Inside Dallas ISD

Dallas ISD’s Library Media Services department will launch a makeover initiative in 43 campus libraries with the purpose of redesigning the spaces to better serve the current climate in education. On May 25th, Library Media Services and the Apple Team, Jerram Froese and Josh Mika, finished training 43 librarians and teachers who will begin managing the R.E.A.D. Labs at each the schools. Completion is expected by December 2022. The libraries’ R.E.A.D Labs will help students develop creative skill sets through “zones” such as video studios, coding stations, and recording booths for podcasting, and inquiry stations. R.E.A.D. Labs will provide a…

The Dallas ISD Social Studies Department, in collaboration with ECHO Education and EF Explore America, is thrilled to bring travel to our students for the 2022-2023 school year! We believe that visiting landmarks in our own state and across the nation is vital when providing equitable learning experiences. By providing intentional support and growth opportunities in Social Studies, we know our students will think critically, engage civically, and connect globally. Opportunities are available for elementary, middle, and high school students! Through ECHO Education, students in 4th and 7th grade Texas History classes are able to travel to Austin to visit…

The Dallas ISD elementary debate program concluded its fourth season with a debate tournament at Adamson High School on May 14. Working in teams of three, 195 students from 29 schools took a stand and defended the pros and cons of the resolution: Zoos should be banned. The high school cafeteria was vibing with debate energy as students rehearsed speeches and anxiously waited for their pairings to be announced. Pairings are the list of teams that will debate against each other for the individual round. Debate teaches students to think on another level, as holding two opposing ideas in their…

Six Dallas ISD debaters received $18,000 in college scholarships by participating in the Fourth Annual Roland Parrish Scholarship Debate Tournament held at James Madison High School on May 18. Through a partnership with the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, the Parrish Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $60,000 to Dallas ISD student debaters over the last four years. Debate gives young scholars a platform to engage in civil discourse in a constructive and positive way, said Parrish, who is the CEO of Parrish Restaurants and owns 27 McDonald’s restaurants in the DFW area. “Debating helps with truancy, academic advancement, confidence in…