HISD’s annual District Advisory Committee (DAC) elections will take place starting Wednesday, March 12, 2014, through Friday, March 21, 2014, and all school-based staff are encouraged to participate.
To cast your vote, simply login to the employee portal (starting March 12) and click on the “District Advisory Committee” bullet under the HISD Application Links section on the left-hand side of the page. For complete details, please see this related Academic Services memo.
Nominations must be submitted to DAC@houstonisd.org by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2014. Election results will be made available on Monday, March 24, 2014.
A variety of biological, psychological, and social factors are associated with addiction to tobacco.
The Onboarding and Organizational Development Department is offering a new professional development session to help employees understand the basics of addiction so that they can finally kick the habit.
“Kick It! Successfully Quit Tobacco Use” will take place from 9 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, in room 3C12 of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092), and participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of addiction
- Learn quitting strategies
- Get tips for preventing relapse.
Interested employees should register on eTRAIN using course code #BN0037.
Health and Wellness Centers to remain open over Spring Break
Both HISD Health and Wellness Centers will be open during normal business hours over Spring Break, which is March 17–21, 2014.
- HMWESC location hours—M & F: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tues-Thurs: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Attucks MS location hours— M & F: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tues & W: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thurs: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Both clinics are closed from 1 to 2 p.m. daily for lunch.
Want to grow as a professional? Join HISD’s new Toastmasters chapter!
If you’ve been trying to think of a way to advance in your career, look no further. HISD has a new Toastmasters club that can help you develop the skills you need.
Toastmasters is a nonprofit organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Members learn more about public speaking, how to conduct a meeting, how to listen effectively, and how to provide constructive feedback. HISD’s Toastmasters club currently has 30 members and is accepting applications. It received its official charter on Jan. 9.
To see if Toastmasters is right for you, come sit in on one of the monthly meetings. Meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month from 5:05 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092), in either the cafeteria or Room 1E02.
All new members will receive a manual and resources about how to become a better speaker and more confident leader.
For more information, please contact Kim Golden or Theresa Campos at 713-696-0600 or kgolden@houstonisd.org and tcampos@houstonisd.org.
The second—and final—window for eligible employees to receive a one-time incentive of $500 for notifying Human Resources of their intent to retire or resign opens on Monday, March 10, and closes on Friday, April 4, 2014, at 4:30 p.m.
For complete details, please see this related article.
Don’t forget to move your clocks forward by one hour when you go to bed on the evening of Saturday, March 8, as Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins for 2014.
This annual “springing forward” takes place about two weeks earlier than it used to due to a law passed in 2005 by the U.S. Congress. Instead of beginning on the first Sunday of April and ending on the last Sunday of October, it has begun on the second Sunday of March and concluded on the first Sunday of November since 2007.
Daylight Saving Time officially begins this year at 2:00 a.m.on Sunday, March 9, 2014.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- March 4-23: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
- March 8: When I Grow Up Expo
- March 10–April 4: second window for Early Notification Period
- March 12 (.pdf): Payday
- March 13: Regular Board meeting
- March 17-21: Spring Break
- March 26 (.pdf): Payday
- March 29: Whole Kids Farmers’ Market
- March 29: Houston PBS Spelling Bee
- April 1: New employee orientation
- April 2: Light It Up Blue (autism awareness)
- April 6–12: Week of the Young Child
- April 9 (.pdf): Payday
- April 10: Regular Board meeting
- April 18: Good Friday (school in session)
- April 22: Earth Day
- April 23 (.pdf): Payday
- April 26: National Take-Back Day
Officer Marvin Lee
Officer Marvin Lee has been a member of Team HISD for so long, he uses a list of HISD superintendents to help him keep track.
“I was hired by Les Burton back in the days when the Police Department was known as Security Services,” said Lee. “I have worked for every superintendent since Billy Reagan.”
But one thing that has stayed the same over the years is the satisfaction he gets from having a job in which he can make a difference.
“My mother was an educator for over 30 years in the New Orleans parish school system,” he said. “And my wife of 37 years retired from HISD as a speech therapist. My degree is in business management, but I always had desire to make public education the best it could be.”
So after moving to Houston in the early 1980s, he hired on with HISD and obtained certification as a peace officer. “I’ve seen some changes and it’s all going to change again,” he said. “But I’m planning to retire at age 65. I’ve been at Lamar HS for 14 years now, and it’s about to undergo some renovations. Once those are complete, I’ll sit back and let someone else take over the reins.”
Lee officially marked his 30th anniversary with the district on Feb. 28, but several other employees are also marking theirs in the past few weeks (Feb. 23–March 8). See if you know anyone on this list:
30 years
- Evelyn Jones, teaching assistant, Fleming MS
25 years
- Sabrina Burrell, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Leavery Davidson, IT customer service representative, Madison HS
- Catherine Gustave, associate teacher
- Darryl Henderson, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Kathleen Johnson, teacher, Jordan HS
- Cynthia Solomon, Student Information Rep-12M Durham ES
- Agustin Treviño, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
20 years
- Heronda Bernard, attendant, Food Services
- Juliet Brown, teacher, Park Place ES
- Belinda Castille, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Twanna Citizen, teaching assistant, R. P. Harris ES
- Patricia Edwards, repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Nancy Gitchell, teacher, McNamara ES
- Wilma Goffney, crossing guard, Milne ES
- James King, teacher, Kelso ES
- Brenda Riley, attendant, Food Services
- Eva Skinner, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Cassandra Williams, attendant, Food Services
15 years
- Racquel Fields, teaching assistant, Kelso ES
- Kareene Harris, teacher, Hilliard ES
- Lozano Karina, clerk, Crespo ES
- Gwendolyn Lee, teaching assistant, Harper Alternative
- Gloria Lugo, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- William Maguire, teacher, Westside HS
- Elsa Monsalve, teacher, Crockett ES
- Delia Ortega, clerk, Fonville MS
- Graciela Robles, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
10 years
- Linda Abbott, teaching assistant, Dogan ES
- Antrice Axel, clerk, Lamar HS
- Virginia Banks, associate teacher
- Joel Charles, teacher, Jordan HS
- Reginald Evans, associate teacher
- Cynthia Green, associate teacher
- Norma Grimaldi, teaching assistant, Westside HS
- Lola Guardia, associate teacher
- Beverly Harper, associate teacher
- Griselda Hart, teacher, Field ES
- James Henry, crossing guard
- Belinda Herrera, secretary East Early College HS
- Victor Herrera, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Rosa Larios, attendant, Food Services
- Lucette Metellus, attendant, Food Services
- Beth Mizwa, teacher, Lamar HS
- Donnie Moore Jr, bus repair foreman, Transportation Services
- Andrea Nitsch, teacher, Early College HS East
- Moreno Olga, teaching assistant, Braeburn ES
- Alba Picazo, clerk, Milby HS
- Isidra Padilla, attendant, Food Services
- Lilia Piñon, attendant, Food Services
- Lorena Ramirez, clerk, Sam Houston MSTC
- Rebecca Reyna, teacher, ES School
- Francelia Suazo, teacher, Almeda ES
- Lisa Thornton, officer, Police Department
- King Taisha, student information representative, Shadowbriar ES
- Ryan Titzman, sourcing specialist, Procurement
- Maria Vazquez, aide, Port Houston ES
5 years
- Francisca Aiyekusibe, associate teacher
- Nathan Allen, teacher, Lamar HS
- Maria Berrueto, associate teacher
- Emily Bollinger, associate teacher
- LaTasha Brown, associate teacher
- Lena Bryant, associate teacher
- Fabian Charles, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Maria Chevalier, teacher, MacGregor ES
- Delora Coaston, teacher, Kashmere Gardens ES
- Bonnie Collins, crossing guard, N. Q. Henderson ES
- Maria De Jimenez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Thelma Demerson, teacher, Reynolds ES
- James Dirks, teacher, Sutton ES
- Erica Eursin, attendant, Transportation Services
- Ethelyn Farmer, associate teacher
- Michael Furman, teacher, Martinez ES
- Orlando Garza, repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Sergio Garza, teaching assistant, T. H. Rogers
- Phyllis Graham, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Alejandra Guerrero, teaching assistant, Janowski ES
- Rosalva Guerrero, clerk, Furr HS
- Delaney Howard, Delmar Stadium attendant, Athletics
- Kewana Jones, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Wanda Jones, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Uzma Khan, associate teacher
- John Lehmann, associate teacher
- Loni Mahan, teacher, Waltrip HS
- Larry Mazyn, plumber, Construction & Facility Services
- Evelyn Mejia, teaching assistant, Rodriguez ES
- Melissa Melchor, teacher, Burbank ES
- Shirley Monroe, associate teacher
- James Mora, senior maintenance trainer, Construction & Facility Services
- Zdravka Muir, associate teacher
- Deidra Perez, associate teacher, Cornelius ES
- Christopher Perkins, teacher, Cook ES
- Ruthie Phillip, crossing guard
- Theodore Phillip, crossing guard
- Drew Platt, associate teacher
- Mayra Romero, specialist, Professional Development
- Raymond Ross, repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Gearlyn Sam, attendant, Food Services
- Abraham Samuel, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
- Emily Sheahan, teacher, School at St. George Place
- Yolaine Swasey, associate teacher
- Rodney Varnado, attendant, Food Services
- Warren Washington Jr, Delmar Stadium attendant, Athletics
- Stephanie Willis, senior secretary, Construction & Facility Services
| Check back next Friday for more March Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
In this week’s I am HISD, which features district students, graduates, and employees, we catch up with Lee High School graduate Justin Anderson (Class of 2005), who shares what he’s learned since starting his own business as a junior, which recognition has meant the most to him, and how he hopes to inspire other young people to follow their dreams.
You launched a granola-manufacturing company in 2003 while still a junior at Lee High School. Since then, you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and rebranded your entire business. What lessons have you learned along the way?
Justin Anderson today...
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that it’s important to figure out what you’re passionate about and have it be something you can stick with for a long period of time to make successful. Surround yourself with people who are a lot smarter than you, and be prepared to fail small and learn big from your mistakes.
Your signature product, Anderson Trail Premium Soft Granola, was recently phased out in its retail form. Was it sad to say goodbye to the thing that essentially launched your whole enterprise?
No, not really, because Anderson Trail is still the name of the company and it’s on every bag of our current product. At the time we rebranded, I was looking to innovate and reinvent the company and its products, and I knew I needed to bring in someone with a bigger skill set than I had. And since CEO Bill Schneider came on a few years ago, we’ve already been more successful in terms of the number of stores we’ve gotten into than I was in the entire eight years I did it my way. I look at this as Anderson Trail 2.0.
As far as the original line goes, we still offer Anderson Trail in one ounce, single-serve bags to food service and schools. Which reminds me, is HISD still serving breakfast? (laughs)
You’ve been profiled by publications such as Texas Monthly and included in lists such as the EMPACT100 (the top 100 entrepreneurs in the U.S. under age 30). Which recognition has meant the most to you so far?
...and back in 2005
I think being selected as a National Scholar by the Horatio Alger Association was the most meaningful and has had the biggest impact on my life. I got it back in 2005, and it was the first scholarship that I received that wasn’t totally based on your GPA. Instead, it had more to do with how you planned to overcome your adversity and achieve success in college and beyond. Only around 105 of the 40,000 people who applied were selected that year, and I got to fly to Washington, D.C. and meet other scholars.
I also got to interact with some of the association members, who had come from nothing and gone straight to the top of their fields. One day we had a luncheon at the State Department and I ate lunch next to Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A and Lyt Harris and his wife Venita, who discovered Orville Redenbacher back in the 1970s. Truett had a cow tie on, and the Harrises stayed in touch and became my first investors in 2006.
What else have you been doing since we last spoke? And what are some of your goals now?
One thing I’ve been trying to do is help inspire other students find and pursue their own passions through our “founder’s tour.” I would love to be able to talk to students at the schools where I went in particular: Parker ES, Johnston MS, and Lee HS. The company also offers college scholarships and financial assistance for community projects.
Right now, WOATS is carried in more stores in California than in Texas, so my next goal is to try to reverse that!
Are you still colloquially known as “Granola Boy” or did that get phased out, too?
Yes, my friends still call me Granola Boy from time to time. And now, I’m also getting, “Hey, WOATS!”
Your tenth high school reunion is coming up next year. Do you plan to go?
Absolutely! I probably need to look into that since I was class president. (laughs)
| If you know a graduate, student, employee, or other member of Team HISD who should be featured here, please email us at info@houstonisd.org. |
On March 5, a group of nearly 30 highly effective teachers from campuses across the district gathered at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center for a celebratory breakfast, a photo shoot, and tributes from district leadership.
“We know that nothing is more important than providing our students with great teachers,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Rodney Watson. “And I can also tell you that teaching is the most difficult job I’ve ever had. I wish we could have brought all of our district’s top teachers together today, because they all deserve to be recognized for their tremendous work.”
“I have such deep respect for the hard work our teachers do every day,” added Board of Education member Rhonda Skillern-Jones. “The hard and heavy lifting in our district truly takes place in the classrooms.”
More than 1,600 teachers across the district received a “highly effective” rating last year—the highest score possible in the district’s Teacher Appraisal and Development System (TADS). In the next 30 days, all highly effective teachers in HISD will receive a congratulatory letter and a certificate from both Dr. Grier and Dr. Watson.
Rosalyn Panza, a teacher at Bonner Elementary, attended the event with her principal Sharon Carpenter, who raved about Rosalyn’s energy, enthusiasm, and ability to connect with her students.
“Teaching is a 24-hour job,” said Panza. “You don’t work for recognition, but it’s still so appreciated. I’ve been in HISD for 13 years, and over that time, I’ve grown tremendously. My kids are always teaching me how to be a stronger teacher.”
Following the breakfast, teachers attended the monthly Principals’ Meeting, where Skillern-Jones, Dr. Watson, and Chief School Support Officer Andrew Houlihan presented them with certificates and “Team HISD” hats. Principals and community members are encouraged to keep the momentum going by continuing to celebrate the hard work of top teachers across the district.
“Whatever gets celebrated gets repeated,” said Alan Hooker, HISD’s Leadership Development officer. “It’s so important to take the time to congratulate teachers for building an atmosphere in which students thrive.”
Over the past several years, HISD has prioritized effective teaching throughout the district, and has proved successful at attracting and keeping its best and brightest instructors. During the past three years, HISD retained more than 90 percent of its most effective teachers – which has had immediate benefits for students across the district.
“I feel good about the work I’m doing in the classroom, and to see it affirmed by the district like this was such a surprise!” said Lafonda Fields, a teacher at North Forest High School. “It feels really special.”
Although performance appraisals formally take place only once a year, the process of preparing is ongoing.
The Onboarding and Organizational Development Department is offering a new professional development session to help employees make a shift in their mindset that can change a dreaded annual exercise into a two-way dialogue between them and their supervisors that encourages continuous feedback and promotes growth and development.
“Preparing To Shine: Proactive Techniques for Self-Development” will take place from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092), and participants will:
- Explore the importance of self-development prior to the appraisal meeting
- Learn tips for setting supervisor-approved goals and preparing for a mid-year or end-of-year appraisal
- Complete self-reflective exercises to determine areas for development
- Apply techniques to promote ongoing feedback dialogue with supervisors
This session is designed to promote people and team development.
Interested employees should register on eTRAIN using course code #OB0017 (oh, bee, zero, zero, one, seven).
HISD’s State of the Schools luncheon will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Hilton Americas Hotel in downtown Houston. This annual event gives the superintendent of schools a chance to share highlights of achievements from the previous year with community stakeholders and other interested parties. Be sure to visit the district’s website later that day to see a video of Dr. Grier’s address, a copy of the 2013 Annual Report, and other resources.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- Feb. 28: Go Texan Day
- March 3 & 4: 28th annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference
- March 4: New employee orientation
- March 4-23: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
- March 8: When I Grow Up Expo
- March 9: Daylight Saving Time begins
- March 10–April 4: second window for Early Notification Period
- March 12 (.pdf): Payday
- March 13: Regular Board meeting
- March 17-21: Spring Break
- March 26 (.pdf): Payday
- March 29: Whole Kids Farmers’ Market
- March 29: Houston PBS Spelling Bee
- April 1: New employee orientation
- April 2: Light It Up Blue (autism awareness)
- April 6–12: Week of the Young Child
- April 9 (.pdf): Payday
- April 10: Regular Board meeting
- April 18: Good Friday (school in session)
- April 22: Earth Day
- April 23 (.pdf): Payday
- April 26: National Take-Back Day
