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A highlight of serving as a trustee is getting to go into our schools to see the great work happening every day.
Recent visits to Robert E. Lee and William Lipscomb elementary schools left me impressed. Both campuses offer educational choices to families — they are International Baccalaureate-candidate schools and have Two-Way Dual Language programs — with strong teachers and leadership.
Robert E. Lee Elementary is one of the smaller Dallas ISD schools with about 300 students. Most classes have fewer than 20 students, which provides a good teacher-student ratio. In my most recent visit, I was impressed with how the veteran teachers provided mentorship and support to the newer teachers.
“We have a really close knit staff here,” says Mr. Hart, principal of Robert E. Lee Elementary. “It’s great to see the camaraderie that happens here.”
Over at William Lipscomb Elementary, excellence is not just the school’s motto, it’s the standard that students, teachers, staff and administrators strive for every day.
“We are trying to make sure the culture around our school will push students to be their best and achieve success,” said Mrs. Cheek, principal of Lipscomb Elementary.
Two-Way Dual Language program
As I mentioned earlier, both Lee and Lipscomb offer a Two-Way Dual Language program. The program puts Spanish-speaking and English-speaking students in the same classroom, teaches them the same curriculum in both languages, and creates bilingual, bicultural and biliterate students.
Lipscomb Elementary’s Two-Way Dual Language program is in its second year and has expanded to both kindergarten and first grade. Meanwhile, Lee Elementary’s Two-Way Dual Language program has expanded to up through the third grade. Each school will add an additional grade to the program next year.
International Baccalaureate program
Both Lee and Lipscomb are also International Baccalaureate-candidate schools, which help put students in charge of their own learning. The IB program helps students develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to excel in their studies and in their personal growth.
Through the IB program, all students in the schools learn Spanish, not just in the Two-Way Dual Language classes.
The IB philosophy is embraced throughout the schools, with an emphasis on cooperation, positivity and working together to achieve a common goal.
Enroll today
It’s not too late to enroll your child in one of these two wonderful schools. Both campuses still have available free pre-K seats for qualifying families, and Lee Elementary has paid pre-K for all other families, as well.
If you want a school for your child that values parent involvement, offers educational choices, and has committed teachers and leadership, visit Lee or Lipscomb: you will be impressed.
Dustin Marshall
Dustin Marshall is the District 2 representative on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees.
