Downtown schools site to be named Nolan Estes Plaza

BY THE HUB

At their November board meeting, Dallas ISD trustees voted to name the future site of multiple schools downtown in honor of esteemed educator Nolan Estes, who served as the district’s superintendent for 10 years.

“We are going to build three new schools, and you will be able to go from pre-K through a doctorate degree and never leave downtown Dallas,” Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said, in discussing the future Nolan Estes Plaza.

Dallas ISD will be in charge of pre-K through 12th grade, Downtown Dallas Inc. will house a Montessori school for pre-K through 8, and Wright Lassiter Early College High School and CityLab will share a high school for grades 9-12.

“That will be the start of a renaissance of southern downtown Dallas,” Dr. Hinojosa said. “And, Dr. Estes, we just wanted to thank you for your courageous work.”

As superintendent, Dr. Estes successfully desegregated the school system and established a comprehensive network of magnet schools, charter schools and early childhood centers. He created business/industry/education partnerships, established district standards, a comprehensive system of accountability, decentralized management and an innovative leadership program, and administered a $500 million facilities improvement program.

Dr. Estes is an internationally known education leader. Appointed Associate U.S. Commissioner of Education during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s term, he served as a spokesman for educational policy for elementary and secondary education.

While in Washington, Dr. Estes worked with Congress in implementing the historic Elementary and Secondary Education Act. He also worked with the 26‐member‐nation Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France, to create an international forum of educators and policymakers.