HISD | Employee News: HISD’s news for district employees

ALL TEACHERS

Social and Emotional Learning
Thank you, educators, for the opportunity to visit with you weekly and provide Social and Emotional Learning information to support you throughout this past school year. Please remember that the “Let’s Stay Connected” mental health hotline at 713-556-1340 will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the summer. The hotline provides social, emotional, and psychological supports to students and parents who feel the need for assistance. All callers may remain anonymous. Trained staff from Social and Emotional Learning are available to offer counseling and mental health education and make referrals in English and Spanish. Students may also text 741-741 should they need assistance from the Let’s Stay Connected Hotline.

All HISD staff members have access to the Employee Assistance Program, ComPsych, which is offered at no cost to employees. To learn more about how your EAP benefits can help you and your family with many of life’s challenges, call ComPsych Guidance Resources EAP at 1-833-812-5181. You may also access Guidance Resources Online and link to vital information, tools, and support, including articles, podcasts, videos, slideshows, on-demand trainings, and “Ask the Expert” personal responses to questions. Log on to www.guidanceresources.com and use the Web ID HISD. Feel free to forward the Weekly Teacher Download to a friend, coworker, or teammate within HISD, as we want to ensure all staff have access to SEL resources. Please remember to be extra kind to yourself. You deserve it!

Application for TIA Teacher Design Committee: HISD is working on a new program to help recruit, retain, and reward educators, and we need your help.  HISD is applying for the TEA’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program that aims to help districts boost student success while also increasing salaries for our highest performing teachers. Part of the application process calls for the development of a local designation system to help us identify our top educators. As teachers, your feedback throughout this process is essential to ensuring we create an equitable and effective system. To capture and implement teacher feedback, we are creating a Teacher Design Committee, which will consist of teachers with experience in various grade levels and subject areas. The group will meet monthly beginning this August. If you’re interested, submit an online application by June 18, 2021. We encourage you to apply for this committee, as your feedback and participation are vital to developing a successful program. Should you have any questions, please email TIA@HoustonISD.org.

Leadership and Teacher Development

HISD has partnered with UHD to present an opportunity for K-12 teachers to obtain an online graduate certificate in leadership. The certificate provides preparation for aspiring leaders to be ready for an array of K-12 roles at the school and district level. Students in this certification program do not have to have their teaching certification to apply but must have earned a bachelor’s degree (any subject). Please see this flyer for additional information. Contact Angela Milon at angela.milon@houstonisd.org or 713-696-3047 with any questions.

Special Education
Save the date for the Seventh Annual Special Education Conference July 20-22. See this story for details.

Multilingual
Registration is now open for the third annual multilingual symposium, “The Blueprint: Engineering Foundations that Build Academic Language,” June 25 and June 26, 2021. The deadline to register is June 24, 2021. See this story for more information.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education
Please see the CTE Summer 2021 Professional Development Calendar. It includes professional learning opportunities, self-paced courses through OneSource, summer workshops, and conferences for CTE educators. Visit the HUB for weekly Career Readiness updates, resources, and announcements. See the 2021 Region 4 Distance Learning Event Schedule now throughout the summer. A couple highlights:

• Don’t miss out on the largest CTE virtual PD event of 2021! Last year’s iCEV event was a huge success, and this year there will be even more speakers, sessions, and prizes! So, mark your calendars for July 27-29 and see this flyer for more information.
• CTE Assessments, Learning Objectives, and Aligning Instructional Strategies: Participants will receive an overview of oral language proficiency and things to consider when differentiating and planning for instruction in CTE classes. The OneSource course (ID 1451010) is self-paced and can be taken any time. See this flyer for more information.

ALL TEACHERS

Chief of Staff
Application for TIA Teacher Design Committee now open. HISD is working on a new program to help recruit, retain, and reward our exceptional educators, and we need your help.  HISD is applying for the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program that aims to help districts boost student success while also increasing salaries for our highest performing teachers. Part of the application process calls for the development of a local designation system to help us identify our top educators. As teachers, your feedback throughout this process is essential to ensuring we create an equitable and effective system. To capture and implement teacher feedback, we are creating a Teacher Design Committee, which will consist of teachers with experience in various grade levels and subject areas. The group will meet monthly beginning this August. If you’re interested, simply submit an online application by June 18, 2021. We encourage you to apply for this committee, as your feedback and participation are vital to developing a successful program. Should you have any questions, please email TIA@HoustonISD.org.

Leadership and Teacher Development

HISD has partnered with UHD to present an opportunity for K-12 teachers to obtain an online graduate certificate in leadership. The certificate provides preparation for aspiring leaders to be ready for an array of K-12 roles at the school and district level. Students in this certification program do not have to have their teaching certification to apply but must have earned a bachelor’s degree (any subject). A second informational meeting will be held on Thursday, June 3, at 6:00 p.m.  Register for the informational meeting at http://bit.ly/EDLJUNE3 using the passcode EDL6. Please see this flyer for additional information. Contact Angela Milon at angela.milon@houstonisd.org or 713-696-3047 with any questions.

Social and Emotional Learning
The national Sandy Hook “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System” continues to provide 24-hour services for teachers and students in HISD.  The Sandy Hook “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System” will be available for teachers and students during the summer months until the beginning of the new school year. Please refer to this flyer and share with your students how to report tips anonymously. Please click on Sandy Hook-SEL Google Site to learn more about Sandy Hook in HISD.   

Special Education
Save the date for the Seventh Annual Special Education Conference July 20-22. See this story for details.

Multilingual
Registration is now open for the third annual multilingual symposium, “The Blueprint: Engineering Foundations that Build Academic Language,” June 25 and June 26, 2021. The deadline to register is June 24, 2021. See this story for more information.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education
Please see the CTE Summer 2021 Professional Development Calendar. It includes professional learning opportunities, self-paced courses through OneSource, summer workshops, and conferences for CTE educators. Visit the HUB for weekly Career Readiness updates, resources, and announcements. See the 2021 Region 4 Distance Learning Event Schedule for now through the end of the summer. A few highlights:

• How do you check for student understanding during CTE instruction? Join this OneSource course on June 16 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. to learn how to ensure your students are getting it. See this flyer for more information.
• Explore Open P-TECH, a digital learning platform by IBM in these OneSource courses June 22 and June 29 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. More details in this flyer.
• Join this free Ranch Life Summer Workshop sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center on June 24 from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. During this virtual event, Hank the Cowdog will introduce you to life on a ranch. See this flyer for details.

ALL TEACHERS

Chief of Staff

Application for TIA Teacher Design Committee now open. HISD is currently applying to the TEA’s Teacher Incentive Allotment and is in the process of designing the local designation system that will be used to designate teachers for increased compensation from the state. Our goal is to create a representative group of educators whose experiences span grade levels and subject areas. If you are interested in helping design a fair, responsive, and effective system that will be used to designate highly effective teachers, please complete the application linked here by June 18. If you have any questions, email TIA@HoustonISD.org or visit the HISD TIA page. Click here to apply.

Leadership and Teacher Development

HISD has partnered with UHD to present an opportunity for K-12 teachers to obtain an online graduate certificate in leadership. The certificate provides preparation for aspiring leaders to be ready for an array of K-12 roles at the school and district level. Students in this certification program do not have to have their teaching certification to apply but must have earned a bachelor’s degree (any subject). An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, May 27, at 6:00 p.m. Register for the informational meeting at http://bit.ly/EDLHISD using the passcode EDL4. Please see this flyer for additional information. Contact Angela Milon at angela.milon@houstonisd.org or 713-696-3047 with any questions.

Social and Emotional Learning
Students may be struggling to stay focused right now. Desautels (2019), author of “Connections Over Compliance,” suggests that Focused-Attention Practices teach students how to breathe deeply while focusing on a particular stimulus. When learners engage in these practices it is a little like being more awake: there is less anxiety and more action. The goal is to start with one-minute sessions and build up to five minutes. Consistently taking a few minutes a day to engage in priming activities can increase emotional regulation, attention, and problem-solving in young learners. Please see SEL Google Training Site for more SEL practices.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. Please share the Let’s Stay Connected Mental Health Hotline information, which provides emotional, social, and psychological support to students and parents who feel the need for assistance. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 713-556-1340. All callers may remain anonymous. Trained staff from Social and Emotional Learning are available to offer counseling and mental health education and make referrals in English and Spanish. Visit the SEL Google Training Site for more information such as the SEL Relaxation Corner, SEL Blog, and SEL Training Resources.

Academics
Friday, May 28, has been designated a teacher professional development or preparation day. All students will participate in at-home virtual learning on May 28. In-person instruction will only be available to students without internet accessibility or access to appropriate digital learning device. This instruction will be offered at the student’s regular campus. For complete details, see this story.

Special Education
Save the date for the Seventh Annual Special Education Conference July 20-22. See this story for details.

Multilingual
Registration is now open for the third annual multilingual symposium, “The Blueprint: Engineering Foundations that Build Academic Language,” June 25 and June 26, 2021. The deadline to register is June 24, 2021. See this story for more information.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education
Please see the May 2021 CTE Bulletin Vol. IV regarding how to submit your CTE Teacher of the Month entry, CTE student highlights, professional learning opportunities, workshops, conferences, job opportunities for youth, and other CTE resources. See the bulletin for information on a 2021-2022 certification planning open lab on May 28, a panel and introduction to Junior Achievement for grade 9-12 CTE teachers, and training May 28 on advanced Microsoft Excel tips for secondary CTE teachers. Please view the May 2021 Professional Development Calendar, including OneSource courses, where CTE teachers can receive one hour of credit. Visit the HUB for weekly Career Readiness updates, resources, and announcements. Join CTE on May 20 for Career and Military Singing Day. See this story for more details. See also the 2021 Region 4 Distance Learning Event Schedule effective throughout the summer.

Career Tip Tuesday is a series of short informative career videos for students to help them learn helpful tips to support their employability skills and prepare for post-secondary goals. Teachers and students can subscribe to the CCR YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/hisdCareerTipTuesday to receive updates as new videos are released the second and fourth Tuesday of the month during the school year. The videos for May are “New Employee Orientation” and “Paycheck 101.”

EMERGE

EMERGE is recruiting current 10^th graders through May 31, and students can apply at http://bit.ly/emergeapp23. EMERGE recruitment sessions will be held twice a week virtually through Sat., May 29. Students can sign up at calendly.com/emergerecruitment. See this flyer and this brochure for more information. For questions or information on EMERGE, visit houstonisd.org/emerge or contact EMERGE Student Recruiter Bethany.Okezie@houstonisd.org.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Early Childhood

Prekindergarten and Kinder Enrollment Videos. Share these promotional videos with your campus administrators so they may be added to your campus website:
English: How to Enroll in Pre-K or Kindergarten at HISD
Spanish: Cómo inscribir a su hijo in prekínder o kínder en HISD

Summer School Trainings: May 28 has been allocated for teacher professional development and planning. The Early Childhood team is suggesting that PK teachers who will be teaching summer school spend the day completing the CIRCLE Assessment observable subtests and attending these mandatory summer school trainings:

• EC_ English Summer School for Pre-K Teachers (mandatory training), course #1452197 SO: 1818932 (virtual), 8:30-10:00 a.m. Participants will gain knowledge regarding instruction for Pre-Kindergarten students participating in summer school.
• ML_ Summer School training for teachers of PreK English Learners, course #1441410 SO: 1817001 and 1817002 (virtual), 8:30-10:30 a.m. Participants will gain knowledge regarding required documentation and instruction for teaching a PreK class for English Learners.

ALL TEACHERS

Congratulations to the 2020-2021 HISD Teacher of the Year finalists and the Beginning Teacher of the Year winners! Twelve educators have been named the 2020-2021 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year finalists, and two teachers have been named the Beginning Teachers of the Year. See this story for details.

Social and Emotional Learning
When was the last time you went 24 hours without technology? While the pandemic has driven many of us to spend more time on our devices to work, attend school, connect with loved ones, and perhaps get essential items like groceries, when was the last time you took time off from technology? Taking a break can provide us with the opportunity to check in with ourselves and ask:

• How am I doing, REALLY?
• What is one way I can connect with myself and/or my loved ones this week?
• What can I let go of that is no longer serving me?
• What can I let go of that is getting in the way of my growth/health/healing/etc.?
• What are five things that I am grateful for (asking daily)?
• Have I been letting myself feel what is happening in my life? If not, what am I avoiding?

Technology-free time is a time to find stillness, pay attention to your needs with kindness, and listen to what you need to process, heal, and grow. We know that when we feel good, that feeling permeates our lives and impacts our ability to be present with families, friends, colleagues, and school communities. So, consider putting your technology away and giving your full presence. Signs you may need a technology break include:

• You feel stressed if you can’t find your phone
• You feel the need to check your device every few minutes
• Your emotional state is affected after spending time on social media
• You are afraid of missing information when not using your device
• You lose track of time when on your
• Change in concentration level due to checking devices

If it is still too difficult, it may be time to talk to someone. The HISD Employee Assistance Program provides eight free counseling sessions, per issue, per year. To learn more about how your EAP benefits can help you and your family with many of life’s challenges, call ComPsych Guidance Resources EAP at 1-833-812-5181. You may also access Guidance Resources Online and link to vital information, tools, and support, including articles, podcasts, videos, on-demand trainings, and “Ask the Expert” responses to questions. Log on to www.guidanceresources.com and use the Web ID HISD. This is provided at no cost to all HISD employees. You can find additional information on the Benefits website here.

Academics
Friday, May 28, has been designated a teacher professional development or preparation day. All students will participate in at-home virtual learning on May 28. In-person instruction will only be available to students without internet accessibility or access to appropriate digital learning devices. This instruction will be offered at the student’s regular campus. For complete details, see this story.

Multilingual
Registration is now open for the third annual multilingual symposium, “The Blueprint: Engineering Foundations that Build Academic Language,” June 25 and June 26, 2021. The deadline to register is June 24, 2021. See this story for more information.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education
Please see the May 2021 CTE Bulletin Vol. III regarding how to submit your CTE Teacher of the Month entry, CTE student highlights, professional learning opportunities, workshops, conferences, job opportunities for youth, and other CTE resources. See the bulletin for information on a 2021-2022 certification planning open lab on May 28, a panel and introduction to Junior Achievement for grade 9-12 CTE teachers, and training May 28 on advanced Microsoft Excel tips for secondary CTE teachers. Please view the May 2021 Professional Development Calendar, including OneSource courses, where CTE teachers can receive one hour of credit. Visit the HUB for weekly Career Readiness updates, resources, and announcements. Join CTE on May 20 for Career and Military Singing Day. See this story for more details. See also the 2021 Region 4 Distance Learning Event Schedule effective throughout the summer.

Career Tip Tuesday is a series of short informative career videos for students to help them learn helpful tips to support their employability skills and prepare for post-secondary goals. Teachers and students can subscribe to the CCR YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/hisdCareerTipTuesday to receive updates as new videos are released the second and fourth Tuesday of the month during the school year. The videos for May are “New Employee Orientation” and “Paycheck 101.”

EMERGE

EMERGE is recruiting current 10^th graders through May 31, and students can apply at http://bit.ly/emergeapp23. EMERGE recruitment sessions will be held twice a week virtually through Sat., May 29. Students can sign up at calendly.com/emergerecruitment. See this flyer and this brochure for more information. For questions or information on EMERGE, visit houstonisd.org/emerge or contact EMERGE Student Recruiter Bethany.Okezie@houstonisd.org.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Early Childhood

Prekindergarten and Kinder Enrollment Videos. Share these promotional videos with your campus administrators so they may be added to your campus website:
English: How to Enroll in Pre-K or Kindergarten at HISD
Spanish: Cómo inscribir a su hijo in prekínder o kínder en HISD

Summer School Trainings: May 28 has been allocated for teacher professional development and planning. The Early Childhood team is suggesting that PK teachers who will be teaching summer school spend the day completing the CIRCLE Assessment observable subtests (see below) and attending these mandatory summer school trainings:

• EC_ English Summer School for Pre-K Teachers (mandatory training), course #1452197 SO: 1818932 (virtual), 8:30-10:00 a.m. If your campus is offering PK summer school for English-speaking students, this mandatory session will walk you through the curriculum documents they have created, as well as the required documentation. (This is not the Multilingual summer school training for bilingual, ESL, and dual language teachers.)  
• ML_ Summer School training for teachers of PreK English Learners, course #1441410 SO: 1817001 and 1817002 (virtual), 8:30-10:30 a.m. Participants will gain knowledge regarding required documentation and instruction for teaching a PreK class for English Learners.

Circle EOY Assessment

The CIRCLE EOY Assessment window is open through June 4, so start preparing all the items necessary to make this administration a successful one for you and your students. Feel free to visit the CIRCLE Assessment Folder inside our Early Childhood Guide HUB Course to find virtual administration guidance. Below are a few reminders as you plan for the assessment:

• If you are requesting that a student be added or removed, the change must first be made in PowerSchool Connect before the PK specialists can make changes in the CLI rosters.
• Use the this link to submit requests to update/make changes in your CLI rosters. 
• If you are a 50/50 dual language teacher or if there are two or more teachers at your campus who will be assessing a group of students, reach out to the specialists listed below to request access to share students’ rosters.
• If your campus administrators need access to campus CIRCLE data/CLI Engage, have them email Claudia.Azcarate@houstonisd.org or Mnavarr8@houstonisd.org. They can also answer any CIRCLE questions.