Inside Dallas ISD

It’s all in the name for Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, which Principal M. Scott Tatum describes as “an accelerated academic program for sixth- through eighth-grade students who are trying to figure out what they want to do in their next career – as a high school student.” “We’re providing them an opportunity to try several things before they go off to a magnet school or high school with a more dedicated focus,” he said. “Most of our kids go off to one of the magnet high schools, so we get them ready to go.” The magnet middle school…

Did you know that K.B. Polk Center for Academically Talented and Gifted is a school within a school? This traditional neighborhood school serves Pre-K through seventh-grade students while also offering an application-based fine arts magnet program for students in fourth through seventh grade. K.B. Polk’s TAG Fine Arts Magnet program, also known as a vanguard, is an excellent choice for Northwest Dallas families even if K.B. Polk is not their zoned neighborhood school. This program maintains a rigorous curriculum for its vanguard scholars and allows students to explore their creative nature through specialized instruction in music, visual arts, theater, dance,…

Velina Willis-Smith, Minority/Women Business Enterprise Coordinator, has been appointed Regional Coordinator for the American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA).  The ACCA was established in 1986 as a nonprofit national organization dedicated to ensuring equitable employment and contracting practices within the public and private sectors.  The organization provides professional certification credentials, training, standardization of practice, networking, and support to M/WBE, supplier diversity, affirmative action, contract compliance, equal employment, and human rights professionals across the country.  It is the only nationally recognized certifying body for professionals in the respective fields. Willis-Smith will represent Dallas ISD and the M/WBE Department on a national level…

This past weekend, 19 teams from Dallas ISD high schools participated in the Dallas ISD Regional Mock Trial Competition at the George Allen Courthouse. The students were excited to be part of an in-person competition, and you could sense the excitement inside the courtrooms. Every team had the opportunity to compete for three rounds and the top eight schools advanced to the quarterfinals, which will be held this coming Thursday, January 27th. The quarter finalist schools are: Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts Bryan Adams High School Gilliam Collegiate Academy Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet Science…