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As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken.  Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools

Creating A Louder Voice

28 Jul 2000

As a parent of a son attending Seagoville High School and the president of Dallas Council of PTAs, William Robinson understands the most important ingredient to educate Dallas schoolchildren: more parent participation.

“When parents are involved with their children's education, the needs of the schools will be met,” he said. “Parents cannot afford not to be involved. As parents, we should be supportive to make schools successful for our children. Schools can only be successful with the involvement of parents.”

In April, Robinson was elected to his second term as council president. The Dallas Council of PTAs is an elected governing body of the DISD local parent-teacher associations. During his first year, the council for the first time provided year-round training for the officers of the local PTA units. This training was important, he says, because to increase involvement, parents have to feel that they are a part of an active organization, one that is making a contribution.

Under his leadership, the PTA membership increased 15 percent. One of the primary focuses of the council was to bring together the members of different PTA units.

“It is important for PTA units to come together,” Robinson said. “The individual units are dealing with some of the same issues. The more united as a group we are, a louder voice we have as parents.”

He added: “Most parents want to see that the individual needs of each school are being met.” As a whole, Robinson believes that the Dallas Independent School District has committed and qualified teachers. The children are being exposed to different academic programs that will help them in the future, he added.

However, as a parent he says the PTAs must continue to hold the district accountable by being a united and active organization in each of DISD's 220 schools. The executive board of Dallas Council meets Aug. 8 to set goals and strategies for the upcoming school year that begins Aug. 14.

As for last year, Robinson says it was an interesting experience.

“My first year as president was exciting and positive,” said the first male-elected president of the council. “It has been an honor to have been selected to serve the children of Dallas. I have had the opportunity to be involved with programs and people who are making a difference in our children's education.”