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Dallas ISD District 1 Newsletter – October 2026 Recap
Note: Please see our website for Spanish version when available.
October gave us a lot to celebrate. A record number of Dallas ISD students earned a college degree before finishing high school, community leaders spent a day in our principals’ shoes, and Career Institute North now carries the name of my predecessor in this seat, Dr. Edwin Flores. Closer to home, District 1 students brought home honors in sewing, cross country, band, and debate. Details below, along with the dates for Discover Dallas ISD and the opening of the application window for next school year.
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Dallas ISD Updates
A Record Year for College Credit Before Graduation: Dallas ISD students set a new record for earning college degrees while still in high school. Through the district’s 19 P-TECH programs and seven Early College High Schools, including our own North Lake Early College High School in District 1, 1,305 students earned a full associate degree in 2025-26, more than double the 628 who did so in 2020. Put another way, more than 1,300 Dallas ISD graduates walked across the stage last spring with two years of college already behind them, a head start on a bachelor’s degree or a career, and real tuition savings for their families.
Principal for a Day: One of my favorite traditions each year is Principal for a Day, when business and community leaders spend a day on our campuses to see firsthand what it takes to run a school. In District 1, State Representative Cassandra Garcia Hernandez took the helm at George H.W. Bush Elementary, and Steve Nagel of the Lee Nagel Endowment spent the day at Anne Frank Elementary (more on the Nagel family below). Thank you to every leader who took part, and to our principals for opening their doors.
Career Institute North Is Now the Dr. Edwin Flores Career Institute North: Last month the district renamed Career Institute North, on Midway Road at the site of the old Walnut Hill Elementary, as the Dr. Edwin Flores Career Institute North. Dr. Flores served District 1 as trustee for 16 years, and the Career Institutes were his vision. He believed that we needed to support all students, including those going to college and those choosing to start their career immediately after high school. At CI North, students can study 18 different career paths, including EMT, cybersecurity, construction, automotive, software development, and more. Dr. Flores’s name is now on the building that reflects his legacy of opportunity for students from across North Dallas. Congratulations, Dr. Flores, and thank you for your years of service.
Discover Dallas ISD Is Saturday, and Applications Are Open: Applications for 2027-28 specialty schools and programs opened November 1 and run through January 31, 2027, covering more than 100 options from magnet, Montessori, and dual language programs to P-TECH, Early College, and our Career Institutes. The easiest way to explore them is Discover Dallas ISD, the district’s school fair, this Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Automobile Building at Fair Park. More than 200 schools and programs will be under one roof, and campus teams will help families apply on site, including for application-based schools and Legacy School transfers.
Also, on November 10, W.T. White is hosting a come-and-go open house from 5:30 to 7:30, which will highlight the new TAG Scholars program among other programs. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please stop by.
District 1 Updates
Here are highlights from our District 1 schools. Please e-mail any ideas you have for highlights to LanceCurrie@dallasisd.org.
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Prestonwood Montessori Student Places at the State Fair: Congratulations to Jack S., a second grader at Prestonwood Montessori at E.D. Walker, who won third place in the children’s sewing apparel division of the State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Competition. Jack’s love of sewing began with hand-stitching lessons in pre-K, a great reminder of how early classroom experiences can grow into real talents.
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E.D. Walker Runners Finish Among the Top Five in the City: Congratulations to the E.D. Walker Middle School cross country team. Eighth graders Olivia G. and Bracken P. each finished among the top five runners at the Dallas ISD Middle School Cross Country District Championship, several teammates set personal records, and the team brought home two trophies under Head Coach Miltreiger. Thank you to the coaches and to the parents who made all those 6:00 a.m. practices possible.
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TJ Drum Majors Take Top Honors: Thomas Jefferson High School drum majors Andrea S., Leslie M., and Anahi L. earned the Division 2 Top Overall Drum Major award at the Dallas Bands United Battle of the Bands competition. Congratulations to all three, and to the Patriot band behind them.
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Bush Patriots Debate Team Places in the Top 15: George H.W. Bush Elementary’s debate team placed in the top 15 at an Open Policy Debate competition. Policy debate is demanding work at any age, let alone in elementary school, and these students earned this recognition through hard work and preparation. Way to go, Patriots!
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Anne Frank’s Mr. Lopez Receives the Lee Nagel Teacher Grant: Congratulations to Mr. Lopez at Anne Frank Elementary, who was surprised in his classroom by Steve Nagel with a Lee Nagel Teacher Grant from United to Learn. The $500 grants put classroom resources directly in the hands of Dallas ISD teachers, and this one hits especially close to home: Lee Nagel taught fourth grade at Anne Frank, and her family established the grant in her memory. Thank you to the Nagel family and United to Learn for carrying her legacy forward.
Upcoming Events
- Thursday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. – Dallas ISD Board Meeting (5151 Samuell Blvd)
- Monday–Friday, November 23-27 – Thanksgiving Break – No School
- Thursday, December 3 at 4:00 p.m. – Dallas ISD Board Briefing (5151 Samuell Blvd)
- Thursday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. – Dallas ISD Board Meeting (5151 Samuell Blvd)
- Friday, December 18 – Early Release, All Schools – Winter Break follows, December 21–January 4
Thank you for the opportunity to serve our students and community. If you have questions, thoughts, or want to talk about how we can work together to make Dallas ISD the best school district in the country, please reach out. I’m happy to grab coffee or set up a Zoom call. Just e-mail me at LanceCurrie@dallasisd.org or lance@lancecurrie.com.
Thank you,
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