News Briefs

Written by Julian Spearman, Student Activities Department. Success in Academic Decathlon is often measured in dedicated hours of study.  This year, the School for the Talented & Gifted at  Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, made their mark on the national stage. After placing second at the Texas state tournament in Corpus Christi, they qualified to compete in Nationals Online. There, they secured third place in the eNationals competition. Greer Gaines, TAG coach, attributes the team’s success to a culture of community and tenacity. According to Gaines, the program’s foundation is built on a concrete and objective system of accountability and…

Written by Michelle Read, Student Activities Department Dallas ISD students reached new heights at the 2026 Urban Debate National Championship, a weekend defined by intellectual rigor and high-stakes advocacy. Held at Harvard University, the tournament brought together 22 urban debate leagues across the United States. For the first time in the history of the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance partnership, a Dallas team advanced to the finals of this prestigious policy debate tournament. Competing in policy debate rounds that demand deep research and logic, Javier V. and Caleb J. from Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith, completed ten…

Dallas ISD students will have the chance to engage in rigorous, engaging, and culturally responsive debate instruction in Spanish thanks to a recent grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. As part of its 2026 summer programming, the Debate en Español initiative at Emmett J. Conrad High School makes it possible for middle and high schoolers to dive into rigorous, Spanish-language debate instruction. The Debate en Español program will follow a World Schools-style format and offer both middle school and high school instructional labs. Students will build skills in critical thinking, public speaking, research, and civic engagement, while also developing legal…

Submitted by the Student Activities Department In Dallas ISD, the University Interscholastic League is more than a series of academic contests; it is a vertical climb.  This rigorous academic pipeline transforms curious students into elite competitors, proving that academics is a championship sport. “Students need a place where they feel successful and where they can make themselves and their parents proud. I believe we provide that with our UIL programs,” Michelle Read, Student Activities coordinator, said. The path to success begins in the elementary classroom, where UIL is about discovery and learning how to compete. This year’s elementary competition saw…