HISD employees who need assistance with a technical or instructional issue related to the HUB can now turn to the HUB Help Desk for support with the simple click of a button.
Teachers can log in to the HUB at houstonisd.org/hub and submit a help request ticket through instructional and technical buttons on the district’s HUB landing page. The technical or instructional button will route all issues to the appropriate team responsible for matters inside the HUB.
Screenshot of Help Button
If you need immediate assistance, and you work at one of the 48 HUB pilot schools, please reach out to your HUB campus coordinator or campus instructional technologist.
All active HISD employees are eligible to participate in the 403(b) and 457 voluntary retirement plans. Read the 2015 annual eligibility notice here.
Please visit the 403(b)/457 plan resources webpage for details including the active providers list, enrollment instructions, frequently asked questions (FAQ) and other plan details.
Questions may be directed to Employee Support Services at 713-695-5561.
HISD will roll out new employee self-service capabilities on Feb. 27 that will enable employees to update personal information such as their cell and home telephone numbers, mailing address, direct-deposit information, and W4 information.
Employees also can view pay statements, print their 2014 W2 form, and view leave balances and compensation history using the new self-service functions. Once the site launches, all of these features can be accessed via the “Employee Self Service” link on the HISD home page or through the Employee Portal.
HISD in the News
- The secret behind a great teacher: love
- HISD officers wearing body cameras
- An extreme makeover: Kelso Elementary School (.pdf)
- Houston ISD plays the waiting game with construction projects
National News Links
- How to do everything right in schools
- Can high-quality early education reduce the need for Special Ed. later on?
- How does city zoning control where districts build schools?
- Why teachers should not shy away from controversial topics
- Congress debates federal government’s role in education
The Houston Independent School District will be holding its annual State of the Schools Luncheon on Feb. 11, 2015.
The event, which will take place at the Hilton Americas Hotel on Feb. 11, is an opportunity for the superintendent of schools to address parents, teachers, administrators, business representatives, and civic leaders about district achievements during the past year and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Be sure to visit the HISD website later that afternoon for full coverage, including copies of speeches, photos, and much more.
KPRC-TV Channel 2 Houston has also graciously agreed to live-stream Dr. Grier’s address starting at 12:30 p.m. Visit the HISD website for a link to that broadcast.
Top row, from left: Anthony Harvey, Darlene Alexander, and James Mora. Bottom row, from left: Kenneth Wilson, Nancy Roman, and Stephen Green.
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.
The honorees for the past three months are:
HISD and the University of Phoenix have announced a new partnership that benefits employees seeking to complete their college degree or start a journey toward one.
All district employees receive a 10 percent discount on tuition for any degree program, certificate or individual course at University of Phoenix. For additional information about the tuition discount, go to www.phoenix.edu/hisd.html.
In addition, the University of Phoenix also is offering a reduced-tuition program for students who complete a minimum amount of credit hours during a certain time period. Eligibility and program details can be found by clicking here, and the deadline to apply is Feb. 28.
HISD paraprofessionals listen to presentation about the Effective Teacher Fellowship, the district’s alternative certification program. The session was part of a development forum designed to build upon paraprofessionals’ existing skills.
About 150 employees from around the district attended the inaugural Paraprofessional Development Forum on Jan. 28, designed specifically to help employees build upon their existing skills and learn about ways to further their careers in HISD.
The event, held at the University of Phoenix’s Houston campus, gave paraprofessionals the opportunity to learn more about how to become a teacher at HISD, the district’s technology initiatives, and what future development opportunities the district offers.
In addition to the development seminars offered on Wednesday, the event also served as the kickoff of a new partnership between the University of Phoenix and HISD. District employees will receive a 10-percent discount on tuition, and the University of Phoenix also will offer scholarships for some employees.
Camille Heid, a teaching assistant at Red Elementary, and Lizzette Serrano, a lecturer at J.P. Henderson Elementary, both said they were happy HISD is investing in paraprofessionals’ development.
“As a paraprofessional, we don’t always get the kind of training that teachers get,” Heid said. “I hope they offer more training opportunities. I want to feel like I’m part of HISD, and I want to be more educated.”
Serrano also said she learned valuable skills that she can take back to her campus and share with her peers. And, if she’s not able to attend future events, she hopes her colleagues can do the same for her.
“It shows us that the district cares and wants you to be the best you can be,” Serrano said. “When you are your best, the district excels.”
Wednesday’s forum was the first in a series the Onboarding and Organizational Development department has planned. Patra Brannon, general manager of Talent Acquisition, said her team will gather feedback from Wednesday’s participants to help shape future events.
“HISD values all of its employees, and it’s important we offer these types of development opportunities to our paraprofessionals,” Brannon said. “The work they do can positively impact student achievement, so it makes sense to grow their skills and careers so they can advance within the district.”
For additional information about the University of Phoenix partnership with HISD, click here.
To help new HISD employees acclimate to their jobs, the Onboarding & Organizational Development team is unveiling a revitalized New Employee Orientation program for its February session.
The changes were made based on feedback received from recent session participants, as well as a drive to incorporate best practices to ensure employees get the most out of the program.
“We want people who attend New Employee Orientation to walk away with a better sense of HISD’s culture and how they fit in with the district’s goals,” said Idrisa Abdul-Hamid, senior manager for Onboarding & Organizational Development. “Our new program will be more interactive and engaging than the past, providing an improved framework for socialization.”
The New Employee Orientation – which takes place on the first Tuesday of each month – will still have information about benefits, IT, and employee policies. However, the additional elements will enable employees to gain a better idea of how they can make the most of their careers in HISD.
“I’m confident employees will walk away from the New Employee Orientation excited about the work they’ll be doing to positively impact our students’ lives,” Abdul-Hamid said.
The next New Employee Orientation session is Tuesday, Feb. 3. Click here for additional dates or to register.
