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.
24 Oct 2001
Moses: 'Meredith Smith Brings Wealth of Experience To DISD'
DALLAS—Superintendent Mike Moses on Tuesday announced that the Dallas Independent School District is continuing its efforts to better serve special education students by hiring Meredith Dixon Smith, who has more than a quarter-century of experience in the field.
Smith, who will serve as assistant superintendent for special education, became the coordinator of special education in Garland in 1974, and became the director of special education in 1985. She also has served as the chair of the Region X directors of special education committee and began programs in Garland such as the Garland Special Olympics and Parents in Partnership, which is now an early childhood intervention program.
"Meredith Smith brings a wealth of experience in the field of special education to the district, and we look forward to the professionalism she will add to our efforts to greatly improve DISD special education programs," Moses said. "From day one, we have made improving our special education programs a high priority, and Ms. Smith will play an important role in making our efforts successful. "
Smith is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Texas Administrators of Special Education. She also is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Alpha Delta Kappa.
She received her bachelor of science in elementary education in 1967 from Texas Tech University, and her masters of science in secondary education in 1972 from the University of North Texas.
"The Dallas Independent School District offers a wide range of opportunities for children who need special education, and I look forward to this opportunity to be a part of the team of professionals Dr. Moses has assembled to make the district the best it can be," Smith said. "We clearly have considerable work to do in the district. The challenges are great, but the rewards to the children who will benefit from such services make it all worthwhile."
In DISD, there are about 14,000 schoolchildren enrolled in special education programs on 214 campuses.