In last week’s edition of eNews, we asked teachers what the best advice was that they ever received from another educator, and we got plenty of good suggestions.
Most dealt with setting clear boundaries and forging strong connections with both students and parents.
“I know it sounds like a cliché,” said one respondent, “but kids really don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. It really is all about relationships. I try to get to know each of my students and their parents, because teaching is not something you do to a child, it is a relationship you have with a child.”
“Pass out index cards on the first day of class and get parents’ or guardians’ names and cell phone numbers so you can start building relationships with them,” said another. “Do it while the kids still like you, before they get mad.”
“I was working with students who had gotten in trouble in their regular classrooms,” said one former teacher. “And I let them know the first day that I didn’t play. So the stuff they’d been doing in their other classrooms, they would not be doing in mine. You have to set new expectations. I will treat you with respect, but I’m not going to be your friend. I don’t need a 16-year-old friend.”
And for particularly bad days that nothing seems to go right? Observed one respondent, “There’s always tomorrow.”
A number of universities now offer fully online degree and certification programs through Academic Partnerships, including five within the State of Texas.
Many of the deadlines to apply to these programs are coming up, including:
- University of Texas – Arlington (Sept. 20)
- Stephen F. Austin University (Sept. 23)
- University of Texas – Pan American (Sept. 25)
- University of Texas – Permian Basin (Sept. 30)
- Lamar University (Oct. 18)
To learn more about each one’s offerings, as well as which programs may qualify for up to $8,000 in TEACH grant funds, please visit the websites noted above.
Lamar University will also be hosting an information session at the Ryan Professional Learning Center (4001 Hardy, 77009) on Thurs., Sept. 26, 2013, at 4 p.m. To RSVP to this session, please send an email to Rhonda.Jordan@apdegrees.com.
Visit this site for additional information or to apply online.
Through a special arrangement with the Texas Vaccine Institute, HISD will once again be providing free flu shots to all interested district employees through the end of October.
The shots will be offered 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 will be 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.
A group of students from Colony A, who won an academic pep rally in January
Administrators at Patrick Henry Middle School have taken a page from a best-selling series of children’s books to boost their student attendance rates.
Last year, the leadership team introduced the concept of “houses” on campus, such as those described at the fictional wizardry school in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels. In honor of the school’s namesake and his role in the American Revolution, Henry’s student groups are called “colonies” instead of “houses,” and each one competes to accumulate points throughout the year.
“It was something that we wanted to try, just to build up the culture and school spirit,” said Assistant Principal Vernitra Ussin. “It definitely gave the kids a sense of ownership, getting to name the colony (using a mascot whose name begins with P, A, or T) and getting to pick the colony’s colors.”
This year, colonies can also win points by having the fewest absences per day, and the one with the best record at the end of each month will get a “sweet treat” party and the option of wearing jeans and a college/club shirt the next full week of class.
“The kids love it, because it’s immediate,” said Ussin. “It’s a friendly competition, and we all wait for that end-of-the-day announcement. I’m the leader of the ‘A’ colony, and when I hear our name, I’m overjoyed, too.”
In this week’s I am HISD, which features district students, graduates, employees, and other team members, computer analyst Wesley White talks about how he became an announcer for HISD football games, what he does to make teams feel special, and why he has been a fixture at so many high school football games.
You’re a computer analyst for Texas Children’s Hospital during the day, but by night, you’re an announcer for HISD’s football games at the Delmar-Tusa stadium. How did that happen?
Wesley White
I think it was a prompt from God. A friend of mine would come with me to see ball games sometimes, and as we sat there watching, I’d be announcing the games myself. And she said, “Man, you need to be up there, because he’s messing up.”
Some announcers have an exciting voice and some just speak in a monotone. But she said, “You ought to call them up and see.” So I did. I talked to Mike Truelove and he said, “Yeah, we could use someone.” But I originally thought I’d be the announcer at Delmar and he said, “No, I need you next door at Dyer.” Then an opportunity came up a few years later at Delmar. I’ve been a member of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers for about four years now.
Did you always harbor a secret desire to be a sports announcer?
No. But when Vince Young was still at Madison High School, Houston Community College used to broadcast HISD football games. Charles Glass was over that program, and I used to be with that crew. One time, the regular announcer was late and they needed someone to fill in. So I said, “I’ll do it.” And I grabbed the script and announced the cheerleaders. And I thought, “Man, this was fun.” After that, (the regular announcer) showed up and did the rest of the game, but that seed was planted in my brain.
I understand you’ve been a pretty regular fixture at football games played at HISD facilities. What has prompted your interest all these years?
I was a former running back and linebacker myself for Smiley High School (formerly a North Forest ISD campus), and I played varsity football as a freshman all the way through. So I used to go to all the different stadiums and watch Aldine and Katy, when their programs were doing well. And when Yates High School went all the way to state in 1992, I drove all the way to Austin to see that.
Wow. That sounds pretty dedicated. Do you still follow any of the teams?
No. I don’t have the time. I am one of the busiest football announcers in Houston, because HISD is one of the only districts in the state to have 3A, 4A, and 5A football teams. To schedule all of those, they have to play Thursday, Friday, and Saturday games. One time, I even announced a triple header when a big storm was coming through and a game that was supposed to be in Brenham got moved back to Houston.
How many games would you say you cover on a yearly basis?
About 30 games, all football. I take it pretty seriously. I want to make it seem like it’s the teams’ home as much as possible, so I’ll download their anthems, or record duck sounds if the South Houston Ducks are playing. I’m not just an announcer. The music they hear before the games and during time-outs is also coming from me, so every year I try to check out all the popular songs that the kids like to hear. I include music that goes back to the 1960s or 70s, all the way up to rap tunes from today.
| 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. |
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will announce the winner of the 2013 Broad Prize for Urban Education on Wed., Sept. 25, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The Broad Foundation will carry the announcement live on its website at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, and you can register to watch the free webcast here.
HISD is one of four finalists for the prize this year, which is considered the most prestigious in public education. HISD was also a finalist in 2012, and it won the inaugural Broad Prize in 2002.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- Sept. 15-21: Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry
- Sept. 18-Dec. 18: Friends of Houston Public Library Farmers’ Market Book Sale
- Sept. 25 (.pdf): Payday
- Sept. 28: National History Day workshop
- Sept. 28: The Museum Experience
- Oct. 1-31: National Principals Month
- Oct. 1: National Night Out (TX only)
- Oct. 1: New employee orientation
- Oct. 4 & 5: Friends of Houston Public Library Children’s Book Sale
- Oct. 4-7: Silk Road Festival
- 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
Q: Why do HISD’s medical plans cost so much? My spouse works for a different company and his/her rates are much lower than ours.
A: Many businesses in the private sector fund all or a significant portion of their employees’ medical coverage, including the cost of covered dependents. And while this is a wonderful benefit for those organizations’ employees (and their families), the downside is that it disguises the true cost of those benefits.
Big expenses like medical benefits make up a significant portion of a company’s payroll costs, but it is one that is more easily absorbed by those in some private industries, such as the oil and gas sector. As a government sector employer, HISD has more limited resources, but still funds a significant part of the cost of its employees’ medical coverage. However, employees are expected to fund most of the cost for any dependents they elect to cover on one of HISD’s medical plans.
Tamara Cubit
This week’s Shout-Out goes to Risk Management trainer Tamara Cubit, from Safety and Loss Control Manager Susan Ovren.
“Tamara is respected among her peers, territory campuses, and departments for dependability and quality of training,” said Ovren, “and we have received many compliments on her creative, informative safety training in-services.”
“(This time of year) is especially challenging for Team Safety and Loss Control, as campuses resume efforts to incorporate safety technology into their new educational plans. I am very proud to report that during the month of August, Tamara conducted a record 99 safety in-services for 1,700 employees at almost 40 locations. We are very proud and appreciative to have Tamara on our team.”
Other Shout Outs this week go to:
- Robert Crowe, a senior producer/director in Multimedia Services, from ARAMARK Executive General Manager Ray Danilowicz, for his coverage of the grand opening festivities of the U.B.U. Lounge at North Forest High School cafeteria on Sept. 6. “Our mission is to provide students with high-quality nutritious meals, impeccably served, and to inspire students to develop dietary habits that will improve academic performance and life-long health,” said Danilowicz. “Having the support of HISD-TV in telling our story is important in accomplishing this mission.”
Elizabeth Garza
A job well-done is often its own reward, but for Elizabeth Garza, performing her duties well also means that HISD’s bond projects get completed in a timely fashion.
The senior secretary is observing her 35th anniversary with the district this week, and the past 21 years of that she has spent in the Construction & Facilities Services department, perfecting paperwork to meet the demanding standards of HISD’s Legal Department.
“I started out in what was then known as the Occupational and Continuing Education department in 1978,” said Garza. “And at the time, that was pretty exciting for me, because I had actually been in the vocational program while I was in school.”
Now, Garza creates project manuals, prepares contracts, drafts board items, and organizes all of the documents that go to accounting for bond projects. Her favorite part is working on contracts.
“It’s very challenging to get all the information together and make sure it’s correct,” she said. “But the end result is that it gets signed.”
Garza officially marked her anniversary with the district on Sept. 11, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week (Sept. 8–14). See if you know anyone on this list:
40 years
- Donna Cameron, teacher, HSPVA
35 years
- Marjorie Johnson, associate teacher
30 years
- Ray Gatlin, instructional specialist, Yates HS
- Delisa Lane, teaching assistant, Burbank ES
- Cheryl Rodriguez, senior secretary, Board Services
25 years
- Deborah Brewer, secretary, employee relations
- Clara Llerena, teacher, King ECC
- Lee Malowitz, teacher, Lamar HS
- Michael McNeill, teacher, Braeburn ES
- Elizabeth Salazar, student info. representative, Federal and State Compliance
- Patricia Smith, teaching assistant, T. H. Rogers MS
20 years
- Hector Alvarez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Hung Giang, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Juanita Gutierrez, clerk, Young ES
- Gertrude Hilty, nurse, Thompson ES
- Mavis Nickerson, teaching assistant, Welch MS
- Rigoberto Rosas, senior plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Robert Warren, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
15 years
- Paula Baker, secretary, YWCPA
- Jarita Cormier, teacher, Janowski ES
- Noemi Espinoza, clerk, Scroggins ES
- Maria Flores, teaching assistant, Scroggins ES
- Yolanda Serrano, clerk, Almeda ES
10 years
- Mary Kathryn Arrant, teacher, West University ES
- Kerri Burris-Richardson, teacher, Stevenson MS
- Dottie Cottingham, teacher, Pilgrim Academy
- Hilda Delgado, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Heriberta Gomez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Jacqueline Hatfield, teacher, Law ES
- Kim Heckman, principal, Pershing MS
- Terry Lentz, teacher, Clifton MS
- Gloria McGregor, associate teacher
- Obiageli Meka, teacher, Long Academy
- Ali Parvin, nurse, DeBakey HS
- Ola Mae Pearce, crossing guard, Seguin ES
- Patricia Reese, teaching assistant, Pin Oak MS
- Victor Salazar, associate teacher
- Herminio Santos, warehouse, Food Services
- Coshelle Sullivan, student case worker, Garden Villas ES
- David Valentino, dean of instruction, Burbank MS
5 years
- Caleen Allen, general manager, Strategic Partnerships
- Juana Arrieta, aide, Condit ES
- Blanca Barona, teacher, Wilson Montessori
- Velma Buckner, crossing guard, Herrera ES
- Jason Busby, teacher, Chavez HS
- Christopher Carnes, principal, Herrera ES
- Ruby Carter, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Bryon Coulter, teacher, West Briar MS
- April Crist, Special Education chair, Long Academy
- Russell Crocklin, associate teachers
- Keli Duerson, teacher, Milne ES
- Maria Gomez, teaching assistant, Park Place ES
- Shonda Henderson, crossing guard, Police Dept.
- Fabion Henry, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Arthur Holmes, crossing guard Thompson ES
- Katherine Huck, teacher, Bellaire HS
- Joel Jack, sanitation attendant, Food Services
- Wilma Jackson, crossing guard, Foster ES
- Joan Johnson, attendant, Food Services
- Noe Lopez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Michael Manuel, crossing guard
- Martinez Maria, associate teacher
- Chantae McCurdy, teacher, Sharpstown HS
- Sean McEnerney, teacher, Hamilton MS
- Renee Mills, social worker, King ECC
- George Montemayor, plumber, Construction & Facility Services
- Albert Moyer Jr, associate teacher
- Gesner Obas, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Maria Peña, attendant, Food Services
- Jorge Quiroz, teacher, Lewis ES
- John Railsback, teacher, Sinclair ES
- Jessica Ramos, clerk, Paige ES
- Juana Rios, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Martin Skoda, teacher, T. H. Rogers MS
- Jim Simpson, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Darlene Smith, accountant, Risk Management
- Kenyetta Smith-Tidwell, associate teacher
- Willie Taylor Jr, crossing guard, Police Dept.
- Natalia Teran, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Gwendolyn Thompson, teaching assistant, T. H. Rogers MS
- Monica Valyan, bus driver, Transportation Services
| Check back next Friday for more September Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
