Photo courtesy of Dallas ISD
Dallas ISD & District 7 Monthly Updates
Dallas ISD is up for debate: The collaboration between the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance and Dallas ISD is offering debate opportunities to 1,100 students. With the nation’s second largest debate program, it’s evident that honing critical thinking, enhancing public speaking skills, and cultivating an appreciation for diverse viewpoints are invaluable benefits.
Teacher and Principal of the Year winners announced: Congratulations to the winners of the Principal and Teacher of the year, and also to all the finalists from District 7: Nehemie Dorce from L.V. Stockard Middle School and Principal David Lee from Hector P. Garcia Middle School, who was named Secondary Principal of the Year. Congratulations to both!
March Board Meeting debrief:
Student achievement third-grade reading and math: One of the strongest predictors of children’s future success is their performance at grade level by third grade. Recognizing this, Dallas ISD established reading and math board goals focused on third-grade achievement. Our latest mid-year assessment data indicate significant progress across nearly all demographic groups in both areas. The administration highlighted substantial growth attributed to the implementation of new curricula, anticipating continued progress throughout the academic year and beyond.
Teacher retention and compensation: Each year, Dallas ISD provides updates on its teacher compensation system’s efficacy in identifying, compensating, and retaining teachers. Notably, Dallas ISD leads the market in educator salaries, with over 37% earning more than $70,000 per year. Despite statewide increases in teacher turnover, Dallas ISD’s turnover rate is 1.3% lower than the state average and 3.6% lower than the regional average. Retention rates for proficient and above teachers range from 88-98%, surpassing state and regional averages. Furthermore, Dallas ISD’s compensation system leveraged a state program, resulting in an additional $29 million in revenue directed towards educator salaries this year.
Ben Mackey
As always, if you have questions, thoughts or simply want to sit down and have a deeper conversation about anything Dallas ISD-related, just reach out to me at BenMackey@dallasisd.org
Best,
Ben Mackey
