Life High School Oak Cliff News & Notes

• Board of Directors Approves $1.5M in Pay Increases

  Life School is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has approved the allocation of approximately $1,500,000 for increases in staff salaries for the 2022-2023 school year. This allocation will result in an average increase of 5% for certified teachers, $750 increase for non-certified teachers and 2% increase for all other Life School staff.

• Charter School Pioneer Life School Celebrates 25th Anniversary

  In 1995 the Texas Legislature authorized the establishment of charter schools in Texas. Just 3 years later in 1998, Life School opened its doors in Oak Cliff, TX, with a small team of 15 staff members to serve 266 students. Sparked by the vision of Dr. Tom Wilson, the school was established to “provide a quality education and give parents educational choice regardless of their ability to pay.” Today, Life School employs more than 600 staff and serves more than 5,500 students across the Dallas area.

• Continued Safety Efforts at Life School

  Dear Life School Families,

  Ensuring the safety and security of students and staff is always Life School’s top priority. Last year, we formed the Life School Safety & Security Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing and approving Life School’s Emergency Operations Plan as well as makes recommendations for necessary security improvements across our district.

  As a result, Life School has spent the past year making significant improvements and investments toward keeping our students and staff safe while on campus. Some of the recently enhanced safety and security measures include:

  • Increased security presence on all campuses
  • Improved access control on several campuses
  • Additional security cameras at multiple campuses
  • Upgraded radios and communication on campuses

  The Life School security team has been working closely with local law enforcement in the communities in which all of our campuses are located. If we should encounter an emergency situation, these agencies are prepared to provide the necessary support to our campuses. Additionally, Life School has expanded our integrated school safety software system, Raptor, to include emergency management and communication capabilities.

  All of these efforts allow Life School and local law enforcement to respond quickly and efficiently in the case of any campus emergency. 

  Every month our security team publishes a security bulletin to inform you of any security updates and provides resources for parents and teachers to help keep our students and staff safe. Please be sure to stay up to date with all security measures by clicking here.

  We hope everyone has a safe, fun and relaxing spring break! We look forward to finishing the year strong when we return!

  Sincerely, 

  Dr. Brent Wilson, Ed.D.
  Life School Superintendent

• Dr. Alissa Russell Selected for Teach Plus Policy Fellowship Cohort

  Reprinted with Permission from Teach Plus

  Teach, Plus, a national teacher leadership organization, has selected 50 demonstrably effective teachers from around Texas for its 2023-2024 Policy Fellowship cohort. The Fellows, all of whom are classroom teachers, will focus on a range of issues of importance to Texas’ students and communities, including equitable school funding, diversifying the teacher workforce, teacher preparation for effective educators, the mental health of educators and students, and high-quality instructional materials.

  Read more >> Teach Plus Texas Names 50 Highly Effective Teachers To Its Seventh Cohort of Policy Fellows

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  Life School is a tuition-free, public charter school with campuses in Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Mountain Creek, Red Oak, Oak Cliff and Waxahachie, TX. Life School develops leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community. Its mission is accomplished in part through the financial support of donors who provide scholarships and embrace making students ready to learn, ready to lead and ready for life.

  Parents who are interested in enrollment can visit lifeschool.net/learn-about-life. Partners who would like to support Life School financially can give online at lifeschool.net/give.

• Education Foundation Raises $71,000 in Fairways for Life

   More than 120 golfers teed off during Life School's eighth annual Fairways For Leaders (FFL) Golf Tournament on June 13, raising $71,000 for the Life School Education Foundation (LSEF). This year marked a record year with the most funds raised, surpassing the previous 2016 record by $11,000. More than 45 businesses and individuals participated to support Life’s Schools mission – to develop leaders through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community.

• How to Save a Seat Before the Lottery at Life School

  With the launch of a 4-day school week, Life School has attracted quite a bit of interest in the Dallas area. The district already serves families from 47 cities, and this fall may experience longer wait lists than normal. However, there is a strategic way for new families to save a seat for August enrollment and avoid long waits when the summer rush hits, and it requires urgent action.

• LHSOC Students Serve Others through World Vision Partnership

  In September, Life High School Oak Cliff (LHSOC) National Honor Society (NHS) students modeled the school's mission by partnering with World Vision to complete service projects.  World Vision is a humanitarian organization working to help communities lift themselves out of poverty. Part of the organization's work includes supporting schools, churches and shelters.

• Life High School Oak Cliff Names Cole Orrick New Head Football Coach

  Life School Oak Cliffhas named Cole Orrick as its new Head Football Coach, effective January 4, 2022. 

• Life High School Oak Cliff National Honor Society Awarded Grant from Carter Blood Care

  Life High School Oak Cliff (LHSOC) National Honor Society (NHS) is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $500 grant from Carter Blood Care, a leading nonprofit blood center serving North, Central, and East Texas. This remarkable contribution will benefit the NHS Lions Chapter at LHSOC's ongoing mission to foster academic excellence, community service, and leadership among its members.

• Life Partners with Texas State Technical College for Occupational Skills

  Beginning in August 2023 Life School will partner with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to provide occupational skills training for high school students at Oak Cliff and Waxahachie campuses. The partnership supports Life School’s commitment to help students become “ready for life” through college, career or military readiness.

• Life School and Mentors Care Partner for Student Success

  Preparing students to be “ready for life” is a top priority for Life School, a charter school district serving more than 5,000 students in the North Texas Area. The district is now partnering with a like-minded partner, school-based mentoring program Mentors Care. Together, they will help students graduate and prepare them for what comes next – life.

• Life School Appoints New Members to the Board of Directors

  Life School, a public charter school district operating in North Texas, has recently appointed three new members to serve on the Board of Directors.

• Life School Athletics Keeps Students on Winning Track

  Life School is one of the few charter school districts that competes in UIL activities. As an open-enrollment district, students come to Life School from all over the Dallas area. And while winning on the field is fun, it’s not the main driver of success taught at Life School.

• Life School Athletics Names April 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During April 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Michael Boyefio and Heath Askew for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names April Coach Spotlight Honorees

  During April's Coach Spotlights, Life School's athletic department recognized Braylon Birdowand Jasmine Sanchez for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names February 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During February 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Thomanique Hubbard and Chris Collett for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names February Coach Spotlight Honorees

  During February's Coach Spotlights, Life School's athletic department recognized Cole Orrick and Alexandria Scales for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names January 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During January 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Lena Lilly and Jennifer McCord for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names March Coach Spotlight Honorees

  During March's Coach Spotlights, Life School's athletic department recognized Welton Johnson and Logan Houser for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names November 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During November 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Ashley Jackson and Caleb Veteto for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names October 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During October 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Andrew Duzyk and Colten Oder for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names September 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During September 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Nicholas Perkins and Haleigh Boyce for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Athletics Names September 'Coaches Spotlight' Honorees

  During September 'Coaches Spotlight,' Life School's athletic department recognized Lauren Wright and Michelle Martin for their sacrifice of time and passion for Life School athletics.

• Life School Begins Partnership with Texas State Technical College for Occupational Skills Training

  This school year, Life School began its partnership with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to provide occupational skills training for high school students at Oak Cliff and Waxahachie campuses. The partnership supports Life School’s commitment to help students become “ready for life” through college, career or military readiness.

• Life School Earns Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating

  Life School officials announced that the district received an “A” rating for “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ 2020-2021 Charter FIRST financial accountability rating system.