to the Final Four” program is a collective partnership between the NCAA, the Women’s…