Tiffany Davis
This week’s Shout Out goes to Tiffany Davis, a plant operator at HISD’s new Energy Institute High School, from School Support Officer Michelle Cloud.
“I have been around schools all my life and have always admired a well-maintained campus,” wrote Dr. Cloud in an email to Senior Manager of Operations Brian Busby. “There is a plant operator in our district who is absolutely amazing. Tiffany Davis is at the Energy Institute High School. She has a strong work ethic and takes intense pride in doing a phenomenal job. She truly cares about her campus and I have continuously observed her caring for every detail of EIHS. She works quickly and always goes above and beyond with a smile.”
| Know someone who deserves a shout out? Send an email to info@houstonisd.org with the subject line “Shout Out for eNews!” and tell us why. |
The Annual Policy Update for 2013-2014 (.pdf) is now available in the Frequently Used Documents section of the Policy Administration website. It includes links to important governance documents, some of which were recently modified.
These documents are intended to inform employees of policy requirements, convey the school board’s intent regarding core initiatives and goals, and describe the district’s programs and practices.
Hard copies may be purchased from Administrative Services using department or school budgets. You may also access these documents directly via the Policy Online Manual.
Come learn more about the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory” during a special educators’ preview of a new exhibit.
The cave paintings at Lascaux have been recreated in a new and unique set of five exact replicas inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), and educators can get a special sneak preview of the exhibit for free from 4:00–7:00 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 22, 2013.
Come experience their splendor and power for yourself and contemplate the origins of mankind. For complete details, please visit the HMNS website.
Registration is required by Oct. 20 in order to take advantage of this special offer. The preview is generously underwritten by Shell.
Reginald Mays
Reginald Mays, a quality assurance analyst with HISD’s Construction and Facility Services department, jokes that he’s worn so many hats in HISD since he came on board in 1983 that he has no hair left on his head.
He started out as a custodian 30 years ago, but since that time, he has also served as a crew leader, a supervisor, and a plant operator, as well as a monitor of fire equipment, pest control and playground equipment. The common thread running through every position, he said, was the kindness of the people he met along the way.
“All of the nice people I have met over the years, they have been so kind to me,” said Mays, “from the superintendent all the way down to the kitchen workers and the bus drivers. It’s been a very, very nice journey working with the district.”
Mays officially marked his anniversary with the district on Sept. 27, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week and last*. See if you know anyone on this list:
40 years
- Mary Taylor, teacher, Cook ES
35 years
- Wilma Johnson, teacher, Highland Heights ES
- Candias Strange, teacher, Sugar Grove Academy
30 years
- Teodoro Franco, carpenter, Construction & Facility Services
25 years
- Tracy Hudson, secretary, Grissom ES
- Kathryn Tipton, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Melanie Addison, teacher, Frost ES
- Carlotta Brown, principal, Peck ES
- Debra Carr, teacher, Reynolds ES
- Felicitie Fisher, teacher, Hartman MS
- Sandra Gonzalez, teacher, Bonner ES
- Sharon Harris-Sims, teacher, Kashmere HS
- Cynthia Hernandez, teacher, Burnet ES
- Tonya Lee, licensed specialist in school psychology,, Child Study
- Myrtice Newhouse, teacher, Madison HS
- Erlinda Breshears, teaching assistant, Scroggins ES
- Denise Pronin, clerk, Sharpstown Intl. School
- Aurora Chapa, secretary, West University ES
- Pamela Etienne-Branch, teacher, Foerster ES
- Rita Foster, campus education technician, McNamara ES
- Georgia Johnson, teacher, MacGregor ES
- Mary Richardson, instructional coordinator, Hobby ES
- Patricia McNeil, teacher, Johnston MS
- David Stevens, assistant principal, Clifton MS
- Raymond Glass, principal, Harper Alternative
- Arnel Alcantara, HVAC Repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Lenita Kelly, assistant principal, Lewis ES
- Veronica Parra, data entry clerk, Long Academy
- Debra Diaz, secretary, Lantrip ES
20 years
- Ada Rivera, dean of students, SHMSTC
- Sylvester Fletcher, warehouse driver, Food Services
- Dolores Messa, student information representative, Travis ES
- Betzabe Parra, teacher, Benavidez ES
- Rosalio Parra, teacher, Benavidez ES
- Jacqueline Ellis, teacher, Crespo ES
- Elizabeth Kelm, teacher, Bellaire HS
- Josefina Pena, teacher, Patterson ES
- Alissia Pickens, clerk, Food Services
- Oscar Berrios, Special Education employment rep., Austin HS
- Sonia Bonilla, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Sandra Craig, clerk, Transportation Services
- Mellonee Davis, teacher, Yates HS
- Marvin Flanagan, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Maria Perez, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Leonel Najera, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Ruth Rodriguez, clerk, IT Security
- Tamma Mitchell, teaching assistant, Thompson ES
- Claudia Atondo-Kanzig, teacher, Herod ES
15 years
- Susan Broz, teacher, Pershing MS
- Rosiland Campbell, associate teacher
- Maria Davis, teacher, Anderson ES
- Angel Guillen, associate teacher
- Lazetta Henderson, teacher, Kolter ES
- Rhonda Leduff, principal, Wesley ES
- Mark Miranda, director, Business Operations
- Elliott Myers, teacher, Westbury HS
- Roberta Pilate, teacher, Burbank ES
- Debra Pitcher, teacher, Almeda ES
- Nelly Ronquillo, teacher, Scarborough ES
- Smith Huey, teacher, Milby HS
- Mildred Allen, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Mery Garza, teaching assistant, Bonner ES
- Kathryn Vidock, clerk, Milby HS
- Juana Payan, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Hillma Villegas, clerk, SHMSTC
- Mary Cullivan, attendant, Food Services
- Clementina Rodriguez, custodian, Operations Administration
- Ivonne Rodriguez, assistant principal, Austin HS
- Mary Skillern, clerk, Hines-Caldwell ES
- Ana Vasquez, teaching assistant, T. H. Rogers MS
- Gwenivera Funderburk, teacher, Burbank MS
- Darlene Scott, , bus driver, Transportation Services
- Pamela Williams, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Barbarita Reiter, secretary, River Oaks ES
- Natasha Richards, speech therapist, Child Study
- Stella Cunningham, teacher, Scarborough HS
- Reyna Lumbreras, attendant, Food Services
- Gisela Bravo, student information representative, Kolter ES
- Maria Diaz, teacher, Lyons ES
10 years
- David Alvarez, associate teacher
- Jinette Allen, clerk, Daily ES
- Tiffany McGee, teacher, Davis HS
- Patrick Monroe, teacher, Jordan HS
- Maribel Oropeza, teacher, ES
- Daniel Castillo, telecom repairer, Transportation Services
- Katie Cramer, associate teachers
- Salvador DeLaGarza, teacher, Kelso ES
- Ines Hernandez, student information representative, CECHS
- Doris Irizarry, teacher, Robinson ES
- Reginald Newton, teaching assistant, Williams MS
- Tavrsus Stubbs, officer, Police Department
- Brenda Obregon, crossing guard, Davila ES
- Maria Reyes, teaching assistant, Walnut Bend ES
- Josephina Abreu-Servin, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Edelmira Alfaro, parent engagement representative, Jackson MS
- Marcus Conway, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Nadine D’Souza, clerk, Whidby ES
- Evans Arleita, teacher, Welch MS
- Erika Galvez, teacher, Farias ECC
- Martha Gomez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Phyllis McCarver, teacher, Alcott ES
- James Megginson, teacher, Davis HS
- Janel Myers, teacher, Ketelsen ES
- Ejakpovi Onokpikini-Naibe, associate teacher
- John Petter, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Deborah Washington, teaching assistant, Rucker ES
- Kevin Smith, assistant principal, Patterson ES
5 years
- Paul Gonzales, teacher, Pilgrim Academy
- Anita Samuy, teacher, Clifton MS
- Angela Bryant, teacher, Milby HS
- JaMorcus Trayham, teaching assistant, Lewis ES
- Lucinda Cade, teacher, Hobby ES
- Coretta Gilpin, teaching assistant, Blackshear ES
- Benilde Gradney, counselor, Jordan HS
- Teresa Vargas, aide, Braeburn ES
- Lori Bujung, teacher, Marshall MS
- Ping-Yu Adams, instructional coordinator, Sharpstown Intl. School
- Maria Vasquez, teacher, Halpin ECC
- Michelle Bigley, clerk, Waltrip HS
- Zena Handy, associate teacher
- Elvia Jimenez, attendant, Food Services
- Miguel Jimenez, attendant, Food Services
- Kimberly Joseph, teaching assistant, Sinclair ES
- Gwendolyn Roberts, associate teachers
- Raquel Rodriguez, clerk, Burbank MS
- Matthew Rogers, clerk, REACH Charter
- Mirna Solorzano, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Wesley White, attendant, Athletics
- Daria James, lecturer, HSPVA
- Montree Maxie, teacher, Frost ES
- Porfiria Pena, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Lauri Anderson, Apollo 20 tutor, Lee HS
- Daniel Beier Jr, lecturer, Furr HS
- Dina Burton, attendant, Food Services
- Leslie Cepin, teacher, Travis ES
- Adrienne Davis, associate teacher
- Nancy Flores, teacher, Browning ES
- Phillip Kent, associate teacher
- Midhat Korman, associate teacher
- Maria Lopez, aide, Lantrip ES
- Louisa Meacham, teacher, Davis HS
- Alejandra Ramos, attendant, Food Services
- Geralene Randolph, nurse, Health and Medical Services
- Mario Sandoval, teacher, Southmayd ES
- Kandy Simmons, budget clerk, Finance
- Ruth Ann Morales, clerk, Austin HS
- Veronica Gonzalez, lecturer, Wilson Montessori
- Belinda Ingram, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Richard Williams, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Lillie Jackson, teaching assistant, Bell ES
- Vanessa Nicole Revis, nurse, Sugar Grove Academy
- Kesha Nicole Newell, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Maria Velazquez De Rueda, attendant, Food Services
*The Milestones section did not appear in last week’s special edition of eNews, so this week’s edition recognizes employees whose anniversaries fell between Sept. 22 and Oct. 5.
| Check back next Friday for more October Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
HISD’s annual Combined Charities Campaign kicks off of Mon., Oct. 7, so start thinking now about which non-profit organizations you might like to support this year.
The district is one of the largest employers in our region, and area nonprofit organizations depend on our employees’ continued generosity to assist them in maintaining critical services in our community, state, and nation.
Employees can elect to make a one-time donation or pledge to donate a certain amount per paycheck. The campaign ends on Oct. 25. For complete details, please visit the Combined Charities Campaign website.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- Oct. 1-31: National Principals Month
- Oct. 4 & 5: Friends of Houston Public Library Children’s Book Sale
- Oct. 4-7: Silk Road Festival
- Oct. 7-25: Combined Charities Campaign
- Oct. 9(.pdf): Payday
- Oct. 10: Board meeting (regular)
- Oct. 12 & 13: Bayou City Art Festival
- Oct. 13-19: Teen Read Week
- Oct. 14-18: National School Lunch Week
- Oct. 19: Energy Day
- Oct. 23(.pdf): Payday
- Oct. 26: Marathon Kids Houston Kickoff
- Nov. 2: School Choice Fair
- Nov. 4-8: Magnet Awareness Week
- Nov. 5: Election Day
- Nov. 5: New employee orientation
- Nov. 6(.pdf): Payday
- Nov. 14: ADL’s Houston in Concert Against Hate
- Nov. 18-22: SPARK Parks Week
- Nov. 23 & 24: Vio Colori Street Festival
- Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving holiday (.pdf)
- Dec. 3: New employee orientation
David Thornhill
An HISD Title I coordinator’s commitment to supporting the local Hispanic community has earned him recognition from the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston (MIGH). David Thornhill, who serves as a Title I coordinator at Bellaire High School, was presented with the Community Commitment Award on Sept. 14.
Thornhill was one of only four candidates considered, and he was chosen for his dedication to furthering parents’ education as well as their children’s.
“He has always shown a true interest in offering parents an opportunity to increase their computer literacy so that they could better understand their children and more rightfully aspire to better-paying jobs,” said a MIGH spokesperson. “He even organized a small graduation ceremony at Bellaire for participating parents.”
This was the tenth year for the Institute to present the award, which is hand-made by artisans at the CRISA Collection Workshop in Monterrey, Mexico.
Congratulations also go out this week to:
- Five members of HISD’s Office of Communications for netting five Lone Star EMMY nominations in 2013 for their productions. Read the full story and watch the videos that earned Denisse Cantu, Robert Crowe, Sarah Greer-Osborne, Raoul Rodriguez, and Debra Sanchez the nominations here. The winners will be announced in San Antonio on Nov. 9.
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
Principals, say good-bye to the PC-2 form, because a new day is dawning at HISD. Last fall, you told us you were feeling overwhelmed by the asset management process, so we put our heads together and identified a solution.
A software application called TIPWebIT is being rolled out this year to streamline the asset management process, and all schools are expected to be using it by Dec. 9.
Chief Financial Officer Ken Huewitt unveiled the new tool at the Oct. 2 principals’ meeting, noting that once implemented, it would save employees hours of time in keeping track of a school’s assets—which could include anything from electronics and office equipment to potted plants and musical instruments.
Through TIPWebIT, every asset will be labeled with an asset tag and scanned into an inventory database. Once complete, application users will be able to perform an audit or locate any asset in real time using a desktop, laptop, or smart device.
To take the burden of transitioning to the new system off of principals and school staff, HISD will be hiring an external firm to manage the tagging process at each campus between January and June of 2014. This is expected to save each campus approximately 98 hours of labor.
For additional info, please watch this related video.
How the Affordable Care Act affects you
On Oct. 1, 2013, the first stage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as the Affordable Care Act) went into effect, and the federal Health Insurance Marketplace became available online for Americans to explore their options.
What does this mean for you?
It means that when the annual enrollment window for HISD benefits rolls around next month (Nov. 7–21), benefits-eligible employees will have some important decisions to make.
Starting Jan. 1, 2014, most Americans will be required to have health insurance that meets certain guidelines to avoid paying a penalty on their federal tax returns. So benefits-eligible employees will have to make a choice between one of the health insurance plans being offered by HISD and those available in the Marketplace.
Are there any advantages to selecting an HISD healthcare plan?
Yes. All HISD plans meet the Act’s requirements for value, and the Consumer Basic-Limited plan qualifies as “affordable.” And because HISD makes a sizable contribution toward its employees’ coverage (more than 80% in some cases), you will likely pay far less for an HISD plan than for one obtained through the Marketplace.
The rates for all HISD medical plans are also going down for 2014, so employees enrolled in a Consumer or Open Access plan can expect to pay 20% less than they did this year.
Aren’t subsidies available to offset the cost of buying in the Marketplace?
Yes, but only if your employer does not offer coverage, or offers coverage that doesn’t meet certain standards. Because HISD offers plans that meet the federal requirements, it is unlikely that any subsidies would be available to you.
If I elect to buy insurance through the Marketplace, when would coverage begin?
If you purchased your policy before Dec. 15, coverage would begin on Jan. 1, 2014.
What if I’m an employee who doesn’t qualify for benefits?
If you are not benefits-eligible, you can purchase coverage:
- Through another employer, or a spouse’s employer
- Through government plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or HIPP
- Directly from an insurance provider
- Through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace.
Visit www.healthcare.gov or call the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 for more information.
When is the deadline to sign up?
The deadline to sign up for a qualified health plan is March 31, 2014. But since HISD’s annual enrollment period ends Nov. 21, employees who wish to take advantage of one of the district’s plans will need to make a decision much sooner than that.
How much is the penalty if I don’t sign up for health insurance?
The first year, the fine for an individual without health insurance in 2014 is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to $285 for a family), or one percent of the family’s annual income, whichever is greater. By 2016, those amounts will increase to $695 per adult, $347 per child, and $2,085 per family, or 2.5 percent of the family’s annual income, whichever is greater.
Dec. 15, 2013 is the deadline to sign up for a qualified plan to avoid paying any type of penalty this year. Partial penalties will be assessed starting in January for every month an eligible employee remains uninsured.
How is HISD planning to educate its employees about their choices?
By now, all employees (both benefits-eligible and non-benefits-eligible) should have already received the first of several mailers at their residences. HISD’s Benefits department is also planning to send out additional newsletters by email, as well as its usual materials related to annual enrollment. The first should arrive during the week of Oct. 7.
Did you know that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) will award 357 scholarships in the amount of $18,000 to students in the Houston metropolitan area in 2014?
On Oct. 9, HLSR representatives will be hosting a Brunch ‘N Learn session for interested educators on the types of scholarship opportunities available, and all counselors, scholarship coordinators, and principals from public schools are invited.
Click here to view the invitation or for more details on the event. Questions may be directed to 832-667-1285 or scholarship@rodeohouston.com.
Free flu shots still available
If you still haven’t gotten your free flu shot, it’s not too late. The Texas Vaccine Institute will be providing them to all interested district employees through the end of October.
The shots are available at both campus and non-campus-based locations across the district. Check this schedule (.pdf) to find an upcoming date at a facility convenient to you.
The schedule is updated weekly, so be sure to check back if your campus or work location is not yet listed.
Please note that the free vaccines are available to employees only, who must present a district ID badge at the time the shot is administered.
The 2013 vaccine contains both the seasonal and the H1N1 antibodies.
WITS to co-host fall writing festival for educators Oct. 5
Writers in the Schools will be co-hosting a fall writing festival for educators on Sat., Oct. 5, 2013, at Houston Baptist University from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Participants will work with professional writers, hear from special guest speaker Andrea White, and earn up to six hours of TAGT-approved G/T credit.
The cost is $125 and lunch is included. For complete details, please visit the WITS blog.
Houston Rockets hosting three HISD Nights in November
HISD’s longtime community partner, the Houston Rockets, will be hosting HISD Nights for district employees on Fri., Nov. 1, and Sat., Nov. 9, and Sat., Nov. 23, 2013.
Employees can get tickets to all three of these games at a discount, and everyone who purchases tickets through this special offer will get to shoot a free throw on the Rockets’ home court immediately after the game.
For details, please see this flyer (pdf).
Whether you are a social media novice or a casual user, this workshop will introduce you to many of the most popular social media tools available today and explain how they can be used to build awareness of your campus or department.
Learn about:
- The various forms of social media and their uses
- Creating compelling content and photographs
- Unique ways social media is being used throughout the district
- Leveraging information to create a social media plan for your department or campus
- Becoming familiar with generally accepted best practices for responsible social media use
The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. until noon on Tues., Oct. 30, in Room 1E02 of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092).
Please use this link to register. A downloadable flyer (.pdf) is also available.
