Dan Medina
This week’s Shout Out goes to Dan Medina, a locksmith in Alarm Communications, from his team leader, Lucie Garcia, for his helpfulness and his inquiring mind.
“Dan is always trying to learn something new,” explains Garcia. “His main focus is locks, but he can also be found assisting other department crafts, such as burglar alarms, card access, Code One box security, and wherever he is needed. I receive emails from school personnel weekly about Dan. They always mention him being helpful, professional, and knowledgeable.”
“We could not provide a high level of service if it were not for the many dedicated employees who work in this department,” added Alarm Communications Manager Byron Thurmond. “They often work long hours, making sure that all systems operate in unison.”
| 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. |
If you are a teacher who hasn’t signed up yet for any summer training, it’s not too late. HISD is providing more than 200 professional learning opportunities for its PK–12 teachers between May and August of 2013.
Topics range from literacy, mathematics, Advanced Placement, gifted and talented, Everyday ExcELLence literacy routines, and differentiated instruction to science training from the Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University, plus many options in between.
For complete details, please see this related posting.
Survey reveals HISD employees plan ahead for hurricanes
In the May 31 edition of Friday eNews, we asked employees a number of questions related to hurricane season, which started on June 1—and our survey revealed a healthy respect for the destructive power of storms in the Gulf.
All respondents said that they prepared well in advance of tropical systems, with half staying ready year-round and the other half waiting until a storm was several days out to secure their belongings.
Everyone also had an emergency plan in place, even though most had never been ordered to evacuate their homes due to a storm. “It is irresponsible to not have one,” noted one survey taker. “We lost a whole building to Tropical Storm Allison, so we take measures to secure things before it is too late,” said another.
Seventy-five percent of survey takers said their homes had been damaged by either TS Allison or Hurricane Ike.
Sign up now for mandatory CPR training June 22–Aug. 8
If you are a campus-based member of Team HISD who participates, sponsors, and/or coaches any UIL-sanctioned or co-curricular activities, then the State of Texas requires you to be certified in the administration of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, Automated External Defibrillator, and First Aid (CPR/AED/FA).
Stipend payments are dependent upon this certification, so if you need the training, please sign up now for one of the available sessions between Thursday, June 22, and Thursday, August 8, to ensure that the district is in compliance with this legal requirement.
For details, including training dates, times, and locations, please see this related Academic Services Memo.
Early Bird Alert: Discount offer to Aug. 31 Texas Kickoff Classic
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 Saturday, 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.
Starting Monday, June 10, HISD will begin operating on a four-day work schedule as a cost-saving measure. All offices will be open for business from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and closed on Fridays. The district will revert to its regular schedule starting August 5.
For details, please see this related online memo. Questions should be directed to your work location supervisor.
If you’re one of the more than 900 HISD employees who offices at the district’s headquarters, then mark your calendars now, as the next series of Lunch ‘N Learn sessions is returning to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center when the 4-10 summer schedule resumes.
The sessions will start with “estate planning, wills, and trusts” on Mon., June 10, and conclude with “getting healthy for life” on Tues., Aug. 13. The sessions will be led by representatives from HISD Benefits, the Employee Assistance Program, and associations for Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
Registration must be completed via e-TRAIN. Direct questions to the Benefits Department at 713-556-6655.
Adeeb Barqawi
Adeeb Barqawi, a first-year teacher at Kashmere High School who came to HISD through the district’s Alternative Certification Program, has been selected as the Texas Alternative Certification Association (TACA) 2012–2013 Teacher of the Year.
He will be formally recognized on Oct. 21, at the Consortium of State Texas Teacher Education’s annual conference in San Antonio.
Congratulations also go out this week to:
- The 2013 Guiding Star Award recipients, who were honored by Parents for Public Schools Houston (PPSH) on May 29. Four of the awards were selected personally by the PPSH president: HISD Manager of Secondary Curriculum Rose Haggerty, Davis HS magnet coordinator Halee Porter, and volunteer Hugo Mojica. Other winners affiliated with HISD were: volunteer Sondra Sunshine Jones-Eaglin, and community partners CenterPoint Energy and KIDS HOPE USA. See the full list here.
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
This summer, HISD is providing more than 200 professional learning opportunities for its PK–12 teachers between May and August of 2013.
Topics range from literacy, mathematics, Advanced Placement, gifted and talented, Everyday ExcELLence literacy routines, and differentiated instruction to science training from the Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University, plus many options in between.
For details on the training and compensation being offered, visit the Professional Support & Development (PSD) website training calendar at www.houstonisdpsd.org and selecting “Training Opportunities,” or just click on the HISD Summer Training Calendar.
Please note that trainings require registration through eTRAIN or departmental links provided. Space is limited and classes fill up quickly, so register now to guarantee yourself a seat.
“You have heard us say it before,” said Assistant Superintendent of Professional Development Lance Menster, “but we are thrilled to work in a district where teachers are so committed to the success of students, even when that means dedicating some of their summer vacation time to continued professional development. We look forward to working with teachers this summer and encourage them to take advantage of HISD’s diverse menu of high-quality professional learning.”
If you’re one of the more than 900 HISD employees who offices at the district’s headquarters, then mark your calendars now, as the next series of Lunch ‘N Learn sessions is returning to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center when the 4-10 summer schedule resumes.
The sessions will start with “estate planning, wills, and trusts” on Mon., June 10, and conclude with “getting healthy for life” on Tues., Aug. 13. The sessions will be led by representatives from HISD Benefits, the Employee Assistance Program, and associations for Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
Register via e-TRAIN. Direct questions to the Benefits Department at 713-556-6655.
REMINDER: Shortened district work-week starts June 10
Starting Mon., June 10, HISD will begin operating on a four-day work schedule as a cost-saving measure. All offices will be open for business from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mon. through Thurs., and closed on Fridays. The district will revert to its regular schedule starting August 5.
For details, please see this related online memo. Questions should be directed to your work location supervisor.
Sign up now for mandatory CPR training June 22–Aug. 8
If you are a campus-based member of Team HISD who participates, sponsors, and/or coaches any UIL-sanctioned or co-curricular activities, then the State of Texas requires you to be certified in the administration of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, Automated External Defibrillator, and First Aid (CPR/AED/FA).
Stipend payments are dependent upon this certification, so if you need the training, please sign up now for one of the available sessions between Thurs., June 22, and Thurs., Aug. 8, to ensure that the district is in compliance with this legal requirement.
For details, including training dates, times, and locations, please see this related Academic Services Memo.
Early Bird Alert: Discount offer to Aug. 31 Texas Kickoff Classic
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.
Mark Wurtzel
A mind for music has led two HISD teachers into contention for a prestigious new national award for educators.
Lamar High School’s Scott Houston and Pershing Middle School’s Mark Wurtzel are two of the 217 music teachers from across the country to be named quarterfinalists for the inaugural Music Educator Award.
You can read the whole story here.
Congratulations also go out this week to:
- Director of Athletics Marmion Dambrino, who was recently named the 2013 Woman of the Year by the Houston Coaches’ Association. Other honorees at the May 28 banquet included: Men of the Year: Greg Wise (Yates HS) and Tom Nolen (Lamar HS), and Hall of Honor inductees: Chuck Arnold (Davis HS), Eddie Cerf (Fleming MS), Cheryl Byrd-Williams (Westside HS), and Anthony Zuccarini (Waltrip HS).
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on Sat. June 1, 2013, and weather experts are already predicting a more active season than usual. If you are not yet ready, don’t wait until a storm is bearing down on the Texas coast to assemble your supplies. Check the National Hurricane Center‘s website frequently for the latest updates on any developing tropical disturbances, and Ready.gov for tips on how to prepare, including what to include in an emergency kit, how to formulate an emergency plan for natural disasters, and much more.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- June 1: Hurricane season begins
- June 6: Last day of school (students)
- June 7–11(.pdf): Graduation ceremonies
- June 10–Aug. 2: Summer Schedule in effect
- June 11: Summer School begins*
- June 11–July 18: Summer Meals program
- June 13: Board meeting (regular)
- June 20: Board meeting (budget)
- July 11: Board meeting
- July 15-19 & Aug. 5-9: HMNS Summer Energy Workshops
- August 26: First day of school (students)