Weekly Teacher Download for November 16
ALL TEACHERS
SEL Relaxation Corner: Self-care is extremely important especially during these unprecedented times. The SEL Department has launched the SEL Relaxation Corner for teachers and campus staff, to assist them with managing stress and practicing self-care. The sessions will be held every Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (15-minute sessions), beginning on Nov. 11. HISD staff are encouraged to attend based on their availability and take advantage of mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Feel free to share this flyer with your campus’s teams and district stakeholders. Please click here to join any session.
Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts: The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) is seeking special education (SPED) teachers and other instructional professionals with a SPED certification to apply for the Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts. The purpose of the aspiring cohorts is to develop a pool of potential SPED leaders to provide timely and relevant instructional support and services to campus leaders, special education teachers, staff, and other stakeholders who serve students with disabilities. Interested applicants may access the applications online via the HISD Careers link – Business Professionals>Special Education Cohort. For more information regarding the timeline, application criteria, and frequently asked questions, click here. For questions related to the Aspiring Cohorts of Special Education Leaders (A.C.S.E.L.), please contact Carolyn Henry via Microsoft Teams or Cattani Frye via Microsoft Teams or email at cattani.frye@HoustonISD.org.
New Teachers: Each month, we will spotlight one of the Instructional Practice (IPR) criteria within TADS. This month’s IPR focus criterion is I-8 Students Actively Participating in Lesson Activities. Join us for a live webinar session where we will dive into effective practice strategies that will support your ability to ensure that:
- Students demonstrate engagement during direct instruction
- Students participate in and complete instructional tasks
- Students volunteer responses to questions
- Students follow teacher directions and ask appropriate questions
- Students display active effort in learning activities during independent work
- Students display active effort in learning activities during group work
A session will be offered via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. To register, please click here.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
Career and Technical Education (CTE): Free on-demand professional development:
- Academic Literacy
- Student Well-Being
- Assessment
- Remote Instruction and Interventions for Learning Loss
- Reading Intervention
- Distance Learning
- Getting Struggling Readers Back on Track
- Future of Work & Job Search in 2021
- Editing Video in Adobe Photoshop
- Cloud Computing
- Building Dashboards in Excel
- Justice Clearinghouse for Law & Justice Instructors
- Social and Emotional Connection
- Virtual Guided Reading
- Culture of Reading for Teacher Retention
- Effective Technology Professional Learning
- Reading in the Digital World
- Supporting Student Transitions
- Vessel Tracking Webinars
- Maritime Webinars
- NetCom Learning Courses & Webinars
Career Tip Tuesday: CTE teachers, please encourage students to join our Career Advising Team every second and fourth Tuesday for a mini-lesson watch party to help prepare them for a career!
Participants will learn from expert professionals and educators about non-verbal communication and social media etiquette.
Special Education Students: Greater Houston Job Leads & Resources from Greater Houston Talent Partners:
- Pepsi (applicants should select “Pepsi ACT” as their referral source)
- CenterPoint Energy
- Roche
- Centene
- Linde (formerly Praxair)
- Lundbeck
- HSBC
- Bayer
- Lumen
Find more jobs at the Disability Solutions Career Center! Disability Solutions works with employers across the country to attract and hire talent with disabilities. They provide job alerts, free resources for you and your job seekers, and ultimately connect you with employers looking to attract talent with disabilities.
Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship: The Marvy Finger Family Foundation provides full scholarships to qualified students who are interested in learning skills that lead to high-paying, fast-growing jobs. These scholarships are available for Career and Technical Certificate and Degree Programs in a two-year college. Applicants must be seniors at HISD, must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, must meet the federal definition of low socio-economic status/be eligible for free or reduced lunch, must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, and must complete FAFSA and submit Student Aid Report (SAR).
Black Creatives Event: DiscoverU has arranged an exclusive invitation for HISD staff and students to attend a free virtual event organized by Boston University’s College of Communication. Black Creatives: Getting Your Foot In The Door And Beyond will be a candid, one-hour conversation designed to help Black creatives navigate the media and communications industries. We will discuss tips and resources for allies, advocates, and accomplices who are looking to create opportunities and empower Black creatives. The application deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 17. Registration is required to receive the event URL. This is a great opportunity for students in Arts, Audio/Video Technology programs of study.
Weekly Teacher Download for November 9
ALL TEACHERS
Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts: The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) is seeking special education (SPED) teachers and other instructional professionals with a SPED certification to apply for the Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts. The purpose of the aspiring cohorts is to develop a pool of potential SPED leaders to provide timely and relevant instructional support and services to campus leaders, special education teachers, staff, and other stakeholders who serve students with disabilities. Interested applicants may access the applications online via the HISD Careers link – Business Professionals>Special Education Cohort. For more information regarding the timeline, application criteria, and frequently asked questions, click here. For questions related to the Aspiring Cohorts of Special Education Leaders (A.C.S.E.L.), please contact Carolyn Henry via Microsoft Teams or Cattani Frye via Microsoft Teams or email at cattani.frye@HoustonISD.org.
Brain Breaks: Brain breaks are structured breaks during times of learning or activity. Research suggests that regular 90-second brain breaks can improve classroom culture and student achievement. Brain breaks are a useful tool for adults and children alike. The benefits of brain breaks include improved attention and focus, reduced stress, and increased self-esteem. Check out these creative ideas for brain breaks.
Annual ESL Summit: Multilingual Programs will hold its second Annual ESL Summit: Bridging the Content to provide professionals with instructional strategies and inspiration to achieve success for all English learners. The virtual event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 14 and provide professional development opportunities for English language educators of all levels, including new sessions for campus administrators. The sessions will offer a variety of English language instructional strategies and resources, and all participants will be entered into a prize giveaway! Register in OneSource and view the course selection guide.
New Teachers: Each month, we will spotlight one of the Instructional Practice (IPR) criteria within TADS. This month’s IPR focus criterion is I-8 Students Actively Participating in Lesson Activities. Join us for a live webinar session where we will dive into effective practice strategies that will support your ability to ensure that:
- Students demonstrate engagement during direct instruction
- Students participate in and complete instructional tasks
- Students volunteer responses to questions
- Students follow teacher directions and ask appropriate questions
- Students display active effort in learning activities during independent work
- Students display active effort in learning activities during group work
Two sessions will be offered via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, Nov. 12 and Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. To register, please click here.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
Career Awareness Day: Join us on Nov. 12 for Career Awareness Day! Students and adults are invited to join C3 and partner commercial construction industry professionals to learn about exciting careers, interviewing tips, and resume preparation! Students who want to learn about this industry can attend the free virtual event during their class period and gain 30-day access to recorded sessions of engaging speakers through Whova. Register now!
CareerSafe Communication Skills Training: Thefree CareerSafe Communication Skills Training course has a media-rich and mobile-friendly online format that makes it accessible anywhere, anytime. The course consists of interactive modules discussing how to effectively communicate and understanding the importance of superb communication skills. Participants will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful communicator, practice professional communication techniques at an early age, and become more employable, gaining a competitive advantage in the job market. The CareerSafe National Video Contest is officially open and will last through March 1, 2021!
GRASPS in CTE Classrooms: Gain deeper use for student performance assessments in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms. Learn how to create more authentic and real-world performance tasks using the GRASPS acronym to foster student understanding. This can be used in any classroom. How do you help students think critically ? Do you always use the same assessments? Do you meet students’ individual needs? Do you frame student performances by an explicit purpose or goal? Think about different approaches to assessment. This online course is self-paced and may be taken at any time through OneSource Learning.
Career and Technical Education: Attention CTE Teachers: Do you still have questions or need support in the areas of CTE curriculum and/or industry-based certifications? As you know, CTE content is aligned with challenging academic standards, relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in emerging professions. The CTE Curriculum and Certifications Open Lab is open. Please review available openings and schedule a meeting with a specialist.
Multilingual Programs to host second Annual ESL Summit on Nov. 14
The Houston Independent School District’s Multilingual Programs Department will hold its second Annual ESL Summit: Bridging the Content to provide professionals with instructional strategies and inspiration to achieve success for all English learners.
The event will be held virtually from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 14 and will provide professional development opportunities for English language educators of all levels, including new sessions for campus administrators.
The sessions will offer a variety of English language instructional strategies and resources to teachers and campus administrators who attend, and all participants will be entered into a prize giveaway!
Interested educators can register in OneSource and view the course selection guide: http://bit.ly/MLESLSummit2020.
How and where to get tested for COVID-19
The HISD Health and Wellness Centers are now available for COVID-19 testing at no cost to employees. Dependents over the age of 5 who are covered under one of the HISD medical plans can also get COVID-19 testing at the HISD Health and Wellness Centers at no cost. Appointments are preferred and can be made on the Next Level mobile app. Employees may also call the clinic to schedule an appointment if they are unable to use the app or all available appointment slots on the app are full.
Employees should inform the clinics that they are coming in for a COVID-19 test only.
Locations and hours of the two HISD onsite clinics:
HISD Health and Wellness Center at HMW, 4400 West 18th Street, 281-869-3630
Hours of Operation:
Monday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday–Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon
HISD Health and Wellness Center at Attucks Middle School, 4330 Bellfort Street, 281-869-3630
Hours of Operation:
Monday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday–Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Both centers are closed daily from 1-2 p.m.
Who is eligible?
Any HISD employee, regardless of if they are enrolled in an HISD medical plan
or have been potentially exposed to COVID-19 while at work, is eligible for
testing. Also eligible for testing are any HISD employee’s dependents (age 5 or
over) enrolled in an HISD medical plan.
For employees who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19, it typically takes five to six days from date of exposure until a COVID-19 test can detect if they have COVID-19. To be safe, they should self-quarantine for five to six days from the date of suspected exposure before getting tested. If they do exhibit COVID-19-like symptoms during this self-quarantine period, they should get tested immediately and seek medical care as appropriate. Additionally, should an employee receive a negative test but later develop COVID-19-like symptoms, they should get tested again and seek medical care as appropriate.
To help expedite testing:
- Employees must present their HISD identification badge to validate employment status.
- Dependent eligibility will be validated at the clinics.
- Testing will typically but not necessarily be completed within 24 hours.
Other testing options
There are alternate testing sites for employees enrolled in an HISD medical plan and their covered dependents.
There is no cost for COVID-19 testing at any of the Next Level Urgent Care Centers, which currently are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Kelsey-Seybold Plan members:
Employees enrolled in a Kelsey-Seybold ACO who are exhibiting COVID-like symptoms
should contact Kelsey-Seybold directly. During this call, they will be screened
using CDC-approved guidelines. If the employee meets the criteria, they will be
scheduled for a video visit with a physician who will determine if the
individual should be tested. If the patient (or their covered dependent) meets
the criteria, the physician will place orders in the system, and they will be
contacted to schedule their test. Results are typically returned within 48 to
72 hours.
Participating CVS Minute Clinics:
If employees meet guidelines for testing, there is no cost for the COVID-19
test. Online pre-registration is required at www.cvs.com.
Members must answer a few questions to determine if they qualify for COVID-19
testing, and then they may select a test site and available time. Next they
will complete a registration form. Insurance card and proof of identity are required,
as well as the test confirmation email or text message.
The employee must be available by mobile phone in the event CVS needs to reach them. Upon arrival, the employee should stay in their car and follow the posted instructions at the site. Their test sample will be sent to one of the CVS lab partners. CVS will email a link to activate their MyChart account, which will be used to send the results. The employee will receive a link to view results (generally available within two to three days). Results are viewed through MyChart.
Medical treatment other than COVID-19 testing
- Employees enrolled in an HISD medical plan may seek care through their plan’s medical provider, subject to the applicable copay or deductible and coinsurance.
- Employees in an HISD medical plan may also seek urgent care through the HISD Health and Wellness Centers at no cost or any Next Level Urgent Care Center for a $20 fee. Employees enrolled in the Select Plan do not pay a fee.
- Employees not enrolled in an HISD medical plan but eligible for HISD benefits may utilize the onsite clinics for a $65 fee per visit plus any applicable lab costs.
Annual enrollment extended through Nov. 30
Annual enrollment for 2021 for HISD employees runs November 1-30, 2020. This is the time of year when all benefits-eligible employees can elect to enroll in benefits or change their benefits, so please review what’s new for 2021. We have created a “What’s New” video to guide you through the process, which is located here. Things to note include:
- There are no medical plan rate increases
- There are enhanced voluntary benefits
- There are two new Aetna onsite representatives to help you work through issues, find providers, and discuss your healthcare plans and options
- There are many convenient connections to your best health
2021 Benefits Guide
The 2021 Benefits Guide has current rates for all medical and voluntary plans, as well as a wealth of information on all the HISD benefits, including dental, vision, Aflac, legal services, disability, and more. Click on the quick link on HISDBenefits.org to access the 2021 Benefits Guide. The new guide is illustrated with pastel drawings of frontline heroes created by Houston artist Kristi Nelson. The drawings are her way of thanking the nurses and caregivers who risk their lives caring for people who have contracted COVID-19. For more information on Nelson, see this video produced by the HISD Benefits team.
Dental Insurance from Cigna
There are new Cigna dental options to choose from, including the PPO, DHMO, and Discount Dental. Visit Dental Plans on the Benefits website for rates and coverages.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
You must enroll every year for this benefit. The maximum healthcare account is $2,750 (it can be used for covered expenses incurred for you or your dependents). The maximum for the dependent flexible spending account is $5,000 (dependent care FSA can only to be used on daycare for children or elders and children’s camp). Click here for more information.
Next Level Urgent Care Centers
Next Level manages HISD’s Health and Wellness Centers at HMW and Attucks Middle School. Medical care is available for employees enrolled in an HISD medical plan at no charge. In addition to these onsite wellness centers, medical plan members and their covered dependents can visit any Next Level Urgent Care Center location for $20 per visit. Kelsey Select ACO Plan members and covered dependents may access these centers at no cost.
Employee Assistance Program
ComPsych is still the provider of the HISD Employee Assistance Program. They provide counseling and financial services, as well as legal services. All employees are eligible for this benefit. The ComPsych website for HISD is Guidance Resources.com and the password is HISD. New for 2021 is a chat feature that will be available. See details in the 2021 Benefits Guide.
Who to call and where to go with questions
We
have two new medical plan Aetna onsite representatives who can assist you with
questions and concerns about your medical plan.
Jeanne’ Johnson is your day-to-day Aetna onsite representative. She will
be able to answer questions about how your medical plan works. She can also
help you find a provider or determine if your current provider is in your
network and provide other valuable resources through Aetna. You may reach
Aetna Onsite Representative Jeanne’ Johnson at 281-627-7489 or by email at
JohnsonJ11@aetna.com. For your convenience, you may schedule a virtual
appointment with her.
Sonja Whaley is the new Aetna onsite clinical consultant. She
specializes in assisting with complex treatment issues, planning a procedure,
wellness resources, and other questions. You may reach Onsite Clinical Consultant Sonja Whaley at
832-920-3776 or by email at WhaleyS@aetna.com.
You may also contact Aetna Member Services at 1-877-224-6857 with questions about plan benefits and features, coverage, costs, claims, and more. You will find a wealth of information, tools, and plan resources on your Aetna member website at www.Aetna.com. The Aetna website gives you easy access to your specific medical information and helps you find doctors who belong to the network of the plan option you select.
For other questions regarding benefits, please visit wwwHISDBenefits.org or call the Benefits Service Center at 877-780-HISD (4473).
Supplemental Sick Leave Bank (SSLB): 2020-21 BCOE Enrollment Nov. 1 – Nov. 30
Program offers up to 30 additional leave days for catastrophic illness/injury
The HISD Supplemental Sick Leave Bank (SSLB) program offers participants up to 30 additional leave days for extended absences due to a catastrophic injury or illness.
The SSLB membership enrollment materials will be emailed to eligible employees during the week of Nov. 2, 2020. Enrollment forms and plan details are also available on the SSLB webpage. Please note that current SSLB members were automatically re-enrolled in the program in September.
Eligible employees may enroll only during the BCOE enrollment period through Nov. 30, 2020. A pre-enrollment period will be held in May for employees to enroll or terminate membership for the following school year.
Contact Employee Support Services at 713-695-5561 for additional assistance.
Weekly Teacher Download for November 2
ALL TEACHERS
Teacher Service Days: The next Teacher Service Day (no students) is tomorrow, Nov. 3. There will be no virtual or in-person classes for students tomorrow, which is Election Day. Nov. 3 is now a student holiday and virtual staff professional development day. The student holiday and staff professional development day scheduled on Wednesday, February 24 has been changed to Nov. 3. All students and staff should report to school as normal on Feb. 24.
The professional development catalog is posted on the HISD eLearning website. For any questions on courses, email the department course contact or PSD@HoustonISD.org.
Campus administrators and teachers may choose from the following three options for staff professional development:
- District pre-approved staff development
- Campus or other staff development approved by their area superintendent
- Comp day for teachers or campus administrators who have accumulated the required number of staff development hours as approved by their manager. Refer to HoustonISD.org/eLearning for an optional form that teachers can use to submit staff development hours for COMP requests.
Calming Room: Teachers, your quiet place is usually your home. Teachers design their classrooms, or homes away from home, with welcoming signs and posters of universities. Please consider transforming a space into a Calming Room for your campus. This area could include limited use of technology, dim lighting, lowered voices, telephone chats, meditative music, motivational posters, pictures of nature landscapes, art, and printed copies of inspirational phrases. Please remember to inquire with your campus administrator about establishing your campus Calming Room. Please click here and here to view articles with more information and check out SEL for more resources.
New Teachers: Each month, we will spotlight one of the Instructional Practice (IPR) criteria within TADS. This month’s IPR focus criterion is I-8 Students Actively Participating in Lesson Activities. Join us for a live webinar session where we will dive into effective practice strategies that will support your ability to ensure that:
- Students demonstrate engagement during direct instruction
- Students participate in and complete instructional tasks
- Students volunteer responses to questions
- Students follow teacher directions and ask appropriate questions
- Students display active effort in learning activities during independent work
- Students display active effort in learning activities during group work
Two sessions will be offered via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, Nov. 12 and Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. To register, please click here.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
CTE Professional Development Opportunities: Please view our upcoming virtual training sessions for CTE instructors and administrators on Nov. 3. Please register through OneSource Learning to receive credit. These sessions will be recorded for teachers who cannot attend. Please reference the CTE audience on the PD calendar. The Microsoft Teams links to join the sessions will be included in the confirmation email after registering and most are also embedded in the calendar. If you have any session questions, please contact Dr. Stacey Whitmore by email at SWHITMO1@HoustonISD.org.
- Business, Marketing, and Finance Programs of Study
- eDynamic Learning General Session
- AES: Health & Business Center 21
- Literacy in the CTE Classroom
- Using Performance GRASPS in CTE Classrooms
- Phase II: ASE Certifying Automotive Shops
- The HON-Code: Principles of CTE Website Evaluation
- Creating Background Knowledge
- CAD Learning
- eDynamic Introduction to Online Courseware and Continuous Learning
Goals, IPDPs, Goal-Setting Conferences Labs
The Talent Development & Performance Department – Leadership and Teacher Development invites appraisers of non-teachers (NTAS) to attend one of the following virtual Goals, IPDPs, and Goal-Setting Conferences Labs listed below:
- Thursday, November 12 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday, November 12 from 4 to 5 p.m.
- Friday, November 13 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
If possible, please send a request to be on the guest list. Virtual walk-ins will also be allowed. Participants can attend and leave at will when their needs have been met. Goals were due on Oct. 2, IPDPs were due on Oct. 16, and Goal-Setting Conferences are due on Oct. 30 or Nov. 13, depending on the employee’s duty schedule.
For questions, contact Leonard Daily at ldaily@HoustonISD.org.
Nominate your favorite associate teacher
The Office of Associate Teachers is looking for nominations for Associate Teacher of the Month and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month programs!
Associate Teachers and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teachers can have a significant impact on their students. Do you know an amazing Associate Teacher or Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher?
The office would like to honor the Associate Teacher and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher who has made a positive impact on your campus. Get your campus involved and tell us how these associate teachers are making a difference. Be sure to include specific examples of how the nominee has gone above and beyond their job duties.
Click here to nominate an Associate Teacher of the Month!
Click here to nominate an Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month!
One Associate Teacher and one Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher will be chosen each month beginning November 2020 and HR will recognize the winners!
Help us celebrate our hardworking associate teachers!
Weekly Teacher Download for October 26
ALL TEACHERS
Teacher Service Day: The next Teacher Service Day (no students) is on Tuesday, Nov. 3. There will be no virtual or in-person classes for students on Tuesday, Nov. 3, which is Election Day. Nov. 3 is now a student holiday and virtual staff professional development day. The student holiday and staff professional development day scheduled on Wednesday, February 24 has been changed to Nov. 3. All students and staff should report to school as normal on Feb. 24.
The professional development catalog is posted on the HISD eLearning website. For any questions on courses, email the department course contact or PSD@HoustonISD.org.
Campus administrators and teachers may choose from the following three options for staff professional development:
- District pre-approved staff development
- Campus or other staff development approved by their area superintendent
- Comp day for teachers or campus administrators who have accumulated the required number of staff development hours as approved by their manager. Refer to HoustonISD.org/eLearning for an optional form that teachers can use to submit staff development hours for COMP requests.
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): “Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.” Research shows that SEL competencies are important for success in school and life. Please refer to the updated CASEL Framework. Visit the Rethink Ed HISD page, the SEL Google site, and the SEL Blog for more resources.
Career and Technical Education (CTE): MS-ISAC has launched the 2020-2021 Kids Safe Online Poster Contest! Each year, K-12 students from across the country submit pieces of artwork that cover topics such as being safe online, online security practices, cyberbullying, and how to be a good digital citizen. Public, private, and home-schooled students in grades K-12 are all invited to participate! The contest will run from September 25, 2020 – January 22, 2021. The winners of the contest will be recognized nationally for National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). The contest entry form is available here, under Bring Security Home.
