News Briefs

Several Dallas ISD schools will celebrate the 100th day of the school year this week, but the activities might not look exactly like they did on Thursday, Feb. 2, at Clara Oliver Elementary School. John Carter, a former district teacher and founder/executive director of the nonprofit Turner 12, Inc., put on a dress, wig, floppy hat and high heels to become “Grandmama-mama” to read to preK through third-graders. It’s something he’s been doing for years at various schools. His ensemble and persona is loosely based on NBA star Larry Johnson’s Grandmama character. “It was a way to get kids motivated to…

On National Signing Day, Dallas ISD recognized about 100 student-athletes who have committed to play sports and study at a college or university. One of those students was Darrion Green, the running back from Woodrow Wilson High School who is deaf. WFAA profiled Green and his amazing life journey. You can watch the WFAA story here here.

In honor of Black History Month, fifth-graders at James Bowie Elementary researched and created poster boards on different distinguished African-Americans. The school then used the poster boards to make a major display in the hallway.

Frederick Douglass: Born a slave, Douglass was taught to read and write by a plantation owner before escaping slavery in 1838 en route to Massachusetts. He became a well-known orator on topics of anti-slavery. Douglass wrote an autobiography titled, “The Narrative for the Life of Frederick Douglass,” and, in the same year, departed to England for refuge where he found allies who later purchased his freedom. In 1847, he returned to the United States as a free man and founded his own newspaper titled “The North Star.” Douglass’ Rochester, New York residence was a stop on the Underground Railroad. In addition…