Submitted by The Dallas Education Foundation
The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF), the direct and designated, non-profit, philanthropic partner of Dallas ISD, hosted its third annual HeART of Teaching gala on Nov. 1 at the historic Longhorn Ballroom. This year’s gala featured an innovative way of uniting the Dallas community and Dallas ISD by partnering Dallas ISD dance teachers and notable Dallasites with a fun and friendly dance competition — Dancing with the Stars of Dallas.
Not only were Dallas ISD dance educators highlighted, but the energy of the evening was amplified with musical performances by teachers throughout the art disciplines including a booming large jazz ensemble, high-energy cover band, and toe-tapping pop ensemble all by Dallas ISD performing arts educators! We also can’t forget the teachers behind the scenes – our outstanding visual artists who contributed their original art and talents to the silent auction and our world-class Dallas ISD production crew who ran lights, played music, and managed the stage.
DEF expresses a heartfelt note of gratitude to all the Dallas community members involved in making the evening a huge success, including Honorary Chair Ambassador Ron Kirk, Masters of Ceremony Lynn McBee and Jon Dahlander, and esteemed judges from the Arts community Charles Santos, Ahava Silkey-Jones, and Lily Cabatu Weiss.
DEF is grateful to our city’s Stars who rehearsed and rehearsed to make sure they lit up the dance floor: Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia, Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, Ed.D., the honorable Jennifer Staubach Gates, WFAA Anchor and Dallas ISD alumna Cynthia Izaguirre, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, and Victor Vital, Managing Partner at Barnes & Thornburg and DEF Board president.
Jon Dahlander, Chief of Partnerships and Intergovernmental Relations, guided guests through the evening and highlighted the dancing duos through thoughtful and inspiring interviews. And our very own Dallas ISD Star and Superintendent of Schools Stephanie Elizalde lit up the dance floor with her partner David Arevalo with their fiery Mambo and Flamenco performances. Congratulations to Fernando Rocha of Sunset High School and the Honorable Jennifer Staubach Gates for winning the coveted Mirror Ball trophy!
The night’s entertainment was provided entirely by Dallas ISD teachers and their Star dancing proteges. The HeART of Teaching is about highlighting the talent and commitment of our Dallas ISD educators. We are grateful to the following Dallas ISD performers and production crew who gave their time to prepare for, produce, and perform at the gala:
Auction Items
Nae Callihan, Wilmer Hutchins High School
Robert Cooper, H. Grady Spruce High School
Monica Hayslip, Director of Visual Arts
Bob Romano, Thomas Jefferson High School
Erika Stevens, Ascher Silberstein Elementary
Brandon Tijerina, Director of Theatre
Desireé Vaniecia, Woodrow Wilson High School
Dancers
David Arevalo, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Arts Academy
Charque Chendard, Seagoville High School
Quan Powers, H. Grady Spruce High School
Janna Robison, W. H. Gaston Middle School
Fernando Rocha, Sunset High School
Iris Wyatt, Lincoln High School and Humanities/Communications Magnet
Dallas Music Educators Association Directors Jazz Ensemble
Ray Akin, W. H. Gaston Middle School (Retired)
Doug Baskin*, David W. Carter High School (Retired)
Nae Callihan, Wilmer Hutchins High School
Marc Cervantes, Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School
Tony Galbreath, David W. Carter High School (Retired)
Kermit W. Gray, Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation
Alan Green*, Hillcrest High School (Retired)
James Guyton, Judge Louis A. Bedford, Jr. Law Academy
Alejandro Hernandez, Raul Quintanilla Sr. Middle School STEAM Academy
Josh Howe, Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School
Tyrone Jones, Emmett J. Conrad High School (Retired)
Jay Kelliher, Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence Middle School
Rene Luna, W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy
Michael Mihalovich, Robert T. Hill Middle School
Cecil Neal, Jr., T.W. Browne Middle School
Artemus Nelson*, Mark Twain School for the Talented & Gifted
Dorian Scott, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith
Carlisa Washington, Central Staff
Christopher Young*, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith
*also Dallas ISD Cover Band performer
Pops Orchestra
Amanda Chen, Thomas C. Marsh Preparatory Academy
Felipe Diaz, Jr., W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy
Maria “Lupe” Garcia, W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy
Steven Ramirez, Bryan Adams High School
Elis Ramos, Judge Louis A. Bedford, Jr. Law Academy
Kiira Russell, George B. Dealey Montessori Academy
Photography
Jeff Dietz, Dallas ISD Photographer
Production Crew
Chris Brown, Supervisor, Event Audio Support
Sergio Cebrian, Event Audio Support
Adam Kullman, North Dallas High School
Tyne Thompson, South Oak Cliff High School
Dianara Vasquez, Ann Richards STEAM Academy
Phil Vilar, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
In addition, DEF expresses our appreciation to Dallas ISD’s Visual and Performing Arts Department for their commitment and support throughout the planning and execution of the event.
Visual and Performing Arts Staff
Hope Crockett, Manager of Dance
Monica Hayslip, Director of Visual Arts
Rametria Smith, Director of Instrumental Music
Brandon Tijerina, Director of Theatre
All proceeds from the gala support the Dallas Education Foundation as they advance early learning, literacy, and post-secondary success in Dallas ISD. The event was only made possible due to the community investment from the Host Committee, Sponsors, and silent auction donors. The HeART of Teaching event also included four Named Grant Sponsors: The Addy Foundation, the Clay Jenkins Family Foundation, Linebarger at Law, and Thompson & Horton whose support will provide grants to the Dallas ISD Visual and Performing Arts Departments.
About the Dallas Education Foundation
The mission of the Dallas Education Foundation is to inspire community investment to accelerate student success in Dallas ISD. Since late 2019, DEF has granted over $7 million for the benefit of Dallas ISD, focusing on the path toward economic mobility for all of our students. The Dallas Education Foundation’s 2023 HeART of Teaching campaign runs through the last day of December. For more information on how you can support students in Dallas ISD through the Dallas Education Foundation, please visit their website.