Staff News

To support the district’s early college high school initiative, Texas A&M University has created a program to recruit and develop teachers who are certified to teach high school and college credit courses (dual credentialed teachers) in the following areas at the high school level: English, speech, government and psychology. The dual credentialing program is seeking teachers with a master’s degree in any area and at least a minimum of three years of high school teaching experience.

Those interested in the program should complete an interest form and attend one of the interest meetings to apply and interview for the program. The program is scheduled to begin Jan. 22, 2019.

• 5-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17, in the first floor conference room at the H.B. Bell Building, 2909 N Buckner Blvd
• 5-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9, in Lab 62, Suite 1100, in the Linus D. Wright Dallas ISD Administration Building, 9400 N. Central Expressway.

For questions or additional information, contact Tiffany Gilmore at tigilmore@dallasisd.org or (972) 925-8915.

Seven Dallas ISD teachers were recognized on Wednesday, Nov. 28, for being selected for 2018 Texas Instruments Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards. Each receives $10,000 to divide equally between their classrooms and themselves.

STEM is shorthand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The 2018 Dallas ISD recipients are:

• Grant Ashmore, Bryan Adams High School
• Donielle Edwards-Tyeskie, Trinidad Garza Early College High School
• Arelthia Phillips, Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy
• Sara Ramirez, STEM Environmental Education Center
• Andrew Sobinvosky, Dallas Environmental Science Academy
• Ashley Steele, Henry Longfellow Career Exploration Academy
• Brent Voorhees, Skyline High School

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said there are two Dallas ISD programs that the district leads nationally, but does not always get due recognition for. One is dual-language and the other is STEM. Both are programs he said he brags about when giving speeches throughout the country.

“I think we are best-in-class, especially for a big urban district,” he said. “And the fact that we’re honoring you, the best of the best, in the best-in-class program in the country, is really meaningful.”

Terri West, chairwoman of the TI Foundation board, said that since the awards program began 12 years ago, nearly $2 million has been awarded to teachers in six Dallas-area school districts. There have been 74 Dallas ISD teachers, including the 2018 winners, who have received a total of $865,000 in awards.

West said education is the top priority of the TI Foundation’s philanthropy, specifically STEM education.

“Certainly part of it is for selfish reasons because science, technology, engineering and math are really important to TI,” West said. “But also we understand at the foundation what a STEM background – a STEM education – can do for a student. It truly can change a student’s life.”

West said a basis in STEM can boost a student’s earning potential but also give them the chance to spend their careers working on rewarding and exciting projects.

“We are so delighted to support a strong STEM program in our own back yard,” she said. “Congratulations to the winners, and more importantly, thank you for what you do. It makes a great deal to your students.”

Oswaldo Alvarenga, Executive Director of Dallas ISD’s STEM Department, listed the requirements to be considered for the TI award.

Candidates have to teach a STEM-related subject at the secondary level, be eligible for Distinguished Teacher Review in the previous school year, be nominated by their school’s principal, fill out an application and be subjected to a classroom visit.

“So it was a very rigorous process,” Alvarenga said. “After all the numbers were added up, this is how we came down to our seven.”

Leanne Woods is the second recipient of a quarterly $250 recognition provided to outstanding special education teachers by Carter Financial Management. Recipients can use the funds to spend on items for their classrooms.

Parents, community and staff are 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.

Woods is a specialized programs teacher at Preston Hollow Elementary.  She was nominated by an administrator, parent and colleague. Below are some of the comments that were made during the nomination.

• “She is one of the first people at school. She is always smiling and open to help every single person who reaches out for her, no matter what.”

• “She encourages inclusion throughout the entire school and creates opportunities for the special education students to interact with all students within the school. They have reading partners with other classes and even pen pals with other classes.”

New teachers were invited to Touchdown for Teachers on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the SMU football game. The first 500 teachers who registered claimed two complimentary tickets to the game

During the halftime program, Dallas ISD teachers Matthew Abernathy and Melisa Simon were recognized as “Rising Stars.”

Abernathy is an Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus teacher at Justin F. Kimball High School. Simon is a fifth-grade science teacher at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School who we featured previously on The Hub because after graduating from W.W. Samuell Early College High School, she was able to complete her bachelor’s degree and begin her teaching career at age 20.

The event also officially launched the Best in Class Coalition, a group of 50 organizations across DFW that are working to ensure all students have access to excellent teachers.

Shelly Thibodaux, a P.E. teacher and coach at Dallas ISD’s Robert T. Hill Middle School, is October’s “Excellent Educator.”

The award included a $1,000 check for the school, presented by SMU President Dr. R. Gerald Turner.

The Excellent Educator program is coordinated by NBC 5 and SMU to honor educators in the region who go above and beyond. Learn more about how Thibodaux makes a positive difference for students at Hill Middle School here.