News Briefs

KERA has an in-depth report on a Dallas ISD pilot program designed to proactively address disciplinary and behavioral issues before they escalate. The restorative discipline program, which is being piloted at select district schools, rethinks how to discipline students. The process includes students gathering in circles in their classrooms. Teachers ask questions, and then students – one at a time – have a chance to respond. The goal is to reduce the amount of time students must be disciplined outside the classroom, cutting into valuable instructional time. Click here to read and listen to the full report from KERA.

Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn spoke to Dallas ISD students from Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy about their experiences in writing about Sudan, inequality, sex trafficking and other topics. Kristof and WuDunn, also husband and wife, have written two books together, Half The Sky and A Path Appears. Students asked how they could be part of the solution to these issues. Kristof had a suggestion: find an issue that speaks to you and your friends; research the issue; start a club that could have activities such as raising money…

Inside High School Sports on NBC 5 talked with Lincoln High School basketball guard Kortrijk Miles and head coach Cedric Patterson about the team winning the state championship earlier this month. Miles, a junior, led the team to the improbable state title. By scoring 28 points and getting 11 rebounds, Miles helped the Tigers beat the state’s number one team. Click here to see Miles and Patterson interviewed on NBC DFW.

Approximately 35 percent of the food served in Dallas ISD comes from Texas, which makes it a national leader in the farm-to-school program. Healthy Schools Campaign reports that a benefit of Dallas ISD’s strong farm-to-school program is the increased amount of fresh produce. The article also notes the different ways Dallas ISD is increasing awareness and excitement for the new school food, such as through the Cooking Up Change contest. Click here to read the full story from the Healthy Schools Campaign.