Esmeralda Ortiz, manages the School Zone as part of Simmons’ Center on Communities and Education.

SMU rolls out a full media campaign, World Changers Shaped Here, that features one of Simmons’ staff members, Esmeralda Ortiz. She and a team of SMU faculty, staff and students are part of an important partnership in West Dallas, called The School Zone. It supports struggling students and their families by redefining the way schools and the social sector work together. Through tutoring, mentoring, arts programs and more, they hope to make an impact in neighborhood schools. Read article and view video.

The Dallas Morning News and The Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development present a panel discussion open to the public on “Developing Good Teachers,“ Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 7 p.m. at the Martha Proctor Mack Grand Ballroom in the Umphrey Lee Center on the SMU campus.

Moderated by Bill McKenzie, editorial columnist at The Dallas Morning News, the panel will discuss the essentials to effective teaching, how we can aid current teachers and how we can recruit talented ones. Panelists include La Tasha Bassette, DISD teacher; Kerri Briggs,  director, education reform, George W. Bush Institute; David Chard, dean of the Simmons School; and Charles Glover, chief of human capital management, DISD. Admission is free.

SMU donors, Annette Caldwell Simmons ’57 and Harold C. Simmons

Harold C. and Annette Caldwell Simmons have committed a new gift of $25 million to the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU. Their gift will fund a new building for the expanding programs of the school and support three new endowed academic positions. The new facility will be named Harold Clark Simmons Hall, in honor of Mr. Simmons, at Mrs. Simmons’ request. Read more here.

Sherril English, clinical assistant professor in the Dept. of Teaching and Learning, provides expertise for KERA’s story in its American Graduate series, “Meet the Class of ’17. Read or listen to story here.