Thankful for the great Dallas ISD educators in District 2

With the holidays being a time of reflection and giving thanks, I wanted to share my deep gratitude to the educators and campus leaders helping our District 2 schools succeed. 

Mockingbird Elementary Principal Melanie Mans this month was named a Master Principal. The district looks at metrics such as a school’s culture and climate and overall student growth to identify top-performing principals for the program. 

Meanwhile, J.L. Long Middle School’s Caitlin Schmidt was just named a finalist for Dallas ISD Teacher of the Year. A ceremony in late January will honor Schmidt and the other finalists while also naming the winners of teachers of the year.

Staff at each school also named a Campus Teacher of the Year, and I want to recognize these great educators at all of our District 2 schools: 

Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy: Rickey Townsend

Geneva Heights Elementary School: Corinne Vitz

Hillcrest High School: Karina Sotomayor

Lakewood Elementary School: Shakira Bolton

Lipscomb Elementary School: Emily Odeski

J.L. Long Middle School: Caitlin Schmidt

Longfellow Middle School: Joseph Bruno

Ben Milam Elementary School: Amanda Huffman

Mockingbird Elementary School: Edith Ogden

North Dallas High School: Jessica Degnan

K.B. Polk Elementary School: Alissa Rasmussen

Preston Hollow Elementary School: Marina Orozco Medina

Dan D. Rogers Elementary School: Taylor Arnold

Sudie Williams Talented and Gifted Academy: Elizabeth Holguin

Woodrow Wilson High School: Blythe Mundlin

Mark your calendars….

Remember that schools will be closed for the Winter Break. There will be no classes starting Friday, Dec. 20. Students will resume classes on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Parent Conferences will take place as follows:

Monday, Jan. 13 – High School

Tuesday, Jan. 14 – Middle School

Thursday, Jan. 16 – Elementary School

The registration window is now open for the Dallas ISD STEM Expo happening Jan. 18. Families can register for the largest STEM expo in Texas by going here.

Application period for choice schools ends Jan. 31. I encourage you, parents, to learn more about the specialty schools offered in Dallas ISD by visiting www.dallasisd.org/yourchoices and choose the best school that fits the needs and interests of your child.