Until recently, HISD employees who took advantage of the district’s direct deposit system of paycheck processing could only designate up to two bank accounts to receive their wages.
Now, the district’s policy has changed to expand employees’ options (from two to three bank accounts), and the Payroll Department has issued a revised direct deposit form to reflect that new flexibility.
Employees wishing to make adjustments to their direct deposit information can find the new form in the “Update Personal Info.” portlet under the “Forms and Documents” subchannel of the Human Resources website (login required).
Angela Miller
Angela Miller has been named the 2013 Texas Social Studies Supervisor of the Year by the Texas Social Studies Supervisors Association (TSSSA).
The award is officially known as the Rosemary Morrow TSSSA Supervisor of the Year Award. It was created to honor a longtime social studies teacher and administrator in Austin ISD and former Director of Social Studies Curriculum at TEA, Dr. Rosemary Morrow.
Miller was selected for her many years of outstanding work as a social studies educator and leader in HISD and in Texas, and the significant contributions she has made to the discipline and to the lives of both her students and her colleagues.
She will be formally recognized on March 22 during the TSSSA’s spring conference awards luncheon in Austin.
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
This week’s Shout-Out goes to the students and staff of Sharpstown International School from School Support Officer (and interim principal) Thuy Le-Thai.
The campus hosted the Asia Society’s International School Studies Network Leaders Conference on Feb. 28, and more than 35 principals and superintendents came to visit the school and meet with student (pictured) and teacher panels.
“Our students and teachers did an outstanding job of sharing and responding to all sort of questions from the audience,” said Le-Thai. “The collaborative efforts of the administrative team also made an impression with the school leaders. We received a lot of positive feedback regarding the packaging of the school and the obvious enthusiasm of the faculty.”
| 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. |
Students from ten different HISD schools will be peddling the fruits (and vegetables and herbs!) of their labor at the Whole Kids Farmers’ Market (.pdf flyer here) on Saturday, March 23.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Whole Foods Market (Montrose location) at 701 Waugh Drive, with the Gregory-Lincoln K-8 drum line providing entertainment.
Other participating campuses include: Alcott, Briargrove, Garden Oaks, and Travis elementary schools, Reagan and Westside high schools, Wilson Montessori, and The Rusk School.
All proceeds will be used to support HISD school garden/culinary programs.
Here are some other dates you may want to mark on your calendar:
March 1–31: National Social Work Month
March 22–24: Bayou City Art Festival
March 24: Rockets’ HISD Appreciation Nights
March 25–30: Early College High School Week
March 25–April 19: Open Transfer Period for Teachers
March 29: Spring Holiday
April 5: Lunch ‘N Learn session (retirement savings accounts)
April 11: Board meeting
April 14–20: Week of the Young Child
April 16 & 30: Reasonable suspicion trainings
May 6–10: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 9: Board meeting
May 27: Memorial Day
June 6: Last day of school (students)
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.
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.
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.
University of St. Thomas offering new master’s degree in Special Education leadership
Do you want to earn a master’s degree in special education leadership and pursue principal certification?
If so, then you should consider a new degree program being offered by the University of St. Thomas in collaboration with HISD. Classes will start in the fall of 2013, and prime candidates include special education teachers, general education and ancillary teachers, diagnosticians, and speech therapists. Individuals who are already in leadership positions, such as department chairs, and program specialists are also encouraged to apply.
For details, please see this related flyer (.pdf).
Nominate exceptional teachers for national award by April 1
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 largely gone 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.
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.
Most Houstonians know the Bayou City is far superior to that other large city located in North Texas, but now’s our chance to prove it.
HISD has joined an informal competition against Dallas ISD through the HealthyWage weight-loss contest to see who the “biggest loser” is.
Districts will earn one point for each participant and one point for each percent of total body weight lost. The district with the most points accumulated by the end of the contest in May will be crowned the winner and presented with a trophy or plaque.
The first half of the contest is based on the number of people who have signed up—and at last count, HISD was still in the lead with 22 participants (versus only six from Dallas ISD).
Let the fight for bragging rights begin!
Melissa Quintero spent three years at Dowling Middle School as a student in the early 1980’s—then many more there as an adult. Now serving as a records clerk at Williams Middle School, she marked her 25th anniversary with HISD on March 18, with most of that time spent at Dowling.
“It was strange, at first,” Quintero said, of working with some of her former teachers. “But it all worked out after a while.”
Now in her third year at Williams, Quintero said she always expected to work at HISD. “My mother was a school secretary for 30 years,” explained the Madison High School graduate. “And I’ve been so happy here, I never looked to go anywhere else.”
Many other HISD employees marked milestones this week or over Spring Break—see if you know anyone on this list:
30 years
- Silvia Ysais, teacher, White ES
25 years
- Ann Foley, teacher, T. H. Rogers
- Mario Lara, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Sharon Newton, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Barbara Sandoval, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Alice Vega, student information rep., DeChaumes ES
20 years
- Raul Cruz, plant operator, Roberts ES
- Margie Davis, teaching assistant, Mading ES
- Nora Garcia, Medicaid, property management
- Latonya Smith, school business manager, Washington HS
15 years
- Sonya Crawford, teacher, Coop ES
- Gloria Johnson, security guard, Harper Alternative
- Lucinda Lucio, teaching assistant, Rusk School
- Marilyn Powell, teacher, Yates HS
- Thomas Rena, teacher, Marshall MS
- Myrthala Rodriguez, secretary, Board Services
- Leslie Shore, teacher, Carrillo ES
- Maria Zamarripa, plant operator, Thompson ES
10 years
- Elizabeth Bustos, teacher, Sutton ES
- Jason Carson, teacher, Westside HS
- Sylvia Cashman, teacher, Crockett ES
- Martha Castillo, attendant, Food Services
- Shemekia Doyle, teacher, Piney Point ES
- Weldon Ellis, crossing guard, Barrick ES
- Iris Ferguson, teacher, Petersen ES
- Corey Gonsoulin, teacher, Thomas MS
- Curtis Harris, field safety inspector, Transportation Services
- Benito Hernandez, teacher, Cage ES
- Maria Jaquez, custodian, Fonville MS
- Michael Liu, teacher, Mandarin Chinese Immersion School
- Lee McCoy, crossing guard, Wilson Montessori
- Martha Medrano, secretary, J. R. Harris ES
- Sally Milwee, teacher, McReynolds MS
- Johnnie Nwogwugwu, associate teacher
- Priscilla Quiocho, teacher, Parker ES
- Juana Ramirez, attendant, Food Services
- Pamela Robertson, teacher, Shadowbriar ES
- Lenora Scott, secretary, Grady MS
- Cassandra Watson-Combre, teacher, Chavez HS
- Erma Williams, attendant, Food Services
- Michele Wooten, associate teacher
5 years
- José Gomez, carpenter, Construction and Facilities Services
- Cassandra Harris, attendant, Food Services
- José Hernandez, asbestos abatement worker, Construction and Facilities Services
- Sonia Herrera, attendant, Food Services
- Sherard Hooper, teacher, Yates HS
- Bunnestine Lowery, associate teacher
- Nelson Narvaez-Ochoa, custodian, Herrera ES
- Catherine Patterson, associate teacher
- Michelle Reese, teacher, Reagan K-8
- Sonya Roberts, associate teacher
- Lisa Robinson, teacher, Shearn ES
- Milagro Sasmita, teacher, Benavidez ES
- Michael Simmons, teacher, Furr HS
- Timothy Smith, systems administrator, Information Technology
- Andres Zuniga-Herrera, painter, Construction and Facilities Services
| Check back next Friday for more March 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. |
Teachers who wish to add a Special Education certification to their license must pass the TExES exam, and a comprehensive review of the content on the test will take place on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in the Bluebonnet Room at the University of Houston (201 University Drive, 77024).
The workshop will last from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and be led by Dr. Brent Daigle. It is the last session that will be offered in the Houston area by TExES Review during the spring semester.
To register, please complete this form (.pdf) and follow the instructions. The cost of the review session is $100.
Other learning opportunities:
- Fallingwater residency—Explore the world of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright this summer at his masterwork in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. The deadline to apply for this residency is Tuesday, April 30, 2013. Applications postmarked by March 31 are eligible for a $100 discount. For complete details, click here.
- Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision—The Houston Museum of Natural Science will be hosting a special night for educators and their guests to experience this incredible exhibit on March 26. The deadline to register for this special event is March 22. Details can be found here.
Lt. James Bridges
When Lieutenant James Bridges graduated from Jones High School back in 1984, he never thought he would one day return to the district as a police officer. But that is precisely what happened on March 3, 1993—and 20 years later, Lt. Bridges still stands behind his decision.
“When I graduated from the Police Academy in December of 1992, I had to decide between serving the municipal side or a school district,” he explained. “And I just felt I had something I could give back.”
Lt. Bridges, who has served as both a campus officer and one of the one of first feeder-pattern patrol officers, says one of the highlights of his career was getting to work with Reginald Felder (retired), the campus officer he knew while a student at Jones High School. But the best part of his job is still interacting with students.
“There is nothing greater than seeing some of the kids you had contact with in their younger years and what they have become,” he said. “I’ve had some come up to me and say, ‘I remember you. You were my campus officer at such-n-such school, and you told me this.’ A lot of them remember one of my quotes, ‘The decisions you make now will dictate your future.’ And now, they’re police officers or lawyers or doctors. It’s good to see that, because as a school district police officer, you’re more than just a police officer. We act as an extension of the home, as father figures, as counselors, as principals…we wear many different hats.”
Many other HISD employees are also marking milestones this week—see if you know anyone on this list:
35 years
- Melba Bedford, teaching assistant, Fondren MS
25 years
- Delfina Salinas, clerk, Benbrook ES
20 years
- Jaime Dedios, teacher, Rodriguez ES
- Maria Garcia, plant operator, Construction and Facility Services
- Stephanie Walton, instructional coordinator, Roberts Elementary
15 years
- Dilma Argueta, custodian, Lamar HS
- Deloris Living, stadium and equipment technician, Athletics
10 years
- Teodoro Alatorre, crossing guard, Herod ES
- Michelle Chan, teacher, Herod ES
- Immacula Firmin, teaching assistant, Bell ES
- Mary Hayes, attendant, Food Services
- Dominga Hernandez, attendant, Food Services
- Flor Ortiz, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Judith Richardson, teacher, Herod ES
- Lizzette Rodriguez, attendant, Food Services
- Ronald Toliver, mechanic team lead, Transportation
- Laura Torres, attendant, Food Services
- Kathy Valentine, attendant, Food Services
- Israel Walker, crossing guard, Tinsley ES
- Zabidi Yusoff, senior applications developer, Technology & Information Systems
5 years
- Barbara Baltazar, teacher, Pin Oak MS
- Martha Blancarte, attendant, Food Services
- Rose Charles, teacher, Garcia ES
- David Dillman, associate teachers
- Marsha Foster, teacher, The Rice School
- Mosetter Fuller, attendant, Food Services
- Reyna Harvey, teacher, Liberty HS
- Diana Hinojosa, teaching assistant, Almeda ES
- Elizabeth Hinojosa, teacher, Ashford ES
- Lisa Miller, teacher, Horn ES
- Maria Ortega, attendant, Food Services
- Roberto Vanegas, plant operator, Askew ES
- Fernando Vasquez, repairer, Construction and Facility Services
- Micah Wilson, associate teachers
| Check back next Friday for more March 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. |
