Dallas ISD Superintendent Cheating Black Students
Dallas ISD Superintendent Elizalde is trying to dodge accountability for failing schools
DISD Trustee Head Justin Henry says Black students don’t deserve school choice
Maybe DISD is dodging test scores because charter schools do better on almost all tests?
As a single parent, working day and night in the hustle and bustle of Dallas, it is apalling to bear witness to the disarray in our education system. Our Superintendent, Dr. Stephanie Elzalde, earning an impressive $365,000 per year, seems to lead this disconcerting shift. Instead of being accountable, she conveniently points fingers at those least able to defend themselves: families like mine, with children struggling to succeed academically.
Public schools, alledgedly beacons of equality and opportunity, now seem like sinking ships in a storm. Despite her grand salary, Dr. Elzalde is sidestepping her responsibilities, finding it easier to blame families with struggling students rather than confront the issues within the Dallas Independent School District. It is no secret that the top schools in Dallas are in the rich neighborhoods and the failings schools are found in Black neighborhods where people are living at or below the poverty line.
As a parent who’s had to relocate my children from one school to another due to a lack of resources or rampant bullying, the erosion of transparency under Dr. Elzalde’s leadership is palpable. The removal of school grading and student preparedness exams has left many of us blindfolded, uncertain about our children’s academic standing and their preparedness for life’s hurdles. She prides herself in playing Jenga with our kid's future.
Dr. Elzalde, along with Board of Trustees President Justin Henry, remain unswayed by the evidence of the benefits of school choice. Instead of promoting healthy competition that could elevate all schools, they cling to a status quo that seems increasingly unfit for the 21st century. This stubbornness leaves families like mine in a constant state of upheaval, forced to shift our children from one school to another, searching for a better learning environment.
Their call for billions in state revenue comes with no solid plans to tackle the systemic issues that plague our schools appears like a cash grab for the board of Trustees, who ultimately decide which contracts are awarded to service providers. This, coupled with the habit of blaming families for students’ behavioral setbacks, paints a bleak picture of an administration more intent on holding onto power than serving its students.
There are plenty of problems within the DISD: physical altercations involving students and school staff; improper student-teacher relationships; overcrowded classrooms that hinder effective learning; drug abuse and a high rate of teacher turnover due to burnout.
Rebuilding public trust requires a commitment to absolute transparency. This means reinstating school grading and student preparedness exams, and presenting detailed, public plans for the use of any additional funding. The administration should embrace school choice, offering parents more options to meet the diverse needs of our children.
We all need to look beyond traditional models when we are dealing with failing public schools. High-performing charter schools, micro schools with their lower student-teacher ratios, and boarding schools funded by vouchers, charities, and taxpayer donations could provide nurturing environments for our children. These institutions could serve as safe havens, offering more than just an education but also a stable and supportive environment for children from troubled homes.
Finally, parents should be treated as allies, not adversaries. The administration should collaborate with families, offering resources and support to help our children succeed, instead of blaming us for systemic failures.
Public schools were built on the principle of equal opportunity for all. To maintain this promise, we need accountability, transparency, and most importantly innovation from our leaders. If there are failing schools, then parents should be entitled to more options than just sending our kids to a school under that same umbrella. Only then can we ensure every child, no matter their background, has a chance to succeed.
