Inside Dallas ISD

At Camp Culture: A World Language Experience, middle schoolers aren’t just learning languages; they are painting, designing, tasting, and storytelling their way into new worlds.  Running through June 25, the camp lets students rotate through Spanish, German, French, and Mandarin with hands-on activities, from traditional dances and basic language lessons to food tastings in partnership with Food and Child Nutrition Services. Lisa Whitaker, director of Academic Enrichment and Support, said her idea for the program grew out of a simple concern: students don’t know what they’re missing. “Children often select Spanish or French, while German, ASL, and Mandarin are rarely…

Jazz filled the classrooms of Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation as student musicians spent part of their summer break learning improvisation and exploring the rich history of an art form deeply rooted in Dallas ISD’s legacy. Now in its second year, the Roy Hargrove Summer Jazz Camp continues to honor Hargrove, one of the district’s most celebrated alumni while preparing the next generation of musicians. Leading the camp are two music educators, Kermit Gray and LeManuel Williams. “We teach elements of swing, playing in different modes, and then we really focus on improvisation and teaching the kids how…

Written by Julian Spearman, Student Activities  George Bannerman Dealey Montessori Academy is now the number one Dallas ISD middle school is the number one Dallas ISD middle school, according to the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association. Lorelei Nguyen, a TMSCA coach at Dealey, encourages students to look at room for improvement and learn from their mistakes rather than competing against one another. In turn, they had less anxiety and performed better. “Consistent practice and a focus on growth are most important to success. Another thing I do is make growth the focus of their grade,” said Nguyen. “Students need…

When Christian “Kiki” Recino Gonzalez, current soccer coach and geography teacher at W.T. White High School, stood on a pitch facing the 2015 U.S. women’s soccer national team, it felt surreal. She had grown up in Arlington, the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, watching stars like Alex Morgan and Marta Vieira da Silva on TV. Suddenly, she was lining up against them, wearing Guatemala’s blue and white. Her mom worked as a school cafeteria worker and her dad was a truck driver. Soccer, though, was her father’s great love, and it soon became hers. “I just followed my dad wherever he…