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.
26 Jan 2001
The winners of American Airlines-sponsored mini grants were recognized at a recent Dallas School Board of Education meeting. A total of $14,543.73 in grants was awarded to 18 district teachers for innovative instructional projects not supported by school budgets.
Funding for this project comes from the interest earned on $100,000 donated to the district 12 years ago by American Airlines. A committee of teachers selected the winners. Listed are the winners along with a brief description of the project:
• Veronica Zamora, Herbert Marcus Elementary, $1,000 for Ballet Folklorico. Provides the mostly Hispanic students enrolled at the school an opportunity to explore their roots. Funds will be used for costumes, shoes, accessories and portable CD player.
• Robert Kern, Gilbert Cuellar, Sr. Elementary, $958.70 for Language Development Program in the Computer Lab. Funds will enable the purchase of computer software to help develop vocabulary, reading and language skills for English-as-a-Second-Language students.
• Sheila Bean, Sidney Lanier Elementary, $999.73 for Take Home Tutor. Provides a take-home computer tutoring system for students who cannot stay after school for tutoring.
• Selena R. Wright, Sidney Lanier Elementary, $965 for Picture Perfect Writing. Students will receive cameras to take pictures of subjects of interest to them and will be asked to write an article or create a journal.
• Poppy Mentesana, S. S. Conner Elementary School, $990.70 for Controlling My Anger Monster. Promotes small-group discussion about the origins of anger and presents coping skills. Students learn four steps to anger management in difficult situations. Games and art therapy are part of the program.
• Ernestine Rhynes, Pearl C. Anderson Middle School, $800 for Bringing Print to Life on Stage. Funds will be used to pay admission fees for eighth grade students to attend two Dallas Children's Theater performances.
• Jonathan Rosen, Robert T. Hill Middle School, $950 for Broadcast News. Funds will be used to purchase video equipment for the production of a news program.
• Cheryl Lever, Benjamin Franklin Middle School, $1,000 for Outdoor Learning Center. The challenge course will develop teamwork, self-confidence, physical and emotional stamina and a sense of fun and adventure.
• Tammy Rodgers, W. H. Adamson High School, $984.19 for Setting Up a Darkroom. This proposal is to establish a darkroom for black and white photography developing and printing by students on the school newspaper.
• Valarie J. Cole, Bryan Adams High School, $667.86 for Matters of the Heart. The project addresses the needs of African American students by instilling pride, enhancing learning and inspiring excellence in academic achievement. Projects include hosting parents, rally and tutoring elementary school children.
• Paula Ferguson, F. P. Caillet Elementary, $975.99 for Tigers & Cubs: A K/6 Buddy Program. The program trains sixth grade students to mentor kindergarten students. Activities include reading, arts and crafts and games.
• Nakia Douglas, Martin L. King Learning Center, $473.68 for Math In Our World. Program reinforces math skills taught in the classroom. Students learn math through the use of multicultural games.
• Robbie M. Odame-Lartey, K.B. Polk Elementary, $962.70 for Tote-N-Talk. Students receive a tote bag to carry home a book, a tape player and cassette tape of the books. The objective of the project is to foster a love for books.
• Rene Brown, Alex Sanger Elementary, $590.24 for Meet the Characters. The program is an effort to foster parent participation in the reading programs of fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. Parents will sign an agreement to read and discuss selected books to their children.
• Veda Kull, William Lipscomb Elementary, $251 for Puppetry for Primaries. Students will participate in presentations and will design their own puppets.
• Darren Keith Carollo, Lincoln High School, $1,000 for the Boeing Aeronautical Engineering Project. Physics students will study aerodynamic engineering through aircraft design, manufacturing, flight and cost operations. Participants will create blueprints based on examples downloaded from the internet and will manufacture low-cost aircrafts from raw materials (plastic/wood).
• Priscilla Marrs, John F. Kennedy Learning Center, $377.43 for Helping Hands. Special education students and talented and gifted students have decided to bridge the gap between them. The program that will enhance their lives while promoting reading and exposing the students to music, dance, choir and computer.
• Gail Stoglin, Obadiah Knight Elementary, $596.44 for Remembering Dr. Seuss. Funds will be used to purchase a series of Dr. Seuss books for students grades 1-3. This will help develop their reading skills and foster their love for books.