Inside Dallas ISD

Preparing and delivering a fresh, nutritious breakfast to 63 classrooms for 1,366 students, their teachers, and administrators before the bell for first period might sound like a major challenge, but Rashundra Thomas and her staff of 10 cafeteria workers at Ann Richards Middle School have it down to a science. Starting at 5 a.m., the cafeteria staff arrive and turn on the ovens to begin preparing the warm food options that include items like chicken sausage sandwiches, chicken chorizo tacos, pancakes, tamales, and French toast sticks. The menu also includes 100 percent fruit juices, a fresh fruit or veggie, and…

This school year, Robert T. Hill Middle School will feature an Instruments Master Class; students at Maya Angelou High School can explore women’s careers in science through Girls Love Science; and the Mavericks First Lego Robotics Team will launch at Highland Meadows Elementary School. All of these opportunities are possible through Grants for Innovative Teaching, a signature program of the Junior League of Dallas, supported by Texas Instruments and other sponsors. Educators from across the Dallas Independent School District submitted proposals this past spring outlining original projects addressing reading and literacy enrichment, diversity, special education, STEM or arts and culture…

The Health and Physical Education department wants schools to get students up and moving and to increase their awareness and practice of healthy nutrition and physical activity. To make it happen, the department has developed a full year’s calendar of activities as part of its Coordinated School Health Initiative, or the CATCH program. A program to help keep kids healthy isn’t just a good idea, it’s actually mandated by Texas Education Code for grades K-8.  Full details of the program are online. The annual CATCH calendar combines a list of national observances, local events, daily themes, and character education tie-ins.…

Pamela Taylor’s first teaching job was 14 years ago in the L.G. Pinkston High School Reconnect Center. She enjoyed teaching, but struggled with the challenging nature of the program. One evening nearly four years into her role at Pinkston, she saw a ticker across the bottom of her television saying that there was a shortage of school librarians, and she knew what her next step would be. “I immediately began pursuing my certification to become a librarian. I’ve always loved reading and knew this was where I could make a difference,” said Taylor. She and her husband relocated to Louisiana…