Staff News

Sunset High School teacher Laura Page was selected as one of 53 participants for the 2017 National Gallery of Art Teacher Institute on Art of the Renaissance held in Washington, D.C., in July.

The six-day seminar brought together teachers of art, English, history, math, and related subjects from 22 different states. The program emphasized the social and cultural context of Renaissance art in Italy and Northern European countries between the 14th and 16th centuries.

Participants learned about the development of oil-painting techniques, the role of prints in disseminating new ideas, using works of art as primary resources in classroom instruction, incorporating art into interdisciplinary teaching, and strengthening students’ visual literacy.

Through lectures, gallery talks, and hands-on activities, participants analyzed Renaissance artworks and focused on interdisciplinary teaching strategies. Activities were designed to meet teachers’ personal and professional enrichment needs. A demonstration of Venetian painting techniques and a site visit to a printmaker’s studio at Georgetown University rounded out the Institute’s course of study.

Generous support for the Teacher Institute was provided by the Park Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Sara Shallenberger Brown Fund, the PaineWebber Endowment, and the Annetta J. and Robert M. Coffelt Sr. and Robert M. Coffelt Jr. Endowed Fellowship.

Page was awarded a National Gallery of Art Fellowship.

Dallas ISD this week is hosting its annual weeklong AVID workshops that have been coined as “Brown Bag Trainings.”

AVID, which stands for Advancement via Individual Determination, is a global organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and postsecondary opportunities.

The AVID Center trains educators to use proven practices in order to prepare students for success in high school, college, and a career, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

This week’s trainings serve as refreshers geared specifically towards AVID campus staff members for the upcoming school year.

“My teammate, Tamika Stevenson, and I strongly believe in perpetuating the AVID way by preparing our very own teachers with the skills to better service the district’s underrepresented students,” said Ebony Palmer, AVID district coordinator. “We hope this week’s trainings will motivate our teachers to take their instruction to the next level.”

A principal and their child were driving home when the child got angry that they didn’t stop for fast food.

After a decent amount of crying and fussing, the child went silent. When the parent turned around to see what was going on, they saw their child hugging themselves and becoming calm. The parent asked what was happening, and the child replied they were doing “The Turtle,” a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) technique for handling anger.

“And after that day, I can tell you that principal was sold on Social and Emotional Learning,” said Tim Shriver, the Chairman of the Special Olympics and co-founder of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), to an auditorium full of Dallas ISD principals.

Shriver talked with the Dallas ISD principals about the importance and usefulness of SEL. The entertaining and informative discussion wrapped up a week of professional development for the Dallas ISD principals.

SEL is a big priority for Dallas ISD: go here to learn more.

KERA did a great profile on Seagoville High School Coach Mark Harrington, who leads the school’s successful Academic Decathlon team.

The Decathlon team has gone to the state championship for three straight years. Go here to read the full story!