Staff News

Each student at Anson Jones Elementary School has a dream, and now people across the world know it, too.

The campus participated for the second time in two years in the Dreamline Project that saw the school’s 620 students each write down their dreams on individual flags. Whether the student dreamed of being a doctor, President of the United States, or running their own business, art teacher Candice Lindsay said the students greatly benefited from thinking about their future goals.

Four staff members from Jones Elementary traveled to Philadelphia on May 5 to show off the students’ creations, as well as dream flags from Arcadia Park Elementary School.

“Some of these students had never really thought about the future before this project,” Lindsay said. “The fact that these students sat down and thought about their dreams and were then able to visualize them, that could change the world.”

“Seeing students express their aspirations through poetry and art was very powerful and reinforced the impact we as educators have on our students,” added Anson Jones Elementary Principal Alberto Herrera. “We can easily extinguish or ignite these dreams by our actions and words. It is also a testament to the teamwork exhibited by Anson Jones staff as they kindled our student’s imaginations to voice their ambitions in a relevant, heartfelt manner.”

Jeff Harlan, founder of the Dreamline Project, called Anson Jones Elementary a model to all 120,000 students across 35 countries and 42 states who have declared and shared their dream on a flag.

“The presence of Anson Jones flags and leaders in Philadelphia made our event so much more powerful and potent. Everyone was touched by it,” Harlan said. “We look forward to more collaboration with Anson Jones and to supporting a surge of dreaming and doing across Dallas in the months ahead.”

Any Dallas ISD campus that wants to participate in the Dreamline Project can contact Mrs. Candice Lindsay at CBLOUNT@dallasisd.org or call Anson Jones Elementary School at 972-794-4700.

Mia Witt didn’t know why she got summoned to the principal’s office earlier this month, but some of her students thought it was funny.

Witt, a special education inclusion teacher at Onesimo Hernandez Elementary School, is the first recipient of a quarterly $250 recognition provided by Carter Financial Management. The effort will spotlight and thank dedicated teachers by providing funds for them to spend in their classrooms. The award is coordinated by the district’s Partnership Services and Special Education departments.

Parents, community and staff were encouraged to identify nominees that demonstrate qualities of a distinguished special education teacher, setting high standards and demonstrating commitment for improving outcomes for students who receive special education services in Dallas ISD.

Witt graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and studied Elementary Education at UNT.

“Ms. Witt goes above and beyond what is expected of a teacher,” said teacher Danielle Wegman. “She seeks out challenging students and goes the extra mile to engage them in their learning and help them conquer challenges outside of school as well. She sought out the challenge of joining an ACE school because of her love for transforming the lives of disadvantaged students. During her time at Hernandez ACE she has worked well outside the prescribed hours of tutoring to even ride the bus with her students to prevent fights.”

Teacher Dora Griffin said Witt helps her students from the minute they walk into Hernandez until the minute they leave to go home.

“She knows every student on campus by name, even the gen ed students,” Griffin said. “She helps motivates and encourage every student to be and do his or her best.”

Campus staff have until May 15 to apply for the Grants for Innovative Teaching program.

The Junior League of Dallas provides the grants of up to $2,000 to fund innovative learning projects. Teachers, librarians, principals and assistant principals can apply for the grants.

Apply here!

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7–12, and, to celebrate, multiple Dallas businesses and restaurants are offering special discounts to our tireless classroom educators.

Tacos Y Mas

Tacos Y Mas has deals going on for teachers all week. Teachers need to show a valid teacher ID to redeem. See the flyer here. The deals are:

• Monday: Free street taco
• Tuesday: Free churo
• Wednesday: Free drink
• Thursday: Free tortilla soup
• Friday: Free nachos

Raising Cane’s

Teachers who show their ID can receive a free box combo on Tuesday from 3­–8 p.m. See the flyer here.

Chipotle

Teachers, faculty and staff who stop by Chipotle with their faculty ID on Tuesday from 3 p.m.–close can get a buy-one/get-one-free burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos. The deal is only valid in-restaurant.

Cicis

Teachers with a valid ID can enjoy a free buffet at Cicis on Tuesday. Get the coupon here.

Designer Shoe Warehouse

Designer Shoe Warehouse is offering Dallas ISD employees 20-percent off regular priced items and 10-percent off clearance items on Thursday, May 10 from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. DSW has locations at the Preston Center Pavilion, 9335 Westchester Drive, and The Shops at Park Lane, 8160 Park Lane. See the flyer here.

Snuffers

In honor of teacher appreciation week, Snuffers is offering all teachers 15 percent off their meals from May 7-11. Go here to see a list of Snuffers locations.

JCPenney

JCPenney is offering Dallas ISD teachers and staff a re-usable discount card redeemable in-store or online. All district employees are welcome to use the coupon available through the staff email announcement. The coupon is valid through July 31.

Online purchases

65-percent off select original and regular priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || 30-percent off select sale and clearance priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || Extra 15-percent off select furniture, mattresses, housewares, floor care, custom blinds and shades. **Standard Exclusions Apply

In-Store Purchases

 60-percent off select original and regular priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || 30% off select sale and clearance priced apparel, shoes, accessories and home purchases || Extra 15% off select furniture, mattresses, housewares, floor care, custom blinds and shades. **Standard Exclusions Apply

Email thehub@dallasisd.org to add any other deals to this list!

Young Women’s STEAM Academy hosted the Dallas ISD AVID Model Showcase on April 23 where more than 50 educators gathered to learn and see best practices about AVID hands-on.

The showcase experience included Dallas ISD Trustee Jaime Resendez, Deputy Superintendent Israel Cordero, Deputy Chief Stephanie Elizalde, and a few others who came to support AVID and share a few words of inspiration.

The showcase experience included classroom observations and a chance to speak with experienced AVID teachers, administrators, and students.

Dallas ISD is celebrating 16 years with the AVID program and is thrilled to have two AVID National demonstration schools in the district, T. J. Rusk Middle School and A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School. As the program continues to grow, it is adding more campuses and working hard to show student achievement through proven data.

Tamika Stevenson and Ebony Palmer, AVID District Coordinators, work daily with campuses to make sure the four domains of AVID are met: Instruction, Systems, Leadership, and Culture.  AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

“I have a degree in the STEM field and have always valued the importance of training young women in the areas of STEM,” said Dallas ISD Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde.  “As educational leaders it is critical  that we to teach our young women three C’s – Competence, Courage and Compassion, and it is clear today that the young women at this school are truly being led by example.”