HISD Superintendent Terry Grier recognized 11 district employees recently for their exemplary contributions to the district.
Dr. Grier awarded six “Team HISD” hats during the quarterly central office staff meeting which took place on Fri., Aug. 30, and five more during the Sept. 4 principals’ meeting.
Five of the honorees were recognized for their work related to the North Forest annexation—Records and Information Center Manager Ann Ebrahimi, for processing thousands of students’ and employees’ records; Construction and Facility Services Logistics Manager Cheryl Hughes, for replacing all the furniture in North Forest schools; and Senior Manager of Strategic Planning and Policy Administration Ronnie Veselka, Construction and Facility Services Senior Project Manager Derrick Sanders, and School Support Officer Julia Dimmitt, for working tirelessly over the summer to ensure that the schools in the North Forest community were prepared for the opening of the new school year.
Other employees honored were:
- HR Business Partner Kelly Ann Hebeler, for her dedication, resourcefulness, and willingness to help her customers (elementary school principals and the Finance Dept.)
- Warehouse Manager Veronica Ruiz, for overseeing excess furniture auctions, some of which return as much as $1 million to HISD’s coffers
- Construction and Facility Services Senior Project Manager Travis Stanford, for his work getting Atherton Elementary School ready to open
- Principal Jyoti Malhan, for overseeing the launch of the new Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan
- Principal Lori Lambropolous, for getting the new Energy Insititute High School ready for its first year
- Bruce Elementary SchoolPrincipal Trealla Epps, for establishing a strong partnership with the United Way that benefits her students
Click here to see a gallery of the “Team HISD” hat recipients (and other photos) from the central office staff meeting, and here to see a gallery of photos from the monthly principals’ meeting.
| 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. |
SMART Financial Credit Union, which was launched in 1934 to serve Houston-area educators, is honoring its roots once again this year by offering HISD employees some special financing terms on auto and personal loans.
Applicants who successfully finance more than $2,500 (signature loan) or $5,000 (auto loan) by the Sept. 30 deadline will also be eligible to win a new Apple iPad (drawing details are here; pdf).
Employees can visit any Smart Financial Credit Union branch to take advantage of this offer. For complete details, including the promo code needed to receive the special rates, please see this related article on the employee portal (login required). Visit www.smartcu.org to find the location nearest you.
HISD’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) department will be offering all school-based staff members details on how to effectively engage families and communities during a new fall workshop series.
Participants will learn strategies on how to partner with parents to link engagement practices to learning and increase student achievement.
Sessions start on Tues., Sept. 10, and cover topics such as “How to Start a PTA” and “Engaging Fathers as Allies for Academic Excellence.”
For a full schedule, please see this related Academic Memo. Registration for the workshops must be completed on e-TRAIN.
To answer some of the many questions we’ve received recently about the department formerly known as Parent Engagement, we sat down with General Manager Alejandro Morúa to discuss the department’s new name and new focus.
Q: Parent Engagement has changed its name to Family and Community Engagement (FACE). Why?
A: We wanted to be inclusive of all the people in a child’s life that play a part in their schooling – parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, godparents, neighbors, and more. Communities also play a big part in supporting families. They can partner with schools to provide services that would otherwise be unavailable. To impact student achievement, it really does take the whole village!
Q: What else has changed besides the name?
A: FACE is now focusing on two main pieces. First, we want to be sure FACE across the district is systemic, scalable, and sustainable. The most efficient way to do that with a staff of 14 is to build capacity at the school level by providing FACE professional development and resources to school-based staff. That way, schools can drive their own FACE program, targeted at their unique school community, and reach more families.
Second, we want to be sure that there is a FACE component embedded across district initiatives—that all HISD departments are consistent in the way that they engage families and that departments collaborate to leverage their resources.
Q: How will FACE be working with our schools?
A: FACE is offering four types of interventions for schools. 1) We are expanding the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program for parents of 3, 4, and 5-year-olds, which is proven to boost school readiness. 2) We will offer one-to-one support for schools to develop a FACE plan around their community needs. 3) We will be offering professional development workshops and tools on our website for all schools. 4) Finally, we hope to pilot the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) model, a revamped parent-teacher conference model, pending Board of Education approval. We are collaborating with the School Support Office to identify which campuses we will be targeting with these services.
Q: We heard that FACE will not be offering some of the same services it did last last year. Which ones?
A: Our focus is on building the capacity of campus leadership and teachers. FACE staff will not offer the Parent Prep Academy or English as a Second Language (ESL) classes this school year. However, we will continue to work with social service agencies around Houston that can provide these workshops and classes and connect them with schools.
Q: So, what is the secret to effective family and community engagement?
A: Linking to learning. Parent activities at schools should always be directly related to helping students learn. If we link our parent activities to learning, we can transform our parents into our most valuable academic partners.
All HISD schools and administrative offices will be closed on Mon., Sept. 2, 2013, in observance of Labor Day. They will reopen for business on Tues., Sept. 3.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- Aug. 1-Sept. 2: Houston Restaurant Weeks (benefitting the Houston Food Bank)
- Sept. 7: Grads Within Reach walk
- Sept. 12: Board meeting (regular)
- Sept. 13: Fall holiday (.pdf)
- 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. 28: The Museum Experience
- Oct. 4 & 5: Friends of Houston Public Library Children’s Book Sale
- Oct. 10: Board meeting (regular)
- Nov. 5: Election Day
- Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving holiday (.pdf)
Last week, we asked readers to test their knowledge of HISD with five quick questions on back-to-school topics—and most of the trivia could be found in stories on the HISD website.
Here are the answers, with links to the corresponding articles:
- How many meals does HISD’s Food Services department expect to serve on the first day of school? Answer: (b) 210,000 (source)
- How many bus routes does HISD have this year? Answer: (a) 889, a five-percent increase over last year (source)
- HISD’s newest school option this year focuses on what area of study? Answer: (c) energy* (source)
- Which HISD school is slated to launch the district’s first JROTC partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps? Answer: (e) E-STEM (source)
- What’s the name of the new HISD initiative that’s designed to eventually put a take-home laptop in the hands of every student? Answer: (d) PowerUp (source)
And, for those of you who want to know how many people got the answers right, here are those results:
- Answered correctly: 40%
- Answered correctly: 20%
- Answered correctly: 80%
- Answered correctly: 40%
- Answered correctly: 90%
*This was a bit of a trick question, as two new concept schools opened this year: the Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan (source).
The Houston Texans, HISD’s longtime community partner, is offering district employees a savings of about 15 percent off of the regular price of tickets for a new fall tradition.
The inaugural Texas Kickoff Classic is coming to Reliant Stadium on Sat., Aug. 31, 2013, and district employees can get a family value pack of four tickets, four hot dogs, and four soft drinks for prices starting at $120.
Come launch the college football season by watching the Mississippi State Bulldogs take on Oklahoma State Cowboys for less.
To take advantage of this special offer, please contact Warren Caguioa at 832-667-2319 or warren.caguioa@houstontexans.com. A downloadable flyer (.pdf) is available for reference.
All processing charges, taxes, and fees will be waived.
George Ranch to host Open House for Educators on Sept. 7
The historic George Ranch will be hosting an Open House for Educators on Sat., Sept. 7, 2013, and all HISD history teachers are invited!
Come take a journey through our state’s history by following four generations of one Texas family dating back to the 1830’s.
For complete details, please see this related posting.
Mobile mammograms return to HISD Sept. 9
Each year, The Rose offers on-site screening mammograms to female HISD employees who meet certain criteria.
Seven dates have been added for this fall, starting on Sept. 9 at Lee High School and extending through Oct. 30 at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.
Interested women are encouraged to act quickly, as only a limited number of mammograms can be performed each day.
Please see the attached flyer (.pdf) for complete details.
Next new employee orientation is Sept. 10
Get to know the district and what it means to be a member of Team HISD at one of the new employee orientations being held monthly at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St. 77092).
Topics include benefits, retirement options, and an overview of HISD’s Strategic Direction and employee policies.
The next session is scheduled for Tues., Sept. 10. Details and sign-up information are here.
Houston Arts Partners Conference Sept 13 & 14
The third annual Houston Arts Partners Conference will be taking place on Sept. 13 and 14, 2013, at the Houston Ballet Center for Dance (601 Preston St., 77002).
This year’s theme is “Arts Work: How the Arts Benefit the Individual, the Classroom, the Community, and the Economy,” and attendees can earn up to 15 CPE credit hours.
For complete details, please visit the conference website.
Learn your options at Sept. 18 retirement seminar
The Retirement Storefront at HISD will be hosting retirement seminars from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on the following dates this fall:
- Wed., Sept. 18
- Tues., Oct. 22
- Wed., Nov. 6
- Wed., Dec. 4
All district employees are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about their Teacher Retirement System (TRS) benefits.
Employees must register through e-TRAIN to attend, and select course code #BN0200.
Questions may be directed to V. Janene English at 713-695-5561 ext. 343.
Free movie screening for fifth- and sixth-graders on Oct. 24
In observance of Food Day Houston 2013, Recipe 4 Success, will be hosting a screening of the educational film, What’s on My Plate?, on Thurs., Oct. 24, at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (1001 Bissonnet, 77005).
The documentary, which follows two 11-year-old girls as they explore their place in the food chain, is geared to fifth- and sixth-graders.
Admission is free for schools (transportation not provided), but space is limited, so please register by Sept. 30 to sarah@recipe4success.org. Details are here (.pdf).
Josephine Young
Josephine Young was fresh out of college when she first applied for a position with HISD in 1978, and at that time, she knew precisely what she planned to do.
“I wanted to work in secondary education,” said the Longfellow Elementary School librarian, “because I did all of my student teaching at that level. But the person I was interviewing with said, ‘Well, you’re inexperienced, so we’re going to start you out with elementary, and once you finish your probationary period, we can move you up to secondary.’ And here I am 35 years later.”
Young has been Longfellow’s librarian for 26 of those years, but she also served as the librarian at Harper (now closed), Crockett, Gregg, and Wilson elementary schools.
“It went by so fast,” said Young. “One year I’m interviewing, and here I am 35 years later. But it’s been so much fun. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I started working in elementary and I just fell in love with it. I never wanted to move on.”
Young officially marked her 35th anniversary with the district on Aug. 29, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week (Aug. 25–31). See if you know anyone on this list:
35 years
- Carol Bean, teaching assistant, Browning ES
- Mary Breed, attendant, Food Services
- Verna Mathews, teaching assistant, Reynolds ES
- Shirley Parker, associate teacher
- Melva White, bus driver, Transportation Services
30 years
- Elena Coronado, teaching assistant, Yates HS
- Mary Gedelian, magnet coordinator, Camp Olympia
- Ann Glidden, associate teacher
- Chaney Ledet, teacher, Attucks MS
- Robinson Parson, associate teacher
- Kenneth Smith, teacher, Madison HS
25 years
- Rozan Adamy, teacher, Rodriguez ES
- Anthony Alleman, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Patrice Alpough, teacher, Jordan HS
- Joseph Amos, teacher, Brookline ES
- Alvin Ardley, instructional coordinator, McGowen ES
- Judy Armes, teacher, Daily ES
- Lisa Asi, teacher, Shearn ES
- Assefa Tsegaye, associate teacher
- Adams Audu, teacher, Westbury HS
- Griselda Avalos, teacher, Browning ES
- Kristie Barbee, teacher, Waltrip HS
- John Barrera, principal, Wainwright ES
- Stephanie Batiste, teacher, R. P. Harris ES
- Betty Bell, teacher, Clifton MS
- Martha Berbel, secretary, R. P. Harris ES
- Pearl Black, instructional coordinator, Hartsfield ES
- Carol Bolden, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Wanda Boutte, teaching assistant, Dogan ES
- Donald Britton, teacher, Crespo ES
- Beryl Broom, program administrator, Student Assessment
- Donna Brown-Bennett, teacher, River Oaks ES
- Margaret Bryant, teacher, Durkee ES
- Theresa Campos, senior manager, Leadership Development
- Richard Carroll, school business manager, Milby HS
- Leticia Cavazos, clerk, Sanchez ES
- Barbara Clemente, teacher development specialist, Professional Development
- Keith Coleman, teacher, Westbury HS
- Monalisia Collier, Internal IT customer service rep, Dowling MS
- Ka Sandra Conaway, assistant, HR Business Partners
- Jacqueline Cordova, teacher, Cornelius ES
- Sandra Cornelius, assistant principal, Wainwright ES
- Francianna Crawford, teacher, Wesley ES
- Marmion Dambrino, director, Athletics
- Karin Davis, teacher, Horn ES
- Joseph Deggs, teacher, Mandarin Chinese School
- Daniel Deleon, principal, Chavez HS
- Alicia Detamore, teacher, Paige ES
- Mollie Dolison-Tyler, teacher, Chavez HS
- Edgar Duran, teacher, Chavez HS
- Holly Ellenberger, teacher, Walnut Bend ES
- Goree Emanuel, teacher, Pershing MS
- Charlene Espree, teacher, Cornelius ES
- Carmen Falla-Aramayo, teacher, Emerson ES
- Joyce Fielder, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Oscar Flores, associate repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Teresa Garcia, teacher, Port Houston ES
- Regina Garvey, teacher, MacGregor ES
- Robert Gentry, teacher, Stevenson MS
- Mariana Goins, teacher, Ketelsen ES School
- Graciela Gomez, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Jesse Gonzalez, teacher development specialist, Professional Development
- Hermas Grayless, teacher, Hartman MS
- Robbin Green, teacher, Sharpstown Intl. School
- Tammie Green, manager, Food Services
- Sylvia Harris, counselor, Stevenson MS
- Juanita Hernandez, nurse, Martinez ES
- Lupita Hinojosa, school services officer, Office of School Support
- Wanda Holmes, student information rep., Harper Alternative
- Eileen Howell, clerk, Pin Oak MS
- Stephanie Irby, teacher specialist, Wharton ES
- Jackson Sandra, teacher, Burbank ES
- Rosa Jauregui, senior business analyst, IT Customer Service
- Carol Johnson, teacher, West University ES
- Martha Johnson, assistant principal, Stevenson MS
- Patricia Johnson, librarian, Stevenson MS
- Jones Josephine, teacher, Foster ES
- Amanda Jost, teacher, Piney Point ES
- Zachary Julian, teacher, Hobby ES
- Rosemary Kihika, teacher, McNamara ES
- Debbie Kimble, librarian, McGowen ES
- Koehl Traci, teacher, Eliot ES
- Sylvia Lacefield, teacher, Oak Forest ES
- Ana Lauck, teacher, Harvard ES
- Gloria Lemond, teacher, Furr HS
- William Ludwig, teacher, Rucker ES
- Emily Makhlouf, teacher, Walnut Bend ES
- Rose Maldonado, clerk, Multilingual
- Kenneth Malone, area manager, Transportation
- Gwen Manning, teacher, Browning ES
- Martha Martinez, counselor, Davis HS
- Elena Martinez-Buley, principal, Rodriguez ES
- John McDonald, teacher, Sutton ES
- Patricia McGowen, teaching assistant, Sinclair ES
- Karol McNary, counselor, Kashmere HS
- Jacqueline McWilliams, teacher, Scarborough HS
- Maria Mercado-Reyes, teacher, Montgomery ES
- James Metoyer, director Elementary Schools Office
- Cynthia Miller, teacher, Patterson ES
- Linda Mindingall Payne, teacher, Parker ES
- Gwendolyn Miraglia, teacher, HSLECJ
- Carolyn Monmouth, instructional specialist, Whittier ES
- Sybil Moreno, secretary, Administrative Services
- Josephine Morgan, instructional coordinator, Lamar HS
- Marla Morrow, librarian, Lee HS
- Charlotte Murray-Lawton, teacher, M L King ECC
- Ibiteyin Myers, teacher, Windsor Village ES
- Najera Hector, plant operator, Southmayd ES
- Linda Nelson, teacher, River Oaks ES
- Patricia Newman, teacher, Red ES
- Alice Nichols, librarian, Paige ES
- Yong Park, teacher, Early College HS East
- Pellenberg Sherry, assistant principal, Dogan ES
- Bridgette Phillips, teacher, Hamilton MS
- Pineda Francisco, plant operator, Milne ES
- Bernadine Powell, teacher, Park Place ES
- Cassandra Prince, teacher, Whidby ES
- Cathy Puente, secretary, Benavidez ES
- Ashfaqur Rehman, teacher, Milby HS
- Tereso Reyes, plant operator, Gregg ES
- Kathy Richards, teacher, Cunningham ES
- Maria Rios, student information rep., Stevenson MS
- Marta Rodriguez, clerk, Carrillo ES
- Norma Ruiz, secretary, Condit ES
- Eileen Ryan, attendant, Food Services
- Alba Salvat, speech therapist, Child Study
- Samuel Sarabia, chief school officer
- Coletta Sayer, teacher, Benbrook ES
- John Schaff, teacher, Harvard ES
- Linda Schroder, teacher, West University ES
- Jamie Scott, teacher, Pin Oak MS
- Willie Scott, teacher, Waltrip HS
- Susan Shafer, librarian, Parker ES
- Demetria Shavers, teacher, Kashmere HS
- Joyce Shaw, teacher, Mading ES
- Edna Silerio, teaching assistant, De Zavala ES
- Peggy Sinclair, teacher, Sam Houston MSTC
- Terry Strayhorn, teacher, Bastian ES
- Anne Stryker, program specialist, Multilingual
- Margaret Taylor, teacher, Bush ES
- Michael Thomas, mechanic helper, Transportation Services
- Joyce Thormodsgaard, teacher, Piney Point ES
- Josephine Treviño, secretary, Longfellow ES
- Penelope Tschirhart, teacher, Lamar HS
- Dalia Valle, secretary, Rucker ES
- Pamela Vaughn, teacher, Westside HS
- Karen Waddell, teacher, Jones HS
- Gladys Weeks, teacher, Carrillo ES
- Delores Wigal, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Rose Wiley, data entry clerk, Highland Heights ES
- Linda Williams, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Robert Wiseman, teacher, Burbank ES
- Bessie Young, Special Education employment rep., Chavez HS
- Michael Zubler, teacher, West University ES
20 years
- Cynthia Adams, teacher, Roosevelt ES
- Erika Alvarado, senior secretary, School Choice
- Jorge Arredondo, principal, Austin HS
- Demetria Broaden-Lewis, Special Education chair, Hartman MS
- Brown Jenoris, plant operator, Kolter ES
- Deborah Gurley, student information rep., Isaacs ES
- Cordelia Igwe, teaching assistant, Madison HS
- Morrison Tommie, secretary, P-16 College &Career Readiness
- Julita Perez, teacher, Stevenson MS
- Adolfo Velez, teacher, Bruce ES
15 years
- Veronica Buchanan, attendant, Food Services
- Opal Campbell, student information rep., Burrus ES
- Maria Celaya, teacher, Burnet ES
- Della Ellis, custodian, Frost ES
- Nancy Faust, teacher, Bonham ES
- Irazu Fernandez, teacher, White ES
- Sofia Gutierrez, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Linda Hicks, attendant, Food Services
- Brenda Irving, attendant, Food Services
- Scheryl Johnson, teaching assistant, Hartsfield ES
- Schundra Reeder, attendant, Food Services
- José Serrano, painter, Construction & Facility Services
- Anna Torres, teacher, De Chaumes ES
- Octavia Trahan, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Thelma Washington, attendant, Food Services
- Carlos Zelaya, senior HVAC repairer , Construction & Facility Services
10 years
- Manuel Acosta, teacher, Marshall MS
- Hiram Alex, teacher, Sam Houston MSTC
- Patricia Allen, teacher, Pleasantville ES
- Leticia Alvarez, teacher, Hines-Caldwell ES
- Habab Baroudi, teaching assistant, School at St. George Place
- Marilyn Bingham, attendant , Transportation Services
- Beverly Bryant, clerk, Hobby ES
- Irene Castillo, teaching assistant, Sherman ES
- Deidra Duncans, crossing guard, K. Smith ES
- Jeremiah Gallegos, attendant, Athletics
- Marie Garcia, teaching assistant, Ortiz MS
- Sandra Gonzalez, teaching assistant, Cunningham ES
- Veronica Gonzalez, student information representative, Laurenzo ECC
- Cynthia Grant, teacher, Atherton ES
- Stephen Green, plumber, Construction & Facility Services
- Montre’Johnson, special education chair, Revere MS
- Gayle Julian, teacher, Mading ES
- Bushra Khan, teacher, Austin HS
- James Ligon, teacher, Herod ES
- Stephen MacLauchlan, assistant principal, Reagan HS
- Sally Mayberry, teacher, Sinclair ES
- Georgia Menson, associate teacher
- Mercedes Penate, teacher, J R Harris ES
- Efrem Pierce, teacher, Yates HS
- Michelle Pina, teaching assistant, Hamilton MS
- Rodriguez Julieth, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Mayra Serrano, secretary, Roosevelt ES
- Stone Sandra, teacher, Waltrip HS
- Sheila Williams, clerk, Pilgrim Academy
- Tammy Young, manager, Benefits
- Syeda Zehra, associate teacher
5 years
- Donna Anderson, teacher, Brookline ES
- Salomey Asamoah, attendant, Food Services
- Marie Baptiste, teacher, Welch MS
- Melissa Barajas, officer, Police Department
- Anita Battle, crossing guard
- Lois Bell, attendant, Food Services
- Celestina Benitez, attendant, Food Services
- Adela Bermudez, teacher, Highland Heights ES
- Delsi Betances-Garcia, associate teacher
- Marcella Boudreaux, teacher, Herod ES
- Gregory Brazle, crossing guard, Elrod ES
- Amelia Cano, nurse, Waltrip HS
- Cardenas Linda, clerk, Sam Houston MSTC
- Yvette Davila, teaching assistant, Dodson ES
- Shamethia Dillard, assistant principal, Durkee ES
- Tabitha Dudley, teacher, Bastian ES
- Juana Duque, custodian Sam Houston MSTC
- Halley Erickson, teacher, Condit ES
- Brenda Ester, crossing guard, West University ES
- Sabrina Fernandez, clerk, Holland MS
- Sergiao Finn, stadium and equipment technician, Athletics
- Reno Ford, teacher, Key MS
- Tami Frazier, teacher, Dogan ES
- Sara Garcia, teacher, Ashford ES
- Carolyn Gray, attendant, Food Services
- Griffin Merriamon, crossing guard, Peck ES
- Christina Guerra, teaching assistant, Rucker ES
- Royleesha Hickerson, teacher, Atherton ES
- Brandon Horton, officer, Police Department
- Marnie Hylton, social worker, Piney Point ES
- Yvette Johnson, clerk, Challenge Early College HS
- Sherail Jordan, associate teacher
- Devin Kopp, teacher, Rusk ES
- Ho Lee, teacher, Hartman MS
- Ollie Lewis, attendant, Food Services
- Samuel Lewis, associate teacher
- Shantel Lewis, substitute aide/clerk
- Melvin Lovelace Jr, teacher, Worthing HS
- Vasti Marcelo, teacher, Helms ES
- Lynn Mayer, teacher, Deaf Campus
- Michael Maynard, teacher, Milne ES
- Michael McClung, officer, Police Department
- Yesica Meza, teacher, Austin HS
- Ashley Monteil, teacher, Lyons ES
- Miriam Montgomery, attendant, Food Services
- Naquisha Moore, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Rocio Moreno, teaching assistant, Briarmeadow Charter
- Faustino Oyervidez-Perez, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Dorothy Page, crossing guard, Helms ES
- Maria Pallares, clerk, Williams MS
- Bertha Perez, custodian, Davis HS
- Yolanda Perez, team lead, Food Services
- Vivian Pham, teacher, Daily ES
- Maritza Price, teacher, West Briar MS
- Nicole Reamer, teacher, West Briar MS
- Jerry Reitz, crossing guard, Patterson ES
- William Robinson, teacher, Fonville MS
- Rene Rodriguez, teacher, Holland MS
- Norma Jean Ruiz, secretary, HS Ahead Academy
- Christopher Sanzo, substitute aide/clerk
- Kristal Scott, teacher, YWCPA
- LaMoya Smith, Special Education chair, Thomas MS
- Lakeysha Smith, attendant, Food Services
- Temeka Smith, crossing guard
- Marcellous Stevens, crossing guard
- Marilyn Thomas, teacher, Hines-Caldwell ES
- Jerry Thompson, crossing guard, J. P. Henderson ES
- John Tovar Cortes, teacher, Attucks MS
- Binh Tran, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Denise Vale, clerk, Bellaire HS
- Letekia Walker, crossing guard, Dodson ES
- Amanda Williams, teaching assistant, Golfcrest ES
- Angelica Wilson, teaching assistant, Bruce ES
- Jennifer Woods, teacher, Marshall MS
- Sylvia Ysais, attendant, Food Services
| Check back next Friday for some early September 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, employees, and other team members, Furr High School senior Karen Banda talks about why she traveled to nine different states and another country this summer, how her experiences there changed her perceptions of herself and the world around her, and when she first realized an Ivy League education could be in her future.
This summer, you traveled to nine different states. At some of those places, you studied geology through the University of Texas’ GeoFORCE program. Did all of those fascinating field trips affect your choice of major?
Karen Banda in London
No, not really. At first, I wanted to do medicine, but then I decided to do business and economics. I do see the world differently, now, though, because I know how everything was formed. And even though I want to major in something different, I learned so many things and you meet so many great people. We’re all like a family there, and to me, that’s very important in a program.
You also traveled to London this summer on a full scholarship through HISD’s EMERGE program and one of its partners, the non-profit organization Discover U. What did you have to do to be considered?
Discover U sends us a list of “Fantastic Learning Opportunities” every month in a newsletter and I really like traveling. So I got together my transcript and essays and applied for it and I was accepted.
On the district’s HISD2college blog, you talk about how these experiences have changed you and how you see yourself. Can you describe some of those changes?
I think the Northeast trip I did with EMERGE impacted me the most, because before that, I didn’t really think I could go to an Ivy League school (due to) the neighborhood I come from and my family’s situation. But we were able to hear from students just like me who did it, so now I know it’s possible.
In that article, you also talk a lot about opportunity. Why is that such an important concept to you?
Because not many people get the chances that I’ve had. They open up your mind to many things. I feel more confident and capable of getting scholarships and going to these Ivy League schools now, if I work hard at it.
You visited a number of tourist attractions while in England, like the Tower Bridge, the Eye of London, and Big Ben. Which one was your favorite?
Oooh. That’s a hard one. I think my favorite was the Tower of London, because it’s very well-known and it’s completely different from anything here in America. Just the age and the vibe I got from it. It took me back to the past. I also liked St. Paul’s Cathedral, because I’m Catholic. I saw every single station that they had and people praying, and a mass going on. It was really amazing.
| 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. |
