Inside Dallas ISD

When Principal Reymundo Cervantes arrived at Henry B. Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy in 2017, parent engagement was not at its highest, to say the least. Five years later, as he leaves to take on the leadership of Pleasant Grove TAG, family involvement has more than tripled, and the elementary school in Southeast Dallas has become the district’s Whole School Model for Family Engagement. “I believe it is because of the work and commitment of our teachers to ensure that students will achieve, knowing that parent involvement is key,” Dr. Cervantes says.  “The staff is going the extra mile to involve…

As a two-year reconstruction project begins, students from Geneva Heights Elementary said goodbye to a school building that has been serving the Dallas community since 1931. The farewell ceremony was held on Friday, May 27, for faculty members, students and parents to say goodbye before the existing structure is demolished. As part of the farewell, attendees were given markers to write their own personal goodbye messages on the walls. They were also treated to a sneak peek of the new school, which is set to open in fall 2024. Until then, students and staff will be operating from the former…

On Tuesday, May 24, Woodrow Wilson High School held its secondary dual language program recognition ceremony for a total of 51 bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural graduating seniors. Dallas ISD is a national leader in dual language and boasts one of the largest dual language programs in the nation, with instruction offered at more than 150 schools. “Proud does not begin to describe how I feel, it’s just so exciting,” shared Alessandra Mercon, Woodrow Wilson High School assistant principal. “Last year, we had six students graduate in our first class and this year we had 51, so I’m proud of the…

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…