School of Government, Law, & Law Enforcement
The Judge Barefoot Sanders Magnet Center for Public Service, Government, Law and Law Enforcement at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center (also known as Law Magnet) is a college preparatory magnet high school in the Dallas Independent School District. The school was renamed after Judge Barefoot Sanders in 2010.
In the spring of 2007, Robert L. Giesler, the longest serving principal of the Law Magnet, announced that he was retiring. While the school board tried to find a permanent principal, Lucy Livingston, served as the intern dean at the school. In March 2008, Mr. Anthony Palagonia, was appointed as the Law Magnet Principal. Mr. Palagonia had been Assistant Principal at Richardson High School and had been associated with the Richardson Law Magnet in various capacities for 20 years. In addition to bringing his experience in magnet schools, Mr. Palagonia brings his experience as a former practicing attorney and city court judge. He left in 2014, and there was a sub-principal for 2014-2015. In 2015, Mr. Dang became the permanent principal.
Although the Law Magnet does not offer competitive sports, unfortunately (students have the option of competing under their local area high school), the school has a wide selection of competitive academic organizations. These include, but are not limited to: SkillsUSA (also known as VICA), Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, Mock Trial, Close Up Foundation, TAFE, One Act Play and Destination ImagiNation.
Notable alumni have attended respectable institutions of higher education such as: The University of Texas, Brown University, Hampshire College, MIT, UPenn, Georgetown, Smith, Stanford, University of Chicago, Notre Dame, Wellesley, SMU, Texas A&M, University of Texas at San Antonio, Yale, Cornell, St. Mary's Law, SMU Law
Several alumni of the school have gone on to become lawyers and federal law enforcement professionals. One alumnus even ran for U.S. Congress.
The school has recently established a foundation known as the Friends of Dallas Law Magnet High School. Its purpose is to raise funds to support existing programs and fund other opportunities for Law Magnet students.
In 2012, it was ranked 5th out of the top 10 high schools in North Texas by Children at Risk, a research and advocacy institute dedicated to helping children.
The school has two sections, Criminal Justice, and Government. Students have the option to enroll in either one.
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Coordinates: 32°45′08″N 96°48′24″W / 32.752186°N 96.806722°W