By Joyce Foreman, Dallas ISD Trustee District 6
The fall months are rolling in and my excitement is growing in anticipation of the 2019-20 school year. New programs and opportunities signal a promising year ahead for District 6. With innovative new schools, energetic new leaders at campuses across the district, and the expansion of unique and engaging learning opportunities – families in the southwest corner of the district have a lot to look forward to. So, welcome back students, teachers, principals, and staff. Let’s gear up for a fantastic year!
A Celebration of New Beginnings
District 6 celebrates multiple new opportunities this fall. Ronald E. McNair Elementary has been selected to become an innovation school. And innovation school offers a new academic model inside an existing neighborhood campus that keeps its traditional boundaries. McNair is set to become a STEAM campus, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
I’m especially excited to announce the opening of the new career institute at Village Fair. The school will serve the needs of students who will join the workforce immediately after graduating high school, as well as students who may need to work while they attend college or pursue post-secondary education. Boasting a state-of-the-art facility, the District 6 housed career institute will feature real-world learning spaces and industry-standard equipment for 9th – 12th-grade students pursuing interests in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), plumbing and construction. Learn more about this opportunity at www.dallasisd.org/careerinstitutes.
Another exciting offering coming to District 6 this fall is the opening of the new Mark Twain School for the Talented and Gifted. It’s one of the latest magnet schools to open and will cater to gifted students who need a challenging academic environment to reach their full potential. But that’s not all. Twain, along with John W. Carpenter Elementary, has also been selected to become one of the 68 schools in Dallas ISD to offer the two-way dual language program. This is a promising opportunity, making it possible for more students to learn to read, write and speak in two languages.
I’m excited about the growing variety of innovative school options in District 6 and encourage families to take full advantage of these offerings.
New Direction and New Leaders
At the helm of the two new innovation campuses will be two new principals. I’d like to welcome them to District 6 and encourage them as they lead their respective campuses with excellence and vigor. See their names below:
- Pertricee Traylor, Mark Twain School for the Talented and Gifted
- Demetria Bell, Ronald E. McNair Elementary School
A Head Start for Our Youngest Learners
After years of pushing to enroll more Pre-K students, I’m excited to see a goal that I’ve personally championed for our youngest learners realized. The Early Childhood program and the Racial Equity department devised new options through a scholarship program that is a true game-changer for families across Dallas. Studies have shown that students who attend pre-K achieve at higher levels than those who do not. The scholarship program hopes to expand the number of 3- and 4-year-olds eligible to attend pre-K at no cost. The new guidelines are designed to increase the opportunity for traditionally underserved communities by making early learning available to more Dallas families.
I encourage families to either call 214-932-7735 or visit www.prekdallas.org for additional information about opportunities in District 6 and to apply.
