Inside Dallas ISD

A severe vision impairment hasn’t stopped Abelino Leija, a sophomore at Madison High School, from playing soccer along with his teammates. After a group effort by his case manager, his soccer coach, and The Vision Team staff at Madison, Abelino obtained specialized protective goggles that allow him to meet the medical requirements that kept him from joining his high school’s soccer team during his freshman year. While Abelino struggles with stargardt macular dystrophy, an eye disease that affects his central vision by making it hard to see what’s in front of him, he doesn’t let the condition hold him back…

As Scott Davison, an English teacher at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, is getting ready to start his 50th year as a teacher next fall, he looks back at the wealth of knowledge, experiences and fascinating stories he has amassed and recalls education wasn’t always his first choice. In fact, he said he “sort of stumbled into it.” Growing up in Oak Cliff, he dove into the arts at an early age. He became a child actor at 6, but he never limited himself to one discipline, also pursuing dancing, singing, playing numerous musical…

Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School’s architecture team, Glenn|Partners, has been awarded a 2022 Texas Society of Architects Design Award. A true testament of hard work, commitment, creativity, and the ingenuity of the design process, this new and innovative school merges student curiosity and wonder in a “hive” of learning, collaboration, and activity.  The architect’s website describes the project: Behind the core design concept for the new $25.8M Hawthorne Elementary School, Dallas ISD sought to provide next-generational and interactive learning opportunities for its elementary school students by creating a “hive” of student connectivity, visual curiosity and learning interaction. The highly innovative facility reconnects the…

The 56th Class Reunion Committee of the James Madison High School Class of 1966 recently held a fundraiser to support students in the 2022 graduating class who are seeking higher education. Principal Marian Willard recommended two seniors for the coveted scholarships, based on need and academic achievement. Olive Niyintunze was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, and Brandon Patterson was awarded a $750 scholarship. The JMHS Class of 1966 is celebrating its 56th anniversary. Carolyn Hughes Mitchell, the reunion committee chairwoman, has led the class in staying organized and doing positive things to uplift the community, especially by supporting young people in…