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DALLAS, TX – Imagine being transported to a new world with the push of a button. By picking from a selection of stories in their campus’s book vending machine, Dallas ISD students are able to do just that.  The initial book vending machines, introduced in 2022 through a partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation, began in three schools to foster a love of reading and help students build an at-home library. “Book vending machines are an innovative approach to spark a love of literacy and bring books into our students’ homes,” said Emily Davis, Development and Grants Manager for DEF. “Instead of snacks, candy, and drinks, the vending machine houses engaging, age-appropriate, and culturally relevant books.” Now, nearly 60 campuses across the district will have the vending machines, with 27 planned to be installed by the end of September 2024. Studies show that by encouraging reading at home, not just during instruction, can increase literacy by improving students’ comprehension, vocabulary, phonics, and writing.“Every book selected becomes a permanent addition to the student’s personal library, promoting ongoing reading enjoyment and fostering shared reading experiences with friends, family members, and caregivers,” Davis said. “While students may only spend a few minutes picking out the book of their choice, the machine enhances the culture of the campus year-round.” Damien Stovall, executive director of Accelerating Campus Excellence, said building a campus culture that encourages reading is important to closing gaps and meeting the district’s literacy goals.  “The machines help to create a culture of literacy in our schools. We know to close the reading gaps; students must read more,” he said. “However, we have to make it fun and engaging. The book machine creates a joyful space and pushes our students to work to attain the reward. They get to have the books and the more they have, the more they want.” Chosen by Dallas ISD Library Services and Early Learning departments, the books displayed in the vending machine represent a wide range of languages, cultures and topics of interest. Each machine is stocked with 300 books, and the ultimate goal is for every student to be able to use the vending machine at least once during the school year. The vending machines take tokens, which are provided to campuses and given out by school team members to recognize good behavior and even birthdays. Students then use the coins to “purchase” a book of their choosing.  Rewarding students for their accomplishments in this way helps ensure their academic needs are met, Stovall said. “Often, we are looking for ways to reward students, and at times the rewards may not support academics,” he said. “Now students are rewarded with a book that creates a love for reading and once they get one book, they are interested in others in the machine, so they work towards getting them.”  For Davis, the most rewarding part of bringing the book vending machines to campuses is seeing how excited students get when they are given the opportunity to pick a book out for themselves. “Their faces light up as they see the books in the machine,” she said. “Even in the middle of our unveiling events, students will take their books back to their seats and immediately become immersed in their book.” About Dallas Education Foundation The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) is a registered 501(c)(3) and serves as the direct and designated philanthropic partner of Dallas ISD. With a mission to inspire community investment to accelerate student success, DEF focuses on economic mobility by supporting early learning, advancing literacy, driving post-secondary success, and catalyzing our educators. To learn more, go to https://dallasedfound.org and follow us @dallasedfound on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. About Dallas ISD The Dallas Independent School District is continually preparing its 140,000 students for college or a career. The district offers a competitive mix of innovative programs, choice programs and instructional initiatives that support the increased academic achievement and the social and emotional development of its students. To learn more, visit www.dallasisd.org. https://youtu.be/PU6_ONnP4M4?si=COKXn0CJjJPdjkN5

DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Education Foundation announced the 2024 recipients of the Liza Farrow-Gillespie Intrepid Young Woman Scholarship – Amy S-R. and Mikayla S. Named in memory of Liza Farrow-Gillespie, the scholarship awards two deserving young women from Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet a $10,000 scholarship to pursue a future career in law. Liza Farrow-Gillespie served as permanent briefing attorney for the late United States District Judge Barefoot Sanders. She later co-founded the law firm of Farrow-Gillespie Heath Witter LLP., one of the largest woman-owned law firms in Dallas, highlighting her commitment to empowering women in the legal field. Liza’s mission lives on through the winners of the Liza Farrow-Gillespie Intrepid Young Woman Scholarship, which has been awarded to Judge Barefoot students for the last four years.  The recipients of this year’s scholarships, Amy and Mikayla, embody the vision of awarding intrepid and resilient young women. As Amy prepares to attend Southern Methodist University and Mikayla gears up to attend New York University, both to pursue careers in law, and  exemplify the scholarship’s values of confidence and fearlessness in pursuing their ambitions to make life better for everyone around them. To support the Liza Scholarship Fund, please donate here, choose to give a Tribute gift, and enter “Liza” in the Tribute Information. About Dallas Education Foundation The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) is a registered 501(c)(3) and serves as the direct and designated philanthropic partner of Dallas ISD. With a mission to inspire community investment to accelerate student success, DEF focuses on economic mobility by supporting early learning, advancing literacy, driving post-secondary success, and catalyzing our educators. To learn more, go to https://dallasedfound.org and follow us @dallasedfound on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. About Dallas ISD The Dallas Independent School District is continually preparing its 140,000 students for college or a career. The district offers a competitive mix of innovative programs, choice programs and instructional initiatives that support the increased academic achievement and the social and emotional development of its students. To learn more, visit www.dallasisd.org. https://youtu.be/XNtnzZd7eHU?si=m9E9F7YiFEncV5i3

DALLAS, TX – Joe V's Smart Shop donated a book vending machine this week to Dallas Independent School District’s McNair Elementary School. The vending machine is stocked with 500 free books for elementary-age learners. This donation, in partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation, comes just in time for students to select a book of their choice to enjoy during the summer. "Fostering a love of literacy is essential in guiding our students from learning to read to reading to learn. We are grateful to Joe V's Smart Shop for their investment in our children. With their support, students at McNair have a creative way to build their home libraries and cultivate their passion for reading," said Dr. Tanya Shelton, Associate Superintendent Region IV, Dallas ISD.                           This donation is part of a new Joe V’s initiative where a book vending machine will be gifted to a local school in honor of each Joe V’s Smart Shop grand opening in the Dallas area. The first Joe V’s Smart Shop in Dallas, located at 4101 W. Wheatland Rd., is slated to open on Wednesday, June 12.  “Reading to children early and often provides so many benefits and results in a child better prepared for school,” said Christa Aldrich, H-E-B Public Affairs, Education Initiatives. “We are dedicated to supporting literacy by providing easy and affordable access to books and by placing books in the hands of children through programs like the Joe V’s Book Vending Machine.” According to the US Department of Education, children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading. The book vending machine is an excellent tool aimed at closing the reading gap. Students at McNair Elementary will have an opportunity to select a free book of their choice. Joe V’s will regularly re-stock the book vending machine.      "A book vending machine not only advances literacy on campus, it creates excitement around reading and enhances the culture. We are grateful to Joe V's Smart Shop for their partnership in providing engaging books to the students at McNair Elementary,” said Mita Havlick, Executive Director, Dallas Education Foundation.  About Joe V's Joe V’s Smart Shop by H-E-B is an innovative price format that delivers a uniquely curated assortment of community-focused products, and the high-quality, fresh products H-E-B is known for at even lower prices. Joe V’s Smart Shop is committed to delivering the lowest prices in the marketplace with the highest quality fresh products for its customers, also fondly known as Smart Shoppers.   About Dallas Education Foundation The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) is a registered 501(c)(3) and serves as the direct and designated philanthropic partner of Dallas ISD. With a mission to inspire community investment to accelerate student success, DEF focuses on economic mobility by supporting early learning, advancing literacy, driving post-secondary success, and catalyzing our educators. To learn more, go to https://dallasedfound.org and follow us @dallasedfound on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. About Dallas ISD The Dallas Independent School District is continually preparing its 140,000 students for college or a career. The district offers a competitive mix of innovative programs, choice programs and instructional initiatives that support the increased academic achievement and the social and emotional development of its students. To learn more, visit www.dallasisd.org.

DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Education Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024-2025 Heart of Teaching Grants. The awards will be presented during a media event on May 30, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the lobby of the Dallas ISD Central Office building at 9400 North Central Expressway, with all grant...