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
Gigi G. Ekstrom, a marketing education teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School, has been named national Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher. The award was presented by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) at their annual convention in San Diego, California. Ekstrom was recognized for her innovative teaching skills and leadership ability. She was one of five regional award recipients competing for the national title.
A former business woman, Ekstrom now coordinates the school's Academy of Travel and Tourism program. She joined the DISD in 1995 and since then has actively involved students in her classes and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) competitions.
Ekstrom spends her free time tutoring students for SAT tests and assists them in completing applications for college admission and financial aid. Her DECA chapter has received the Outstanding Chapter Award for four consecutive years.
In 1998, Ekstrom received the Outstanding Teacher Award for Service Above Self presented by the Rotary Club of Dallas. That same year, the Marketing Educators of Texas selected her DECA Advisor of the Year.