Tag Archives: partnership

HISD Business and Community Partners Recognized by the Texas Association of Partners in Education

Nine Houston ISD business and community partners, Volunteers in Public Schools volunteer George W. Black, and HISD’s State of the Schools event were recently recognized by the Texas Association of Partners in Education.

The winners were announced last week at the Texas Association of School Administrators’ Midwinter Conference and Education Expo in Austin. HISD’s partnership with the Houston Food Bank was one of two partnerships that received the highest honors in all categories.

HISD Strategic Partnership General Manager Caleen Allen said HISD is very proud of its partners for being recognized on the state level.  “Their commitment to the district and increasing student achievement is undeniable,” said Allen. “The knowledge, resources and innovative programs they bring to the district continue to make a major difference academically and socially in the lives of our children.”

The Texas Association of Partners in Education provides leadership and expertise for schools, families, businesses, and communities to build partnerships that enhance student success.

Here is a list of the winners:

TAPE Community Partnership Awards

  • Academic Impact:                 Prepared 4 Life
  • Career Education:                  City of Houston
  • STEM:                                          Bernard Harris Foundation
  • Health                                         Houston Food Bank
  • Art                                                Houston Ballet

TAPE Business Partnership Awards

  • Career Education                    Port of Houston Authority
  • STEM                                            Comcast

TAPE Partnership Awards

  • Mentor                                        Steed Media Group (Rolling Out)
  • Volunteer                                  Target

TAPE Special Events Award

  • Special Event                            State of the Schools

TAPE Individual Volunteer Award

  • Wisdom                                      George W. Black

HISD Announces Partnership with Trees for Houston

The Houston Independent School District and Trees for Houston have announced a partnership to plant trees at several HISD campuses.   The Board of Education approved the partnership earlier this year.  The joint effort will support HISD’s ongoing commitment to promote green schools and eco-friendly academic environments.  On some campuses the trees will be watered by irrigation systems that use rainwater collected from school rooftops.

Trees for Houston will deliver a variety of drought tolerant trees to the schools at no cost to HISD.  Volunteers with the organization will also plant the trees on some campuses.

“We’re pleased HISD is joining with Trees for Houston to not only improve the aesthetics for these campuses but to teach students about the importance of protecting our environment,” said HISD Board of Education President Michael Lunceford.

HISD Trustee Harvin Moore who has been a big supporter of the unique partnership said school campuses serve as learning environments, parks, and natural oases in an urban setting.  “Trees are important to all of us, and as one of Houston’s largest property owners, HISD can make a big difference in keeping Houston green,” Moore said.               

Trees for Houston is a non-profit organization dedicated to planting, protecting, and promoting trees.  Its Trees for Schools program was developed to provide and plant much needed trees on Houston- area school campuses.

The organization’s Executive Director Barry Ward said the partnership is a great example of two organizations working together to accomplish more than either could alone.  “This program provides a vital improvement to the environment as well as the economic viability to the school campus and surrounding community,” said Ward.

Trees for Houston has planted more than 430,000 trees to benefit the Houston community in the past 29 years.

HISD to Honor Partnership Champions with 2012 Hall of Fame Inductions

HISD will be celebrating three of its long-standing community partners by inducting them into the district’s 2012 Hall of Fame during the annual Partnership Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, October 5 at 8:15a.m. at the Royal Sonesta Hotel (2222 West Loop South).

This year’s honorees, KBR, Port of Houston Authority, and Prepared 4 Life,will be recognized for their continued support and efforts to provide extra resources and opportunities for HISD students.

“We depend on our community partners to help us better serve our students and provide them opportunities that will prepare them for the workforce,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said.  “They are vital to the success of the children in Houston.  We can’t thank them enough for their continuous commitment to helping Houston’s students.”

The 2012 event’s theme, “Partnership Champions,” will recognize the partners’ efforts to go above and beyond to help HISD students achieve their dreams through their collaboration.

The KBR partnership began with the original HISD-Halliburton partnership in the 1980s.  This partnership provides HISD with volunteers and financial contributions as well as support for organizations that help the district’s students.  The KBR Discover Engineering group has volunteered for HISD programs as judges for science fairs, Youth Inventors’ Showcases, HISD/KBR Science Teacher Award, and FIRST Robotics Competitions.  KBR is known for its three year commitment of $25,000 per year beginning in 2009 for the KBR Science Teacher of the Year Award. 

The Port of Houston Authority began its partnership with HISD in 1986.  Since then, the partnership has evolved to focus on encouraging students to pursue career opportunities in maritime transportation or associated fields.  Thousands of students have taken tours of the Ship Channel on the Sam Houston inspection boat.  The cornerstone of this partnership is the maritime program at Austin and Yates high schools.  Students participating in the maritime program have the benefit of dual course credits, field trips, internships, college scholarship opportunities and maritime industry themed forums. Students also participate in the Port of Houston Authority/Texas Southern University summer transportation academy program and the Boy Scouts of America’s Venturing program.

Prepared 4 Life has been an HISD partner since 2005.  The partnership began with after-school activities offered at select middle schools to instill life skills, character education and self-reliance.  An E-mentoring program was later implemented to help students as well. Prepared 4 Life is noted for sponsoring Lemonade Day which began in 2007 and offers students entrepreneurial experience by encouraging them to select lemonade stand sites while schools choose to have school, grade-level, or classroom stands.  To extend the entrepreneurial experience to more students, Serving Up Lemonade was implemented in 2010 for sixth-grade students and expanded the next year to include seventh-grade students.