News Briefs

Dallas ISD Trustee Lew Blackburn served as a guest keynote speaker at the South Oak Cliff High School Male Leadership Series on April 2. Blackburn was honored with a Leadership Award during the event for his 18 years of service and commitment to the District 5 community. The SOC Male Leadership Series event also featured Dr. Michael Sorrell, the president of Paul Quinn College, and motivational speaker Onterio Green.

This past weekend, school districts across Texas hosted their University Interscholastic League (UIL) Spring Academic meets in which students competed in more than 20 academic competitive events ranging from speaking to STEM to writing contests. With 25 schools qualifying to advance to regionals, more than 400 Dallas ISD students competed in UIL Academics in four districts: 3A-11, 4A-12, 5A-12 and 6A-8. To be eligible for UIL Regionals, students had to place first, second or third in their respective contests. Dallas ISD hosted the UIL District Spring Academic meets for Districts 4A-12, 5A-12 and 6A-8. Here are the overall winners from…

In February, Dallas ISD sent two students from Gaston Middle School to compete in the regional National History Day contest. The theme for this year’s contest was “Triumph & Tragedy in History.” National History Day is a yearlong academic program focused on historical research, interpretation, and creative expression for students in grades 6-12. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights, and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. Rosa Rivas and Maribel Deleon won first place at regional in the Group Exhibit category with the topic “Keeping Passions Within Due Bounds: Shakespeare’s Triumph Through…

More than 500 volunteers spent their weekend installing new equipment and furniture, landscaping, and painting Alex Spence Middle School and Talented and Gifted Academy. The Day of Service hosted with the Church of the Incarnation brought $30,000 in upgrades and improvements to the campus. The event has been in planning since Principal Shanna Jones submitted a proposal in October.