Dallas ISD families: You have options, lots of options

There are many points of discussion as we consider student achievement and how to make a real impact in academics. Certainly, quality teachers and parent engagement are both critical components, but we have to look at how effectively we are engaging students as well.

It is a pivotal time for educators who are challenged to move beyond the conventional to deliver educational options that speak to the varied needs and interests of students in order to engage them and successfully prepare them for the future.

Dallas ISD has had a monumental year of growth and development in terms of developing options for students. Through growth in school choice, personalized learning programs, early college high schools and early learning and dual language programs, the district is quickly becoming one filled with many educational choices for students of every age.

To provide students and parents a firsthand look at just how much the district has to offer, Dallas ISD is holding its first-ever Discover Dallas ISD Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at Ellis Davis Field House (elementary grade levels), 9191 S. Polk and D.A. Hulcy STEAM Middle School (high school grade levels), which is directly across the street.

This is a one-stop opportunity to visit with many of the district’s 228 schools, check out the 13 early college and collegiate academy programs, visit with schools that offer the much talked-about two-way dual language program, and see why Dallas ISD has some of the top magnet programs in the country.

I encourage you to come out and take a look, talk to principals, teachers and students. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you discover about Dallas ISD.

Other news in District 1:

Carol Shelton, a teacher from Jerry Junkins Elementary School, is the 2016 Dallas ISD Teacher of the Year (elementary). Congratulations to Ms. Shelton and all of the campus Teachers of the Year from District 1: Taylor Davis, Thomas Jefferson High School; Ralph Ross, W.T. White High School; Yuridiana Lewis, E.H. Cary Middle School; Miriam Gaytan, Marsh Middle School; Carleton Szeto, E.D. Walker Middle School; Susan Bourenane (district finalist) and Shelley Weiske, George Bannerman Dealey Montessori Vanguard and International Academy; Maite Vazquez Zulueta, William L. Cabell Elementary School; Paola Lavat, F.P. Caillet Elementary School; Becky Mantecon, Everette L. DeGolyer Elementary School; Sandra Castillo, Arthur Kramer Elementary School; Yeuny Lim, Herbert Marcus Elementary School; Jorge Cea, John J. Pershing Elementary School; Kara Hoover, Walnut Hill Elementary School; Lynette Santiago-Ramirez, Henry Withers Elementary School; Juan Sevilla, Nathan Adams Elementary School; Javier Lopez Camuy, Anne Frank Elementary School; and Courtney Boykin, George H.W. Bush Elementary School.

Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) 2015-16 high performing/high progress schools

Kudos to George Bannerman Dealey Montessori Vanguard and International Academy for being recognized as high-performing and high-progress schools by the TEA. The agency identified the top Title I schools in the state based on their academic performance.

The district will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving, Nov. 21-25. Have a great holiday.