Posts by Georgia Fisher
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Greiner, Adamson Leaders in Line for Yearly Honors
Griener principal Stephanie Taylor is a finalist for DISD’s Principal of the Year, and Michael St. Ama, a dean of instruction at Adamson, is in the running to be Associate Principal of the Year.
Taylor has been with DISD for nine years, “during which she [has] managed to gain valuable characteristics in instructional leadership and strategic planning,” reads a press release from the school district.”She is diligent in her role as educator, mentor and leader, and does what it takes to uphold the culture of the school.”
St. Ama, for his part, “goes the extra mile to assist teachers to deliver quality instruction to students,” another press release says. “He is credited with being able to build relationships with students, teachers, parents and community members and act as a model to the standards of excellence.”
Honorees will be named on June 19.
Taylor develops her administrative staff into effective instructional leaders by involving them in a variety of activities including book studies, instructional feedback and on-going professional development. These efforts and other tactics have ensured that her campus improved the quality of instruction in every classroom.
By Georgia Fisher Jun. 12, 2013 | 6:48 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Barbara’s Pavilion Gets New Name, New Look
Centre Street watering hole Barbara’s Pavilion bills itself a “straight-friendly” bar, and I’ve often billed it the best bar in town — one blessed with an over-the-top karaoke program and the sort of staff who’ll remember your name, your poison, and perhaps your whole life story.
This week, Barbara’s is closed for renovation and rebranding under a different name: Pavilion Lounge.
Come Saturday, says new investor and co-owner Chad Vogel, the place will have a reawakening. “It’s like Botox for bars,” joked Vogel, who also owns Fete-ish boutique in Bishop Arts. “We’re going to restore that youthful glow.”
By Georgia Fisher Jun. 6, 2013 | 2:23 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
DISD to Stream Graduation Ceremonies Live
Even if you can’t be there in person to wish your favorite DISD graduate well, you can technically still watch him or her walk the stage.
Commencements for Sunset and Adamson high schools will be at 7 p.m. on June 5 and June 7, respectively, at the Ellis Davis Field House. They’ll also be streamed on Time Warner Cable channel 492 and U-verse channel 99 (you’ll apparently select “Dallas” from the main menu, then “Dallas ISD-492″).
A full schedule of the school district’s commencement ceremonies can be found here.
By Georgia Fisher May. 23, 2013 | 2:42 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Have You Seen This Dog?
Awhile back, we had a tab on this blog called Good Neighbor, which was essentially a community bulletin board with many a lost-pet post. Today I got a note intended for that long-deleted web page, and am surprised and glad that it came through.Lucy is a 14-year-old pomeranian who was wearing a little red sweater when she disappeared from her Winnetka Heights home yesterday afternoon. She’s now without some much-needed medication, which has her family pretty worried.
Her owner, Lee Day, is offering a reward. You can reach Lee at 214-926-1157.
By Georgia Fisher May. 22, 2013 | 12:40 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Want to Share Your Two Cents About West Davis?
The City Design Studio is holding a public workshop to discuss potential improvements to the West Davis Street corridor from Montclair to Beckley avenues.
Funding is already in place from the Garden Davis TIF District and the 2012 Bond program. And as the event flyer promises, “participation in this process will guide the future design of key projects” along the corridor.
The design workshop begins 6 p.m. Thursday at Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s Hitt Auditorium.
By Georgia Fisher May. 14, 2013 | 7:12 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
District 1 Update: Watch Part of Scott Griggs’ Victory Speech
Yes, it’s predominantly dark. Yes, there are several violent flashes of light. Yes, there are children screaming in the background. But there’s nothing to be scared of.
By Georgia Fisher May. 12, 2013 | 12:13 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
District 1 Update: Griggs Wins Election
Scott Griggs’ victory has been called. With all 28 precincts reporting, the District 3 councilman/District 1 candidate ousted Delia Jasso with 61 percent of the 3,784 votes – a win he attributed to “government by the people, for the people.”
And as Griggs told a crowd of happy supporters a few minutes ago at his watch party in Stevens Park Estates, “it’s all of you that made it happen.”
By Georgia Fisher May. 11, 2013 | 10:39 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
District 1 Update: Griggs Leading Jasso, 61 Percent to 39 Percent
City Councilman Scott Griggs arrived fashionably late to his election-night watch party about an hour ago — greeting a roomful of cheering supporters at the home of Dr. Michael Allison (1903 Mayflower Drive, if you’re in the neighborhood; all are welcome).
At last count, Griggs was leading District 1 incumbent Delia Jasso with 61 percent of the vote, and 12 of 28 precincts reporting.
At the moment, we’re milling by an elegantly landscaped pool, getting after some chips and taquitos, and listening to trance-y sounding electronica. The place is becoming more and more packed by the minute, and I recognize local movers/shakers Michael Amonett, Barbara Barbee, and Mark Lombard, among others.
By Georgia Fisher May. 11, 2013 | 9:23 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Nonprofit Has Mixed Reviews of OC Schools
Adamson was just ranked No. 5 on Children at Risk‘s list of ”best urban comprehensive high schools” in North Texas. However — and tell me if this sounds like flawed logic — the same campus made a “C” on the organization’s overall grading scale. Sunset made an F, Greiner made a B in the middle-school category, and Rosemont Elementary came in with a C.
Generally speaking, schools are selected via “a compilation of factors that indicate the degree to which a campus has prepared students for secondary and post-secondary success,” reads the Children at Risk website. The urban-comprehensive list in particular “represents the top comprehensive high schools that are located in urban districts and house a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students.”
The program has been running for eight years, so maybe reputation trumps title, but you’d think the nonprofit’s name wouldn’t be so great for PR purposes, right? I did a double-take when I saw DISD’s press release, anyway, which sported an all-caps”DALLAS ISD SCHOOLS TOP CHILDREN AT RISK RANKINGS.”
You’ll find more about the top-rated schools here.
By Georgia Fisher May. 9, 2013 | 7:02 am | No Comments | Comments RSS -
Know a Great Teacher Who Deserves Recognition?
Thanks to a deadline extension through May 3, you can still nominate him or her for the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year award. Preschool teachers on up to college professors are eligible, and winners will be announced during a May 23 ceremony at Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s Hitt Auditorium.
By Georgia Fisher Apr. 26, 2013 | 12:56 pm | No Comments | Comments RSS
