Inside Dallas ISD

Following Dallas ISD’s celebration of September Attendance Awareness Month, the Graduation, Recovery, Attendance/Advocacy and Dropout Intervention (GRA²D) department will begin sending school messenger notifications to parents/guardians if their student has missed excessive days of instruction since the start of the school year.  The Attendance for Credit program, known as “the 90 Percent Rule,” helps ensure all students are in attendance at least 90 percent of the time a class is offered and that students recover some of the instructional content lost when they have been absent. It is required for all campuses and is available for parents/guardians who may be…

On Tyler Street in Dallas’ Bishop Arts neighborhood sits a little store chock full of cultural nostalgia for Mexico. From leather goods to pottery, houseware, clothing, and jewelry, Heritage Collective DFW aims to elevate Mexican artisans. The store is owned and operated by the family of Elba Munoz, who – in her day job – is a longtime administrative assistant in Dallas ISD. Although Munoz was born in California, her Mexican roots run strong and deep. And the store is a reflection of the love she holds for her parents’ birthplace. “Both my parents were born in the beautiful colonial…

National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized during September to raise awareness and support for those who are struggling. Because the safety and well-being of students and staff is Dallas ISD’s top priority, departments and schools across the district are working together to encourage everyone to watch for warning signs and intervene as needed.  “People who are having suicidal thoughts need to know that help is readily available,” said Juany Valdespino-Gaytan, the executive director of Social and Emotional Learning. “We are working to reach the people who are silently suffering through proactive social and emotional learning strategies to access the support…

Dallas ISD’s Partnerships and Volunteer Services team has been working vigorously to secure donations and ensure that the district’s partners help uplift our students and community. “Dallas ISD is fortunate to have the support of a wide variety of agencies, individuals, businesses – public and private, higher education organizations, faith-based groups, and others,” said volunteer coordinator Tonya Mayberry Davis. “The support helps to impact student achievement and provide much-needed resources for our campuses.” These partnerships provide students with much-needed materials to make it through the school year, helping to take some of the load off parents. DFW YES is one…