Dallas ISD Dedicates Arturo Salazar Elementary School In West Oak Cliff
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District officials joined the Salazar family, community, parents, students, and local elected officials Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 for the dedication of Arturo Salazar Elementary School, 1120 South Ravinia Drive.
Board of Trustees Vice President Jerome Garza and General Superintendent Michael Hinojosa addressed the gathering. The new school’s Ballet Folklorico performed, along with the Jaguar Mariachi Band of Moisés Molina High School.
“Our community was in great need of another elementary school to offer a quality level of education to our children,” said Salazar Principal Jennifer Parvin. “We are overjoyed that Dallas voters listened to the community and gave us this beautiful new school.”
Salazar, located in West Oak Cliff, is named after former Dallas ISD educator and principal Dr. Arturo Salazar, who laid the foundation for technology improvements in Dallas schools in a career that spanned 26 years, including time spent as executive director of the district’s Career and Technology Education Department. Salazar was instrumental in securing funding to implement career and vocational programs throughout the district, and advocated for technology improvements in secondary schools.
When not helping school children, Salazar was helping adults file citizenship papers, improve their English skills, and get their GEDs through the Dallas ISD Adult Basic Education Program. He also reached out to help struggling adults in Garland, Carrollton and Irving.
“Arturo Salazar was a true Hispanic hero because he cared about the future of our children, their families and about improving life in their communities,” said Trustee Jerome Garza. “He would be proud to see that the West Oak Cliff community is getting a $12 million school with a strong focus on technology. The school is equipped with four computers in each of the 46 classrooms and features a fully-equipped computer lab. Students will leave Salazar Elementary with a solid grasp of computer technology that will prepare them for middle school, high school, and college.”
