News Briefs

Shareefah Nadfir Mason, an eighth-grade U.S. History teacher at Boude Storey Middle School, has earned The Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award from The Sons of the American Revolution. She received the award and a $300 prize during a ceremony on Jan. 10 at the Presbyterian Village North Retirement Center.   The Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award recognizes an individual whose outstanding instruction on the era of the Revolutionary War demonstrates exceptional accomplishments in the classroom. The winner receives a trip to Freedoms Foundation Summer Teacher Graduate Workshop at Valley Forge, Penn.

As part of Destination 2020, the district’s strategic plan to raise achievement, the Imagine 2020 initiative provides an additional layer of support to campuses that are expected to accelerate their level of achievement. Since its implementation, more than two years ago, the program has already seen great success in raising that level of academic achievement in feeder patterns, who for years, had been struggling to meet standard requirements. The Dallas Morning News found stories of that success around the district. Read the positive gains and feedback both students and school administrators give in the article below. LINK: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20150124-extra-teachers-tutors-pay-off-for-schools-in-dallas-isds-imagine-2020.ece

W. E. Greiner Middle School’s AVID program hosted the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering’s Trailblazer exhibit Tuesday, Jan 27. Sixth grade science students participated in hands-on STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, activities in TAME’s 40-foot trailer where they explored space, weather, biotechnology, energy, and aerodynamics.

Is your school librarian doing amazing things to encourage literacy and a love of reading and learning through books, audio, digital and print resources? D Magazine needs your help in naming the Dallas School Librarian of the Year.   Do you know a librarian in Dallas Independent School District who: Advocates for literacy by helping people learn to read and encouraging everyone to find a good book? Increases access to digital and print information, as well as audio, because knowledge empowers? Enhances the library experience through innovative projects, service and ideas? Expands the role of the library in the community,…