Tag Archives: HISD Superintendent Terry Grier

Texas commissioner of education praises North Forest schools in HISD

In December, Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams visited schools in the former North Forest school district, which was annexed into HISD in July 2013. The decision to make the schools part of HISD was his, and as he states in a Houston Chronicle opinion piece, he hoped for a “wholesale transformation.” The visit confirmed that his hope is being realized.

“The North Forest High School campus looked remarkable,” Williams wrote. “As I walked through the halls and peered into math classes, tutoring sessions and graduation labs, I found students and teachers actively engaged in learning.” Continue reading

Board of Education approves mascot policy update

Mascots at affected schools will be respectfully retired, replaced during the 2014-2015 school year

On Thursday, the Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted 7-0 with one abstention and one member absent to approve the second reading of a policy update to prohibit the use of any race or ethnic group as a mascot or nickname.

This policy update affects four schools — Lamar High School Redskins, Westbury High School Rebels, Hamilton Middle School Indians and Welch Middle School Warriors.

During the 2014-2015 school year, each school will be required to select a new mascot and respectfully retire its existing mascot. HISD administration will work closely with the affected schools to help them retire their mascots with respect and dignity, taking into consideration the history and tradition surrounding them.

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