As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 164,500 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 19,234 employees including 10,500 teachers in 218 schools.
9 Oct 2001
Revised Oct. 10, 2001
Barbara Dorff Becomes First DISD Teacher Ever Named To State Honor
DALLAS--The Dallas Independent School District received word from the Texas Education Agency Tuesday morning, October 9, that Benjamin Franklin Middle School teacher Barbara Dorff, who recently transferred to the district from McKinney ISD, has been named as the Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year.
With the prestigious award, Dorff, a history and journalism teacher, becomes the first DISD teacher to receive the statewide honor for secondary teachers.
During a news conference to honor Dorff, DISD Chief of Staff Carol Francois, herself former DISD Teacher of the Year, presented Dorff with two dozen red roses and a letter from General Superintendent Mike Moses.
"The Dallas Independent School District is honored to have Mrs. Dorff as an exemplary teacher who has been recognized throughout Texas for the dedication and talent she brings to the teaching profession," Dr. Francois said. "Mrs. Dorff holds the distinct honor of being the first Texas Teacher of the Year in the district's history. We are proud of her and proud of the way she represents the teaching profession here in Dallas.
Dr. Moses said Dorff sends a very positive message to the public about the quality of teachers the district is attracting.
"We are excited about the message this award sends to the public about the quality of employees we are attracting to the district," Dr. Moses said. "Last year we made an all out effort to recruit good teachers and this announcement is a good indication of the success we achieved."
As part of her award, Dorff will receive a $5,000 cash award and a SMART Board classroom technology package worth $7,225.
Though she was nominated for the award as a teacher in the McKinney ISD, Mrs. Dorff returned to Dallas ISD at the beginning of the school year.
She was previously employed in the district from 1972 to 1979 where she taught art education at three different schools.
In her nomination package presented to TEA, Dorff wrote, "Using my life experiences as a learner, I became committed to reach and teach every student who enters my classroom. Whether the subject is kindergarten, art, language … whether the student is five or 14-years old … I motivate students to learn and succeed in my classroom."
She also said that as the 2002 teacher of the year her message would be to encourage greater participation in public schools.
"Successful schools need parents and community leaders to support the efforts of teachers and students," Dorff wrote. "Teachers and students need to understand and support efforts of parents and community leaders, as well."
Dorff received a phone call from State Education Commissioner Jim Nelson Tuesday morning notifying her she had been named as secondary teacher of the year.
During the news conference, Dr. Francois also announced that the district would host a special reception to further honor and recognize Dorff.
Dorff has received a series of honors and commendations, including an award for service to the Wesley Rankin Community Center in 1989, being nominated for teacher of the year from Dowell Middle School in 1997, an excellence in teaching award from McKinney ISD in 1999, and being nominated as teacher of the year from Scott Johnson Middle School in 2001.
She received her bachelors of science/art education from Texas Tech University in 1969 and a masters of education from Texas A&M at Commerce in 1984.
When she was nominated for the award in McKinney ISD, she was teaching journalism and Texas history while working on the yearbook, newspaper, broadcasting and student council.
The Texas Teacher of the Year program is coordinated by the TEA's Communications and Public Information Division. Financial support for the program is provided by the Southwestern Bell Foundation, H-E-B, the Texas A&M University System, the University of Texas System, Smart Technologies, Inc., NEC Technologies, Inc. Visual Systems Division, Alpha Smart, the Austin American-Statesman, College Fund Life Division and the state's major education associations.