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Weekly Teacher Download for February 15, 2021

2021 February 11
by HISD Communications

ALL TEACHERS

The HISD COVID Student Engagement Survey launches today, February 15, for all students in grades 4-11. Students may access through a link placed prominently in the HUB and have through Sunday, February 28, to complete it. The survey is not timed and should take students 5-10 minutes. It should be done in a structured environment—at home or at school—and can be done on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. For more information, see this flyer.

Student responses are confidential but not anonymous. The survey asks students about their experiences with virtual and/or in-person learning, and about any supports they may still need to be successful with their schoolwork during and beyond the pandemic. The survey will be administered in English and Spanish. Principals may share the linked document with school staff, as it contains information on the survey and strategies to encourage student participation. Principals are also encouraged to communicate with families about the survey using the sample statement on the attached document. HISD is collaborating with Rice University’s Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC) to administer the survey and expects to have results by April 2, 2021.

Leadership Recruitment and Leadership Development will host the virtual Next Level Leadership Summit, LEARN. LEAD. LINK, on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more about leadership through the lens of central office and campus leaders. Lead yourself to more opportunities, and link yourself with like-minded individuals. Interested internal and external participants can register and see available sessions here. Leaders will hear from live speakers and learn from professional development learning sessions and live modeling of virtual and traditional learning best practices. The event will kick off with welcoming remarks by Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan and Human Resources Chief Julia Dimmitt. For more information, see this flyer.

Special Education

 Big Ideas In SPED:  All teachers (general educators and special educators) are strongly encouraged to enroll in the OSES Campus Instructional Support (2020-2021) HUB course to access instructional resources, Special Education updates, and professional development recordings and session materials related to supporting students with disabilities. To get started, click here.

 With the highest percentage of Students With Disabilities (SWD) receiving instruction in the general education classroom, the OSES has developed several sessions that examine specific strategies to support SWD and ways to instruct them to ensure you are addressing their skill deficits, as well as teaching grade level standards. For OneSource course numbers and info on sessions, click here.

 Part 2: Antiracism and Social Emotional Learning. Goalbook, the web-based resource that provides academic and behavior strategies, will host the second of a three-part webinar series focused on using their resources to create an antiracist learning environment so that all students succeed. Click on the date below to register. Please contact jander13@houstonisd.org or call 713-556-6844 with questions. February 25  at 12:00 p.m. CST

Strategy and Innovation
HISD is seeking innovative project proposals from educators
for HISD By Design, a new program aimed at funding innovative projects and programs from educators that directly impact student achievement. The application deadline is March 24, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Informational webinars will be held on Feb. 16 and March 9 at 6 p.m. For more information, see this flyer. To learn more about HISD By Design, visit HoustonISD.org/HISDByDesign.

Social and Emotional Learning
Please join SEL for Live Student SEL Lessons every Friday on topics such as coping skills, anxiety, mindfulness, relationship skills, and more. Teachers may click on the link for their session of choice in real time with students. There are separate sessions for elementary and secondary students. Also, please join the SEL Relaxation Corner for self-care techniques each Monday and Wednesday for online sessions scheduled for the lunch hours. Scan the bar code on the attached SEL Relaxation Flier or visit the SEL Google Training Site to access the Relaxation Corner sessions. No registration is required.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Join the Early Childhood Lead Teacher Meeting #4 on February 16 or 18 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. (course #1448099). Participants will meet regularly to facilitate communication between each campus and the Early Childhood Department. Lead teacher meetings will provide current information regarding district/state issues and district initiatives as well as professional development opportunities.

Soccer Starts at Home with Houston Dynamo and Dash. HISD has partnered with Houston Dynamo and Dash to provide virtual classes for early childhood students and their families with the Soccer Starts at Home Program (SSAH). We encourage every pre-K and kinder teacher to attend a training to learn about this free program and its benefits, as well as strategies to encourage parents to participate. Join the trainings on February 17 or 24 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. (course #1449038). This targeted preschool program will focus on building the brain-body connection for students, reinforcing and building brain pathways, and reinforcing parent-child bonds. It will also provide training for pre-K, kinder, and physical education (PE) elementary teachers on the research behind physical and cognitive development in young children, age-appropriate “ball mastery” exercises, and techniques on how to engage parents.

The Early Childhood Team is excited to announce its first Early Childhood Virtual Conference on February 27 from 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join them for various breakout sessions that will address the domains of instruction in Early Childhood to build a unique and innovative learning experience. Click here to see the offerings. 

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education

Visit the HUB for HISD Career Readiness resources and weekly announcements. Also, visit the HISD Career Readiness website for this week’s CTE News Bulletin. Scroll through the CTE February Professional Development Calendar for trainings, webinars, and more. Please see below for amazing skills training, internships, college and career support, and job opportunities from GENESYS WORKS. And the Society of Women Engineers Houston Area Scholarship Application is now open! Details below.

Save the Date: When I Grow Up, the ninth annual career expo for HISD students in grades K-12, is going virtual this year. Set for 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, it features hands-on career exploration, summer job opportunities, raffles, prizes, and entertainment. See this flyer for more information.

Increase rigor in CTE by increasing academic vocabulary in CTE courses and discussing what it means to add rigor in the classroom. See this flyer to register for the TEAMS course on Feb. 22.  An Introduction to CTE Online Auto Curriculum: Auto Lab 2 and TEK Alignment is being offered on Feb. 23 at 3:30 p.m. See this flyer for more information.

February is CTE Month. The Seniors to Success 2.0 virtual town hall hiring event takes place on Feb. 25 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. and student registration is required. A link for the TEAMS meeting will be sent after registering. For more information, email Carolina Cano at ccano@houstonisd.org or Echos Blevins at echos.blevins@houstonisd.org.

Join us for a CTE Month Mini Session. Graduating seniors can explore career opportunities with industry partners in the Gulf Coast Region. Seniors can also expand their knowledge of careers in the military and aviation industry, and engage with business leaders to learn about out-of-the box careers that will help them earn more. Join us for a live TEAMS event on Feb. 18 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at http://bit.ly/2Lyoy4Q.

Inform juniors about corporate internships that pay students $10 per hour during their senior year. They need to apply now to Genesys Works, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of teens. Deadline is March 5. More info in this story.

Now that CTE teachers have taken the OSHA 30 onboard training, please join OSHA for a Phase I check-in on Feb. 17 or Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m. to receive new updates and ask questions you may have regarding the OSHA 30 process. More info here.

Free digital learning on the tech skills of tomorrow. Students need earlier access to industry content that exposes CTE students to potential careers in STEM. For more information visit ptech.org/open-p-tech/ or contact our Business Development Team. See this flyer for more information.

Help students find the right job. See this flyer for Employment and Training Opportunities for Youth Ages 16-24 from Workforce Solutions—Northline. They can help students get or keep a job or get a better job, train for an in-demand career, obtain their GED and/or find funds for college, and get on the path toward financial stability.

The Society of Women Engineers-Houston Area Section (SWE-HA) wants to recognize the amazing work that Houston area students do and encourage females to pursue engineering related fields. See this flyer and visit their website to find out about the scholarships offered and encourage students to apply by March 1.

CTE Career Tip Tuesdays: CTE teachers, encourage your students to join CTE career advisors every second and fourth Tuesday during February for sessions led by expert professionals and educators on how to stand out from the crowd and become a competitive job applicant. This month’s topics are Preparing for a Job Fair and Virtual Interview 101. See this flyer for more information.

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