HISD | Employee News: HISD’s news for district employees

ALL TEACHERS

Strategy and Innovation

HISD seeking innovative project proposals from educators. In March 2020, COVID-19 gave rise to unprecedented challenges affecting every sector of the U.S. economy, and education was no exception. Teachers and teacher leaders quickly transformed their classrooms from in-person to virtual, became masters of blended learning, and used their creativity to ensure that every child received a high quality education. In the spirit of innovation, HISD is accepting proposals for HISD By Design, a new program aimed at funding a cohort of innovative projects and programs from educators that directly impacts student achievement. The district will review all submissions, selecting the ideas, projects, or programs that best support student needs. Teachers and teacher leaders selected will be equipped with the business knowledge and acumen needed to bring their ideas from conception to execution, including crafting a complete business plan. In addition, those who are accepted will be paired with a senior district leader for mentorship and guidance. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Informational webinars will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 16, and Tuesday, March 9, at 6 p.m. For more information, see this flyer. To learn more about HISD By Design, visit HoustonISD.org/HISDByDesign.

Prior year TADS End-of-Year Conference and Summative Rating Forms: TADS documents in the Teacher Appraisal and Development System Tools will be accessible through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. End-of-Year Conference and Summative Rating forms from the following school years have been added to your ePortfolios in the AIM Portal:

• 2016-2017
• 2017-2018
• 2018-2019
• 2019-2020

After accessing your ePortfolio, you will have an option to see the prior years’ forms available to you. Please visit the TADS Toolbox for a helpful navigational guide detailing the steps to access your TADS documents.

Social and Emotional Learning

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “Trauma is defined as any frightening, frightening, or violent event that poses a threat to one’s life or body.” Per SEL Rethink Ed, trauma affects us all. The “Helping Students with Trauma” series includes a teacher training video, discussion questions, a “How to Create a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom” video and activity, and classroom inventory checklist, all of which can be located via the following pathway:

Sign into Clever>Teacher Resources>Rethink Ed>My Training>Rethink Ed Training Series>SEL Training Series>Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Training Series>Trauma>Helping Students with Trauma>Training.

Take the Trauma-Sensitive Classroom Inventory: This inventory is designed to help classroom teachers self-evaluate and partner with their colleagues to better serve all children, especially those who have experienced or are experiencing trauma.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education. February is CTE Month! Seniors, are you ready for the workforce? If not, join us and learn strategies and tools for success. The Seniors to Success 2.0 virtual town hall hiring event is scheduled for Feb. 25 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. and student registration is required. Join us to meet employers and learn of job openings. A link for the TEAMS meeting will be sent after registering. For more information, email Carolina Cano at ccano@houstonisd.org or Echos Blevins at echos.blevins@houstonisd.org.

Career and Technical Education. Join us for CTE Month Mini Sessions andEXPLORE! EXPAND! ENGAGE! Graduating seniors can explore career opportunities with industry partners in the Gulf Coast Region. Seniors can also expand their knowledge of careers in the military and aviation industry and engage with business leaders to hear about out-of-the box careers that will help them earn more. For more information, email Carolina Cano at ccano@houstonisd.org or Echos Blevins at echos.blevins@houstonisd.org.

• Join us for a live event on Feb. 4 from 5-6 p.m. at http://bit.ly/3pXDY1b  
• Join us for a live event on Feb. 11 from 5-6 p.m. at http://bit.ly/2Luc6TC
• Join us for a live event on Feb. 18 from 5-6 p.m. at http://bit.ly/2Lyoy4Q

Please also visit the HUB for HISD Career Readiness resources and announcements and visit the HISD Career Readiness website here for the Weekly CTE News Bulletin. TestOut LabSim Training for Grant Use: Attendance is limited and by invitation only to this TestOut LabSim Training for Grant Use on Feb. 4 so register today. See this flyer for more information. Free digital learning on the tech skills of tomorrow. Technology and jobs are changing much faster than education systems. Open P-TECH helps close the gap. For more information visit open.ptech.org or contact our Business Development Team. See this flyer for more information.

CTE Career Tip Tuesdays: CTE teachers, encourage your students to join CTE career advisors every second and fourth Tuesday during February for sessions led by expert professionals and educators on how to stand out from the crowd and become a competitive job applicant. This month’s topics are Preparing for a Job Fair and Virtual Interview 101. See this flyer for more information.

ALL TEACHERS

Academics
The HISD Teacher Preparation Day (no students) scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, has been designated a remote working day for all district employees. This day is available for teachers to close out items for the third grading cycle and prepare for the next. Employees should take home anything they may need to work from home when leaving work on Thursday, Jan. 28. Teachers should not report to school on Friday, as all HISD facilities will be undergoing a deep cleaning. HISD schools and offices will reopen with regular business hours as the district resumes in-person working on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. This January 29 remote working day for HISD will not impact teaching and learning, as the day is already a designated day off for students under the 2020-2021 academic calendar. 

Reminder: The teacher service day previously scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, was changed on the 2020-2021 academic calendar to Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. All students and staff should report to school as normal on Feb. 24. For questions, contact Academics@houstonisd.org or PSD@houstonisd.org.

Social and Emotional Learning

Rethink Ed: Students continue to face challenges of stress, anxiety, and coping with their emotions. Please check out HISD’s Rethink Ed platform for training videos, downloadable resources, and SEL lessons for the classroom. Teachers and counselors are encouraged to collaborate and watch the video series on trauma located in the My Training section of the platform. Please refer to the training video using the access passcode located on the page. Contact SEL@HoustonISD.org for assistance. 

SEL Campus Spotlight: We would like to share an SEL best practice sent to us by Ortiz Middle School Dean of Culture Rewa Booher. “Ortiz Middle School has been using Restorative Behavior Practices, with which we are teaching students to adapt to the virtual learning environment. Our students have been part of virtual circles, and teachers have been able to monitor and engage parents in this process. We are proud to be a Family First team.“ Thanks to all for implementing SEL on your campuses.

Group 1 Automotive
HISD has partnered with the Sterling McCall family of dealerships to offer HISD employees an exclusive Vehicle Buying Program with services designed to save you time and money at all Group 1 automotive dealerships. Click here to learn more.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education. Please view the Jan. 29 Enrichment Professional Development Calendar for professional development sessions, self-paced training courses, and other events for CTE teachers and administrators. Register through OneSource Learning to receive credit for courses. Please visit the HUB for Career Readiness resources and announcements. Also, visit the HISD Career Readiness website or click on Weekly CTE News Bulletin, Volume 3. Before registering for OneSource courses, reference the CTE audience, dates, and times on the Enrichment Professional Development Development Calendar. We look forward to your participation! For questions, contact Dr. Stacey Whitmore at SWHITMO1@HoustonISD.org.

Detailed CTE information and opportunities

Attendance is limited and by invitation only to this TestOut LabSim Training for Grant Use on Feb. 4, so register today. Questions about industry-based certifications and curriculum? See this flyer. To help youth gain and understand financial freedom, take this course. To learn about Statecraft Simulation and Setup, register for this course. For EverFI Career Exploration Lessons training on Jan. 29, see this flyer. eDynamic Learning has a new class on differentiated instruction and remote learning; see this flyer to register. Junior Achievement is offering a new course on Strategic Goals for HISD Scholars on Jan. 28; see this flyer for more information. For a course on Culturally and Linguistically Special Populations, see this flyer. Applied Educational Systems Rep Heather Young will present two trainings; Jan. 26 is an introduction to Health Center 21 Digital Curriculum and Jan. 27 is about Business and IT Center 21. For additional trainings, see the January Region 4 Distance Learning Event Schedule and the Weekly CTE News Bulletin, Volume 3.

Free job training starting January 25
SERJobs is offering FREE training to help prepare unemployed or underemployed clients for greater earning potential. See www.SERhouston.org/application or text JOB to 69922 to apply for these trainings. Please contact Fernando Perez at fperez@serjobs.org for more information or questions.

Career Tip Tuesday: Teachers, please encourage your students to join CTE career advisors every second and fourth Tuesday of the month for a mini lesson watch party led by expert professionals and educators on how to stand out from the crowd and become competitive job applicants.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Elementary Curriculum and Development Office
Nominations for the 2020-21 Elementary Science Teacher Awards are now open. This an exciting partnership that rewards elementary teachers for exemplary teaching and learning in science and STEM classrooms. This year’s nominees will be selected from those who have demonstrated a unique ability to “engage the students in a virtual world, breaking barriers beyond traditional brick and mortar.”  For a complete summary of requirements, as well as nomination information, please see this Academic Service Memo. We encourage you to self-nominate and nominate an outstanding science/STEM teacher colleague in grades K-5 or a science lab.

Grant opportunity for third-grade project-based learning. Teachers, be on the lookout for an upcoming opportunity exclusive to grade 3 science teachers. EnCap Flatrock Mindstream, in partnership with HISD, is offering two grant opportunities for third-grade elementary classrooms to enhance and grow their STEM or science labs. Each grant totals approximately $2,500. The objective is to provide updated STEM and science resources and materials that will impact student achievement and learning. They will be looking for evidence of students’ usage of Cycle 3 Cumulative Projects, which begins the week of January 25. Winners will be identified via a social media challenge, which is due Feb. 1. Detailed information can be found in this Academic Services Memo. We look forward to seeing the outstanding work of HISD’s third-grade scholars.

ALL TEACHERS

January Goalbook webinar

Goalbook, the web-based resource that provides academic and behavior strategies, will host a three-part webinar series focused on using their resources to create an antiracist learning environment so that all students succeed. Participants are encouraged to attend all three sessions. Additional information will be forthcoming regarding to Part 2 and Part 3. 
Part 1: Antiracism and the Universal Design for Learning Framework
Jan. 21 at 2:30 p.m. → REGISTER HERE
Please contact jander13@houstonisd.org or call 713-556-6844 for questions.

Social and Emotional Learning

We cannot overcommunicate the importance of helping our students through these challenging times. Please join GO Live with SEL for Live Student SEL Lessons every Friday on topics such as coping skills, anxiety, mindfulness, relationship skills, and more. Teachers may click on the link for their session of choice in real time with students. There are separate sessions for elementary and secondary students. Please refer to this revised flyer for the SEL Winter Trainings for teachers. The afternoon sessions are posted in OneSource for registration. Check out the SEL website for SEL’s Relaxation Corner on Mondays and Wednesdays.

New Teachers
Progress conferences with appraisers are underway. The deadline for all progress conferences to be completed and submitted within the AIM tool is Feb. 12, 2021. Join us for a live webinar to prepare for your progress conference with your appraiser. The Teacher Career Development team will support your ability to ensure meaningful and purposeful progress planning and next steps to prepare for a successful ending to the school year. The live webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Please click here to access the registration for this live webinar event.

Group 1 Automotive
HISD has partnered with the Sterling McCall family of dealerships to offer HISD employees an exclusive Vehicle Buying Program with services designed to save you time and money at all Group 1 automotive dealerships. Click here to learn more.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education. Please view our January 2021 CTE Professional Development Calendar for upcoming after school and self-paced training sessions for Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers. Please register through OneSource Learning to receive credit for courses. There are many supplemental opportunities available for all teachers. Please visit the HUB for HISD Career Readiness resources and announcements, and see courses explained below. Also, visit the HISD Career Readiness website or click on Weekly CTE News Bulletin, Volume 2. Before registering for OneSource courses, please reference the CTE audience on the calendar. If you have any OneSource course questions, contact Dr. Stacey Whitmore at SWHITMO1@HoustonISD.org.

Free job training starting January 25

SERJobs is offering FREE training to help prepare unemployed or underemployed clients for greater earning potential. See www.SERhouston.org/application or text JOB to 69922 to apply for these trainings. Please contact Fernando Perez at fperez@serjobs.org for more information or questions.

Additional CTE information and opportunities

For EverFI Career Exploration Lessons training on Jan. 21, 2021, see this flyer. eDynamic Learning has new courses on robotics, business communications, business law, sport medicine, and more this month; see this flyer for instructions on how to register. Junior Achievement is offering a new course on Strategic Goals for HISD Scholars on Jan. 28; see this flyer for more information. For a course on Culturally and Linguistically Special Populations, see this flyer. Applied Educational Systems Rep Heather Young will present two trainings; January 26 is an introduction to Health Center 21 Digital Curriculum and January 27 is about Business and IT Center 21. For additional trainings, see the January Region 4 Distance Learning Event Schedule and the Weekly CTE News Bulletin, Volume 2.

Career Tip Tuesday: Teachers, please encourage your students to join CTE career advisors every second and fourth Tuesday of the month for a mini lesson watch party led by expert professionals and educators on how to stand out from the crowd and become competitive job applicants.