DALLAS – School is back in session for the second-largest school district in Texas, and the Dallas Mavericks were on hand Monday morning to bring encouragement to students and teachers at one exceptional Dallas ISD elementary school.
This year the Mavs have committed to adopting Adelle Turner Elementary School through the end of the 2023 school year as part of the Mavs Take ACTION! plan.
The multi-year Mavs Adopt-A-School program will allow the franchise to support the students and teachers by providing them with resources and encouragement to make it a successful year for everyone.
“We are so excited to adopt Adelle Turner as the Mavs school,” said Katie Edwards, who is the Dallas Mavericks Senior VP of External Affairs. “We are going to walk alongside with the school leadership, students and families for many years to come and support them in whatever they might need.”
“Under our Mavs Take ACTION initiative, we are investing in education with our Adopt-A-School program,” Edwards continued. “As a predominantly Black school in an underserved area, we are honored to walk alongside with Turner in their education journey and help them be the best they can be.”
Adelle Turner Elementary is among the 41 Dallas ISD schools hitting the classroom a week earlier to provide special learning opportunities for children who might have missed out during the pandemic.
Students will have more personalized attention in smaller groups, giving them an added week of one-on-one learning. The majority of DISD students and teachers return to the classroom next week.
To celebrate the adoption and the first day of school, the Mavericks and Jefferson Dental & Orthodontics, the official dentist of the Dallas Mavericks, hosted a back-to-school event Monday morning to welcome students back to Adelle Turner Elementary.
Each child received a new Mavs backpack, notebooks, and other team swag; all 350 students also received donated dental kits provided by Jefferson Dental & Orthodontics. The Mavs ManiAACs, Champ, and MavsMan all joined in the festivities to hand out the goodies to the students.
Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall was also on hand for the celebration, along with Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Deputy Superintendent Susan Cordova and other community leaders.
“Welcome back to the first day of school,” Marshall eagerly told the children as they clutched all their new Mavs gear.
“We will all be working together (at the Mavs) to give you whatever you need and walk alongside you, whether it’s support, tools, technology, or other resources. It’s whatever you need. We want to say thank you to all the teachers for the homeland security work you do every day and the parents…this is truly one of the best days of the year.”
The Mavs Adopt-A-School program is part of the Mavs Take ACTION! plan to address racial inequities and disparities, promote social justice and drive sustainable change in Dallas/Fort Worth.
The adoption of Adelle Turner Elementary School, a predominately Black Dallas ISD school with a high percentage of low-income students, supports investment in education by nurturing the community and building quality relationships with school leadership, classrooms, and students.
“I’m so proud of you for being back early, so we can catch up on our learning,” Dr. Hinojosa told the students. “The Dallas Mavericks are going to provide support for you all year long. We have 230 schools, and they picked Adelle Turner to give the biggest love.”
Principal Natalie Crittendon is especially eager to lead Adelle Turner Elementary School this season because she attended the very same school as a child. She said that returning to the classroom during a pandemic is a challenge, but with nearly 90% of her teachers vaccinated, she’s hopeful that students and teachers are doing the best possible to stay safe.
Having the support of the Dallas Mavericks is a bonus for the students and teachers alike, Crittendon said.
Many teachers arrived Monday morning decked out in Mavericks blue to celebrate the big day. A special Dallas Mavericks jersey with Adelle Turner Elementary stitched across the back is displayed in the middle of the front entrance for students to see each day.
“I am so excited to be here, and we’re going to have a great school year,” said Crittendon. “I’m looking forward to everyone doing their best, so we can learn our best because our kids are superstars.”
At the end of the celebration, Marshall gave the students some parting words and advice: “Learn something every day. Be kind to each other every minute. And listen to your teachers. Welcome to the first day of school!”
2021 DALLAS MAVERICKS BACK-TO-SCHOOL INITIATIVES
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