Dallas ISD Trustee Joyce Foreman: A field trip to Austin in support of African American studies

By: Dallas ISD Trustee Joyce Foreman

Dallas Independent School District (DISD) received a special invitation from the Texas State Board of Education Representative Aicha Davis to share public comments in support of statewide adoption of the African American Studies curriculum.

The Racial Equity Office (REO), in collaboration with the Social Studies Department of the Teaching and Learning Division, coordinated efforts to travel to the State Capitol Building in Austin, on Wednesday, November 13, to present testimony in support of the African American Studies (AAS) course, which is currently taught at sixteen (16) high schools. The larger appeal was to make the African American Studies curriculum available to all high schools throughout the state of Texas.

This one-day trip involved many DISD stakeholders including students, teachers,

administrators, curriculum writers, and advocates to be a part of the public hearing. The highlight of this opportunity showcased the cultural experience and cultural impact that the African American Studies curriculum has in the lives of our students.

We had a great turnout at the Texas State Capitol. More than 43 high school students from the New Tech, Pinkston, and Garza campuses attended the hearing, and 11 students participated by providing public testimonies. Adult attendees also serving as speakers and/or advocates included the following individuals:

• Trustee Joyce Foreman, District 6

• Leslie Williams, Deputy Chief, Racial Equity Office

• Shannon Trejo, Deputy Chief, Teaching and Learning

• Arlena Gaynor, Executive Director, Language and Literacy Department

• Michelle Prudhomme-Coleman, Director, Racial Equity Office

• Shalon Bond, Director, Social Studies Department

• Macario Hernandez, Principal, Garza Early College High School

• Claudia Simpkins, Teacher, Garza Early College High School

• Shareefah Nadir-Mason, Teacher, New Tech High School at B.F. Darrell

• Dr. Marvin Dulaney, Community Partner, University of Texas Arlington – Professor

By focusing our efforts in support of the African American Studies (AAS) curriculum, we were able to have an impact on the State Board of Education to approve the Ethnic Studies curriculum in Texas school districts.