28 Jul 2004
New Magnet Program to Mirror Traits of Namesake, Irma Rangel
DALLAS—The young women who on August 16 will become the inaugural class of the Dallas Independent School District's new all-girls school will find their classloads heavy on math, science and technology.
The curriculum of the Irma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School also will feature foreign languages and humanities as well as leadership training.
Named after Irma Rangel, the first Hispanic female legislator in Texas and a noted advocate for educational opportunity, the new school will provide an academic program for girls that prepares them for college and positions of leadership.
Rangel, who represented South Texas in the Legislature from 1976 to 2003, sponsored a number of bills to create and expand educational opportunities for women and minorities. In 1995, she was appointed chair of the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, and in 1997 pioneered landmark legislation leading to the passage of House Bill 588 requiring state colleges and universities to automatically admit students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Rangel died March 2003 while still a legislator.
Her accomplishments make Rangel a fitting role model for the young women who will attend the district's first all-girls school, said Carolyn Bailey, area superintendent for the district's magnet schools.
"Our goal is for this program to challenge young women to reach their academic potential and to see themselves as leaders, during their high school years beyond," said Bailey.
It's just the kind of challenge that attracted parent Amy Pedraza and her seventh grade daughter, Kristielle, to the new school.
"We wanted a school where our child would be encouraged to see herself as a leader and would receive the support needed to prepare herself for a future that includes college and a productive life," said Pedraza.
Bailey said openings are still available for eighth grade students and applications will be accepted until July 30. Interested parents may pick up an application at the district's Area 5 office, 912 S. Ervay, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The goal for the enrollment of the new school is 200. To be eligible, students must be in the 40th percentile in reading and math as measured on the ITBS or Stanford 9 tests, have a 75 overall GPA, provide a completed application along with copies of their report card and a record of their standardized test scores.
Once applications are received, school officials schedule assessments for applicants, including an interview and an on-site written essay.
Vivian Taylor will serve as principal of the new school, which will be housed at 3801 Herschel Ave. in the former Stephen J. Hay building.
The new school will offer grades seven and eight in its first year. Each year thereafter, a new grade will be added until the school becomes a seventh through 12 grade campus.
Additional Information on Irma Rangel:
• Rangel was the first and only woman to serve as chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
• Rangel was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1994 by Gov. Ann Richards and voted Woman of the Year in 1998 by the Texas Young Democrats.
• This year, the Mexican American Legislative Foundation, Inc. created the Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership Program to encourage the involvement of young Hispanics in the political process. Named after Rangel and Representative Paul Moreno of El Paso, the program provides an opportunity for Texas undergraduate and graduate students to gain firsthand experience working in the Texas House during the legislative session.