Eggs and Issues forum on education

Robert Scott-Texas Commissioner of Education,Mavis Knight-State Board of Education, Senator Royse West, Taylor D. August-Regional Director-Office of Civil Rights-US-DOE, Mike Miles-Dallas ISD and other district Superintendents with Shelley Kofler-KERA News, moderator-

Community stakeholders in and around Senatorial District 23 attended Saturday morning's Eggs and Issues forum, one in a series initiated and hosted by Senator Royce West.   From parents to principals, school adopters to community organizers, policy-makers to neighbors and friends -- gathered in the  auditorium of Methodist Charlton Medical Center on West Wheatland.  Guests heard from Texas state and Dallas area education leaders.
 
Robert Scott, Texas Commissioner of Education, provided an "Overview of Texas Public Education."  State Board of Education member Mavis Knight gave her perspective on the recent meeting and work of the State Board.  Taylor D. August, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, described a few on-going activities which are presently affecting public education.

Moderator Shelley Kofler, of KERA News, guided an informative Question & Answer session between the audience and the following panelists:

Superintendent Horace Williams -- Cedar Hill ISD

Superintendent Mike Miles -- Dallas ISD

Superintendent David Harris -- DeSoto ISD

Superintendent Alfred Ray -- Duncanville ISD

Executive Director Ricky Mitchell -- Grand Prairie ISD

Superintendent Michael McFarland -- Lancaster ISD

Superintendent Linda Henrie -- Mesquite ISD

The program announcement invited guests to participate in a lively discussion intended to include "questions that you want to ask about what is happening in your district's classrooms."

Celebrating Dallas ISD 2011 Blue Ribbon Schools

Umphrey Lee Elementary School - Exemplary

Umphrey Lee Elementary School nominee for Texas 2011 Texas Blue Ribbon Schools Recognition - Austin, Texas - Monday, January 30, 2012

We celebrated seven Dallas ISD schools that were Texas 2011 Blue Ribbon Nominees in Austin, Texas on yesterday.  Four of them are now Texas Blue Ribbon Recipients.

All were among fifty-two schools from across the state recognized and honored  by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) at the 2012 TASA (Texas Association of School Administrators) Midwinter Conference.  

One of the proud Blue Ribbon nominees is District 6 school, Umphrey Lee Elementary (2011 Rating: Exemplary) - (2010 Rating: Recognized).

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program of the U.S. Department of Education has honored America's most successful public and private elementary, middle and high schools since 1982.  A Blue Ribbon flag, waving over any school, is a nationally  recognized trademark of excellence and quality in education.

Schools must meet either one of two criteria to be eligible for Blue Ribbon recognition:  High performing schools or Improving schools.

Dallas 2011 Blue Ribbon Nominees:
High Performing Schools
Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet -- Anthony Palagonia, Principal

Improving Schools
C.A. Tatum Jr. Elementary School -- Elena Hill, Principal
Umphrey Lee Elementary School -- Tondolyn Louise Mosley, Principal

Dallas 2011 Blue Ribbon Recipients
High Performing Schools
Dallas Environmental Science Academy  --  Angela West, Principal
Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School --  Vivian Taylor, Principal
Rosie Sorrells School of Education and Social Services -- Alice Black, Principal
School of Science and Engineering --  Jovan Wells, Principal

Interim Superintendent Alan King joined Dallas ISD Blue Ribbon School Teams to receive the awards.

We were glad that State Board of Education (SBOE) member Mavis Knight came to the ceremony to celebrate our schools.

Blue Ribbon Schools will also be honored at a recognition ceremony in Washington, DC later this year.

Congratulations to our Dallas ISD 2011 Texas Blue Ribbon  nominees!
 

Cheers for our 2011 Blue Ribbon Schools!