Discovering a new role
Life has come full circle for Diana Nuñez, who attended Dallas ISD magnet schools, since she was appointed executive director in the Office of Transformation and Innovation over the One Centers, which handle the application process for the district’s more than 100 specialty schools and programs.
“My brothers and sisters, we all went through the academy and magnet system,” she said. “My children attended [George Bannerman] Dealey and [William B.] Travis, so I understand the parent side of things in a unique way.”
Her personal experience will be helpful because Nuñez has had to hit the ground running since starting in her new position at the end of September because the districtwide event—Discover Dallas ISD—that kicks off the application window for the 2025-2026 school year takes place Nov. 9 at Fair Park. Nuñez said she is fortunate to have a great team in place that is outstanding at collaboration, takes ownership and has supported her during the transition into the new role.
“I am so excited to collaborate with the community for Discover,” Nuñez said. “We have registrars ready to help parents fill out applications, and principals ready to highlight their schools.”
Nuñez is also excited about a new feature in this year’s Discover—the inclusion of legacy schools, which are the schools within students’ attendance zones. All these schools will be at the event so families can explore the opportunities they have to offer from elementary through high school and fill out a transfer application if they are interested, Nuñez said.
“By having the legacy schools also at the event, we are bringing back pride, tradition, connection with the community, connection with the families to show them they can come back to their roots and find opportunities,” she said.
Nuñez is finding her own opportunities in her new role. After 25 years in the district, she is working in a new side of school administration. After being a teacher, she worked as a principal at Arcadia Park Elementary School, Dallas Environmental Science Academy and W.H. Adamson High School before becoming an executive director over the W.W. Samuell and Seagoville elementary schools and then the Seagoville vertical team.
For Nuñez, who earned a doctorate in 2022 and holds a superintendent’s certification, helping families find the best fit education for their children and enrolling them in Dallas ISD gives her the chance to lead districtwide systems and use the skills she gained working in all levels of School Leadership in new ways.
Recently, she helped a parent submit paperwork by reaching out to the campus and giving the executive director for that school a heads up about the issue, she said. They got the issue resolved quickly because she knew who to contact and what steps to take from her time as a principal and as an executive director.
“I still get to interact with schools in a different way but also with parents, helping them navigate the process,” she said. “It’s a blessing to be able to help and have the insight to be of help.”
