Our East Dallas/Lakewood schools are sources of good news daily; each having its own history, character and traditions.
Woodrow Wilson High School will present its 41st annual musical, April 30 through May 3. This production of The Wizard of Oz will have none of the characteristics of a typical high school musical. In spite of the wooden seats, you will think you are at the Dallas Summer Musicals.
J.L. Long’s Math Counts Team will be at the state competition after placing third among 30 area private and public schools. Long placed ahead of several prestigious schools, including Hockaday.
Dedication of East Dallas newest elementary, Eduardo Mata at Grand and La Vista, will be April 25. The Dallas Symphony has adopted Mata and will be part of the dedication.
On May 15,  you can travel to Egypt without stepping on a boat or plane. As Stonewall Jackson Elementary has done for 25 years, this year’s study country, Egypt, will be transplanted to Mockingbird at Matilda. More than 500 students, parents and volunteers will create Egypt through costume, food, decorations, cultural dances and more. Cleopatra and King Tut will be there, you can bet.
Lipscomb Elementary and Woodrow are Texas Successful Schools Award recipients for their student achievement. TEA has ranked them in the top 25 percent among their peers across the state.
All of this is to say our local public schools have excellent teachers and principals with community participation that demands excellence. This is one board member who believes that local communities need and thrive on active participation in their local schools.
Centrally, goals are set, including that all students read and apply math skills on grade level by third grade, and all students complete or take Algebra by ninth grade. Resources are directed to accomplish these goals. For example, 30 lead reading teachers (coaches) visit the elementary campuses at least once a week to help K-3 teachers with
their instructional techniques.
For the future, space is sorely needed. State law requires a teacher/pupil ration of 1:22. DISD currently has 215 campuses with a student population of 158,000, growing by about 5,000 annually. Permanent additions or structures are, of course, desirable over the portables. As the 1992 bond program concludes (on time and on budget), another will be needed.
You can help! Visit your local school and see the principal. He/she will have several suggestions, such as reading to a child on a regular basis. Or, do as Skillman Church of Christ did, and adopt a school Ð Robert E. Lee, in their case.
I encourage my constituents to contact me with issues. I can be reached at 214-319-9919 or 989-8029.