DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - One thousand teachers went through orientation with Dallas ISD Thursday.
The district says many of the new hires are from Puerto Rico and other countries as part of an effort to grow the district's dual-language program.
"Forty-five percent of our students are English learners," says Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. "It's very important to us to have the talent available to be able to support those students in their journey."
Teachers have also come from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Spain.
"That helps when you have a teacher who speaks both languages. That lets them know it's okay. You don't have to be afraid of the language barrier because you're capable of doing it," says Jessica Toro, a teacher from Puerto Rico.
The district says 70 percent of students are Hispanic, 22 percent are African American and five percent are White.
"We live in a world where there's still racism, there's still discrimination," Toro says. "I, myself, encountered it when I first got here in a couple places. That's just ignorance. You're always going to bump into ignorance whether you're in school or out of school."
"I am concerned about the vitriol and the negativity and the hate that is being spewed by a few people," Hinojosa told the teachers. "But I don't focus on things I can't control. I'm very excited about the future."
Hinojosa says 70 percent of students are learning English as a second language. He says the district's merit-based pay is helping attract teachers.
Teachers in Dallas ISD can make up to $94,000, "but you've got to deliver."
"Part of that is a responsibility to do a good job," Hinojosa says. "We want to keep our very best teachers in our classrooms, and we want to reward them."
The first day of class in Dallas ISD is August 19.
