Nominations Accepted Now 

The Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce is soliciting nominations for its annual Teacher of the Year Award. The purpose is to recognize educators K-12 who are providing outstanding education for their respective students. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and novel programs that are serving to improve and promote education. The deadline for submitting nominations and applications is Sunday, March 31, 2024.

There will be awards for public and private elementary, middle and high schools in the East Dallas area of Dallas. A total of six awards will be presented. Each recipient will receive a $250 cash prize and each school represented will receive $250 as well.

Nominations are being solicited today! The awards will be presented at a cocktail reception on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at St. John’s Episcopal School located at 848 Harter Road.

All nominations will be submitted online.

Below are the criteria for the nominees:

NOMINEE ELIGIBILITY
Individuals employed as full-time classroom/laboratory/ teachers and coaches are eligible recipients for this award.

CRITERIA

1. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:  The nominee demonstrates instructional expertise, creativity, and innovation. The nominee uses a variety of techniques to effectively address students’ different learning styles and needs. The nominee is an instructional leader at the local, state, and/or national level.
2. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:  The nominee frequently interacts with community members on substantive education issues. The nominee identifies and helps to bring community resources to students in both formal and informal settings.
3. LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  The nominee continually engages in experience to improve his or her practice and to gain new skills and knowledge. The nominee shares this new learning with colleagues in a variety of venues. The nominee’s participation in and commitment to professional development has a visible impact on his or her institution, student and community.
4. ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY: The nominee works to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of differences. The nominee recognizes and explicitly addresses the full array of values, cultures, and experiences represented in our diverse modern society, both through curriculum and instruction and in other interactions with students.

Deadline: March 31, 2024

Online nomination forms are available:  www.eastdallaschamber.com

For further information: 214-328-4100
Email to: president@eastdallaschamber.com 

General Admission tickets for the 66^th Annual Junior Symphony Ball (JSB)  - "Purpose with a Party" are SOLD OUT and several hundred names are on the wait list. The Steering Committee consists of over 800 students and there are just a few of those tickets still available on the website starting at $395. Visit  https://www.dallassymphonyleague.com/Junior-Symphony-Ball-Steering-Committee

Over 2,500 high school students from 35 schools are expected to attend the event set for Saturday, January 27^th at Gilley’s from 7:30 – 10:30 pm. The JSB is a “Purpose with a Party” fundraising event where high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors come together and celebrate with an evening filled with live music, dancing, professionally staffed gaming tables, raffles, prizes and refreshments. Chris Ferrara and The Common Good will headline the JSB when the band takes over the iconic Gilley's Dallas for the night of music and dancing.

The night will begin with DJSC, the exclusive DJ for The Dallas Cowboys. DJSC, also known as 13LACKBEARD, has also opened for Snoop Dog, Chris Stapleton, and Taylor Swift, to name a few. He has a bigger than life personality and is known by fans as the “ultimate hype machine”.  “The fans love him –he hits every major genre-and the feel-good energy at his shows is awesome to experience.”

JSB headliner, Chris Ferrara is one of the hottest acts in Nashville and is the headliner at Nashville Barstool almost every Friday and Saturday night. His combination of city boy swagger and country boy soul with be just the right mix for an energetic and exciting night for these Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors!

JSB is in its 66th year and is the longest running fundraiser of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League (DSOL), supporting DSO outreach programs such as the Young Strings program and the Young Musicians program. It was founded with the concept of “student-led, parent-guided” leadership. While JSB has evolved in scope and participation size, it has always been a high school student fundraising event for the DSO hosted by area 10^th-12^th grade high school students and their parents. JSB has grown over the decades from just a handful of participating schools to over 35 at the 2023 event which raised a record amount of $415,000.

The 2024 Co-Chairs represents schools across Dallas: Cara Lichty, Episcopal School of Dallas; James Sutherland, St. Mark's School of Texas; Kate Fagan, The Hockaday School; Cash Nix, Highland Park High School; Ela Austin, Ursuline Academy; Ashton Krug, Jesuit College Prep of Dallas; Adelaide Boisture, Parish Episcopal School; Baker Trent, Bishop Lynch High School; Caroline Woram, Highland Park High School.

Their supportive and proud moms are: Suzanne Austin, Jenny Lichty, Ashley Boisture, Jonika Nix, Dana Woram, Holly Krug, Lauren Sutherland, Aimee Fagan, and Katy Trent. 

Follow JSB on Social Media

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JSBdallas/
Instagram @jsbdallas

Photo by Jenny Watts Photography

Key to photo:

Front row: Adelaide Boisture, Parish Episcopal School; Kate Fagan, The Hockaday School; Ela Austin, Ursuline Academy; Cara Lichty, Episcopal School of Dallas; Caroline Woram, Highland Park High School.

Back Row: James Sutherland, St. Mark's School of Texas; Ashton Krug, Jesuit College Prep of Dallas; Cash Nix, Highland Park High School; Baker Trent, Bishop Lynch High School.