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Celebrating educators whose service and leadership leave a lasting impact on students and school communities is an important tradition in Dallas ISD, but this year’s celebration carried special meaning as the district honored a long-time counselor.

In addition to recognizing outstanding counselors and their dedication to supporting students across the district, the 2026 Counselor of the Year Ceremony honored Robert Muñoz, who is retiring after 59 years in Dallas ISD. Muñoz has served as a counselor for 28 of those years. He was also recognized during the 2026 Salute to Service Awards for his nearly six decades as an educator in Dallas ISD.  

Throughout his career as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and counselor, Muñoz impacted generations of students, families and educators across the district.  

“Every year, Dallas ISD Counseling Services creates a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those counselors who rise to the top through their stellar, comprehensive counseling programs,” said Stacy Owens. “The Counselor of the Year ceremonies serve as the opportunity to highlight their remarkable work.” 

The ceremony also named the 2026 Counselors of the Year:

• Elementary Counselor of the Year—Natasha McLaurin, Buckner Terrace Montessori
• Middle School/Multi-Level Counselor of the Year—Nsikak Otu, Royce West Leadership Academy
• High School Counselor of the Year—Angelica Gonzalez, Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early College High School  

These standout counselors help students succeed academically, prepare them for college and careers, and guide students through social-emotional challenges. Their leadership as counselors also plays an important role in campus culture and schoolwide collaboration. 

“It is during this special occasion that we recognize the lasting impact counselors have on students, families, and school communities and how counselors shape futures, inspire confidence, and create environments where every student feels supported, valued and empowered to succeed,” Owens said. “We are very excited about all of our 2026 Counselor of the Year nominees and winners!”

Every spring, test coordinator and asset manager Stefanie Vick transforms her office at Moisés E. Molina High School into a prom dress wonderland. Desks are pushed aside to make room for what is a sea of formal gowns and sparkling embellishments. 

“Some girls could go all out, and I did not want some students to think they could not go all out [too]. I want them to have that opportunity,” Vick said. 

Vick began her career with Dallas ISD 17 years ago, first serving as a history teacher at W.H. Adamson High School and later transitioning to testing coordinator at Molina High School. Driven by her passion for supporting students, she created the prom dress initiative at the school three years ago after recognizing how costly prom can be. 

Vick wanted to ensure every student could attend without financial stress. Starting with her own dresses, she set up a boutique of sorts in her office, allowing students to browse, try them on, and select a dress for their big night at no cost.

“I never ask the girls to return them,” Vick said. “The dresses are theirs to keep. I am just happy that they find something they love—that’s all I care about.”

Over the years, kindness has spread. Friends, family members, community members, and coworkers now donate dresses or help with minor alterations. Local dry cleaners have donated garment bags to protect the dresses during the off-season. 

“We kind of all help out and pitch in,” Vick continued. “If I can’t be here with the students, another teacher comes in and helps them. It’s not just me helping.”

The collection of donated dresses has grown to more than 100, ranging from short to long styles in a variety of colors, sizes, and designs—some still with tags attached.

Senior Karina S. had been searching for a prom dress. When she walked into Vick’s office, she had no idea she would leave with exactly what she had been looking for—a sparkly dress in her favorite color, purple. The moment Karina S. put it on, Vick said her face lit up with a smile. 

“I just tried it, and it was perfect,” she said. “I really loved it. I knew I didn’t need to find another one.”

Over the years, Vick has seen what a perfect dress can do to boost students’ confidence. She has given away about 30 dresses this year alone and around 150 dresses since she started. These dresses are not only for prom, but also for anyone who needs them for dinner or other school events.  

“As long as I help someone, that is all I care about,“ she said.

But the impact of this project extends far beyond the simple distribution of dresses. Vick hopes the experience shows students the power of giving back. 

“I want them to know that they can pass something down,” she said. “I want them to know they can help each other.”

This small act of kindness is already inspiring other teachers to come together to make the students’ night truly special. 

“I’ve had teachers from other schools reach out and say, ‘Hey, can I bring a girl over? She needs a new dress,” Vick said. “Of course I want to help my own students, but if I can help even more girls across the district, I want to keep this going.”

When students with dyslexia need help developing the independent literacy skills needed to overcome reading and writing challenges and achieve long-term academic success, the Dyslexia Services Department is there to support them. 

Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with reading words in isolation, spelling, or phonological awareness. The department serves approximately 4,300 students across the district who have been identified as having dyslexia, ensuring they have the support they need to succeed in reading and writing.  

Around 130 dyslexia interventionists are placed on campuses throughout the district, to work with students daily. Interventionists provide targeted instruction in reading, writing and spelling through specialized small-group support.  

“As a department, we are able to grow and develop our own practitioners and therapists and provide them with the training they need so they can help us close reading gaps,” said Veronica Allen, director of Dyslexia Services. 

Most recently, the department has been developing an updated tool that gives principals easier access to the information needed to support and evaluate the progress of dyslexia interventionists on their campuses.  

“We have a really great team, and we share the same purpose,” said Melita Carlton, supervisor in the Dyslexia Services Department. “We manage a large task in providing specialized services to students, and we’ve built effective systems to ensure they receive 180 minutes of reading per week. We are a team of hardworking individuals and talented thinkers.” 

The department’s work is contributing to the district’s long-term student outcome goals.  

During the 2024-2025 school year, students with dyslexia in third through eighth grades and in English I, showed increased performance across all standards on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.  

During the year, dyslexia interventionists guide students through structured literacy programs in both English and Spanish that are grounded in the science of reading.   

Last school year, the department piloted a one-year curriculum for secondary students called the Jet Reading Program. The program supports dyslexia interventionists in any subject they may teach and helps ensure all components of the dyslexia program are covered.  

“It’s amazing to see the student growth,” said Allen. When you look at the results from the beginning of the year to the end, it’s incredible to see students who could not identify letters and sounds now reading words. When we isolate the standardized scores from beginning- and end-of-year assessments, the progress is remarkable. When implemented with fidelity, the program works.”

Bryan Adams High School High School Leadership Academy chemistry and geoscience teacher Jose Delgado has been using the district’s new two-way communications tool, Rooms, to communicate with his students’ guardians since it was launched last month. And he has found it helpful.

Among the features that he has liked best are:

• Having all the guardians listed in one place
• The ease of pulling in rosters
• Being able to message directly
• An app to download on his phone

As more Dallas ISD teachers start using this new feature in the district’s comprehensive communication system, parents will find they will need only one app to keep up with messages from their children’s teachers and will be able to do it in their preferred languages. 

Since he started working in Dallas ISD as a middle school teacher, Delgado has used Class Dojo and Remind to communicate with his students and their guardians. These apps have been replaced by the Apptegy app, which parents can download for Android and iOS devices. 

Rooms is already built right into the district’s app and the website from which the system is accessed, so it offers a secure messaging platform. Through the mobile app, students and families can access all of the information they need, including messages, events, lunch menus, and more in one place. Designated campus team members will continue to manage the calls, texts, and emails that go out to families as they have in the past. To learn more about the key features of Rooms, click here.

Rooms offers parents one place for messages instead of having to juggle between apps if they have children in different schools. They will be notified automatically of new messages even if they haven’t logged in or downloaded the app.

To get started, follow these steps:

1. Log into Rooms using this link or the Apptegy tile in the Dallas ISD Portal (Rooms is found on the list as Connect). It is tied to the district’s SSO.
2. Complete the guided orientation and introductory checklist.
3. Send your first message to your families to introduce them to the platform.

To access the orientation checklist, you must login via a computer and complete all steps listed. Once you have finished the set-up, you can download the Apptegy Staff Experience app for a mobile experience if preferred. This app is for Dallas ISD staff only and allows you to access the communication platform and send and receive messages from your  iOS or Android device. However, you can continue to access the system via the website.

If you need additional guidance, click on the question mark in the lower left corner of the site or the speech bubble icon at the lower right, which will connect you with Apptegy’s support team. If you have any questions about using the system, please contact the trainer at your school or Apptegy support at support@apptegy.com or (501) 613-0370.

By the time Christian “Kiki” Recino Gonzalez, current soccer coach and geography teacher at W.T. White High School, stood on a pitch facing the 2015 U.S. women’s soccer national team, it felt surreal. She had grown up in Arlington,Texas, the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, watching stars like Alex Morgan and Marta Vieira da Silva on TV. Suddenly, she was lining up against them, wearing Guatemala’s blue and white.

“I grew up in Arlington, but my parents were immigrants, so they came to this country with nothing,” Gonzalez said. 

Her mom worked as a school cafeteria worker and her dad was a truck driver. Soccer, though, was her father’s great love, and it soon became Gonzalez’, she said.

“I just followed my dad wherever he went,” Gonzalez recalled. “He would play in the Sunday leagues and eventually they signed me up. I didn’t realize there was a girls league, so I played with the boys. I was the only girl on a little Mexican boys team.”

People quickly noticed she was good at soccer, she said. But club soccer cost money her family didn’t have. That might have ended her journey, if not for a small act of generosity. 

“My parents could not afford club soccer, but a local family stepped in and was like, ‘No, she’ll have a scholarship,’” Gonzalez said. “So I received a scholarship for Sting Soccer Club.” 

In high school, another key person also stepped in: her soccer coach, Andrea Scott. Before then, Gonzalez admitted she had never really seen soccer as a pathway to success, but Scott helped to steer her perspective. 

“My high school coach was like, ‘Hey, have you ever thought about playing for college and the national team?’ And I was like, no, what is that?’” she said. “My coach opened the doors for me.”

At a showcase tournament, scouts from the Guatemala women’s national team saw Gonzalez play. At first, she thought she was trying out for the Under-20, but she would soon realize it was much bigger than that. 

“I tried out, and the scouts were like, ‘We want you to play for the senior national team.’ I was only 18 years old and a senior in high school,” Gonzalez said. 

For the next four years, she played center midfielder and defensive midfielder for Guatemala. She debuted with her team in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship qualifiers and went on to participate in the main tournament.

Being a member of a national team not only meant living abroad but also juggling academics with commitments to an elite sport. 

“I had to take classes online to keep my scholarship for soccer,” she explained. “I was living in the facility—training with my teammates, eating with them. It becomes your whole lifestyle, but it’s something that I love. I would do it all over again if I had the opportunity.”

The game took her to stadiums she had only seen on television and pitted her against her heroes when she got to play against the 2015 U.S. Women’s World Cup squad. Yet her favorite moment wasn’t a goal or a trophy; it was a song.

“Believe it or not, it was whenever I would sing the Guatemalan national anthem,” she said. “I would see my parents and see my crowd. For me, that will forever be my favorite moment.”

Over time, Gonzalez realized her team was doing more than just competing. “When I was there, I realized we were opening doors for a generation,” she said. “Now there are girls who have that opportunity because of us. If we hadn’t done it, they might never have had the chance.”

Following her soccer career, Gonzalez tried the corporate route. Having graduated with a business degree from Grand Canyon University, she took a job at a logistics company. It lasted only six weeks. 

“I did not like the corporate world,” she admitted. “I was like, ‘What am I doing here in a cubicle?’”

So Gonzalez pivoted. She got her teacher certification and headed back to the place where everything had started: high school. While Gonzalez has been teaching for six years, this is her first year with Dallas ISD.

“My high school coach made the biggest difference in my life,” she said. “I wanted to give back to the community, and I knew coaching was my passion.”

As a geography teacher and the girls’ soccer coach at White High School, she brings the world and the game into her classroom. “Geography is cool because you get to talk about the whole world and its people,” she said. 

Gonzalez used soccer to make geography more relevant when she taped the headshot of a different soccer player to the back of each desk chair. Each player features the national team on the jersey. 

“Why does Guatemala wear blue and white? It’s because we’re between the Caribbean and the Pacific. All these jerseys mean something.”

Her coaching philosophy combines toughness with deep care. Her days start at 4:15 a.m. so she can be ready for 6:30 a.m. check-ins with her team and 7 a.m. practice. She is strict but also intentional about building leaders. 

“I also don’t like to select captains,” she said. “I tell my girls, ‘We’re going to make mistakes; no one’s perfect.’ But on the field, you should be able to tell who the leaders are. So, every game I mix it up. That has built leadership within the team and taught the girls to trust each other.”

Most of all, she wants her students to leave as stronger people. “If they come to the soccer program, [I hope] that they become a better person than they were,” she said. “The world that we’re living in is pretty scary, right? But there are still good people in it, and I hope they continue to be that no matter what they do.”

Gonzalez’ message to her girls is ultimately about effort and finishing what they start. 

“Nothing’s given,” she likes to remind her students. “Getting there is one thing, but finishing is another thing. You can do whatever you want, you just have to work for it.”

The 2026 Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place recently to honor former student athletes and coaches whose achievements have left a lasting impact on Dallas ISD athletics. 

The evening celebrated individuals who made history on the field and continued to inspire others through leadership, excellence and service beyond athletics. Their accomplishments have paved the way for future generations while setting new standards of achievement.  

“It is important that we are honoring tonight’s inductees,” said Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde. “I want you to know how proud we are that you will always be associated with Dallas ISD. Let their success be a beacon to everyone that you can achieve anything and know that success goes through Dallas ISD.” 

Since 2018, the Hall recognizes former student athletes, coaches and community leaders who exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and moral character. Inductees are selected based on their athletic accomplishments, leadership, and lasting contributions to athletics.  

This year’s class included eight inductees: 

Charletta Gaines—A 1986 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School, Gaines is a three-time UIL state championship track and field coach at James Madison High School. She also previously coached at South Oak Cliff and has served Dallas ISD for many years as a campus counselor. 

Abner Haynes—A 1956 Lincoln High School graduate, Haynes emerged as a pioneering football star and became one of the earliest standouts of the American Football League after being drafted by the Dallas Texans. 

Chris Holt—A 1990 graduate of Skyline High School, Holt went on to professional baseball success after being drafted by the Houston Astros in 1992. He made his Major League debut in 1996 and was a part of three National League Central Division championships. 

Goree Johnson—Head boys’ basketball at Justin F. Kimball High School from 1990 to 1998, Johnson led the Knights to back-to-back UIL state championships in 1996 and 1997 and was named the 1998 National Coach of the Year. 

Leonard Jones—A 1965 graduate of Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School, Jones became a PGA professional golfer and devoted educator and mentor who championed minority participation in golf. 

Percy Penn—A 1945 graduate of Crozier Tech High School, Penn was a multi-sport athlete who dedicated 35 years to Dallas ISD as a coach, teacher, and assistant principal at Sunset High School and Justin F. Kimball High School, while working as a football official. 

Jonathan Scott—From David. W. Carter High School’s Class of 2001 to the national stage, Scott helped lead the University of Texas to a national championship. He went on to play nine professional seasons in the NFL, playing with the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons. 

Jason Smith—Rising from W.T. White High School’s Class of 2004 to national prominence, Smith earned All-America honors at Baylor University, played in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints before becoming a collegiate football coach. 

Each inductee received a Hall of Fame jacket, ring and commemorative crystal award.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of people of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States.

This year’s theme is “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together” to highlight collective action, resilience, and storytelling in the community. President Jimmy Carter signed into law in 1978 a week of celebrations, but in 1990, Congress expanded the observance to a whole month.

Cultural and artistic celebrations are taking place in Dallas throughout the month, including:

• Third annual Dancing Dragon Boat race from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 17 at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive. The family-friendly celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage includes live performances, hands-on workshops, art, food, vendors, and the exciting Dragon Boat race. The event is free. 
• The Bath House also features Big Luck, a mixed media exhibition featuring works by Asian American artists from the DFW area, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The exhibition includes works by Julian Callos, Eunjee Chong, Lucy Haigan, Eun Lee, Chi Leong, Joanna Lin, Lo, Annie Nguyen, Mylan Nguyen, Brent Ozaeta, and Taro Waggoner. It runs through May 30.

Dallas ISD intern Yandel Saldana, Southeast Maintenance HVAC technician, is proof that a skilled trade can open doors early in life. At just 19 years old, Saldana is already building a meaningful career with the district , turning a summer internship with Maintenance and Facilities Services into a full-time career and future opportunities in the field.

Saldana is one of hundreds of high school students who seek real-world experience every summer through the district’s internship program. Just last summer, the internship program offered 991 placement opportunities. A few of those turned into full-time employment afterwards, including the jobs Saldana and Humberto Medrano currently hold.

According to Miriam Gaytan, executive director of Maintenance and Operations, Maintenance and Facilities Services began with six interns in 2024. Since then, the program has really taken off, with the department hiring 30 interns this summer, she said.

“When I first started here, I saw how efficient everyone and everything was—how the HVAC team managed all their work,” said Saldana of his first day as an intern in a genuinely appreciative tone. “I really liked it because every day was something different. I just realized, ‘I want to be here.’”

Saldana, a graduate of Bryan Adams High School, entered the HVAC/R program through Career Institute South. Twice a week he would learn about the fundamentals of residential units, but stepping into the large-scale systems of school facilities was a major shift.

“The units are much larger and the components are entirely different, especially when it comes to changing them out,” he said.

One of Saldana’s biggest challenges hasn’t been technical. Naturally quiet, he had to overcome shyness to address  teachers and staff about issues in their classrooms.

“I’m not a big fan of talking to people, but since starting this job, I’ve had to speak with teachers more often about what’s happening. That was a pretty big challenge for me, but I’m getting better at it,” he said.

Day to day, Saldana’s work is varied and hands-on. He checks his work orders, travels across multiple campuses, changes filters, installs portable AC units, and supports technicians on more complex repairs like motors and compressors. Saldana sees his age as an advantage, not a limitation.

“It’s a massive advantage at my age. This is a great career path, and not many people my age have the opportunity I had to work with Dallas ISD,” Saldana said. 

Jorge Hernandez, HVAC SE supervisor, described Saldana as eager, explaining that he wanted to run and impress right off the bat. 

“Saldana sees the job as a whole new experience and is not afraid to say, “I don’t know much of this stuff, but I want to learn,’” Hernandez said.  

In his preventive maintenance role, Saldana acts as the eyes of the HVAC team, able to spot problems early, making him indispensable to the department, Hernandez said. 

Darrien Field, HVAC Repair Technician, mentored Saldana as an HVAC intern and quickly noticed his willingness to learn and strong drive. Under his supervision, Saldana worked on real equipment. Field said supervisors let interns do everything within reason, which included working on chillers, cooling towers and package units.

Within the next five years, Saldana hopes to be a full technician assigned to his own set of schools, matching the knowledge of his mentor. 

“If you really want it, go after it. Never give up and chase your dreams,” Saldana said.

Humberto Medrano—Northeast Maintenance plumbing apprentice

For Humberto Medrano, Northeast Maintenance plumbing apprentice, plumbing is more than a job—it’s a smart, future‑proof career choice rooted in both practicality and passion. A graduate of H. Grady Spruce High School, Medrano spent his last three years of high school immersed in plumbing courses, dedicating three hours every B day to learning the trade.

After graduating, Medrano joined Maintenance and Facilities Services as a plumbing intern last summer. His strong work ethic and curiosity quickly stood out, and he was hired full time after graduation, continuing his journey in the district that nurtured his skills. 

“Pipes are always going to go with pipes and fittings with fittings; it’s not going to be easy for a robot to steal a job like mine,” he joked. 

That practical mindset guides how Medrano views his work today. He finds drainage systems particularly fascinating, especially the everyday details most people overlook like what should and shouldn’t go down a drain.

“For instance, you’re not supposed to pour grease down a drain. Over time, it hardens and eventually blocks any water from passing through,” he explained, noting how simple habits can prevent major plumbing issues.

NE Supervisor Justin Morris, a Seagoville High School graduate, said Medrano is the kind of young worker he seeks when hiring. 

“He’s a self-starter,” he said. “He’s outgoing. You pretty much don’t have to tell him anything,” said Morris, who sees Medrano’s drive as a strength.

“With his work ethic, sky’s the limit for him,” he said. 

Likewise, when Joshua Fisher, plumber and Medrano’s former mentor, first met him, he immediately sensed there was something different about the young man. It wasn’t just Medrano’s résumé or certifications—it was the way he carried himself.

“From his initial presence to the way he shook hands and made eye contact, he seemed very structured for his age. He is clearly mature beyond his years,” Fisher said.

Just like Saldana, Medrano earned a certificate and gained early exposure to real-world work through Career Institute South. It is this experience, Fisher said, that has given Medrano the confidence to tackle any projects—or tools—he is given. 

“That’s the attitude I like. He’s not afraid to try new things, and because he’s such an intelligent young man, once he does something once, he knows exactly how to do it again,” Fisher said.

What Medrano finds most rewarding about his career of choice is the combination of hands-on experience and the financial opportunity that comes with learning a skilled trade.

“Financially speaking, you have to pay to get certified if you go to college—whereas here, they’re paying me to get certified,” he said. Medrano said that he expects to earn his journeyman plumbing license in three years.

Looking ahead, Medrano said he intends to remain focused on growth, certification, and mastering one of the toughest jobs in maintenance. His message to his younger self—and to future interns—is especially relevant in a technology-saturated world.

“Learn to respect others and always listen. Pay attention and stay off your phone. Keep at it—it’s a great career and a wonderful opportunity,” he said.

Summer is fast approaching and the district has created a Summer Professional Learning Guide so teachers, nurses, and reset coordinators know what to do before scheduling summer sessions that are purposeful and engaging.

With completing summer learning come flex days for teachers. By completing 14 hours of eligible training June 1-26, team members can earn Flex Days on Oct. 12 and Nov. 3. To earn both flex days, participants must attend one Flex Day One session and one Flex Day Two session. Attending two Flex Day One sessions or two Flex Day Two sessions only yields 7 hours of the 14 hour requirement for both days. Self-contained teachers should connect with their principal for guidance on session selection.

Before attending, participants should review the Summer Learning website, catalog, and participant guide for specific details about sessions, attendance credit, parking, and site logistics. For more information on summer professional learning watch the video.