News Briefs

Dallas ISD is turning up the heat on learning opportunities this summer by rolling out a brand new type of professional development experience called Learning Academies. Teachers will have it made in the shade for the 2019-2020 school year after they attend one of these conference-style learning academies this June. Attendees will hear from nationally-recognized keynote speakers, engage in a wide variety of breakout sessions, explore thought-provoking demonstration areas, and enjoy multiple types of interactive, hands-on learning experiences. Keitha Shelby of the Dallas ISD Professional and Digital Learning Department called the summer learning opportunities a big upgrade. Next generation learning experiences…

An eighth-grader at Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School won a nationwide essay contest on the Civil War. Dallas ISD and the Social Studies Department asked different campuses to enter the essay contest sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. For winning the essay contest, Eliane Spalding earned $300 and a trip to New York along with her parents and teacher Kenneth Aronhalt for the Lincoln Prize Dinner on April 17. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The…

Dallas ISD Reading Language Arts and Library Media Services–in partnership with Bouchercon, World Mystery Convention–is hosting the “It’s a Mystery” Writing Contest. The purpose of this contest is to recognize the talent of Dallas ISD students in grades 6–11 by spotlighting their creativity. The top three winners from each grade section (6th/7th, 8th/9th, and 10th/11th) will receive cash prizes, as well as recognition at the Bouchercon literary gala on Oct. 30. Manuscripts are due June 1, 2019 and can be written in English or Spanish. Please register at bit.ly/IWantToWrite.

Molina High School has earned a national designation for its commitment to deliver an exemplary comprehensive school counseling program. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recognized Molina as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP). RAMP honorees are awarded for aligning their program with the criteria in the ASCA National Model, a framework for a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling. Since the program’s inception, more than 820 schools have been designated as RAMP recipients. “This year’s RAMP honorees have shown their commitment to students and the school counseling profession,” said Jill Cook, ASCA assistant director. “These schools used data to drive their…