Staff News

When Dallas ISD Police Sgt. Quintin Barge heard about the devastating floods in Central Texas, he stepped in to help by spearheading a one-man relief effort for the survivors. 

“This happened in the state of Texas, and Dallas ISD is a really big district,” he said. “I said to myself, “Why don’t I do something?”’

With approval from leadership, Barge set empty boxes by the biometric clocks at the police station on Ervay Street and at Elisha M. Pease Elementary School, where Dallas ISD police meet for training.

“I said to the troops, ‘Hey, you guys may have seen empty boxes in front of the biometric clocks that say toiletries for the flood victims. Be sure to donate, if you can. God blesses us to be able to bless others, right?” Barge said.

Donations began dribbling in. The entire department—from police officers to security guards to administrative assistants—contributed, Barge said. The donations, Barge continued, included soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers, deodorant, and even laundry detergent. It was enough to fill up the back seat and trunk of a Tahoe SUV.

Initially, Barge considered mailing the supplies, but early last Tuesday, Barge and Detective Terry Brazil hopped into the Tahoe and drove four hours to Kerville ISD where they were greeted by a welcoming committee. 

“They were happy to see us,” Barge said. “They were really, really happy. The area looked almost abandoned, and I didn’t see any men. Only women and boys.” The men, Barge said, had gone off to help with flood recovery and cleanup. 

Barge said that all donations are kept in an old elementary school that doubles as the headquarters. The donations are set up in tables in the cafeteria by products, he said. 

After the Dallas ISD donations were unloaded, Barge said, he, Brazil, and Kerville staff members held hands for a quick prayer and conversation. 

“Kerrville ISD doesn’t have many resources. There’s not a lot of money there,” Barge said. “The items that were delivered came from all kinds of personnel—the non-sworn staff, dispatchers, and the administrative assistants.”

Helping others, like the flood survivors of Kerr County, is not new for Dallas ISD Police. They are committed to community engagement throughout the year through a variety of initiatives, such as the annual Officer Claus holiday celebration, back-to-school rallies, Thanksgiving food drives, and stop-the-violence initiatives. “I’m also just happy to have leadership within our department that makes community engagement a high priority,” Barge said. “We love our jobs, our community,  our kids, and our staff members. We’re willing to sacrifice ourselves for them.”

We are excited to kick off the 2025-2026 school year, where legacy will be built through you. On Aug. 4, teachers returned to their classrooms to prepare for another year of energy, creativity and learning. This year is all about Legacy, honoring the impact teachers make through every lesson taught, every relationship built, and every challenge overcome. 

Whether this is your first year with Dallas ISD or you grew up in the district as a student, we celebrate your unwavering commitment. We are also celebrating our veteran educators who are preparing for their final year with the district. Their legacy will last for generations to come. Together, let’s make this year unforgettable.  

With the focus on building legacies for 2025-2026, there are a few new developments this year to build on:

• Dallas ISD begins the school year with 99% percent of teacher positions filled and less than 100 vacancies, the smallest number in recent history.
• This school year starts with great news about academic success and students showing remarkable progress across the board. Results often exceeded state performance, and Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde attributed the district’s momentum to the unwavering dedication of its educators and the district’s bold approach to innovation.“Let’s remember where we buried our treasure. We are a leader in pay for performance, and the data show that we retain our most effective teachers at a rate that other districts envy,” she said. “Additionally, we intentionally invested in early learning and were leaders in implementing what we call high-quality instructional materials and what regular people call a rigorous curriculum.”
• This year, school leadership changed its reporting structure, adding a sixth region. 
• The recently passed House Bill 1481 will prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day. Even though the law does not go into effect until Sept. 1, the district will start enforcing this on the first day of school Aug. 12.
• Students at John Lewis Social Justice Academy at Oliver Wendell Holmes and Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy will be starting the school year at two new school buildings thanks to the 2020 Bond Program.. 
• Several new programs will be added for students, such as outdoor recreation, which includes camping, swimming, outdoor safety, first aid, among other outdoor activities.
• Dallas ISD will boast the first competitive soccer league in the fall for students in grades 4-6.
• A new districtwide messaging  system will offer two-way communication so principals and teachers can better communicate with parents/guardians and students in the language of their preference. 
• Translation Services has two new forms to request translation of documents and interpretation during meetings. You can find the forms at www.dallasisd.org/translationservices.
• A new rowing program, which includes training in swimming, will launch this fall. This program, part of a partnership with Bachman ROC Rowing Club, will provide scholarship opportunities to students and support diversification in the sport. The first training was held this week at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center.
• Dallas ISD is transitioning to a new secure web gateway solution powered by Netskope, which will replace iBoss in student devices. Like iBoss, Netskope will operate in the background during this transition. The new platform is designed to enhance the student web experience and strengthen the security of district devices and data. 

Dallas ISD put out a call for new teachers. About 1,000 answered—both novice and experienced educators alike.

This past week, the district  welcomed them through the New Teacher Academy, a professional development series focused on instructional delivery, student engagement, digital tools, content, and curriculum.

The academy culminated in a districtwide celebration at the Winspear Opera House where participants donned bright yellow T-shirts that Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde said meant they were joining a 14-karat gold team—and that they were chosen from among the best.

“We chose you to play on our team. Our vision is absolutely to be the premier school district, and that doesn’t mean someday. It means now, today—every one of our kids needs it,” she said.

The event kicked off with a performance of “Hakuna Matata” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy students and messages from Elizalde and Board of Trustees President Joe Carreón.

Carreón reminisced about the teachers who helped him to find his voice and his purpose in the world. 

“That is their legacy. I am indebted to every one of them,” he said.

Elizalde recalled her own challenging first year of teaching, admitting that she “quit four times in just the month of October.” She acknowledged the demanding, but highly rewarding, nature of the profession stating that “95% of the time, [teachers] are going to love this calling, because it’s not a job. But 5% of the time it is going to hurt.”

She urged the teachers not to let the 5% become the 95 and reminded them that students are more than just test scores.

“Everything shouldn’t rest on assessments, because each and every one of us and every one of our students is way more than a test score,” she said.

But even when it comes to STAAR test scores, Elizalde said, Dallas ISD is “outpacing the state in 80% of tests, especially among emergent bilingual, African American, and economically disadvantaged students.”

Meet some of our new teachers below and discover why they chose Dallas ISD.

 

Valerie Castaneda—Prekindergarten ESL teacher
PreK Partnership Center

“This is my home. I was a product of Dallas ISD, and it only made sense to return and contribute to it.” 

 

 

 

Diana Torres—Bilingual teacher
J.L. Long Middle School

“This is where I grew up. I’m also a product of the district. I’ll be a Spanish teacher, and my Spanish teacher in high school is actually the one who inspired me to serve the community.” 

 

 

Gabriela Pedroza Martinez—Bilingual teacher
Woodrow Wilson High School

“I appreciate that Dallas offers great programs like teacher certification that are completely free– that’s one of the things that led me to this.”

 

 

 

Katherine Williams—Math teacher
J.L. Long Middle School

“I have grown up in Dallas and lived near the school where I’ll be working for most of my life. I’ve always felt called to be a teacher, and I have already been teaching for 15 years. It’s natural for me and brings me a lot of joy, especially when I feel like I’m able to make a difference in my students’ lives.”

 

 

Jayah L. Caley—English teacher
North Dallas High School

“I want to be a teacher because I strongly believe in public education. My grandmother was a high school English teacher, and it was a childhood dream of mine to also be a teacher. I hope to one day serve at a more policy-oriented level.”

 

 

 

Zachary Moon—Welding teacher
Career Institute North

“I started my education in Dallas Community College, and I wanted to give back the same kind of resources that I got. Now I’m teaching welding, and it feels really good to be able to give a younger generation a head start.”

 

 

Brock Hunter—Coach
Grady Spruce High School

“I come from a family of educators. My mom taught for 35 years, and I think it’s just in my blood. I just love helping children; I love being a good role model.”

 

 

 

Carrington Washington—Health teacher
Career Institute South

“I was working at CVS and then decided to make the transition to teaching. What I like about teaching is that I get an opportunity to see that light-bulb moment. I enjoy seeing when students make those connections not only theoretically but practically.”

 

 

 

Marie Abigail—Special education teacher
B.H. Macon Elementary School

“I know that Dallas can help me grow professionally and personally as a teacher. It offers a lot of opportunities for us to improve. I believe the children need me, and I need them, too.” 

 

 

 

Mary Joy Encallado—ESL teacher
Stevens Park Elementary School

“I like teaching because I want to share my knowledge and skills with my students and to expose them to my Filipino culture.”

 

 

 

Imee Bruce—ESL teacher
Lee A. McShan Jr. Elementary School

“I’m so happy to be part of Dallas ISD. Not only is it one of the biggest school districts in the United States, but I was chosen out of countless teaching applicants in the Philippines. I am very excited because it’s my first time teaching in another country.”

In compliance with state and federal laws, Dallas ISD requires that all employees complete the annual compliance training at the beginning of every school year. The deadline for completion is Sept. 30.

Employees (except for substitute employees) can log into Cornerstone at https://dallasisd.csod.com. On the “Welcome” page, go to the “My Assigned Training” section and click “Add” or go to the “Learning” tab and select “View Your Transcript.”

For help with technical issues with the courses in Cornerstone, employees may go to the “Live User Support” tab to access the live support team.

Substitute employees can log into the Compliance Learning Portal using their employee ID, last name (as it appears in Oracle/Biometric Clock), and date of birth.

For additional information or assistance, please contact the Human Capital Management (HCM) Policy and Compliance team at HCMcompliance@dallasisd.org.

Dallas ISD Translation Services has new request forms for district language needs. The new forms for requesting translation of documents and interpreters for meetings are part of the department’s process and can be found below.

The forms can be used for schools and departments to request translation of documents, such as handbooks, letters, flyers, curriculum, and PowerPoint presentations, into Spanish and other languages. Simply, complete the translation  request here. For more information on document translation, contact Garby Ryan at (972) 925-8965.

If you are planning your school’s parent meetings and would like interpretation into another language, complete an interpretation request here.  Details on interpretation requests can be found on the form link. For more information on meeting interpretation, contact Alejandra Granell at (972) 925-5885.

For information on tutoring in other languages, including Arabic, Burmese, Pashto, Rohingya and Swahili, contact Desi Mier at (972) 925-5882.

The forms can also be found on the Translation Services web page at www.dallasisd.org/departments/translation-services.

As the time to kick off the 2025-2026 school year approaches, Dallas ISD is getting ready to celebrate the educators, leaders, and other team members.

“Each year brings new opportunities to continue building on Dallas ISD’s tradition of excellence and  innovation, and that is what we are celebrating with this legacy launch,” said Chief of Communications Libby Daniels. “Building legacy starts here—with our people—and we want to recognize everyone who is involved in helping our students succeed.”  

To start strong, the district is inviting all campuses and departments to host their own Legacy Launch Watch Party on Thursday, Aug. 7. This celebration includes a video message from Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde, a chance to win really cool prizes (MAVS tickets + more), and activities to help you get the year started. 

To help with the celebration, swag bags will be delivered to campuses and departments the week of Aug.  4, and special times have been designated for each school region to watch the inspiring message:

• Region I – 2:30 p.m. 

• Region II – 1:30 p.m. 

• Region III – 2:30 p.m. 

• Region IV – 10:30 a.m. 

• Region V – 9 a.m. 
• Central departments can choose any time

More details will be shared early next week and information can be found at DallasISD.org/LegacyLaunch. 

Today is the last day to be eligible for Dallas ISD’s Benefits’ early-bird incentive drawings by enrolling in the 2025-2026 benefits. The Benefits enrollment window closes Aug. 15.

If you need help reviewing, updating, and selecting benefits for the upcoming year to ensure coverage fits your individual needs and those of your family, the Benefits Department has many ways to support team members. 

Join an information session

Attend a virtual webinar or in-person seminar to learn more about your benefits options and ask questions directly to our Dallas ISD Benefits team.

• Tuesday, Aug. 5 – Virtual webinar | 5-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 6 – In-person seminar (Room 1101) | noon-1 p.m. 
• Tuesday, Aug. 12 – Virtual webinar | 5-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 13 – In-person seminar (Room 1101) | noon-1 p.m. 
• Thursday, Aug. 14 – Virtual webinar | noon-1 p.m.

 Click here to register for a webinar or seminar.

Schedule a one-on-one appointment

Book a one-on-one appointment with a Benefits team member—in person, over the phone, or via Microsoft Teams.

Get assistance with:

• Reviewing your current benefits
• Understanding your options
• Navigating the enrollment portal

 Click here to schedule your appointment.

MyDallasISD benefits mobile app

The district has launched the MyDallasISD Benefits App, a new mobile hub for everything benefits-related.

Use the app to:

• Review and compare benefit plans
• Enroll directly from your phone
• Get real-time alerts and reminders

Download Now:

• App Store (iOS)
• Google Play (Android)

Be sure to enable notifications when you first launch the app!

Starting tomorrow, Aug. 1, Dallas ISD will transition to a new system powered by Apptegy for sending calls, emails, and texts to parents/guardians and team members. To get ready for the new system to communicate alerts, information, and emergencies, current users and new users are encouraged to attend live virtual trainings offered through Aug. 11.

The trainings will be available in the new School Leadership training portal. 

• Principals will have access to a self-paced video to learn how to access and use the system but can attend any of the live virtual trainings.
• Coordinators, who are designated by the principal and can have a variety of additional roles within the school, are asked to attend one of the 45-minute live virtual trainings scheduled at various times through Aug. 11 to gain access to the new system. Registration is required.

Principals can designate two coordinators using the appropriate Campus Designee form found in the July 24 WAIP. If you have trouble finding your school on the list, please, email the two coordinators to schoolmessenger@dallasisd.org.

Even though student contact information has not been updated for the 2025-2026 school year in the current callout system, the district will have access to it through today. Calls, texts, or emails scheduled after July 31 will not go out. As with the previous system, principals can name two coordinators for their schools. Those who were identified as current coordinators in the system received an email encouraging them to participate in the trainings. Additional information will be included in this week’s WAIP.

A new feature that will be phased in later in the fall will allow the district, principals, system coordinators, and teachers to send two-way communications to parents/guardians in their preferred language. Training dates for that feature will be communicated when available.

Dallas ISD is transitioning to a new system to communicate alerts, information, and emergencies to parents/guardians and team members via phone, email, and text messaging. This means that principals and the coordinators assigned to use the system at each school will need to attend a virtual training to learn how to use the new system. The trainings will be available in the new School Leadership training portal. 

The district will not have access to the current callout system after July 31. Scheduled calls, texts, and emails after July 31 will not go out. As with the previous system, principals can name two coordinators for their schools. Current coordinators will receive an email encouraging them to participate in the trainings. 

The new communications system will also include the ability for the district, principals, teachers, and other school personnel to have two-way communications with parents in the parents’ language of choice. For example, when a teacher sends out a message in English to the parents/guardians in his or her class, the parents will receive that message in their language of choice. When they respond, the teacher will see the response in English. Teachers will also be able to have this two-way communication with students on their roster. 

This new feature, which will be phased in starting in September, is expected to replace the use of apps and other software that have not been approved for district use. 

For any questions, please email schoolmessenger@dallasisd.org.

For Army Sgt. Maj. Leon Johnson, senior JROTC instructor at Emmett J. Conrad High School, the military promised opportunities he did not imagine having. Now, at Conrad, he sees himself in a lot of the students and wants them to be aware of the opportunities that were available to him.

“This is something personal for me,” Johnson said. “When I come to school and I look at these kids, I think, ‘I was sitting in their seat one day. I didn’t have a lot of money; my parents were both working; and college wasn’t even an option.'”

A native of Peoria, Ill., Johnson came from a hardworking family with no means to afford college for 10 children. College wasn’t an option because they had to get a job and help out the family. 

But Johnson realized that his hometown did not offer the kind of success he wanted: young men, he said, seemed destined to wind up in retail, sales and the streets. 

“I was a pretty decent student in high school, but I ended up joining the Army at 18,” he said.

 When he completed basic training, Johnson was deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm. By his second year, Johnson had already made sergeant, eventually reaching the rank of sergeant major.

“I’ve been to some cool places. I lived in Korea and Japan,” Johnson said. “I’ve lived all over the world. But the most important thing was that I was a medic by trade.”

Through the Army, Johnson received a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and a master’s degree in educational technology from Louisiana State University. After he retired from the U.S. Army Medical Department at Fort Benning, Ga., he made his way to Dallas to take up a role as a Leadership Cadet Corps (LCC) at Nova Academy. He later taught middle-school students at the Dallas ISD JROTC and developed a curriculum forum for the School of the Talented and Gifted at Pleasant Grove. The district took notice of Johnson’s contributions and recruited him as a Senior Army Instructor at Conrad.

 “I’ve been at Conrad for five years, and ever since, I ask myself how I can give our students the opportunities and the exposure to be successful in life,” Johnson said. “When I meet my students, each one of them is different, but I try to put myself in their situation, and say, ‘I wish I had an instructor or a teacher that was compassionate enough to see things that I can’t see that will help me succeed.”’ 

Johnson said the JROTC program at Conrad started with only 100 students and is now averaging 150 per class. The highest enrollment, he said, was around 210 students. The program has two instructors—First Sgt. (Ret.) William Henderson, who is the Army instructor, and Johnson. 

The JROTC program focuses primarily on community engagement, and every December Johnson’s class sets off to the Vickery Meadow’s annual Festival of Lights to dis

tribute bags to families. Last year, Johnson said, they handed out over 600 bags. Other community service activities include cleaning up trash, placing flags in cemeteries for Veterans Day, and visiting elderly soldiers’ homes.

“It’s just an opportunity for our kids to give back to the community and be a part of something that’s going to help make it better,” Johnson said.

 The JROTC is a program where students enter to learn but leave to lead. In addition to community engagement, JROTC students learn archery, participate in physical fitness competitions, are exposed to robotics and drones, and, more recently, compete in the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl in Washington, D.C. Last year, Conrad became the only school in the district—and one of the only schools in the state—to make it to the national competition.

“A lot of things that we do are as a drill team,” Johnson said. “We really try to give our kids opportunities and experiences that are going to allow them to be favorable and competitive in a global society.”

Johnson’s personal mission, he said, is to transform students’ lives through education, leadership training, and personal mentorship.

 “If you can reach one, you can teach one,” he said. “In JROTC, we are a family. You’re not just a number or score—you’re family.”

 Johnson denied the myth that JROTC is only for students with military aspirations. On the contrary, JROTC is for anybody who is interested in cultivating character and integrity.

 “This program is really building the fundamentals for great leaders, not only in our schools, but even outside of our schools,” Johnson said. “And I just want other

s to be able to realize that this is not only a great program, but it’s also giving students life skills that they may not get in any other type of educational curriculum.”

 Johnson expressed gratitude for the leadership within both the school and the district for their support of JROTC:

 “My hope is that not only the school leadership, but even our senators and our congressmen realize that JROTC is such a great program, because it’s going to give our future leaders the basic fundamentals of integrity, character, decision-making,” Johnson said.

 In the end, Johnson said, he wants his students to feel as if they are a part of something bigger than themselves.

 “All it takes is one person to believe in you,” he said. “The sky is the limit.”