Life High School Oak Cliff competed in its very first University Interscholastic League (UIL) Cross-Examination (CX) debate tournament on January 16 at Brookhaven College. Not only was it the school’s first debate tournament – but the team did so well in its inaugural UIL competition that they qualified for the state UIL debate tournament that will be held March 16-17 in Austin at The University of Texas at Austin.

“The district tournament was the first competition we have ever competed in,” said Alissa Russell, mathematics department head and debate team sponsor at Life High School Oak Cliff. “We really went to learn the ropes and be better prepared for next year. I am excited for our team and the final results. We are looking forward to the state competition.”

The Life High School Oak Cliff debate team consists of four students, including three seniors: Adaryah Kidd, Carlos Perez and Danyelle Williams; and one sophomore, Vanessa Ramirez.

“UIL debate competition motivates students and provides them with practical application for the skills they are developing,” said Jana Riggins, UIL State Debate Director. “This year’s debate topic prompted students to research and form their own thoughts and opinions on the real-world issue our government is challenged with: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce Direct Commercial Sales and/or Foreign Military Sales of arms from the United States.”

Students who advance to the debate elimination rounds in the state competition qualify for Texas Interscholastic League Foundation (TILF) scholarships. Since its inception in 1959, the TILF has provided more than $32 million to more than 20,000 students. Amounts of scholarships range from $500 for one year to $20,000 over four years. This year TILF will disperse more than $1 million to more than 600 students.

About Life School

Life School opened as an open enrollment, public charter school in 1998 and has campuses in Carrollton, Oak Cliff, West Dallas, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Red Oak, and Waxahachie. Life School’s mission is to develop leaders through strong academics, character training and partnerships with parents and the community. Life School prepares students to be Ready to Learn, Ready to Lead, and Ready for Life. It’s not just school. It’s LIFE.

Kate’s Books Donates 1,300+ Books to Life School Mountain Creek

Books will help spread literacy in the community and help children develop a love of reading.

Life School’s Strategy for Success: Preparing Students for the Rest of Their Lives

Charter District Prioritizes Academic Excellence and College, Career & Military Readiness

In 2020, more than 60% of Texas jobs will require some college education (a Certificate, 2-Year Associates, or a Bachelor’s Degree) but unfortunately, today less than 30% of Texas high school graduates earn a post-high school credential within six years of graduation. Life School – a Dallas-area public charter school district with 10 schools including six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools – is making strides to overcome this challenge through academic excellence, leadership training and a focus on College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR).

“As educators, our main job is to prepare our students for their future lives so they are successful in whatever they choose to be or do,” said Life School Superintendent Dr. Brent Wilson. ““With a mission to develop leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community, it is our duty to prepare our students for the next step in life so they are successful whether they choose to go directly into the workforce, join the military or work toward a degree at a 2-or-4-year college.”

District outcomes show the efforts are working. Life School, which serves the communities of Carrollton, Dallas, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Red Oak and Waxahachie, recently received an overall B rating in the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Accountability Ratings System and an A for its College, Career and Military Readiness program. Perhaps most importantly, both Life High Schools have a 100% high school graduation rate.

Research shows that a primary part of being prepared for what comes next is being able to read at grade level by third grade. Life School takes this research to heart as evidenced by its strategic goal that, when met, will ensure all students are reading on grade level by the time they reach third grade.  Training resources through the Teachers College at Columbia University, along with increased access to books and reading programs for students will help Life School students meet this important milestone.

Hand-in-hand with academics, an important part of the education Life School provides is character training through its LifeLeader program.  Developed based on more than 20 years of practical research, observation and experience, Life School teaches 15 attributes that represent skills or knowledge necessary to be an effective leader. These attributes include qualities to ensure that all Life School’s students are ready to learn, ready to lead and ready for life.

Armed with this strong foundation, Life School students are able to explore what the future holds through its top-rated College, Career and Military Readiness program. Thanks to CCMR, in 2019, 22 Life School students received their Associate degree along with their high school diploma and 55 medical certifications were awarded to graduating seniors.

Life School CCMR coordinator Leigh Dopson develops the CCMR curriculum and provides support to the educators leading the CCMR program, ensuring they have the resources needed to help students achieve their goals. This includes equipment for Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes like Health Science, Audio/Visual, Education Training, Business, Information Technology and STEM. CTE classes provide hands-on and technology-based activities and are designed to help students evaluate individual interests and abilities and begin exploring related career opportunities while also building skills. By taking CTE classes in high school, students can then earn certifications to start their career upon graduation.

“With CTE we are getting them ready for their careers,” said Dopson, who has been at Life School for six years. “We are exposing them to the expectations they are going to find in the real world.”

Dopson notes that Life School is unique because it pays for certification exams, equipment and resources. “Removing this financial barrier makes it easier for our students to complete the necessary certifications to become employable in the workforce.”

About Life School

Life School opened as an open enrollment, public charter school in 1998 and has campuses in Oak Cliff, West Dallas, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Red Oak, Waxahachie and Carrollton. For ten consecutive years, Life School has received the Texas Education Agency’s highest rating in School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for charter schools. Life School’s mission is to develop leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community.

The Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) named Dr. Alissa Russell the Teacher of the Year at the 2016 Texas Charter Schools Conference earlier this month. Dr. Russell of Life School’s Oak Cliff campus, received her award at a luncheon with keynote speaker Governor Greg Abbott and Deputy Commissioner A.J. Crabill in attendance.

“On behalf of TCSA, I congratulate Dr. Russell for this well-deserved award. Teachers are the backbone of our schools and critical to the success of students. It is vital that we celebrate the hard work of teachers like Dr. Russell who invest their lives in students,” said David Dunn, Executive Director for TCSA.

Dr. Russell is an educator with 13 years of teaching experience who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. She uses Socratic Seminar, differentiated group modeling, and peer partnership grouping as innovative instructional practices in her mathematics classroom. She works to ensure each student in her classroom receives a customized instructional approach based on his or her individual needs. Dr. Russell is the secondary mathematics department head and works as an instructional coach for her peers to maximize instructional effectiveness. Additionally, she is a committed volunteer within her community.

“Dr. Russell has served the students of the Life School Oak Cliff campus for the past eight years with dedication and commitment. She serves as a sponsor for the senior class, National Honor Society, as well as the Step Team. She has a heart for students,” said Brent Wilson, Superintendent of Life School. “Life School is proud of Dr. Russell’s accomplishments. Dr. Russell has been named Life School’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, Oak Cliff Chamber Teacher of the Year and now Texas Charter Schools Association Teacher of the Year. Congratulations Dr. Russell!” 

This is the first year for TCSA’s Teacher of the Year program, which honors one outstanding educator from across the State of Texas. The award recognizes charter educators who advocate for charters at the local level, are innovative in their approaches to educating all students, and serve as a leader on their campus and within their community. TCSA is the statewide membership organization for effective charter schools of all types, representing nearly 250,000 students at 629 open-enrollment charter school campuses.

About Life School
Life Schoolopened as an open-enrollment public charter school in 1998 and has campuses in Oak Cliff, West Dallas, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Red Oak and Waxahachie. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Life School earned the highest rating of five stars from the Texas Comptroller Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST), which recognizes school districts and campuses for excellence in resource allocations that contribute to high academic achievement and cost-effective operations. Life School’s mission is to train leaders with life skills for the 21st century by establishing strong academics, character training and a parenting program.

The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce recently named Life High School Oak Cliff teacher Dr. Alissa Russell its 2016 High School Educator of the Year during a ceremony at Dallas City Hall on April 14.

“I have had the privilege and pleasure of working alongside Dr. Russell at Oak Cliff Secondary and I can honestly say that I have met few people as uniquely talented in teaching as Dr. Russell,” says Elmer Avellaneda, the school’s principal. “Dr. Russell has been a positive influence to many of our students at our Oak Cliff Secondary campus. In all the time I have known her she has excelled in demonstrating character, creativity, and has communicated effectively as a visionary leader.” 

Dr. Russell, a secondary school teacher at Life School Oak Cliff since 2009, is known for her commitment to her students and the energy and responsibility she brings to her work. In 2015, her students achieved 100% passing rate on the TAKS and STAAR, and she was in turn named Life School District Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“I have seen many students return to the school just to let Mrs. Russell know that her refusing to give up on them has made a big difference in their life and encouraged them to continue their education,” says Avellaneda. “Her doctoral project was to develop a Parental Learning Community (PLC) to increase parent participation in the educational process and has been used by many education experts as a guiding tool for implementation of PLCs.”

About Life School

Life School opened as a public charter school in 1998 and has campuses in Oak Cliff, Mountain Creek, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Red Oak and Waxahachie. The Texas Education Agency awarded Life School its highest rating of Superior Achievement. Life School’s mission is to train leaders with life skills for the 21st century by establishing strong academics, character training and a parenting program. To learn more about Life School, visit www.lifeschools.net.

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