Go Irving School Choice Expo Answers Questions About District

Irving—The Go Irving School Choice Expo was presented at the Irving Convention Center on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Parents and students obtained information and asked questions of representatives from any of Irving ISD’s 36 elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Visitors to the expo could watch cooking demonstrations by Irving ISD culinary arts students,and robotics and drone students showing off their work.Expo attendees could also learn about careers in fields like aviation, dog grooming and training, and emergency services.

Irving ISD chief of marketing and communications Dr. Nicole Mansell saw Dallas ISD hold similar events during her tenure there before coming to Irving in 2018.

“To see this come to fruition, is simply incredible,” Mansell said. “To showcase what we have to offer our families live and in person, is an incredible feeling. There’s nothing like that in person feeling of being there, that interaction of folks. To be able to have this in person and to show our families this is what Irving ISD has to offer, is incredible.”

Other programs that parents could learn about were the district’s free pre-Kindergarten programs for children ages three and four, Irving ISD’s seven dual-language schools, and the district’s three choice schools.

“We have three application-based schools parents can apply to Singley, Singley Collegiate Academy, and South Irving Collegiate Academy,”Mansell said. “The application window opened [Nov. 11] and will run through Jan. 11.”

Parents can also apply online for these three schools.

Singley Academy offers programs in culinary arts, hospitality, health sciences, innovative technology, law, public service, and studio art. These programs are open to incoming freshmen and sophomores.

Singley Collegiate Academy, which is open to incoming freshmen, offers students the opportunity to earn an associate degree in arts or science, participate in community service projects and the chance to attend college-level classes at Dallas College North Lake Campus.

South Irving Collegiate Academy, the newest of the three choice schools, will open its doors to its first class of incoming freshmen in August 2022. Students can earn an associate degree in teaching or science.

“The many opportunities we have for our students [is the greatest thing about our district],” Mansell said. “All you have to do is dream big, and we will have something that will interest them. Whether they are interested in aviation, want to get an associate degree before graduating high school, whether they want to be a cosmetologist, have pre-K for your child, we have something for every child. That’s what makes it so great.”

Dr. NeTassha Rendón is the principal at Brandenburg Elementary, which in August 2021 was one of two Irving ISD schools named a Professional Learning Community (PLC) Model School by Solution Tree.

“We’re representing our school, telling parents anything they want to know about Brandenburg Elementary,” Rendón said. “I’m here as a parent but also as a principal. My own two children go to Brandenburg, so I’m a huge fan of our school. I lead as mom and as a principal.

“We really have passion for instilling learning. We want kids to love coming to school.I am so passionate about our dual-language program. I think it’s amazing you can have a student come for pre-K and by fifth grade they’ll be fluent in English and in Spanish. That prepares them for a job in the future and college. I love to speak about that and the quality of our teachers. Our teachers are top-notch. They know how to reach students where they’re at.”