Category Archives: HILZ

HISD School Choice Fair Offers Parents Opportunity to Explore Education Options for Students

Representatives from more than 70 HISD schools will be on-site

April 25, 2013 – When it comes to selecting a school, parents and students at the Houston Independent School District have a multitude of options from magnet programs to preschool programs to career and technical education academies and early college high schools.  Houston families will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 70 HISD schools at the upcoming HISD School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

“In HISD, we are committed to providing equity in access to quality educational programs for all students,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat.  “We want to help families choose an ideal school for their children based on the students’ interests, talents, and needs.”

The schools at the fair are those that still have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year.  The representatives from these schools will be available to answer questions, provide detailed information about their campuses and help parents fill out the application on site.

Information will be provided about HISD’s magnet schools, early colleges, vanguard programs for gifted and talented students, preschool programs, multilingual programs and other specialty programs, including the district’s newest additions to its portfolio, the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan and The Energy Institute High School.   Parents and students have until May 16 to apply for these two new magnet schools that will feature a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For more information about the School Choice Fair, please contact the Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.

HCC Professors Teaching at HISD Schools (w/ video)

At first glance it may look like a typical classroom at Scarborough High School, but at the head of the class is a college professor. “I tell them that when they enter this room it is not Scarborough High School but Houston Community College,” said HCC Professor Suni Diaz.

Diaz and other professors from HCC are teaching HISD students this summer as part of the Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) academies that opened this month at Scarborough and five other campuses, including the Long School, Furr, Kashmere, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools.  The new academies offer students career training as well as the opportunity to earn career certifications and a college associate’s degree.

“It has all the benefits of college and it’s free,” said James Jackson, who is taking his first college class this summer as part of Scarborough’s HILZ Academy for Network and Computer Administration. “It was an amazing opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

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Education leaders tour Apollo 20 campuses to see how HISD is incorporating technology

Some of America’s most innovative education leaders gathered at the Houston Independent School District’s headquarters on March 19 for the second meeting of the League of Innovative Schools.

Fondren Middle School Principal Charles Foust (far left) explains to members of the League of Innovative Schools how his campus is using technology to drive instruction.

Designed to give educators a chance to dramatically increase student achievement through the wise use of technology, the league was launched by President Barack Obama in 2011 in tandem with Digital Promise, a new national education center created by the Congress and the U.S. Department of Education.

Superintendents from across the country attended the Houston meeting, where they—along with dozens of respected researchers and entrepreneurs—adopted the league’s membership charter, took part in break-out sessions on various topics, and toured one of five Apollo 20 campuses to see how HISD is using technology to drive instruction.

“Mr. McNairy, one of our history teachers, can get instant assessments and download data to his grade book immediately using the Classroom Performance System,” explained Fondren Middle School Principal Charles Foust, “while Ms. Perry can be anywhere in the classroom and her writing will appear on the SMART Board up front.”

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HISD hosts Career and Technical Education College Fair

HISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department, in partnership with the College and Career Readiness Department, is hosting a Career and Technical Education (CTE) College Fair  at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092) from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m today.

Students and their parents can discuss career options with representatives from various two-year colleges and technical and vocational institutions. Information will be available on several fields of study including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Automotive Services
  • Computer Technology
  • Cosmetology
  • Health & Medical Services
  • Hotel & Restaurant Services
  • Law Enforcement
  • Manufacturing
  • Military
  • Technology
  • Welding

Board unanimously approves creation of HILZ campuses at six HISD high schools

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to draw students back into six neighborhood high schools with strong Career and Technical Education programs.

The Board endorsed the plan after hearing from several parents who voiced support for the strategic investment that will strengthen community high schools.

Students at Furr, Kashmere, Long, Scarborough, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools will be able to enroll in the newly created Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) programs beginning this summer. By the time these students graduate high school, they will have earned a college associate’s degree and valuable career certifications to help them immediately land lucrative jobs in some of the region’s most in-demand professions.

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Board of Education votes today on career-training program for six HISD high schools

The HISD Board of Education is scheduled to vote today on a plan to draw students back into six neighborhood high schools with strong Career and Technical Education programs.

The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street.

Under this proposal, the School of Pharmacy Technology at Long would prepare students for the growing pharmaceutical industry by providing them with the clinical and business skills needed to work successfully alongside pharmacists and physicians.

If the program is approved, students at Furr, Kashmere, Long, Scarborough, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools would be able to enroll in the newly created Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) programs beginning this summer. By the time these students graduate high school, they will have earned a college associate’s degree and valuable career certifications to help them immediately land lucrative jobs in some of the region’s most in-demand professions.

“These HILZ programs take traditional vocational education to a higher level,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “HILZ graduates will leave our high schools with certifications that Houston employers seek when filling high-paying job vacancies. HILZ graduates will also have 45 to 60 hours of college credit from our Houston Community College partner. These credits will transfer to articulated programs at Texas universities, positioning HILZ graduates for success in a four-year college if they choose to forego an immediate career.”

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Trustees review agenda for Thursday’s board meeting

HISD’s Board of Education met to review the agenda for Thursday’s regular meeting. Here’s a link to the agenda:

Agenda for Feb. 9 board meeting

Superintendent Terry Grier is asking the board to approve creating career academies at six high schools that promise associate’s degrees and training. The Houston Innovative Learning Zone academies will be at Washington, Furr, Sterling, Scarborough, Kashmere, and Long.

Other highlights from the agenda review session:

  • Dr. Grier introduced HISD’s new chief high school officer, Orlando Riddick.
  • Chief Operations Officer Leo Bobadilla reports HISD has earned $117,000 so far from advertising on school buses.
  • More discussion about the new Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet at Gordon Elementary School. Current Gordon students may stay if they want to attend the Mandarin Chinese school. Here’s how to apply.

Check back for more updates, or follow @HoustonISD on Twitter.

 

HISD unveils plans for new certification program at Washington High School

Dr. Grier at the Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development luncheon .

Dr. Grier announced plans for the HILZ program at Washington High School.

The new program will offer students manufactory, engineering, and technology training and certifications

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier announced plans to create a new manufacturing, engineering, and technology program at Booker T. Washington High School during an Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development luncheon Thursday, Feb. 2.

The new program is part of a proposal to establish the Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) schools, which would offer students at six Houston ISD campuses the chance to earn associate’s degrees and receive career training in high-demand technical fields.

The proposed schools would be:

  • The School of Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Washington
  • The School of Electronic Engineering at Furr
  • The School for Process Technology at Kashmere
  • The School for Pharmacy Technology at Long
  • The School for Network and Computer Administration at Scarborough
  • The School of Logistics and Global Supply at Sterling

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