Inside Dallas ISD

At Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy, the theater department is growing its creative force.  Ramad Carter, the school’s theater teacher, is drawing from his artistry and lifelong passion for education to prepare the next generation of actors to become authentic, expressive, and compassionate performers. Carter studied theater in New York City, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Acting at The New School in 2017. While there, he trained in acting, directing, and playwriting while also performing professionally throughout the city. Even while pursuing his artist career, Carter continued to teach. During his time in…

As a young man, Roberto Garcia, Spanish teacher and wrestling coach at Thomas Jefferson High School, often got in trouble for fighting in school.  Though he chalked it up to low impulse control, he now views it as an early foreshadowing of his passion for wrestling. Garcia’s early years were marked by family, transitions, and challenges. In 2005, his family immigrated to Dallas in pursuit of better employment opportunities. His mother, who taught embroidery to low-income women, and his father, a government employee in Durango, Mexico, sought a new beginning.  The crossing itself was arduous for his mother and brother,…

Eight talented young orators will showcase their talents in the 34th Annual MLK Oratory competition, co-sponsored by Foley & Laudner LLP and Dallas ISD. And their sponsors will be there with them, supporting their performance as they have all year.  The competition was established in 1993 and is hosted each year in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day to encourage the community to remember the legacy of the civil rights leader. The competition will start at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. For those who can’t attend…

For most people, a drop in temperature means grabbing a coat. For Duran Hargest, director of Fleet Services, it also means mobilizing a team of 56 technicians to ensure that over 1,000 vehicles — including nearly 900 school buses and a new fleet of 17 electric buses—are ready to hit the road. Dallas ISD’s fleet operation goes beyond just transporting students. Whether it’s repairing a police cruiser’s flat tire or switching a bus to winter mode, Hargest sees his department as the backbone of the district. “My team supports the whole district, from HVAC and maintenance to IT and the…