Inside Dallas ISD

Dallas ISD celebrates teaching excellence by recognizing outstanding educators who are making a difference in the lives of students every day. Meet 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year finalist Will Hastings. Will Hastings, math department chair at H Grady Spruce High School, discovered that he had no love for engineering – but a deep enjoyment in tutoring his peers in higher-level mathematics – while an undergraduate Electrical Engineering major at the University of North Texas.  Realizing his passion, Hastings joined the Teach North Texas Program, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a minor in Education, and the…

Youth Art Month is back and in person this year, following a shutdown in 2020 and a virtual art show last year due to the pandemic. With more than 600 pieces, this year’s exhibit, which runs from now until May 7, showcases a collection of student artwork and, for the first time ever, features teacher art work as well. Monica Hayslip, director of Visual Art, says another new aspect of this year’s event is that several items are for sale and earnings go directly to the student or teacher.  “I think whenever you come in and look at a piece…

Dallas ISD celebrates teaching excellence by recognizing outstanding educators who are making a difference in the lives of students every day. Meet 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year finalist Dutchess Gutierrez. Dutchess Gutierrez, dance teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School, was born in Oklahoma City before relocating to Irving and graduating from MacArthur High School. She developed a love for dance as a member of the MacArthur High School Cardettes Dance team and served as the first African-American Captain her senior year.  Gutierrez attended Trinity Valley Community College before completing her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Spanish…

Dallas ISD has much to be proud of with the accomplishments of its band, orchestra and choir programs! Every year, music ensembles across the state participate in region-level evaluation to receive ratings from experts in the field on their performances in both concert and sightreading (playing a piece of music they have never seen before). Every band, orchestra and choir program in our district participates in this event. Participation in UIL music requires months and months of preparation. The pandemic put great strain on student development with the lack of regular face-to-face instruction last year. This has required teachers to…