Dallas’ Educational Impact: Legacy and Opportunities in Public Schools

Toni Molina, the principal at James S. Hogg New Tech Center, reflects on the lasting impact educators have on their students. “I always look at our students and tell the staff that every day they come in, they’re part of somebody’s history,” Molina stated. She emphasized the transformative role educators play, remarking, “We’re changing somebody’s history every day we show up.”

Molina’s own experiences underscore her insights. A graduate of Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD), she attributes her education and the opportunities it afforded her family as pivotal. “The first teacher I can actually recall is my first-grade teacher, Ms. Welsh,” she recalled. Growing up in a challenging economic environment, Molina found safety and belonging in Ms. Welsh’s classroom.

Molina began her education at Gabe P. Allen New Tech Academy and graduated from Moisés E. Molina High School. Her children are now following a similar path within Dallas ISD, marking another chapter in the family’s educational legacy. Two of her children are alumni of Molina, while her youngest daughter is currently a freshman at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Reflecting on her family’s journey, Molina observed, “My parents got their GEDs, but they didn’t go to college. The progression, not only for myself but my children, Dallas ISD has been part of that change.” Her family’s story features a significant milestone with a Hispanic male relative recently becoming the first to graduate from college on her maternal side.

Initially aspiring to be an accountant, Molina realized her passion lay elsewhere, leading her back to Dallas ISD as a teacher and eventually a principal. “I had some office jobs, but they weren’t for me,” she remarked about her earlier career experiences. Her path toward education began in private schools, but she felt a strong pull to serve her community through public education.

Molina’s approach as a principal at Hogg involves fostering a strong school community. Drawing on her background in sports, she promotes school spirit and unity. “One thing I always ask is ‘what are we’ and ‘what represents us’,” she shared. The school’s identity as the Razorbacks is more than just a name; it’s a symbol of resilience and tenacity. “We’re really focused on what the characteristics of a razorback are,” Molina explained. “If you ask our students, it means we’re resilient, we’re tenacious. We don’t give up.”