News Briefs

A mother, community leader and director of a nonprofit organization, District 9 Trustee Bernadette Nutall is a tireless advocate for quality educational opportunities and social services in the 30 schools in her district, which encompasses South Dallas, and parts of downtown, Pleasant Grove and East Dallas. Nutall has served on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees since 2010. She says the most satisfying part of the job is witnessing the brilliance and resilience of young people. Even in the face of challenges, she says, the students are still succeeding. That awareness keeps her going. She credits her fifth-grade teacher, Ms.…

Thanks to an after-school program from the Boys and Girls Club, fourth-grade students at the Paul Dunbar Learning Center are learning to play the violin, cello and viola. SMU music students are leading the classes that also teach students the basics of orchestra, rhythm, and history of music. WFAA 8 has the full story here.

It looks like they’ve done it again! A. Maceo Smith theater arts teacher Scot Pankey has again led the school’s talented students, teachers and staff in a sure-to-be-viral choreographed video. This time, the video is to Andy Grammar’s “Good to Be Alive.” Last year’s viral hit “Uptown Funk” registered more than 13 million hits, and a special Facebook post from the song creator himself, Bruno Mars. Check out NBC 5 story on the latest video here.

As a student at Dallas ISD’s Law Magnet in 2004, Stephanie McGary was on a path to a possible law career. However, fast forward to 2016, and the school has a new name—Judge Barefoot Sanders Magnet Center for Public Service: Government, Law and Law Enforcement—and McGary is in on an entirely different path as a counselor who helps young students facing some real life challenges. AlumNow, The Hub feature that profiles district alumni, caught up with McGary, who is realizing her real purpose by helping children and their families. What are you doing now? I am a licensed professional counselor…