Weekly Teacher Download for January 13

HAABE Teacher of the Year Competition: The Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE) has invited the district to participate in the annual HAABE Teacher of the Year (TOY) Banquet, which means elementary, middle and high school campuses may select one Bilingual and/or one ESL Teacher of the Year to represent their campus. The HISD TOY Bilingual and ESL representatives will then compete at the Houston-area level for HAABE Bilingual and ESL Teacher of the Year. Each year, HAABE recognizes outstanding bilingual and ESL educators from Houston. For detailed information, please view application packet. Nominations and recommendation letters must be submitted by January 31.

ALL TEACHERS

President Awards for Excellence in Teaching: The National Science Foundation, under the direction of the White House, approves the Texas candidates as finalists for the national Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) award. This year’s awards will honor science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers working in grades K-6. To nominate a teacher, by March 1, visit Texas State PAEMST Coordinators at TX_Paemst@Tea.Texas.gov. For Texas nominees who submit an application, they will receive 25 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours. If chosen as a national winner, the state finalists will receive $10,000 and an all-expense-paid trip for two to Washington D.C. for ceremonies that include recognition from the President of the United States. For more information, click here.

Inaugural Arts Integration Summit: The HISD Fine Arts Department is presenting the inaugural Arts Integration Summit at Wharton Dual Language Academy on Saturday, February 8 from 9 A.M.-1:00 P.M. The sessions will provide opportunities for elementary and secondary foundation teachers to develop art-focused lesson plans that create opportunities to check for understanding (I-2) and differentiate (I-3) their instruction within a student-centered lesson (I-1). Arts Integration practices build on good teaching strategies and can provide seasoned teachers opportunities to expand their teaching toolkit and growing teachers to work on areas of their craft in a supportive and engaging manner. Teachers that are preregistered and attend the summit will receive arts integration supplies and resources for their classroom. Please encourage your teachers to register in OneSource, course #1440087.

Multilingual Programs PD: In collaboration with Seidlitz Education and ELLevation Education, Multilingual Programs will offer Sheltered Instruction and Instructional Strategies Professional Development in January and February for teachers who serve English Learners.  The goal is to equip all teachers who serve the needs of English Learners, Newcomers, and SIFE students with the best research-based practices. Participants will leave equipped with simple and flexible strategies for daily use to engage all students across content areas in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking in every classroom.For more information and OneSource course numbers, click here.

Foundational Courses EL Teachers: In an effort to increase our support for ELs, the Multilingual Department will provide important information and strategies for teachers to implement in their classrooms. Teachers will understand the foundational and essentials in English Language acquisition. Click here to view dates, locations and OneSource course numbers.

Referral Campaign for APs and Deans: The Leadership Recruitment team is launching an AP/Dean Candidate Referral Campaign for assistant principals and deans. If you know an exceptional candidate who would be a great assistant principal or dean for an HISD school, submit an assistant principal referral form to the campus leadership and selection team by January 31.  All candidates nominated will receive information about the campus leadership selection process as well as instructions on how to apply to the HISD Assistant Principal Pool. Candidates must posses a valid Texas Principal Certification and have a minimum of three years exemplary teaching experience.

ELEMENTARY

Literacy X3 REBOOT: In partnership with Scholastic, the Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Office will provide and facilitate a two, non-consecutive, full-day trainings for the district’s Literacy X3 Reboot beginning January 13 through May 7 at HISD Educational Learning Center (10725 Mesa Dr., 77078). All kindergarten through third-grade teachers will attend one dull-day of professional learning to build core knowledge around Guided Reading which includes an emphasis on early word work skills and setting up an engaged literacy focused classroom in January or February. Teachers will attend the professional learning sessions with their grade level band.  Schools may choose to stagger the teachers in attendance or send them on the same day in grade level teams for both rounds of professional learning. For more information, click here.

SECONDARY

Early Release PD Offerings: For spring 2020, the Secondary Curriculum and Development department will continue offering professional development sessions during early release Fridays.  The sessions will focus on “planning instruction with mastery in mind” with the sessions kicking off January 17 from 2-4 p.m. at Deady Middle School (2500 Broadway St., 77012), Scarborough High School (4141 Costa Rica Rd., 77092), and South Early College High School (1930 Airport Blvd., 77051). The January training will include sessions with a special emphasis on Grade 8 Social Studies, Biology, and Algebra I. The February training will include sessions addressing all five STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) examinations. Teachers and campus leaders can find detailed information on sessions and course numbers, here.

Upcoming CTE Trainings: The CTE department is hosting several professional development opportunities for January 2020.  Automotive teachers are encouraged to register for “WIGU Competition” to discuss a great opportunity for students to compete in April. Teachers are encouraged to register in OneSource, course #1440020.  Workforce Solutions will deliver a training on resume writing for the workforce, where participants will learn strategies for developing resumes for students as they prepare for employment.  Those interested, can register in OneSource, course #1441011.  STEM teachers are encouraged to register for a two-day event to enhance their skills in AutoCAD in OneSource, course #1440103.  All teachers are encouraged to attend a one-day training on sheltered instruction and literacy routines for English learners in OneSource, course #1441024.  For more information, click here.