Eduardo Torres, who until June 8 was principal at Alex W. Spence Middle School, is the new principal at Woodrow Wilson High School, is the new principal at Woodrow Wilson High School. Torres replaces Robert Giesler, who was name principal of DISD’s Law Magnet High School.

Torres’ appointment was one of a number of changes made by acting DISD superintendent Chad Woolery in early June.

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Woolery told school trustees he wanted to place the best leaders in the schools and referred to the changes as fine-tuning. In all, 47 DISD schools will have new principals for the 1993-’94 school year.

Torres was in Europe and was not available for comment.

DISD board member Sandy Kress says Woodrow has been under close scrutiny all year by district officials.

“This change represents what school officials have decided to be in the best interest for the students at Woodrow Wilson High School,” Kress says.

Other new personnel in area schools include Henderson Elementary principal Yvette Ellis, Lipscomb Elementary principal Donna Des Champ, and Spence principal Claudia Lozano.

$25,000 Golf Tourney Benefits Dallas Academy

More than 100 people from throughout the Dallas area competed for awards and thousands of dollars in cash prizes in the first Dallas Academy Golf Tournament held June 7 at Lakewood Country Club.

More than $25,000 raised at the benefit tournament will aid in the construction of a new school gymnasium. Dallas Academy serves the academic needs of children in grades 7-12 who have diagnosed learning differences.

Channel 4 meteorologist Mike Burger was the tournament’s honorary chairman. Burger also played in the tournament with Dallas Academy Director Jim Richardson.

“For our first tournament, this was a huge success,” Richardson says. “It’s wonderful to get this kind of recognition.”

Stonewall Jackson Honors the American Indian

During the final week of the school year, the corridors and classrooms at Stonewall Jackson Elementary were transformed into villages representing various Native American Indian tribes from throughout the U.S. Special Events is the name given to the school’s yearly study of a particular culture.

During this year’s Special Events, the different aspects of Native American Indian life were incorporated into all subject areas, including science, English, music, math and art.

Corridor walls were decorated to resemble the plains, complete with buffaloes and wild horses. The entrance to the principal’s office was temporarily disguised by a teepee. Students took Indian names and made their own costumes and tools, and they prepared and ate Indian food.

Guest speakers and Native American Indian artists also visited the school, explaining to the students their particular trade or craft.

Chief Big Bow from the Oklahoma Kiowa tribe taught several Indian dances and songs.

“This project is absolutely fabulous,” says Stonewall Principal Olivia Henderson. “The students are provided with a wonderful opportunity to investigate every aspect of the culture.

“We have had a great year, and this is the perfect way to end it,” she says.

Special Events began in 1976, when the school studied America’s bicentennial. Since then, Stonewall has repeated the program each year covering such subjects as Cinco de Mayo, the Wild West, the Orient, Egypt and Italy.

Stonewall Parents Honored by East Dallas Chamber

Nancy Cunningham and Rick Bibby, both parents of Stonewall Jackson Elementary children, recently were presented with the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce Community Awards for Education.

The awards are given to area residents who have been innovative and active in promoting educational excellence in our neighborhoods.

Cunningham won the award in the individual category. Her activities at Stonewall include AIDS awareness seminars for students, teachers and parents, re-equipping Stonewall’s clinic with emergency medical supplies and equipment, assembling emergency fanny packs filled with medical supplies for each teacher, and coordinating and participating in the school’s SPARKS (Stonewall Parents Are Reading to Our Kids) program.

The award for outstanding volunteer in a business category was presented to Bibby, who is a tile artist. Bibby has been involved in art education at Stonewall, particularly with the hearing impaired students.

Bibby currently is working on a 30-foot tile mural, which is a replication of mosaics created by Stonewall’s deaf students. Bibby also orchestrated a student art show and auction in a Deep Ellum Gallery, and has coordinated a visiting artist program for the hearing impaired.

Lakehill Students Honored for SATs

Lakehill seventh-grader Marian Runk recently attended the Grand Recognition Ceremony at Duke University, a ceremony honoring the nation’s outstanding seventh-graders.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Runk, Marian was nominated by Lakehill for the Duke University Talent Identification Program.

She took the Scholastic Aptitude Test in January, and her scores qualified her to attend the ceremony at Duke and to participate in special programs at the university.

To qualify for Duke’s national recognition program, students must score more than 550 on the verbal portion of the SAT and more than 600 on math.

Woodrow Seniors Named National Merit Scholars

Dwight Patterson and Jeff Boortz, recent graduates of Woodrow Wilson High School, have been named National Merit Finalists.

Patterson was also named a National Merit Scholar. He has received a four-year academic scholarship to Princeton University.

St. John Students Participate in Graduation Ceremony

Twenty-five students recently participated in St. John’s Episcopal School eighth-grade graduation ceremony. Philip Sewell, class of 1983 and a senior at the University of Texas, presented the graduation address.

Following the presentation of awards and diplomas, a reception honoring the graduates as held in the school’s parish hall.

Graduating eighth-graders were: Lara Ahearn, Travis Allison, Evan Brott, Kate Brown, Jenna Brummett, Jenny Cherryhomes, Matthew Christensen, Kendy Colson, Leslie Conant, Sarah Davis, Maria Dimoulakis, Amy Farris, Katharine Glick, Amy Love, Kathryn Major, Michelle Mayer, Andrea Morton, Michelle Murphree, Denee Oxley, Jonathan Payne, Alison Sherman, Sky Switser, Ryan Williams, Kathryn Winn and Lauren Wood.