27 Apr 2010
Event Celebrates Community Leader's Impact On Education
DALLAS—Community leaders, parents, students and elected officials joined Dallas Independent School District leaders on Friday, April 23, at Nolan Estes Plaza for the groundbreaking of Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy. The event was held at Estes Plaza due to rain. The celebration marked the beginning of construction of the new school, to be located at 1700 E. Camp Wisdom Road.
The $21.5 million campus, scheduled to open in fall 2011, is Dallas ISD's second Early College High School program. The unique campus design offers students an opportunity to prepare for college through a learning experience that mirrors the collegiate environment. Three hundred students from the existing academy at Nolan Estes Plaza will transition into the new school with education features including an observation deck, a tiered lecture pavilion and amphitheater.
The name honors Kathlyn Joy Gilliam, who served as the first African-American woman elected to the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees and the first African-American to serve as president of the Board. During her 23-year tenure, Gilliam insisted on greater ethnic minority representation throughout the district, championed an affirmative action plan to increase the number of ethnic minority teachers, and played a pivotal role in school desegregation. She also assisted in hiring four Dallas ISD superintendents, including the district's first African-American superintendent. Ms. Gilliam is most passionate about the importance of providing quality education to all students, bridging the gaps between the school system and the community and developing parental leadership.
Principal Gayle Smith opened the celebration, which included a performance from the school's choir, and greetings from District 6 Trustee Carla Ranger. Superintendent Michael Hinojosa explained that the innovative design of the academy's new building provides further support for student success in preparation for competitive institutions of higher learning.
"Kathlyn Gilliam's life demonstrates that when you dedicate yourself to improving the system,
you can improve education and, ultimately, help students improve their chances for reaching their full potential, seeking change through positive and persistent actions," Hinojosa said. "We believe that change will continue within the walls of this new academy named in her honor."
The event also included remarks from County Commissioner John Wiley Price and Mrs. Gilliam.
"I'm honored that in some small way I'll be able to continue helping students achieve. It's been my lifetime goal, and I am so proud of this academy," Gilliam said.
The Gilliam Collegiate Academy is one of 41 Early College High Schools in the state of Texas. As defined by the Texas Legislature, Early College High Schools target traditionally underserved students and combine high school and college during grades 9 through 12. Participating students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and up to 60 college credit hours.
Cedar Valley College is the higher education partner that serves Gilliam Collegiate Academy by providing college courses and a variety of resources to students. The University of North Texas at Dallas serves as the "neighboring" institution of higher education. UNT–Dallas has a GO Center within the Gilliam Collegiate Academy campus providing students guidance in the college and career decision-making process.
The new location will strengthen the academy's existing partnerships with Cedar Valley College and the University of North Texas Dallas Campus, while continuing to offer traditionally underserved and underrepresented students the opportunity for higher education while immersed in a college culture with rigorous coursework, and a dual-credit curriculum that begins with their freshman year.
The 111,000-square-foot school will accommodate 400-500 students, includes 24 classrooms, multiple indoor/outdoor common spaces designed for dual-use, an activity field and wireless internet access within and surrounding the campus grounds. The design and construction team includes program manager Jacobs, SHW Group as architect and Satterfield & Pontikes, general contractor.
The next bond-related events this spring are:
In May 2008, Dallas voters supported a $1.35 billion bond program, paving the way for the district to build eight elementary schools, four middle schools and two high schools, and construct 177 new classrooms on 12 existing campuses. In addition, the bond program will provide roughly $521 million to renovate more than 200 schools, add 19 new science labs at six secondary schools and updates to 16 school kitchens and 22 lunchrooms. Information on the allocation of bond funds can be found at www.dallasisd.org/bond2008.