Central Staff News

Crystal Alexander, a manager in the Mathematics Department, has always been inspired by women who have broken barriers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and since becoming a math teacher with Dallas ISD, she has been inspiring the next generation of trailblazers. 

One of the ways she has done this is through the annual Dallas ISD STEM Expo—the largest in Texas. After 11 years of managing the event, Alexander believes it is one of her greatest projects, exposing over 5,000 students each year to exploration and design within technology.

She believes these events are crucial to inspiring the next generation of innovators.

“In today’s world, success isn’t just about intelligence or skill, it’s about knowing where to find opportunities and having the confidence to pursue them,” Alexander said.

A Dallas native and graduate of the Business and Management Center, the name of the business magnet at the time, Alexander said her passion for the Dallas community stems from her family and her mother.

“My interest in STEM was sparked by my childhood curiosity—breaking things and trying to fix them before my mom got home. I had an early instinct to repair, troubleshoot and put things back together,” Alexander said. She approaches her career with a problem-solving mindset.

Her mother instilled in her a love of learning and a desire to put God first, which Alexander has carried from early education through her 24 years with Dallas ISD.

Alexander began her career as a math teacher at E.B. Comstock Middle School, returning to her roots in Pleasant Grove. After five years, she became a teacher at Emmett J. Conrad High School where she worked within the STEM Academy, which partnered with Texas A&M University to develop project-based learning STEM curriculum. Four years later, Alexander transitioned to a districtwide role, serving as an instructional math coach and STEM manager before eventually taking on her current position.

In 2023, Alexander briefly took on the role of interim director of the Math Department, using knowledge from her Master of Science in School Counseling from Lamar University to lead and motivate the team supporting the district’s more than 130,000 students. 

Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in math and biology from Jarvis Christian University, a historically Black university. She uses her background to develop and organize large scale events beyond the expo, including the LBJ Express and Tackle Tomorrow STEM Camps.

“What excites me most is seeing students engage with math and STEM in ways that change their perspective on what’s possible—whether it’s a student discovering a love for coding, a teacher gaining confidence in delivering math lessons, or a family realizing new opportunities for their child’s future,” she said.

Alexander has partnered with global and local companies, creating community STEM events with Microsoft, the Dallas Millennial Club, American Airlines, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Klyde Warren Park and numerous other organizations.

“I appreciate that the district has provided space for innovation and collaboration, allowing me to develop initiatives that truly make a difference,” Alexander said.

 In addition to her work in the district, Alexander is on the advisory board of the Kids on the Move for Success in Atlanta, Ga.,  guiding the organization’s STEM programming. 

She also serves on the Board of Directors, the Education and Research Committee and the Black Heritage Committee at the Dallas Arboretum. She said these experiences have allowed her to contribute to cultural celebration and educational development.

In her own career, Alexander hopes to continue advocating for equity, ensuring young girls see themselves in STEM careers. However, her greatest motivation is her mother, whom she remembers as a mentor and support system.

“I carry my mother’s influence with me every day, especially in my role as a math and STEM educator. She instilled in me a deep sense of vigilance in helping others,” Alexander said.

Beyond education, Alexander is a dedicated advocate for the Alzheimer’s cause, a passion she developed after her mother’s diagnosis in 2015 and passing in 2018.

“I’m very active in promoting the cause, sharing information and participating in research. So many people my age are dealing with their parents who are transitioning into that stage,” Alexander said.

After losing her mother, Alexander has expanded her purpose to advocacy, researching ways to help others prepare for life changes.  She prioritizes wellness, recognizing that our bodies change over time and require intentional care.

In her work in STEM, Alexander is inspired not only by her mother but also by the women who have broken barriers in mathematics and STEM, despite it being a male dominated field.

 “Women like Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson are important because their work at NASA helped change history,” Alexander said. “Dr. Evelyn Boyd inspires me because she is one of the first Black women to earn a PhD in mathematics.”

“For me, women’s history is about recognizing the challenges women face in leadership positions within education,” Alexander said.

Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services is preparing to celebrate National School Breakfast Week March 3-7. This year’s theme, “Clue In to School Breakfast,” encourages students to start their day with a healthy breakfast.  

“We want every student to walk into the classroom feeling nourished, energized, and ready to succeed,” said Debi Rowley, executive director of FCNS. “School breakfast isn’t just about feeding kids—it’s about giving them the fuel they need to think, learn, and grow.” 

Throughout the week, cafeterias will feature special menu items, including a mini parfait on March 4 and brunch for lunch on March 6. Schools will also receive posters, promotional items, and themed attire activities opportunities to engage students and staff.  

Food and Child Nutrition Services invites elementary and middle school students to submit their artwork displaying the importance of a healthy breakfast. For more details and submission guidelines, please visit NSBW Contest Entry Forms 

Winning entries will receive prizes and will be featured in the FCNS newsletter and will be displayed in school cafeterias and at the Maria Luna Food Services building.

The Educational Technology Department invites team members to its upcoming Lunch and Learn sessions. This is a new initiative designed to help district staff get acquainted with the department and its valuable resources.

What to Expect:

• EdTech Website Tour: Get a comprehensive overview of the Educational Technology Department’s website and the wealth of resources it offers.
• EdTech Information Guide: Learn about the organizations that make up EdTech, what they do and the services they provide.
• Explore Additional Resources: Find out more about other valuable EdTech department pages.
• Navigating the Portal: Discover how to customize the Dallas ISD portal to efficiently access your most used applications.
• How to get help: Understand the process for requesting support from EdTech.

To view upcoming sessions, visit the EdTech Lunch and Learns webpage. Scroll down to see sessions in upcoming months.

If you are a team member who is thinking about retiring this year, keep in mind that Dallas ISD compensates retiring employees for unused local days through the Retirement Service Award program. 

Per district policy DEC (REGULATION), the Retirement Service Award incentivizes those employees planning to retire and provides the following benefits to the district: 

• The district has advance notice of retiring employees to better plan for upcoming vacancies
• Teachers who do not use their local days are in the classroom educating students rather than absent;
• Teachers being in the classroom, means a decrease in the demand for substitutes on campuses, which is a budget savings.

Employees who notify Human Capital Management of their plans to retire in Oracle Self-Service by May 1, 2025, will receive a flat daily pay rate for unused local days accrued by June 15, 2025. The RSA is paid on the July 15 paycheck. 

Information to participate in the RSA Program will be communicated through multiple channels, including email, WAIP, The Beat, and the Dallas ISD Benefits website. 

Dallas ISD inaugurated its second resource center this week to serve the students in West Dallas and their families. 

Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and Board of Trustees President Joe Carreón both praised the Resource Center West as a place that will make a difference in the community because of the resources it will provide—from a safe space for students to participate in after-school programs to a grocery-style pantry managed by Brother Bill’s Helping Hand. 

The Resource Center West, located at 2200 Dennison St., will serve parents and students from Dallas ISD schools with a focus on the Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School community and surrounding areas. Students in grades prekindergarten through 12 and their parents/guardians will have access to a variety of services. 

The West Dallas location joins the Resource Center South, which opened last year to serve the Lincoln and Madison communities. The centers are part of the projects approved by voters in the 2020 Bond. 

The center will prioritize four areas of services that were determined with the help and participation from the community:

• Access to primary healthcare
• Access to daily household needs
• Recreation spaces and programs
• Family counseling and resources

The Resource Center West serves as a centralized hub to access multiple services. It is designed to act as a one-stop location where parents and students can engage in learning, personal development, and community-building activities.

It will offer community-driven programs that provide free resources and services; a dedicated space for parents to access education, and enrichment activities; a hub for collaboration between local schools, parents, and community organizations; and the pantry for families to obtain free food.

In addition to the ribbon cutting, the center will hold a grand opening for district families from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

When Guillermo Michel began his career as a science teacher, little did he know he would be instrumental in establishing Dallas ISD’s career institutes, which allow students to explore a variety of careers and obtain industry certifications. 

Recognizing the need for specialized training, the district launched the career institutes in 2019. Michel, industry partner and program coordinator at Career Institute North, has played a pivotal role in developing the 18 career programs offered across the district. February—Career and Technical Education month—highlights the training and career programs that create internships, industry certifications and credentials for students beyond what their home campuses may offer. 

“Not all high schools have comprehensive programs,” Michel said. “The original idea was to create four institutes—one in the north, south, east and west, serving 25 high schools.” 

It was his work in the STEM Department, which he joined seven years after working as a teacher, that led to the career institutes. Michel used skills from his undergraduate background in media and communications to create professional development learning materials in math and science.  

His online training materials were so effective that he was recruited to help launch the career institutes.  

Deputy Chief Oswaldo Alvarenga, who previously directed the district’s STEM and CTE departments, saw the value in Michel’s impact and wanted to use his skills beyond just math and science.  

Michel was brought on to create promotional materials for counselors, principals, and high school students to inform them about the new development. 

From the beginning, the goal of the career institutes has been to prepare students for the workforce by providing industry ready training in high demanding fields such as health sciences, technology, construction and other key professions. 

“It has been great to see all of the progress. We started with four teachers in a small office, sending out four teachers to instruct principles of construction and principles of architecture,” Michel said.  

Within the past six years the career institutes have evolved into expansive campuses with industry standard technology, devices and tools for students.   

“The great thing about CTE is that there is always something new,” Michel said. “There is always a new technological update to add. We keep up with whatever is developing across the world.” 

Students enter the program during their freshman year. They begin with introductory courses that eventually lead to interactive labs in their career focus. 

“There are many booming industries, but not a lot of technicians who can do the skilled work,” Michel said. “So that is one of the main goals of the institute, to give the industries qualified manpower to do those jobs.”  

A unique but simple aspect of the career institutes is the institute’s focus on developing the student’s soft skills.  

“When we spoke with companies and asked them what they needed from our students, they said we just need them to show up on time and pay attention, but if they have industry based certifications already right out of high school, that is amazing!” he said. 

The companies recognize that students will have the necessary certifications and skills to succeed and are looking for something more—expectational communication skills. In response, CI North focuses on expanding student’s resumes and developing their social skills. 

What Michel finds most impactful is how students not only develop essential career skills but also form meaningful friendships across the four institutes, fostering both professional and social development.  

From aviation to game design, to health sciences and construction, Michel has helped create an intricate learning system—where students are building HVAC systems, designing games and using simulators to fly and land private planes.  

“Some students come in feeling really shy, unsure of themselves and hesitant to speak up,” Michel said. “But as the years go by, something incredible happens. By junior or senior year, they’ve transformed—standing taller, speaking with confidence, and believing in their potential. The quiet kid who once avoided eye contact is now leading projects and mentoring others. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do. Earning industry certifications gives them more than just credentials—it gives them hope. Hope for a better future, for real opportunities, and for the chance to become leaders. Each certification is proof of their hard work and resilience, opening doors to careers and a future they once only dreamed of.”

It’s time again to apply for the William H. Cotton Scholarship, worth $20,000 and open to all Dallas ISD educators who want to pursue post-graduate degrees.

The scholarship was established by Credit Union of Texas to honor the legacy of Cotton’s 46 years of dedication and service to Dallas ISD and the Credit Union of Texas. It is awarded to one district educator or administrator seeking to pursue continuing post-baccalaureate education, including certifications, to further their career in the field of education for the benefit of the Dallas ISD community and its students. Cotton was a long-time principal and administrator who was also the first African-American president of the Dallas School Administrators Association. He retired in 2000 as an associate superintendent.

The completed scholarship application should be returned no later than March 31, 2025.

Who is eligible?

• Must be a CUTX member with a checking account or a loan product prior to submitting an application.
• All accounts at CUTX must be in good standing.
• Must be a Dallas ISD employee in a professional assignment.
• Must continue to be employed by Dallas ISD in a professional assignment throughout the course of the scholarship.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• CUTX employees and their immediate family members, as well as board members and their immediate family members, are not eligible for this scholarship.

Please note that all eligibility requirements must be met throughout the term of the scholarship.

How the scholarship works

• Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the educational institution.
• Continued disbursement of scholarship funds requires a grade of a C or better in all graded courses and passing in a pass/fail course.
• Scholarship funds may be disbursed in varied increments each semester as needed. The total value of the scholarship is not to exceed $20,000.
• Prior to the beginning of each semester and disbursement of scholarship funds, scholarship recipients must complete the CUTX Scholarship Questionnaire.
• Scholarship funds will be available for a maximum of seven years.

Download this flyer for more information about the scholarship. Visit https://www.cutx.org/community/cutx-cotton-scholarship to apply before March 31

Using electricity wisely paid off for Dallas ISD this year to the tune of $578,000 when NRG Energy handed the district a check for that amount. 

Through NRG Energy Inc.’s Responsive Economic Dispatch program, Dallas ISD earned more than $578,000 by monetizing its load flexibility over the course of 2024. The RED program is one way that NRG Business customers are achieving savings through creative use of electricity. The program provides commercial and industrial customers with the opportunity to customize plans by enrolling in a flexible curtailment program by curtailing energy usage during peak hours. 

Traditionally, program savings were given to participants as an invoice credit, but NRG now offers an alternative check payment, which is what Dallas ISD chose to receive. These savings are available to provide additional resources to the students, such as books, support of programs, construction, and renovations. 

“We are proud of Dallas ISD’s sustainability and energy use programs that are supported by the Board of Trustees, and this more than $500,000 proves that we are on the right track to save the district money and to have a positive impact on the environment and our community,” said Chief of Operations David Bates.

Dallas ISD team members are reminded that they must always wear their badges while on district property, including the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building.

Team members who do not have a badge when entering the administration building must check in with the welcome center to receive a temporary badge before proceeding to a meeting in the building. Only those team members with an access card can enter via the east lobby doors.  All visitors, or those with no access cards to the building, should be directed to enter via the main entrance on the west side of the west lobby, where the security team can best facilitate their building access.

When visiting schools or other district facilities, team members must also wear their badges and follow access protocols for those facilities, including signing visitors’ logs. These measures are in place to avoid unauthorized persons entering district facilities and endangering the safety of students and team members. 

Team members who see someone trying to enter a district building without an access card or a badge should direct them to the appropriate entrance. For any questions about access to district facilities, contact the building’s main office or security office.

In honor of Black History Month, Dallas ISD is celebrating the achievements of team members throughout the district who are making notable contributions to the schools and the community. 

Emmanuel Gillespie, a former student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, is leaving a lasting impact on the school as a current visual arts teacher and a professional artist. 

Before he became a teacher at his former high school, he was commissioned to create a sculpture of Ernie Banks, a Booker T. Washington HSPVA alumnus and Baseball Hall of Fame legend who played for the Chicago Cubs. Gillespie crafted the bronze statue, which was unveiled in 2018, to honor the sports icon and Dallas native.

Gillespie began his artistic journey as a student at Booker T. Washington HSPVA in the 1980s. He then received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas and then went on to receive a Master of Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

He is an experienced visual artist with a background in a variety of art media, including glassblowing, wood burning, printmaking, and sculpting, which he used to immortalize Banks in bronze.

“It means a lot for the city to see an African American figure in bronze,” Gillespie said. 

Located on the campus lawn, the statue symbolizes the exceptional talent nurtured at the school and the significant history within the sports community. According to Gillespie, Banks is well known in Chicago and grew up in the neighborhood that once surrounded Booker T. Washington, which he attended in the 1940s before the school became an arts magnet. 

“I watched the homes go away and the bridge come up within those four years as a student,” Gillespie said of the changes brought about to the neighborhood with the construction of Woodall Rodgers Freeway.

For Gillespie, the statue of Ernie Banks holds significance from multiple angles—both its historical impact on the community and its educational value for the students. 

“It was important, because when I was doing the project, I also had some of the students to assist in the process,” said Gillespie, who often involved local students in his community projects. 

After spending two decades as a professional artist and educator, Gillespie has returned to his former high school to give back to the students and teach them traditional skill sets. Gillespie’s process for creating the statue began with clay, followed by waxing and finally using bronze, a process he now teaches his students at the arts magnet.

“One of the things I want to implement in this class course is basic clay,” he said. “We’re going to slowly enter into sculpting with the clay, and then hopefully next year, start using other materials like stone.” 

Gillespie guides his students through exploring new materials and trusting their creative instincts by using a journaling method. 

“I teach them techniques based on where they are and where they can go. I can see their skill sets, have a conversation and then from that I take them on a different journey or perhaps something similar,” he said.

Gillespie believes that when the students are creating their own works of art, especially ones that deal with personal historical moments, they are creating a sense of community as they engage with the world around them. His return to the campus is a testament to preserving history and a commitment to visual arts education.