Staff News

Nine Dallas ISD National Academy Foundation academies have achieved special designations this year from NAF among nearly 200 others recognized across the country.

There were more than 100 “Model” schools determined by NAF’s annual assessment. That designation recognizes academies that deliver high-quality educational experiences. Sixty-nine academies in the network reached the “Distinguished” level, which is the network’s highest level of achievement.

2018 Distinguished academies include:

• W.H. Adamson Academy of Finance
• Emmett J. Conrad Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
• Emmett J. Conrad Academy of Finance
• Emmett J. Conrad Academy of Engineering
• Emmett J. Conrad Academy of Health Sciences
• Thomas Jefferson Academy of Finance
• Thomas Jefferson Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
• Skyline Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

Also, North Dallas Academy of Information Technology was named a Model academy.

The NAF’s annual assessment measures an academy’s strengths and challenges in implementing the organization’s design and includes site visits. The ultimate goal is to ensure students are receiving the education that will help make them college- and career-ready upon graduation.

The newly recognized academies will be honored at the NAF’s annual conference in July in Washington, D.C.

Dallas ISD has academies that were previously recognized by the NAF for excellence. The district’s Distinguished academies are: Justin F. Kimball Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, Justin F. Kimball Academy of Engineering, Woodrow Wilson Academy of Finance and Woodrow Wilson Academy of Hospitality & Tourism. The district already had two Model academies: Woodrow Wilson Academy of Engineering and Hillcrest Academy of Engineering.

Learn more about Dallas ISD’s NAF academies here.

Dallas ISD trustees approved opening two new transformation schools in August with learning models that have been successful on other campuses.

Students have until April 30 to go here and apply to these two new schools.

Sam Houston Elementary will become a personalized learning campus that will mirror the successful model of Dan D. Rogers Elementary School. Students currently in grades 2–4 at Houston Elementary can stay at the campus under the same elementary school model as previous years, while students currently in grades pre-K­­-2 will start under the personalized learning model next school year.

Meanwhile, Onesimo Hernandez Elementary will become a Montessori school in August. The existing campus will consolidate with Maple Lawn Elementary. The new Montessori school will start by serving students in grades pre-K–2, and then build out in following years to serve additional grades. Current Hernandez students going into grades K–2 will be given priority if they apply to the new Montessori school.

Both Hernandez and Houston elementary schools have low student enrollment. Angie Gaylord, deputy chief of the Office of Transformation and Innovation, said bringing these new learning models to the campuses will set the campuses and families up for future success.

“There is proven demand for Montessori and personalized learning schools here in Dallas,” Gaylord said. “This decision will help these campuses succeed and serve families for decades to come.”

Families could start applying to the new Montessori and personalized learning schools on Monday, March 26.

More than 13,500 students applied to attend a Dallas ISD choice school—which includes magnets, early college high schools and transformation schools—during the application window that was open Dec. 1–Jan. 31.

The African American Success Initiative (AASI) has a student advocacy component that focuses attention on students who have the potential to perform well and make academic and social strides given the right support and nurturing.

The program provides a student advocate coordinator who creates and monitors educational plans, improves educational services, empowers and supports students, and builds a supportive network in the school.  AASI has identified these best strategies and targeted initiatives to increase achievement at 25 campuses this school year:

• A literacy initiative that includes a structured literacy program, reading intervention and targeted professional development;
• A mentoring program that provides additional resources and support for students, including mentors, tutoring and peer support networks;
• Community and business partnerships;
• Professional development;
• Debate, chess club and mindfulness yoga.

AASI was originally established in 2006 to adapt the gaps that group had compared to other demographic groups on standardized math tests. After a brief hiatus, the program was re-established in 2015 by Dallas ISD Trustee Dr. Lew Blackburn.

“AASI strives to educate all students for success through customized, innovative programming and curriculum support for students,” said AASI Director Regina Rice. “We’re excited by what’s going with student participants and teachers.”

ASSI has evolved to assist students in reading and math and is overseen by Dallas ISD Chief of Staff Pam Lear as one of Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s strategic initiatives.

Learn more: www.dallasisd.org/aasi.