Staff News

A dream come true is how Dania Marrero, STEM coordinator at the Dr. Elba and Domingo Garcia West Dallas STEM School, describes the podcast she established at the school. 

The student podcast launched last school year with two episodes on YouTube. The first episode was about Black History Month and the second was about International Women’s Day. Other episodes have been added since then as the interest has increased. Currently six students participate in the podcast, with two main hosts, but for the next school year, Marrero plans to alternate them.

The podcast has different segments such as “The Fashion Girls,” where the student hosts talk about what’s trending in clothes for kids, or “Mr. Science,” where a student recently spoke about the eclipse. There’s even a sports section called “The Eagles Nest.” In a recent episode, the students even talked about trending toys for the summer.  

Marrero said the most rewarding thing about this work is that the students love it and ask her daily about when they are going to record another episode. 

“The kids are truly amazing, and I love the passion and excitement it has instilled in their learning,” Marrero said. 

Marrero hopes that this experience will help students in the future, as they are building new skills. She hopes that when they grow up, they won’t be afraid to speak to others or be public speakers. She described her students as brave because not everyone likes to be in front of a camera and microphone. Past episodes have included the elementary students interviewing others, such as their principal and a teacher who recently obtained a master’s degree.  None of the students is older than second grade. 

Marrero said they hope to continue interviewing Dallas ISD team members and would like to invite district leaders, including superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and associate superintendent Nancy Bernadino, to the podcast. 

To check out the podcast, visit www.youtube.com/@wdssdallasisd. 

Although Marrero admits that she and the students work hard to produce an episode, the rewards are great, and all truly enjoy the process. For example, to record an episode, it can take up to two weeks of preparation. She writes, produces, directs and gives the students a few days to practice at home.

Marrero, who has a background in electrical engineering, is going on her 11th year with the district. She moved from Puerto Rico in 2013 and immediately began working for the district as an elementary school math teacher. As a STEM coordinator in her current school and founder of the podcast, Marrero said she gets to utilize her creativity and combine both of her passions: engineering and education. She hopes that in the near future her students will be able to run the podcast–—from writing, to cameras, to production. She also wants to include school announcements for next school year, and a Spanish segment, for Spanish-speaking families to actively engage.

When Frederick White was a student athlete at Hillcrest High School in the ’80s, he never imagined he would someday be in a role to support the future student athletes of the district. 

White, grounds and athletic fields supervisor, has worked for the district for 18 years, overseeing iconic Dallas ISD stadiums such as Alfred J. Loos Sports Complex, Wilmer-Hutchins Eagle Stadium, Forrester Athletic Complex, Pleasant Grove Stadium and many others.

White said his position is tied to his roots, as a former student athlete, and described himself as a proud 1982 Hillcrest graduate.

“I really see what it is that the student athletes need to be successful,” White said. “I make sure the facility is safe and clean and that they have all the advantages that I didn’t have. I take a lot of pride in what I do.”

Currently, White is the athletic grounds supervisor for stadiums and swimming pools, and oversees a total of 15 locations. 

From field days to UIL sporting events and graduations, White said he crosses paths with students one way or the other. He makes sure that everything runs smoothly at the location for which he is responsible. 

White’s work has not gone unnoticed by his colleagues. This semester, he was awarded the Shining Star Award by the Maintenance and Facility Services Department. White received the award for his “outstanding contributions, especially in the success of the October MFS Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-A-Thon, and showcasing  his unwavering commitment and proactive approach. His love for sports and genuine joy in interacting with students make him a valuable member of the Dallas ISD family. His positive impact is felt not only in special events like the Walk-A-Thon but also in the continuous support he provides to schools and students,” the department’s newsletter read. 

White and his team stay busy year-round but describe this graduation season as an exciting time for them. To prepare, he meets with his team to discuss the game plan and make sure that they support student success during graduation. White said they collaborate and work with different team members in the district.

“It really touches my heart to see the kids I have seen from grade school to graduation,” White said. In fact, the students he knew from his previous role with the district as a custodian and girls basketball coach at Mark Twain School for the Talented and Gifted, have all graduated. 

“I got a chance to see them go through elementary, middle school through high school and finally to graduation,” he said. “I’ve seen their siblings graduate and have had the opportunity to run into my former students. It’s brought me so much joy to see a lot of them flourishing.” 

“You know how some people feel that they’re called for doing certain things? I truly feel that I’m being called to do what I do. Even though it is a job and I get paid to do it, I feel this is my calling,” he said.

Surrounded by books, plays, awards and mementos created by her students—like a clay bust of William Shakespeare or a paper model of the Globe theater—Karen Graves reminisces about her 53-year career as an educator and knows it has been sweet.

Sweet is also how she describes the parents of her students who elected her PTA president and vice president at several schools, the five principals under whom she has worked, and the hundreds of students who have attended her theater classes—for the last 24 years, at William B. Travis Academy for the Academically Talented and Gifted. She was recently recognized at the district’s Salute to Service event for her dedication to Dallas ISD.

“I have seen big changes in Dallas ISD and have loved every place I have been,” Graves said of her time in the district, which began in 1970 when she was hired to teach English, math and theater at the then Pearl C. Anderson Junior High school.

“It was the best thing to happen to me,” Graves said, remembering her experiences at the then segregated school. Graves fondly recalls serving as PTA president as well as attending a holiday celebration with her students at a venue on what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where Ike and Tina Turner were performing, she said. Graves stood out in the audience and was singled out by Tina.

“She was so young back then,” she said. “It was so sweet of her to call me up.”

Although she later spent three years teaching in a Richardson school, Graves is Dallas ISD through and through. She believes in giving students every opportunity to learn, experience new things and develop into young adults who are prepared for the future.

“Children still want discipline to some extent and guidelines,” she said. “But they also want to play a meaningful role in what they do. Even if they don’t play a leading role, they want to feel that what they do—costumes, set building, sound—is important. They want to find what they enjoy and do it.”

Graves, who is retiring at the end of this school year, has taken students on trips to Turkey, Scotland, France, England and other countries to help them expand their horizons and learn from other cultures. She also goes to see her former students’ high school plays and productions, because “they are so sweet.” Next year, she will also be going to football games because one of her current students, Angel R., will be playing in high school.

Angel, who will be attending the School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, credits Graves’ high expectations and emphasis on participating in theater competitions with his academic success.

“Overall, her class has really helped me with life skills,” he said. “I don’t have stage fright and can do public speaking. I can memorize 30 minutes to an hour of a good monologue. I learned so many new vocabulary words. I am thankful for the opportunities.”

Graves said she is proud of her students and their academic accomplishments, but she is proudest of how they gain the confidence to tackle other challenges.

Although she is retiring to spend more time with her youngest son’s children who live in Arizona and her oldest son’s family closer to home, she is not completely disconnecting from Dallas ISD—she plans to come back after a while as a substitute.

“I’m going to miss interacting with the children every day, but I want to spend time with my grandchildren while they are still young,” she said.

Her advice to younger teachers: “Be good listeners. Get to know your students, their parents, their community, and their situation, not to interfere with their lives, but to be a better teacher to them. Provide structure, but also show appreciation as we learn from each other.”

When you think of a leader who goes above and beyond for her students, colleagues agree that Nelida Morehead, a bilingual teacher at C.F. Carr Elementary School, is who you should picture.  

Morehead, now in her ninth year of teaching, became a teacher after hearing about the district’s Alternative Certification Program. She decided to change careers to transition out of working as an investigator for Child Protective Services. Although she has a heart for social work, she was reaching a point of feeling like she needed a break. She saw teaching as a way to continue with her mission of helping children. 

As a teacher, Morehead has worn many hats and has received various accolades, including serving as Campus Instructional Leadership Team, the Districtwide Advisory Committee, coaching robotics and the Lone Star Challenge, becoming a Distinguished Teacher, recognized by the Texas Education Agency, regional board member of Destination Imagination, and Challenge Master for Rising Stars for Destination Imagination, and has been a mentor for new teachers for the last four years. Morehead also served on a TEA committee to which educators from throughout the state were invited to provide feedback on the development of assessments including STAAR, STAAR Alternate 2, and TELPAS. 

Morehead became involved with the TEA committee because she is always looking for different opportunities to expand ways to help her students. She looks for these opportunities in newsletters, emails and other sources she gets from different agencies. She applied and received a notification that she had been accepted. 

“I always believe that the people who make important decisions need to be there on the frontlines,” Morehead said. “To me it was a great opportunity to give feedback on the things that we do daily as teachers, and I was able to do that when I went to that committee.” 

Morehead was also recently awarded a scholarship for full-tuition to attend Southern Methodist University where she will pursue a master’s degree in leadership in educational administration. Through the encouragement of the administrators of the three campuses Morehead has worked for in the district, she is pursuing her goal of becoming a principal.  

One of the favorite things about doing what she does is expanding children’s minds through different platforms, Morehead said. 

“I can do it through coaching, through teaching, or taking kids on a field trip,” she said. “I love to take my students on a field trip because I know some of my students are lacking a little bit of background knowledge and experiences, so every year we take different field trips where I feel that they’re learning something.”

The latest field trip the students went to was at a park to view the solar eclipse, where the students had an incredible time, she said.

She would like for her students to take away from their experience in her classroom how to become independent, responsible, and thinkers—something she expresses to them on the first day of school.

“I want them to become a well-rounded student, not just academically but also be able to think and rationalize things and to be independent and be responsible,” she said. 

Morehead said that the students who are sometimes called ‘challenging’, are her favorites. She says she doesn’t take the word challenging so much into account, because she likes to see how the student is with her. 

“They don’t know a positive way to get attention, but I hope that in those eight months that they spend with me, they learn that there is another way,” Morehead said. “It’s not that they are challenging students, but they haven’t been taught yet how to do it differently. Like they say, it takes a village and I’m happy to be part of this village.” 

Mental Health Awareness Month brings forth the opportunity to share the resources that are available for students districtwide. Below is a listing of different resources available through Dallas ISD’s Mental Health Services Department, whose mission is to promote student success by supporting students’ mental health needs.  

The Dallas ISD Mental Health Services team includes licensed professional counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, school psychologists, psychiatrists, and wraparound specialists, who work collaboratively with campus and district team members to ensure the highest quality of care for students to improve mental, emotional, social, and academic outcomes.  

School-based Services
Mental health services provided in schools:

• Individual/group counseling and psychotherapy
• Behavior support and intervention
• Case management
• Crisis intervention

Clinic-based Services
The 13 Youth & Family Centers are located around the district and provide the following services:

• Individual and family counseling and psychotherapy
• Parent education and workshops
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management
• Physical health services provided by medical partners, including HHM Health, Foremost Family Health Center, and Los Barrios Unidos

Alcohol and Drug Intervention
The Dallas ISD Alcohol and Drug program provides in- and out-of-district resources for students in need of support for substance use.

Wraparound Services
The department connects students and families to critical district and community resources to improve school performance and engagement.

You can find this information and more, by visiting the Mental Health Services Department website at https://www.dallasisd.org/mentalhealth. 

Human Capital Management’s Benefits Department will host a retirement lunch and learn session with Trusted Capital Group to provide employees the opportunity to gain insight into various aspects of retirement planning, including Social Security, TRS, and retirement savings. 

The lunch and learn will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on May 16 in Suite 205 at the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building. Lunch will not be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own. Click here to register for the Retirement Lunch and Learn with TCG Services.

The goal of the Benefits Department’s lunch and learn is to empower employees to make informed decisions about their benefits and retirement, ultimately fostering financial security and well-being among team members. The following topics will be presented:

1. Understanding Social Security—Learn about Social Security benefits, eligibility criteria, and strategies to maximize your benefits.
2. Teacher Retirement System Explained—Dive into the specifics of TRS, including contributions, benefits, and retirement options available to educators.
3. Retirement Savings Accounts—Explore different retirement savings vehicles, such as 401(k), IRAs, and the importance of starting early to build your nest egg.
4. Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset—Understand how WEP and GPO may affect your Social Security benefits and strategies to mitigate their impact.
5. Q & A Session—Your chance to ask questions and seek clarification on any retirement-related topics discussed.

For additional questions, employees may contact the HCM Benefits Department at 972-925-4300 or email retirement@dallasisd.org .

Sunset High School has seen many changes through the years, from adopting new curricula  to administration changes, but Valarie Nichols and Stephanie Blankenship have been a constant source of support to students for more than three decades.

As English teachers, they have been committed to encouraging students to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.  

“Adapting to changes has been challenging, especially with the increasing emphasis on standardized tests,” Nichols said.

As Nichols reflects on becoming campus Teacher of the Year and being recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, she finds her proudest accomplishments extend beyond accolades. Blankenship finds great fulfillment in the strong relationships she has built with both students and colleagues.

Their paths to teaching are as diverse as their experiences in the classroom. 

Blankenship’s motivation to pursue a career in education was solidified by the influential English instructors she had during her high school years.

“In high school, all four of my English teachers played a big role in my decision to major in English and pursue teaching,” she said.

For Nichols, a serendipitous journey led her from aspirations of becoming a psychiatrist to discovering her true calling in the classroom, thanks to the encouragement from her father and mentors.

“For me, it was a whole roundabout way,” Nichols said, recounting her transition from radio, television, film with a minor in psychology to substitute teaching, to a fulfilling career in education.

Their dedication to their students goes beyond just imparting knowledge.

Nichols emphasized the importance of being true to oneself: “I’ve learned to embrace the oddness and stay true to who I am, which allows me to be there for my students in ways others might not.”

Blankenship shared a quote from Maya Angelou: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” To her, the quote highlights the profound impact teachers can have on students’ lives.

During Teacher Appreciation Week—which recognizes and celebrates the profound influence educators have on shaping the future—they celebrate their 30 years at Sunset High School and  continue to impart invaluable lessons, both inside and outside the classroom.

At Dallas ISD, students get to be rockstars for a few minutes. That’s how Seagoville High School modern band and fine arts director Rodney Dittmar explained the experience of students coming together for the Dallas ISD Modern Band All-City Jam, which Seagoville Middle School hosted last month. Now in its 13th year, it has been an annual tradition at the school since 2011. 

The 14 district schools that participated all have modern band programs with students from elementary to high school. Dittmar said that it’s always such an honor to have the other schools come out to Seagoville and represent their school and showcase the work they’ve been doing.

“The part that is really cool for me is the little ones get to see the older students, and everyone enjoys each other’s performances,” he said. 

One of the highlights for Dittmar was seeing his own daughter Rebekah, who attends Eduardo Mata Montessori, perform on stage. With her school band, she sang “Under Pressure,” an iconic song made famous by the rock band Queen. 

For a couple of videos highlighting some of the students’ work at the Modern Band All-City Jam, click here and here.

Dittmar, who is also a Regional Music Will Ambassador, said he received nothing but positive feedback from students—after all, he organized this with them in mind as an opportunity to highlight their talents and share their creativity as musicians, he said. It allowed them to begin to feel what it’s like to play on a stage and to be performers.

At Seagoville Middle School, Seagoville High School and 19 other secondary campuses, students have guitar and modern band classes during the day, but it might look different on other campuses. Some campuses offer modern band after school. Either way, Dittmar said he’s motivated by the way the program has grown throughout the district. The district currently has over 100 Music Will programs. 

Beyond the concert, Dittmar and colleague Olympia McClendon, fine arts director at Felix G. Botello Elementary School, have helped other schools bring modern band to their campuses. In addition to their work as teachers, they also plan events, such as a fall workshop at L.V. Stockard Middle School, and work with Matthew Edwards, director of choral, elementary, and general music for the district, to expand the program. Music teacher Beth Poquette Drews also plays an important role in coordinating the workshop at Stockard.

They help teachers get the instruments and the training, as well as professional development. While the teachers are already there in the schools, they work with them to make sure they have the resources they need. 

The ultimate goal—and Dittmar’s mission—through all these opportunities is to put music programs like these in underserved schools. He and his colleagues have witnessed how music can transform and change lives, he said, so the work continues.

The schools who participated in the Dallas ISD Modern Band All-City Jam were:

Emmett J. Conrad High School

Daniel Webster Elementary School

Martha Turner Reilly Elementary School

John W. Runyon Elementary School

Felix Botello Elementary School

Leslie A. Stemmons Elementary School

Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy

Gilbert Cuellar Sr. Elementary School

Eduardo Mata Montessori

School for the Talented and Gifted in Pleasant Grove

Seagoville Middle School

Seagoville High School

Teacher Appreciation Week kicked off with a Texas flavor for two Teacher of the Year finalists, who were surprised with monetary awards and burgers for all team members at their schools as part of the WhataTeacher of the Year recognition.

Rosamaria Alvarado Jimenez at F.P. Caillet Elementary School and Saraid Driskell at Solar Preparatory School for Boys were awarded a $1,000 grant each to use for their classroom or a school project. The grants are part of Whataburger’s Feeding Student Success program, which focuses on charitable giving at the intersection of food insecurity and education.

“Teachers are true heroes,” said Donna Tuttle, Whataburger vice president of marketing and communications. “Many of us still remember our favorite teacher and the impact they made on our lives. Whataburger’s free breakfast offer and WhataTeacher grants are just small ways we try to say thank you for their powerful work.” 

The recognition was made possible thanks to the Dallas Education Foundation working together with Whataburger to receive and disburse the funding.

“Through their partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation, Whataburger is committed to uplifting and supporting Dallas ISD students and teachers,” said Mita Havlick, executive director of DEF. This is the second year in a row for Whataburger to honor two teachers in Dallas ISD.

A proud product of Dallas ISD, Rosamaria “Rosy” Alvarado Jiménez is a kindergarten dual language teacher at F.P. Caillet Elementary. Alvarado Jiménez is the sixth of 10 siblings. Her parents emigrated to Dallas from San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Alvarado, who has taught in the district for 26 years, is an Exemplary rated teacher and has also earned a Master designation through the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment. Some of Alvarado Jiménez’s leadership roles include TEI Campus Expert, grade-level chair, and mentor to novice teachers. Alvarado Jiménez is committed to learning and implementing innovative teaching practices as well as helping each student achieve their greatest academic and social potential as they prepare for their future. Alvarado Jiménez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Southern Methodist University.

Saraid Driskell is a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Solar Preparatory School for Boys. She is a first-generation Mexican American whose parents emigrated from Mexico City and is the first in her family to obtain a college degree. Driskell has used her lifetime passion for education to foster a love for learning in her students. A 19-year veteran teacher, she is a an Exemplary rated teacher. Driskell serves in various leadership roles such as chair of the science department and culture and house system, coordinator of project-based learning, and sponsor of the debate team. Driskell believes in investing and building relationships with students to foster a sense of belonging and community. Beyond her campus, Driskell has led professional development for various schools across the nation, helping teachers implement blended learning in an engaging and innovative way. Driskell holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Park University and is currently pursuing graduate studies.

Imagine what it would be like to have a career day, where professionals and community members visit a school to share their experiences not just one day a year but on a regular basis. Associate superintendent Nancy Bernardino, who was the founding principal of the school and the late Jennifer Turner, the founding assistant principal, came up with Wisdom Wednesdays, also known as Wonder Woman Wednesdays, and Fierce Female Fridays. 

“To believe that they have potential in STEM and careers that are in leadership, they need to be able to see women who look like them almost on a weekly basis,” said principal Olivia Santos.

When it started on Fridays, it was like a call out to the community. The school used its resources, such as parents and teachers who know somebody who knows somebody and so on, she said. That’s how they continue to identify and invite the speakers to this day.

Most schools have career day once a year, and students might have a connection with someone who comes to the school, but Santos thought “why not give students more options?” Santos said that they’ve invited speakers such as presidents and CEOs to Zumba instructors to doctors and teachers to share with students. Philanthropist and Microsoft trailblazer Melinda Gates has been one of the guest speakers. 

“I think it’s really just figuring out how to make sure that we are encouraging girls to be able to see themselves in different roles and then what that looks like for them,” Santos said. To further expand this work, Solar Prep for Girls has partnered with organizations such as Lydia Hill Philanthropies who have provided resources. 

The women that have participated in the speaker series are asked to prepare a two- to three-minute presentation. They share things like how they became interested in their career, and what obstacles they’ve overcome as women. Santos and her team have taken it a step further and wanted to make this experience more relatable and understandable for students.

The speakers also share a piece of advice with the students and end their conversation with a question, Santos said. For example, a speaker might say something like “I’ve had to practice a lot of empathy in my career. And so my question to you is, ‘When have you shown empathy this week?’” Students will then turn and talk to each other and have a conversation and then come back to the group, Santos said. 

“We want to make sure that we are representing the whole idea for them to be able to see themselves in these individuals and know they have experienced the challenges that we know that our girls may face in their future,” Santos said.

While most of the speakers have been women, they occasionally have male speakers. They want the students to also be able to see men who are willing to empower and uplift.

Santos said one of the biggest takeaways from Solar Prep’s speaker series has been about how much it has changed the girls’ perspective of what they can be. 

“When we were young, you might have said things like we want to be a doctor or a police officer or a teacher or a nurse or something like that,” Santos said. “We have girls who now talk about being physicists or stem cell researchers. There’s just such a wide variety of professions, and students need to be exposed to these many different options.”