Photo courtesy Culture Map Houston; taken by Gary Fountain
This week’s Shout-Out goes to Westbury High School teacher Vanessa Rodriguez-LaWare from senior Matthew Sandler.
Sandler describes LaWare as “an amazing teacher,” who treats her students as adults and her English Literature class as a college-level course. “She expects so much of us,” he said. “In my opinion, she should get a shout-out.”
| 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. |
A number of universities are now offering fully online degree and certification programs through Academic Partnerships, including six within the State of Texas:
- Lamar University
- Stephen F. Austin University
- Texas A&M – Commerce
- Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
- University of Texas – Arlington
- University of Texas – Permian Basin
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 come to Room 2C07 of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092) on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, from 5–6:30 p.m.
Please see this related flyer (.pdf) for additional information.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and to alert more people to the dangers of distracted driving, the National Safety Council is conducting a webinar on Wednesday, April 10, 2013.
“What Were You Thinking? The Myth of Multi-Tasking” will begin at 10 a.m. CST, and interested parties are asked to register at this link. For additional details, please visit the National Safety Council’s website.
Parents for Public Schools Seeking Guiding Star Nominations by April 12
Do you know someone whose work on behalf of public schools has gone largely unrecognized?
If so, then consider nominating him or her for a 2013 “Guiding Star” award!
For the third consecutive year, Parents for Public Schools-Houston will be honoring parents, community/business partners, volunteers, and school/district staff who go above and beyond the call of duty in their service to Houston’s schoolchildren. For details, please click here.
Next drug-free workplace training session April 16
HISD will be conducting three “drug-free workplace” training sessions this spring for central office administrators, principals, principal designees, and managers. This training teaches personnel how to recognize impaired employees in the work place and how to call for a reasonable suspicion drug/alcohol test.
For dates and details, please see this related article.
Open Transfer Period for teachers ends April 19
The Open Transfer Period for teachers will take place from March 25–April 19, 2013.
During this period, teachers are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2012–2013 school year. A teacher’s current principal must sign off on the transfer as an acknowledgement that the employee is leaving the campus.
For complete details, please see this related memo.
Deadline for HMNS Excellence in Science award nominations: April 26
Do you know a high-school junior or teacher who demonstrates outstanding performance in the area of science or math?
If so, consider nominating him or her for one of the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Excellence in Science awards. Winners will receive a $2,000 cash prize.
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, April 26. For complete details, please visit the HMNS website.
Mobile mammograms available through July 29
The Rose, a non-profit organization dedicated to the reduction of breast-cancer-related deaths, is offering on-site screening mammograms at three different locations to women who meet certain criteria.
For complete details, please see this related article.
If you are one of the more than 7,000 HISD employees who does his or her banking at SMART Financial Credit Union, you will need to file an updated direct deposit form with HISD’s Human Resources department before the end of this month in order to avoid a potential payroll headache.
To better serve its clientele, the credit union is converting its payroll deduction system to an exclusively direct deposit process in May. That means each deduction will appear in its targeted account (such as savings or vacation) at the same time the main deposit is made, rather than being posted later in the day. To avoid an interruption in the processing of payroll deductions, HISD employees who bank at SMART must complete the newly revised direct deposit form (see related article here) and submit it to Human Resources no later than Friday, April 26, 2013.
All affected district employees should have already received a letter in the mail from SMART FCU regarding this conversion process, but questions may also be directed to 713-850-1600 (select option #3) for assistance.
North Loop branch now at new location
SMART patrons should also remember that the credit union’s North Loop branch has moved. Previously located on the south side of the freeway between Ella Blvd. and Shepherd (1249 North Loop West), the branch is now in a brand-new facility on the north side of the freeway (2510 North Loop West), at the corner of West T.C. Jester and Loop 610.
The new office is just minutes away from the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, and boasts three drive-thru ATMs with the ability to accept deposits 24/7.
SMART Financial Credit Union, formerly known as First Educators’ Credit Union, was launched in HISD during the 1930’s.
The second—and final—window for eligible employees to receive a one-time incentive of $500 for notifying Human Resources of their intent to retire or resign will close on Monday, April 8, 2013, at 4:30 p.m.
For complete details, please see this related article.
Don’t forget! Parents who received letters of acceptance into various magnet schools must indicate which school of choice their children will attend during the 2013–2014 school year by signing and returning the enclosed Student Entrance Agreement no later than Friday, April 5 (postmarked). See this related article for details.
Here are some other dates you may want to mark on your calendar:
- April 1–30: Distracted Driving Awareness Month
- April 5: Lunch ‘N Learn session (retirement savings accounts)
- April 5–7: Shell EcoMarathon
- April 8–14: National Library Week
- April 11: Board meeting
- April 11: NACAC College Fair
- April 13: All-Earth EcoBot Challenge
- April 14–20: Week of the Young Child
- April 14 & 16: Rockets’ HISD Appreciation Nights
- April 16 & 30: Reasonable suspicion trainings
- April 19: Open Transfer Period ends
- April 27 (.pdf): School Choice Fair
- April 28: March of Dimes March for Babies
- April 29–May 3: Houston Grand Opera at Miller Outdoor Theatre
- May 1–31: Asthma Awareness Month
- May 5: Lemonade Day
- May 6–12: School Nurse Appreciation Week
- May 6–10: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 9: Board meeting
- May 15: Recipe for Success Garden Haiku contest deadline
- May 18: Young Inventors’ Showcase entry deadline
- May 27: Memorial Day
- June 1: Hurricane season begins
- June 6: Last day of school (students)
- June 7–11 (.pdf): Graduation ceremonies
Joseph Cordova, at a soccer game
Almost a dozen employees marked their twentieth year of service with HISD this week (March 24–30), and at least one credited a former teacher for his decision to launch a career in education.
“I was inspired by (retired) Coach Roy Cox at Black Middle School,” said Joseph Cordova, who serves as the Health and Physical Education Department chair, athletic coordinator, and head soccer coach at Chávez High School. “The way he took kids under his wing and acted as a mentor…I just saw the way he helped other kids and I wanted to do that, too.”
Although Cordova has been at Chávez since the campus opened in 2000, he has also taught at Reagan and Austin high schools and McReynolds Middle School. One career highlight was taking the boys’ soccer team to the regional quarter finals in soccer in 2007, but getting the opportunity to work with kids is what keeps him coming back to the gymnasium. “Just seeing a kid come back and say thanks, that’s what it’s all about to me,” he said.
Many other HISD employees are also marking milestones this month—see if you know anyone on this list:
25 years
- Edelmiro Salazar, bus driver, Transportation Services
20 years
- Minerva Aguilar, teaching assistant, Rodriguez ES
- Donald Craft, teacher, Madison HS
- Sofia D’Arcy, librarian, Clifton MS
- Roy Davis, teacher, Attucks MS
- Jackie Jackson, teacher, Bastian ES
- Ruth Mark, senior plant operator, Construction and Facilities Services
- Veronica Osunde, associate teacher
- Patricia Steward, plant operator, Isaacs ES
- Maria Tapia, teaching assistant, Waltrip HS
- Rosa Treviño, attendant, Food Services
15 years
- Jummai Adeniji-Fashola, teacher, Lewis ES
- Erica Andrews-Trotman, teacher, Coop ES
- Isabel Contreras, attendant, Food Services
- Blanca Flores, attendant, Food Services
- Reyna Garay, teaching assistant, Furr HS
10 years
- Shahana Afroj, teaching assistant, Ashford ES
- Tina Atkins, teacher, Barrick ES
- Virginia Bosquez, attendant, Food Services
- Ana Delgadillo, clerk, Looscan ES
- Conception Mejorado, attendant, Food Services
5 years
- Maria Andrado, attendant, Food Services
- Joan Ashley, speech therapist, Child Study
- Latasha Bell, clerk, Dowling MS
- Terrell Breaux, mailroom attendant, McCarty Printing Facility
- Tomnesha Garrett, attendant, Food Services
- Bettye Jean Gaston, crossing guard
- Julio Hernandez Garcia, database administrator, IT Business Solutions
- Amanda Jackson, customer service representative, Construction and Facilities Services
- Elsa Mendoza, assistant principal, Lamar HS
- Vanessa Moore, clerk, T. H. Rogers MS
- Graciela Nilo, substitute aide/clerk
- Lidia Paz, custodian, Black MS
- Julieta Quiroz, attendant, Food Services
- Relies Rideaux III, officer, Police Department
- Phyllis Ross, associate teacher
- Julieta Sanchez, attendant, Food Services
- Patricia Soria, teacher, Crockett ES
- Michael Stallworth, associate teacher
- Annabelle Steward, custodian, Kashmere HS
- William Villareal, technician, Vehicle Parts Warehouse
- James Washington, senior HVAC repairer, Food Services
- Bridgett West, crossing guard
| Check back next Friday for more Milestones – and if you know someone who should be featured in this space, let us know at info@houstonisd.org. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
Robert Myers
This week’s Shout-Out goes to Robert Myers, a speech teacher at McReynolds Middle School, from Gail McGee, a manager in Professional Development Services.
“Robert has been working with the chess club for years, and they have been doing spectacular things,” said McGee.
Myers also serves as the director of The Chess Academy, and some of his latest success stories through that organization include a six-year-old kindergartner who won first place at the United States Chess Federation’s National K-12 Chess Championship in Orlando, Florida, and clinching the All-Girls State Championship at the Louisiana State Chess League for three years in a row.
On a personal level, Myers has also earned numerous “Teacher of the Year” recognitions, including HISD’s own Elizabeth Brand Memorial Award.
| 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. |
Winners of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching will receive a citation signed by the President of the United States, a trip for two to Washington, D.C., and a $10,000 prize.
Only ES math and science teachers (K–Grade 6) are eligible this year. For complete details, please visit http://www.paemst.org.
Parents for Public Schools Seeking Guiding Star Nominations by April 12
Do you know someone whose work on behalf of public schools has gone largely unrecognized?
If so, then consider nominating him or her for a 2013 “Guiding Star” award!
For the third consecutive year, Parents for Public Schools-Houston will be honoring parents, community/business partners, volunteers, and school/district staff who go above and beyond the call of duty in their service to Houston’s schoolchildren. For details, please click here.
‘Jean Days’ return to central office in support of March of Dimes
The March of Dimes’ annual Walk for Babies will take place this year on Sunday, April 28, and central office employees who wish to support that organization’s 2013 campaign can use their donations to purchase passes to wear jeans on every Friday during the month of April.
A monthly pass costing $20 can be purchased in advance by March 28, 2013. However, single tickets can be purchased on or before any of the four “jean days” (April 5, April 12, April 19, and April 26).
All donations collected through this initiative are considered tax-deductible contributions to the March of Dimes.
Eligible employees should consult the email distributed to them on Tuesday, March 26, for details. Questions may be directed to Samantha Gonzalez in Strategic Partnerships at 713-556-8807.
Next drug-free workplace training session April 16
HISD will be conducting three “drug-free workplace” training sessions this spring for central office administrators, principals, principal designees, and managers. This training teaches personnel how to recognize impaired employees in the work place and how to call for a reasonable suspicion drug/alcohol test.
For dates and details, please see this related article.
Open Transfer Period for teachers ends April 19
The Open Transfer Period for teachers will take place from March 25–April 19, 2013.
During this period, teachers are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2012–2013 school year. A teacher’s current principal must sign off on the transfer as an acknowledgement that the employee is leaving the campus.
For complete details, please see this related memo.
Deadline for HMNS Excellence in Science award nominations: April 26
Do you know a high-school junior or teacher who demonstrates outstanding performance in the area of science or math?
If so, consider nominating him or her for one of the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Excellence in Science awards. Winners will receive a $2,000 cash prize.
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, April 26. For complete details, please visit the HMNS website.
Mobile mammograms available through July 29
The Rose, a non-profit organization dedicated to the reduction of breast-cancer-related deaths, is offering on-site screening mammograms at three different locations to women who meet certain criteria.
For complete details, please see this related article.
