Inside Dallas ISD

In her 24 years working for Dallas ISD, Jane Didear has facilitated more than 450 partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and civic groups that support the district’s students and staff. On Aug. 31, Didear will go from working in the district’s Volunteer and Partnerships office to volunteering herself, as it’s her last official day with the district. Didear is retiring after working in multiple departments and receiving many accolades. Among her many accolades, Didear has received PTA life membership awards from both the Texas and National PTA, the Junior Achievement Champion Award, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of…

Stephanie L. Young thought that one day she might be a teacher. However, her ambitions, which were encouraged by a favorite teacher and a central staffer, took her far beyond the classroom. Today, Young is the Associate Director of Communications at the White House, and in her short career, she has landed in some very impressive places. AlumNow, which is a Hub feature that checks in with district alumni to see where they are now, recently caught up with Young recently to see what she’s been doing since graduating from the School of Education and Social Services (known now as Rosie Sorrells School of Education…

Juan Quesada, a teacher at Jill Stone Elementary School and a Distinguished Teacher candidate in the Dallas Independent School District, was among several teachers to participate in the NASA LiftOff Summer Institute at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. According to a press release, NASA’s Texas Space Grant Consortium sponsored the program. Teachers from across the nation were selected to participate and increase their knowledge of space education through this professional development summer institute. LiftOff is a collaborative effort of Texas Space Grant Consortium members and affiliates. Teachers apply for LiftOff and are selected competitively. The workshops are organized around…

A locally owned grocery store is raising money to help fund educational field trips for Dallas ISD students this upcoming school year. Elrod’s Cost Plus Supermarket, which has six locations in the DFW area, set up its Dallas ISD Field Trip Fund after a teacher from W.A. Blair Elementary School contacted them. The teacher asked Elrod’s about potentially donating hot dogs for a fundraiser at the school. After talking with the teacher, Julia Johnson, Elrod’s marketing manager, said the family owned grocery chain decided to go a step further and set up a donation fund to help finance Dallas ISD…