More than 460 Dallas ISD students explored internship opportunities across district departments at the annual Internship Expo. From business and information technology to education and healthcare, students learned about roles within Dallas ISD and participated in on-the-spot interviews, gaining firsthand experience in a professional setting. As part of Dallas ISD’s broader effort to equip students with employable skills, the internship program bridges classroom learning with real-world experience. “Opportunities like the Internship Expo give our students direct access to real-world experiences through professional interviews and conversations with industry partners,” said Sibu McNeal, workforce development programs director. “It helps them build confidence,…

On the floor of a Dallas ISD elementary classroom, one senior leans over a set of plastic coins, patiently teaching a young learner the basics of math. Down the hall, another senior helps a first-grader use crayons to color a map, turning a geography lesson into a vibrant exploration of the world. A masterclass on leadership and interpersonal skills, this is what a typical day in the Education and Training pathway at W.T. White High School looks like, where textbooks are replaced by real-world training. For Yoselyn L., the transition from the high school hallway to the head of a…

When you first meet Bella S., you see the poise of a leader.  As vice president of the Wellness Club at Thomas Jefferson High School, she speaks with confidence and purpose. But not long ago, she was sitting silently in the back of the classroom. “I was really shy. I didn’t talk,” Bella said. “I was hiding in the back of the class because of everything I was going through.” That changed the moment Bella stepped into the Advancement Via Individual Determination classroom at Thomas Jefferson.  Moving between three different schools and balancing her home life could have easily sidelined…