News Briefs

Students at Geneva Heights Elementary School are shopping ’til they drop as part of an incentive program to reward good behavior and attendance during the third six weeks. Students were awarded “Cougar Cash” in order to buy presents for themselves, a friend or family member. Each student started with $10 and then could earn more during the six weeks. The “Heights Holiday Store” features donated jewelry, candles, toys and trinkets, mugs, frames, gift wrap, ribbons, tape, tags and money donated by Geneva Heights parents and community members. Parents Sarah Shopay and Julie Kim organized the holiday store. The store was…

The Research in Mathematics Education unit at Southern Methodist University has named Dallas ISD Chief Academic Officer Ivonne Durant as the recipient of its Impact in Leadership Award. SMU stated they selected Durant for her “outstanding contributions to policy, research and practice in STEM Education.” “Of particular note, this year’s conference theme focuses on access and equity,” states a letter from the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) unit. “(Durant’s) relentless efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality STEM educational opportunities is inspiring.” The criteria for nomination and selection for the award was quite rigorous, and included the following:…

The number of meals served to youth by Dallas ISD Food and Child Nutrition Services staff during Thanksgiving break nearly tripled this year. Break Meals, a district program designed to help ensure students have access to healthy, delicious meals when schools are not in session, were served at 34 schools Nov. 19-23. The number of meals represents a 260 percent increase over the previous year. Meals will also be offered during Winter Break, 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon Dec. 21, Dec. 26-28 and Jan. 2-4 at designated schools. Break Meals are free to all children participating in an educational or…

Vuthy “Woody” Kuon’s family escaped war-torn Cambodia to land in Houston, but that wasn’t the only adversity the young boy would face. In school, he had to overcome constantly goofing off and getting into trouble. That is, until he eventually transferred to a different school and found another form of discipline that would change his life. When he got into trouble there, he was handed a book to read. That sparked a passion for the second-grader who would, as an adult, contribute to more than 100 children’s books so far as a writer, illustrator or both. He also operates his…