18 Feb 2011
John Leslie Patton Jr. Academic Center Becomes First School from District's Alternative Learning Community to Participate; Top Three Schools Advance to State
DALLAS—Seven students from John Leslie Patton Jr. Academic Center made history in the 2011 Dallas ISD Mock Trial Competitions. Patton became the first school from the district's Alternative Learning Community to participate in the annual districtwide competition.
Members Romayne Manuel, Angelica Lavenant, Suliman Tafari, Ivan Lozano, Williams Uuzebor, Rico Santiago and Felix Rojas practiced during lunch and after school with social studies teachers and coaches Jessica Guthrie and Kenric Narcisse. Students left the competition with confidence and excitement for next year's competition.
Twenty-four Dallas ISD schools competed for a chance to be one of three teams representing the district in the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition which takes place March 4-5, at the George Allen Courts Building.
The teams advancing to the state competition are: Skyline High School, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Woodrow Wilson High School. Booker T. Washington is the defending state champion. Skyline won the state championship in 2009.
The winner of the Dallas ISD Mock Trial will be announced Tuesday, February 22, at an awards ceremony at the Belo Mansion. The competition is sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association.