Dallas ISD team members go on vacation

This summer, Dallas ISD team members were teaching, obtaining new degrees, working on their business ventures, traveling to expand students’ learning opportunities, building schools, and much more. Because there were a lot of great vacation stories, we are sharing them in two parts. This week, we are sharing vacation adventures with an educational twist. 

Josie Rivadelo, assistant principal, Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School

I traveled to Los Angeles for my doctorate graduation. It was wonderful getting to meet all members of our class in person since our program is online. We made a side trip to Puerto Peñasco in Mexico after graduation. I also learned that anything is possible if you put your heart in it. The journey to finishing the doctorate was not easy, but I met a lot of amazing educators that made the adventure fun and lighter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reanoel Navarrete, guidance counselor, Gilbert Cuellar Elementary School

I spent two weeks in Jamaica teaching yoga at a resort. Many vacationers were very open to yoga and appreciated the experience of an in-person instructor in a beautiful setting. I learned how Jamaicans prepare for a hurricane and support everybody within and outside of their families and community including us, American tourists.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridget Smith, teacher, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School

Building a school in Malawi with BuildOn is how I spent my vacation, living in the community and working with them to build the school. Teachers are revered in Bwanyundo (the community we visited). They had the best houses, but very few resources. It was an honor to help build a new school that will serve 800 students in the area and change so many lives. Living with a local family was fun but challenging. We taught our family Go Fish! and played for hours by headlamp, as there was no electricity or running water. We often had goats or chickens waiting on our doorstep whenever we left.

 

Christopher Simpson, inclusion teacher, head boys’ basketball coach, assistant football coach, Thomas Jefferson High School 

During May 26-June 2, I took my three kids to Miami. During the month of June, I taught summer school in the district. During July 13-16, I went to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. On July 20-22, I was in San Antonio for the THSCA Coaching School, and I took my three kids with me. Then on July 23-27, I traveled to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and Tulum, Mexico. My favorite thing about my experience was exposing my kids to new places, new experiences, getting them out and about. I did some haggling at the airport when I landed in Cancun and got my rental car for really cheap after pitting three rental car agencies against one another. Competition is the mother of cheap prices!

 

Rossana Ambriz, bilingual pre-K teacher, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy

This summer, I got certified in sound therapy. Now I can share with others something that makes me feel so relaxed by doing sound bath harmonizations. While practicing, I had my grandparents try my sound bath sessions, and my grandfather looked at me astonished like saying “what is this?” My grandmother really loved them and got that stress out of her body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian Beltran, teacher, Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College High School

I took a group of students to Puerto Rico this summer. The reactions the students had to traveling for the first time was amazing. We went to a hacienda and learned all about native fruits, vegetables, plants, and animals. We got to cultivate them as well and bathed local horses. Then for lunch it was all farm to table. It was all fresh and delicious.

 

 

 

Stacie Davenport, dyslexia teacher, Eladio Martinez Learning Center

To make reading engaging, I created books taking pictures of the students (that were previously approved by parents), focusing on what they needed to be successful. I worked the whole summer on the books and now that they are finally done, the students are loving them! 

 

Michael Saucedo, plumbing, Dallas ISD Southwest Maintenance

I worked all summer to ensure all plumbing projects were completed and schools plumbing systems were up to par for the upcoming school year. I enjoyed working together with other team members and accomplishing tasks. I also got recognized for my hard work and was nominated for the shining star award in the Maintenance Department. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antonio McGhee, special education teacher and coach, North Dallas High School

I spent my summer officially starting my cooking business called G’s Cajun Kitchen. I am a high school football coach, and football is my passion, so to actually have the energy and drive to start a business has been amazing. I started my cooking page in 2021 and had several viral videos and have been at it since. The coolest thing is turning a hobby that you enjoy into something monetary. I thought that I was going to walk away from coaching to officially start G’s Cajun Kitchen, but I could not. I truly love coaching defensive line and being a mentor and role model for the students. I look forward to what’s to come this year balancing coaching and G’s Cajun Kitchen on the weekends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Gomez, newcomer instructional specialist, Dual Language ESL Department

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer with the Dream Nziza Foundation. This is a nonprofit organization founded by former Dallas ISD student Isaac Nkurunziza. The main goal of this organization is truly inspiring. It is dedicated to empowering children living in rural areas of Rwanda by helping them improve their English skills and ensuring they have access to important educational materials they need to succeed. For a week, we spent time teaching English at a small school in the village of Kanzenze, Rwanda. Beyond the classroom, we made a lasting impact through the organization by providing the students with new uniforms, essential school supplies, and daily meals to support them throughout the upcoming school year. The experience was both deeply gratifying and profoundly humbling. The students and teachers we worked with radiated warmth and gratitude as their faces always lit up with smiles. Every moment was a celebration, filled with chants, laughter, and joy. 

This journey not only touched my heart, but it also transformed my outlook on life. I returned home with a richer understanding of cultural diversity and a newfound appreciation for the incredible world we share. I was taken aback the moment I stepped into the classroom where I would be teaching. The heat was intense, a wasp nest clung to the ceiling, and the desks were old and worn and made from rough wood. It was a stark contrast to the classrooms we’re used to in the United States. But as soon as I began teaching, all those concerns faded away. The students’ bright smiles and eagerness to learn drew me in completely. This made me forget everything else as I immersed myself in the joy of teaching and connecting with them.

 Stay tuned for part two of Dallas ISD team member summer vacation stories!