News Briefs

African Americans have had immeasurable impact and contributed to the quality, progress and access of education to all races and creeds within the Dallas Independent School District and community. Read about some of our schools’ namesakes and their historical contributions to Dallas ISD. Paul L. Dunbar: Having served as his high school’s newspaper editor and writer of the school song, Paul Lawrence Dunbar was his school’s only African American in his graduating class. A published poet of two major collections, Dunbar was also an acclaimed “poet laureate” of the African-American race prior to his death.

The volume and types of state-mandated tests for public school students, along with how the results are used, has been a hot button topic not only in Texas but across the U.S. in recent years. The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is giving educators, parents and business leaders the opportunity to provide input into what assessments and accountability measures will look like in 2017 and beyond. To help inform the members of the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability, the SBOE is hosting a series of community conversations across the state. On Feb. 17 at El Centro…

Kobe Bryant Wrice, a senior at Dallas ISD’s North Dallas High School, played his final high school basketball game this week – days after the NBA star he is named after played his final professional game for the L.A. Lakers. Wrice, like Kobe Bryant, is a force on the court. He will end his high school career as one of the top scorers among area Class 5 players. See the full report here from CBS 11.

It’s been more than 25 years since Franklin D. Roosevelt High School alum Paul Mitchell (Class of 1990) roamed the halls of his alma mater, but what he learned there as a student—pride, respect, responsibility—still guides his life today. AlumNow, The Hub feature that profiles district alumni, checked in with Mitchell to see what he’s been up to since graduating from Dallas ISD. What are you doing now? I’m a Dallas ISD police officer assigned to James Madison High School. Briefly list a few of your career and/or personal highlights. Graduated from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in…