HISD students offered more than $250K in scholarship money at Black College Expo
About 450 HISD students attended the 2015 Black College Expo Tour on Saturday, Feb. 28, and a fair amount of those students received “on the spot acceptances,” as well as more than $250,000 in scholarship money.
“The district is extremely excited to have partnered with the Black College Expo for the first time,” said Assistant Superintendent of College Readiness Rick Cruz. “We want our students to be well-informed as to all of the incredible higher education opportunities available to them, including those at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). We are thrilled that our students received college acceptances and scholarships on the spot and look forward to expanding these types of opportunities to even more students.”
Get the full story here.
Congratulations also go out this week to:
- Johnston Middle School student German Lerma and the 19 other HISD students who received free tickets to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo through the Reliant Student Recognition Program. Get the full story here.
- Lanier Middle School, which came in fourth place at the Texas State German Contest recently against mostly high-school age competitors. Get the full story here.
- Pin Oak Middle School student Alfredo Castillo-Sosa, who was named the inaugural “Reader Leader” for the month of February by myON. Get the full story here.
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
Lewis Fraley
Each month, HISD’s Construction and Facility Services (CFS) department recognizes two of its team members as the Employees of the Month. One is selected from the facilities (maintenance) side, while the other is chosen from the operations (custodial services) branch.
Rogelio Medrano
The honorees chosen for the month of February were:
- Lewis Fraley (facilities)—Fraley is a maintenance repairer who was described by his nominator as “one who has made great strides in leadership and organizational skills since becoming head of the preventive maintenance crew.”
- Rogelio Medrano (operations)—Medrano is a plant operator at the Eastwood Academy who was described by his nominator as “an asset to HISD who is always helpful, supportive, and ready to assist.”
Congratulations to Fraley and Medrano!
Floyd Shaw
When Floyd Shaw joined Team HISD back in early 1980, Jimmy Carter was still president, Kramer vs. Kramer was playing in theatres, and Michael Jackson was burning up the airwaves with singles from his Off the Wall album.
Now, the Memphis native is celebrating 35 years with the district, the last 15 or so with the IT Customer Service department. Shaw started out as a math teacher at Lantrip Elementary School, but moved into an administrative role fairly quickly.
“Really, it’s my wife’s fault,” Shaw said of the transition. “She dragged me out to Radio Shack one day to buy a Tandy computer, and I sat down and taught myself BASIC and found myself interested. Then I went to school one day and heard my principal telling teachers they would have to start working with students on computers, and when he found out I had background in it, he asked if I would help. I said, ‘Sure,’ and the rest is history.”
As a business analyst specialist, Shaw works with schools to generate reports on academic achievement, student behavior, and other data. He also provides training and support to campus staff, which he describes as the best part of his job.
“I like solving problems and coming up with solutions,” said Shaw. “I like investigating what happened so I can make sure things work smoothly down the line, and I also enjoy learning new things. I like discovery, I love the challenges. And believe me, the schools can come up with some doozies.”
Shaw officially marked his 35th anniversary with the district on Feb. 2, but many other employees have also marked theirs over the past six weeks (Feb. 1–March 13). See if you know anyone on this list:
40 years
- Catherine Harris, teacher, Woodson K-8
35 years
- James Duffer, teacher, Milby HS
- Esperanza Garcia, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Yvonne Gaston, teacher, Milne ES
- Ora Gayles, teacher, Lantrip ES
- Noah Ledet, teaching assistant, N. Q. Henderson ES
- Gayle Moore, teacher specialist, Valley West ES
- Toni Pompa-Rodriguez,senior manager, Special Education
- Beatrice Saenz, teacher, Cage ES
- James Steptoe, maintenance team lead, Construction & Facility Services
30 years
- Lorita Brannon,teaching assistant, Dowling MS
- ArcadioCadena, teacher, Brookline ES
- Cynthia Denman, teacher, Bellaire HS
- Marianne Keating, teacher, Fonwood ECC
- Cheryl Lewis, principal, Bellfort ECC
- Gretchen Matthews, teacher, Burbank MS
- Michael McCoy, teacher, Chávez HS
- Joyce Monroe, teacher, Bastian ES
- Lauren Nguyen, teacher, YWCPA
- John Perry, maintenance team lead, Construction & Facility Services
- Rosalind Scott, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Sharon Sims, instructional specialist, R. P. Harris ES
- José Sorto, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Lieng Thanh, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
25 years
- Alicia Aguilar, teacher, White ES
- Maria Armendariz, teaching assistant, Marshall ES
- Chester Baldwin, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
- Martin Cardona, grounds worker, Construction & Facility Services
- Deanna Clay, clerk, Braeburn ES
- Desiree Cook, teacher, De Zavala ES
- Jimmie Franklin, associate teacher
- Francisca Garcia, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Catalina Hernandez, teacher, Sanchez ES
- Shirley Mann, associate teacher
- Jerry Matus, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Annel Monreal, teacher, De Zavala ES
- Sylvia Monterrey, teacher, Ketelsen ES School
- Trang-Anh Nguyen, accounting senior manager, Finance
- Jose Noriega, Maintenance TL Construction & Facility Services
- Elaine Pickens, teacher, Franklin ES
- Irene Pritchett, associate teacher
- Sandra Ramirez, clerk, Edison MS
- Lavonda Shelby, teaching assistant, T. H. Rogers School
- Ernesto Solorzano, assistant principal, Burbank ES
- Jeanette Southard, teaching assistant, MacGregor ES
- Irma Torres, secretary, Tijerina ES
- Tamika Whitmire, senior student information representative, Federal and State Compliance
- Archie Williams, associate teacher
- Gwendoline Williams, attendant, Food Services
20 years
- Melissa Alaniz, teacher specialist, Jackson MS
- Cynthia Allen, clerk, Elrod ES
- Imelda Alvarado, migrant program representative, Multilingual Programs
- Robyn Anglin, counselor, Forest Brook Middle
- Crystal Borski, data analyst, Special Education
- Patrice Cantwell, clerk, External Funding
- Allison Carmouche, attendant, Food Services
- Norma Castro, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Trina Evans-Lee, teacher, Blackshear ES
- Ratessalyn Ferguson, teacher, Thompson ES
- Barbara Fowler, attendant, Food Services
- Cedric French-Galan, teacher, Westside HS
- Rosa Garcia, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Carol Garrett, attendant, Food Services
- Jesus Garza, teacher, Northline ES
- Georgetta Hubbard, teacher, Madison HS
- Virginia Jackson, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Chere’ Kindle, teacher, Piney Point ES
- Marilyn Lee, attendant, Food Services
- Diana Lerma, secretary, Office of Student Support
- Linda Magee, attendant, Food Services
- Judy Mathews, teaching assistant, Hobby ES
- April Mitchell, teacher, Fonwood ECC
- Sharon Moore, teacher development specialist, Professional Development
- Natalie Price, teacher, Hamilton MS
- Cynthia Richburg, teacher, Reynolds ES
- Angela Rivas, teacher, Bonner ES
- Nelida Santiago, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Tonya Savoie, senior manager, Finance General Accounting
- Charles Whitfield, teaching assistant, Milby HS
- Barbara Willrich, attendant, Food Services
15 years
- Rosa Aguilar, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Quincy Anderson, teaching assistant, Dowling MS
- Maria Austria-Moes, magnet coordinator, Law ES
- Sara Cardona, teacher, Tijerina ES
- Lonnie Carter, asphalt worker, Construction & Facility Services
- Gilbert Chapel, substance control representative, Austin HS
- Lisa Clark, budget clerk, Finance General Accounting
- José Coronel, clerk, Student Assessment
- John Cox, teacher, T. H. Rogers School
- Allyen Cyril, warehouse driver, Food Services
- Loan Dang, teaching assistant, White ES
- Quincy Daughtry, attendant, Transportation Services
- Octavia Davis, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Robert Esparza,maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Sylvia Fanniel, teacher, Grissom ES
- Maria Farina, attendant, Food Services
- Marianne Giammalva, associate teacher
- Irma Garza, student information representative, Moreno ES
- Sharon Harris, social worker, Special Education
- Monica Harvey-Willis, teacher, Hartman MS
- Barry Hertz, senior construction auditor, Internal Audit
- Gema Jesus-Reynoso, teacher, De Zavala ES
- Kirsten Loomis, teacher, Davis HS
- William Lute, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Elizabeth Ochoa, clerk, Wheatley HS
- Robert Pabst, developer, Grants
- Tina Randall, teaching assistant, Peck ES
- Hazel Ray, clerk, Key MS
- Dorothy Rice, Special Education chair, Davis HS
- Albert Robertson, associate teacher
- Wayne Rockett, warehouse driver, Food Services
- Michael Rogers, teacher, Atherton ES
- Martha Ruiz, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Alesha Stoute-Ina, teacher, Roosevelt ES
- Mary Thomas, teacher specialist, Scarborough ES
- Mario Vaquera,plumber, Construction & Facility Services
- Perla Vazquez, clerk, White ES
- Laura Villarreal,crossing guard, J.R. Harris ES
- Laverne Williams, crossing guard, Valley West ES
- John Woods, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
10 years
- Aida Arguello, attendant, Food Services
- Antoine Becnel, teaching assistant, Holland MS
- Suse Brewer, attendant, Food Services
- John Caddell, repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Raul Castillo, vehicle maintenance assistant, Transportation Services
- Bethel Chow, associate teacher
- Tyson Dillard, teacher, Ortiz MS
- Lewis Fraley III,maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Sandra Fuentes, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Juana Gallardo, attendant, Food Services
- Fransisca Galvan, crossing guard, Southmayd ES
- Maryann Garcia, clerk, Procurement
- Martha Garza, attendant, Food Services
- Georgina Gone, teacher, Ketelsen ES
- Anthony Hefferin III, police officer, Bellaire HS
- Joshua Hughes, teacher, Tinsley ES
- Sibyl Hunter, attendant, Food Services
- Diana Martinez, teacher, Ashford ES
- Pauline McAleavy, teacher, West University ES
- Gerardo Medina, teacher specialist, Petersen ES
- Angelica Medrano, program specialist team lead, Special Education
- Marta Molina, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Amber Pinchback, assistant principal, West University ES
- Brandi Porter, substitute aide/clerk
- Marilyn Potts, associate teacher
- Daphne Richard, student information representative, Herod ES
- Susan Robinson, teacher, Briarmeadow Charter
- Candace Sherman, associate teacher
- Grace Torres, teacher, Marshall ES
- Tamara Turley, teacher, Lamar HS
- Freddy Viafara, teacher, Seguin ES
- Lillian Youngblood, teacher, Coop ES
- Elizabeth Zamora, associate teacher
- Rebecca Zamora, clerk, Marshall MS
- Monica Zepeda-Krieger, teacher, Pilgrim Academy
5 years
- Ana Acosta-Melendez, teacher, Almeda ES
- Jaime Aguilar, teacher, Brookline ES
- Stephanie Aguilar, attendant, Food Services
- Maria Aima, teaching assistant, Herod ES
- Faride Akly, teacher, Reagan K-8
- Irene Alegria, teacher, Dogan ES
- Emma Alvarado, attendant, Food Services
- Bobbie Anderson, attendant, Food Services
- Dinah Avecilla, attendant, Food Services
- Nereida Balderas, attendant, Food Services
- Juana Banda, attendant, Food Services
- Alma Barajas, attendant, Food Services
- Derrick Baysinger, teacher, Fleming MS
- Norma Benavides, teacher, Harvard ES
- Gwendolyn Bradford, attendant, Food Services
- Alexis Brown, instructional specialist, Stevenson MS
- Corina Canizales, teacher, Bonner ES
- Elaine Carter, associate teacher
- Lavincia Ceasar, attendant, Food Services
- Maria Cervantes, attendant, Food Services
- Maria Chavez, attendant, Food Services
- Procora Chávez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Veronica Chavez, teacher, Isaacs ES
- Barbara Clein, technology project manager, Information Technology
- Cecilia Cooper, attendant, Food Services
- Percy Cornejo, bus driver, Central Motor Pool-Driver Se
- Dolores Corona, attendant, Food Services
- Manuel Corzo, associate teacher
- Monique Crittenton, teacher, Wesley ES
- Carrie Curtis, teacher, Herrera ES
- MaribelCruces, attendant, Food Services
- Valeria Debose, attendant, Food Services
- Maria De Portillo, attendant, Food Services
- Alejandra Diaz, attendant, Food Services
- Michael Dixon, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Eboni Easley, attendant, Food Services
- Silvia Edmondson, teacher, De Chaumes ES
- Aimee Ekanga, attendant, Food Services
- Patricia Emerson, teacher, Longfellow ES
- Zeus Falconburg, security guard, Food Services Warehouse
- Emily Flocke, teacher, Reagan HS
- Robert Flores, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Tony Flores, crossing guard, Herrera ES
- Gloria Franklin, associate teacher
- Jordan Golebiowski, teacher, Pilgrim Academy
- Blanca Gomez, attendant, Food Services
- Alma Gonzalez, teacher, Gallegos ES
- Iliana Gutierrez, teacher, River Oaks ES
- Joseph Hamilton, crossing guard
- Nadia Hanley, attendant, Food Services
- Veronica Hernandez, attendant, Food Services
- Donald Hoon, associate teacher
- Eric Hopkins, teacher, Milby HS
- Ebodio Huerta, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Kavonn Jefferson, attendant, Food Services
- Charlotte Jolivet, teacher, Golfcrest ES
- Jonathan Jones, attendant, Food Services
- Patricia Jones, crossing guard, Longfellow ES
- Gregory Kabay, teacher, Parker ES
- Rebecca Lahana, associate teacher
- Donald Lam, assistant principal, T. H. Rogers School
- Dorothy Lartigue, crossing guard, Elrod ES
- Nathaniel Laureano Jr, teacher, Scarborough ES
- Tri Minh Le, associate teacher
- Magaret Levy, attendant, Food Services
- Celia Lopez, attendant, Food Services
- Esperanza Lugo, attendant, Food Services
- Veronica Mabasa, team lead, Board Services
- Elizabeth Marquez, clerk, Fonwood ECC
- Noemi Marquez, teacher, Grissom ES
- Gloria Marron, attendant, Food Services
- Claire Martin, associate teacher
- Christian Martinez, teacher, Seguin ES
- Claudia Martinez, clerk, Smith ES
- Maria Martinez, attendant, Food Services
- Rhonda Mason, assistant principal, Sherman ES
- Rebecca McGlothlin, teacher, Twain ES
- Deborah Medina, attendant, Food Services
- Efy Montelongo, attendant, Food Services
- Iran Montelongo, attendant, Food Services
- Melissa Moore,Psychologist, Psychological Services
- Abelardo Moreno, digital production technologist, Administrative Services
- Chandra Morris, teacher, Frost ES
- Jarred Neal, warehouser, Food Service
- Rachel Nemadji, attendant, Food Services
- Maria Neri, attendant, Food Services
- Tho Ngoc Tran, teacher, Ortiz MS
- Janie Nguyen, teacher, Farias ECC
- Makumbu Nsimba, attendant, Food Services
- José Olmedo, teacher, Wilson Montessori
- Hortencia Ontiveros, attendant, Food Services
- Ruben Ortegon, teacher, Clifton MS
- Brandy Oveal, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Zoila Pablo, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Maria Parada, teaching assistant, Neff ECC
- Doris Parker, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Richard Patton,chief audit executive, Internal Audit
- Wilson Perez, attendant, Food Services
- Juanita Pharms, attendant, Food Services
- Mario Puente, teacher, Hogg MS
- Elizabeth Quiroz, attendant, Food Services
- Christy Rajadurai, teacher, Carnegie Vanguard HS
- Corina Ramirez-Ramos, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Francisco Ramirez, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Maria Ramirez, clerk, Poe ES
- Horace Ramsey, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Michael Randol, associate mechanic, Transportation Services
- Elia Reyes, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Donald Rizzardo, teacher, Lewis ES
- Clara Robinson,crossing guard, Scarborough ES
- Sabrina Robinson, attendant, Food Services
- Kathryn Rodgers, teacher, Parker ES
- Norma Roman, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Theresa Rosales, teacher, Northline ES
- Hanna Safenka,associate Teacher
- Josee Shabani, attendant, Food Services
- Shakedra Silas, crossing guard, Sherman ES
- Sandra Silva, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Demontray Smith, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Paul Smithers, teacher, Burrus ES
- Cruz Sosa, teacher, Crockett ES
- Isela Soto, clerk, Herrera ES
- Kenethea Sparks, attendant, Food Services
- Dorothy Sykes, teaching assistant, Fondren ES
- Laura Talley, teacher, Patterson ES
- Kristi Taylor, teacher, Elrod ES
- Isabel Tijerina, clerk, Berry ES
- Lasheena Tillman, attendant, Food Services
- Damaris Treviño, clerk, Bellaire HS
- Yelena Tsilina, associate teacher
- Linda Turner, teaching assistant, De Zavala ES
- Maria Vargas, associate Teacher
- Leisa Ward, attendant team lead, Food Services
- Irma Washington, associate teacher
- Jeannie Williams, crossing guard, N.Q. Henderson ES
- Loretta Wolridge, attendant, Food Services
- Janina Worrell, associate teacher
When HISD needs to send you important information or contact someone in the event of an emergency, do we have the right addresses or phone numbers on file to do so?
Now is a good time to use the new Employee Self Service functions to verify your home address and emergency contacts.
It’s vital we have accurate and up-to-date information in order to get in touch with employees or family members in the event of an emergency. Two recent examples help illustrate the importance of keeping your information current:
- A campus-based employee experienced a medical emergency which required hospitalization. This employee did not have any emergency contact information on file, and it took several hours to finally reach someone from his family to notify them of the situation.
- HISD recently mailed 2014 W2 forms to all employees. An estimated 15-20 percent were returned because of incorrect addresses.
You can click here to learn about the other features of the system, such as viewing your pay statements, updating direct deposit information, and viewing leave balances.
Click here to log into Employee Self Service. Use your network ID (in all caps) and password – the same one used to log into your computer.
If you have questions, please contact the IT Help Desk at 713-892-7378 or helpdesk@houstonisd.org.
Don’t forget to move your clocks forward by one hour when you go to bed on the evening of Saturday, March 7, as Daylight Saving Time (DST) officially begins this year at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2015.
Prior to 2007, Daylight Saving Time began on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. But thanks to a law passed in 2005 by the U.S. Congress, it now starts on the second Sunday of March and concludes on the first Sunday of November.
Young Audiences of Houston has recognized two schools this year who integrate the arts into their science, technology, engineering, and math (known as the STEM-to-STEAM movement) programs.
Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy and Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men will receive the Arts Empowerment Award at the Disco Galaxy Soiree, Young Audience’s annual gala, on May 7, at Rice University’s Cohen House.
Read the full story here.
Congratulations also go out this week to:
- Westside High School defensive lineman Jordan Elliot, who has been selected to participate in the Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9, 2016, in San Antonio. Elliot is just one of 90 of the top high school players in the nation to be chosen for the elite game. You can read the full story here.
- Carnegie Vanguard High School junior Patrick Revilla, who has been selected as a semifinalist for the USA Physics Olympiad. Only 388 students from across the United States were selected, based on their performance in a preliminary exam, and only 27 of those were from Texas. You can read his full story here.
- Lamar High School student Safa Anya, who became the first athlete in that school’s history to earn a state championship in swimming at a University Interscholastic League competition. Read his story here.
- Stevenson Middle School student Jasmine Zamora, who was the latest student to be recognized for exhibiting good character through Luby’s ACT program. You can read the full story here.
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
First weigh-ins for the district’s weight-loss challenge due March 3
As the first month of HISD’s 4 for $40 Challenge wraps up, all participating employees must complete their weigh-ins by Tuesday, March 3.
More than 4,100 employees signed up for the challenge with the goals of leading healthier lifestyles and earning extra cash in the process.
The recommended weigh-in process is visiting a participating HISD nurse, one of the HISD Employee Health & Wellness clinics, or HISD designated verifiers. You can find that complete list of participating locations and designated weigh-in times here. Be sure to bring your VerifyMe! form with you.
To earn this month’s $40 reward, you must have lost four pounds since the initial weigh-in. But even if you haven’t lost four pounds, you are still eligible for the monthly Fitbit drawing as well as have a starting weight for next month’s challenge.
Additionally, teams who hit their four-pound weight-loss goal will be entered in a drawing to win iPads for the entire team.
If you have any questions, please email info@healthywage.com.
Employees can now manage their personal information through employee self-service features
One way to access the employee self-service features is under the “Employee” tab on houstonisd.org.
Beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, employees who need to update personal information such as their cell and home telephone numbers, mailing address, direct-deposit information, and W4 information can now do so through the district’s new employee self-service functions.
You can also use the employee self-service system to view pay statements, view and reprint your 2014 W2 form, and view leave balances and compensation history.
The new features can be accessed via the “Employee Self Service” link on the HISD home page or through the Employee Portal. You will use the same user ID and password as the one you use to log into your computer.
Click here to review a step-by-step instruction guide or click here to get answers to frequently asked questions about the employee self-service functions. If you are on an HISD network, you can also watch an online training presentation by clicking here.
Now that this new functionality is available, please take a moment to log into the system and verify that your information is accurate and up-to-date. It is crucial that HISD has correct information when sending important correspondence to your home or when contacting someone in case of an emergency.
If you have any questions, please contact the IT Help Desk at 713-892-7378 or helpdesk@houstonisd.org.
