Weekly Teacher Download for September 21
ALL TEACHERS
2019-2020 TADS Summative Rating Acknowledgement: Returning HISD teachers who were appraised using TADS during the 2019-2020 school year must acknowledge their Summative Ratings in the former Feedback & Development Tool. The Student Performance component was waived for all teachers for the 2019-2020 school year, so there is no Student Performance closeout process. You can visit the TADS Toolbox SharePoint site to access a step-by-step guide on how to acknowledge your Summative Rating for last school year via the former Feedback & Development Tool. Click here to access the step-by-step guide directly. The Summative Ratings will be released on Sept. 21, and eligible teachers will have until Oct. 2 to opt into M-TADS.
Office of Special Populations: The Interventions Office will offer training on Sept. 24: “Goalbook: The One-Stop Shop for Educators.” The training will include research-based strategies, lesson planning ideas, academic and behavior interventions support, and progress monitoring tools all in one place. General and special educators, instructional specialists, department and grade-level chairs, this is the training that you need! Our Goalbook partner will provide information about how to use the tools and support in this resource to inform data-driven instruction that will positively impact student achievement. We will offer two sessions, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Register using OneSource (VIRT 1443652). Registered participants will receive the link to join Session 1 or Session 2. Should you have any questions, please contact the Director of Behavior Interventions and Support, Joan Anderson, at Jander13@HoustonISD.org or Behavior Interventions and Support IAT Manager Novelyn Watson-Robinson at nwatsonr@HoustonISD.org.
SEL Resources: The Let’s Stay Connected Mental Health Hotline provides emotional, social, and psychological supports to students and parents who feel the need for assistance and is available at 713-556-1340 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All callers may remain anonymous. Trained staff from the HISD Social and Emotional Learning department are available to offer counseling, mental health education, and make referrals in English and Spanish. Please also find downloadable resources at the Social Emotional department website for webinars and companion handouts. Visit the SEL Google Site for more information on training sessions.
Academic Instructional Technology: The Academic Instructional Technology department is here to provide support for you to be effective in the instructional use of technology in all types of classrooms. Our Educational Technology specialists give you strategies to integrate technology into your classrooms, share the latest information on effective opportunities for development, and troubleshoot integrating technology into classrooms. Our self-service section offers training on the HUB and Teams here, YouTube playlists of HUB Videos are here and Microsoft Teams Videos are here. Public training sessions by Microsoft are offered here and OnTrack Task Cards are offered here. We look forward to serving you!
Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) Support: New teachers, are you interested in more support on developing your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) in TADS? Join us for one of two webinars covering how to write an effective IPDP. An effective IPDP incorporates the language within the TADS Instructional Practice Rubric (IPR) and ensures you have a well-crafted, well-thought-out plan to effectively develop within specific focus criteria in TADS. If you are interested in joining one of our live webinar sessions via Microsoft Teams, please click on the Writing an Effective IPDP Live Webinar link to register for a session. There will be two sessions: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 4-5 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 24, 4-5 p.m.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
Career and Technical Education Q&A Open Lab: CTE middle school and CTE high school instructors can join Dr. Stacey Whitmore and Ms. Felicia Lara on Oct. 21 for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Q&A Open Lab for Instructional Support. This is an opportunity for instructors to ask any questions they may have in areas of effective CTE instructional practices, and strategies to support student engagement and achievement. Questions on instructional support for CTE teachers might include asking about differentiated instruction, the use of technology, and the selection of learning and teaching resources.
CTE Professional Development Opportunities: The Career Readiness department is offering several professional development training opportunities for middle and high school CTE teachers next month. On Oct. 7, the department will offer “Exploring Livestock Production-Human Nutrition & Health with Texas 4-H.” On Oct. 21, the training sessions offered include the following: “Promoting STEM with Drones,” “The HON-Code: Principles for CTE Website Evaluation,” “Basic Microsoft Office Skills,” and “Amplified Linguistic Supports (Special Populations).” These sessions are relevant for the technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare students for careers in current or emerging professions. Please register through OneSource Learning.
CTE Professional Development Opportunities: The Career Readiness department is also offering professional development training to high school CTE teachers only on Sept. 28: “Expanding Learning Opportunities Through DiscoverU.” During this session, participants will receive an overview of DiscoverU and college-focused and career-focused educational experiences available to all HISD high school students. Upon completion of the course, educators will understand the process and have access to the resources necessary to connect students with high-quality, highly engaging Fantastic Learning Opportunities that align with academic goals and personal interests. CTE instructors, please register through OneSource Learning.
CTE Professional Development Opportunities: The Career Readiness department will also offer another session on Sept. 28: “A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience (ASPIRE),” hosted by the MD Anderson Department of Behavioral Science. You do not want to miss this session! This is a virtual bilingual autonomous curriculum program that teaches students about the dangers of traditional nicotine products and others, such as e-cigs, hookah, and marijuana. Discussions will center around the dangers of vaping and nicotine products, introduce ASPIRE, and outline the benefits of implementing the program for CTE teachers and their students. CTE instructors, please register through OneSource Learning.
HISD changes high school grade calculation for new school year
The Houston Independent School District has changed the calculation for high school semester grades for the 2020-2021 school year.
Each six-week cycle grade will count as 30 percent of the semester grade, and the final exam will count as 10 percent of the semester grade. The new formula will apply to all high school courses taken in both middle and high school.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Glenda Calloway at gcallowa@HoustonISD.org.
Weekly Teacher Download for September 14
ALL TEACHERS
HISD Start With Hello Week with Sandy Hook Promise: Start with Hello Week (Sept. 21-25)raises awareness about social isolation and educates students on how to prevent it through training, activities, media events, student contests, and more! Click here for sample activities to inspire children and youth to Start With Hello. Download this free and easy guide chock full of ideas, activities, and templates that you can do in as little as an hour. Register for immediate access to additional educational and promotional materials. If you need further assistance, please contact kevin.jackson@HoustonISD.org.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
High School Semester Grades: The calculation for high school semester grades has changed for the 2020-2021 school year. Each six-week cycle grade will count as 30 percent of the semester grade, and the final exam will count as 10 percent of the semester grade. The new formula will apply to all high school courses taken in both middle and high school.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Glenda Calloway at gcallowa@HoustonISD.org.
CTE Professional Development Enrichment Opportunities: The Career Readiness department will offer a professional development training session on Sept. 28: “Expanding Learning Opportunities Through DiscoverU.” During this session, participants will receive an overview of DiscoverU and college-focused and career-focused educational experiences available to all HISD high school students. Upon completion of the course, educators will understand the process and have access to the resources necessary to connect students with high-quality, highly engaging Fantastic Learning Opportunities that align with academic goals and personal interests.
CTE Professional Development Enrichment Opportunities: The Career Readiness department will also offer another session on Sept. 28: “A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience (ASPIRE),” hosted by the MD Anderson Department of Behavioral Science. You do not want to miss this session! This is a virtual bilingual autonomous curriculum program that teaches students about the dangers of traditional nicotine products and others, such as e-cigs, hookah, and marijuana. Discussions will center around the dangers of vaping and nicotine products, introduce ASPIRE, and outline the benefits of implementing the program for CTE teachers and their students.
Weekly Teacher Download for September 8
ALL TEACHERS
TADS Feedback and Development Tool via AIM Teacher Support: The Appraisal and Incentive Management (AIM) Portal will now integrate TADS Student Performance/Grow and TADS Feedback and Development. Join a live webinar overview of the AIM Portal via Microsoft Teams. Due to the unanticipated district closure on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, the two previously scheduled AIM Portal live webinars were rescheduled for the week of Sept. 8. If you are interested, please register here. Alternatively, watch a navigational video recording of the Feedback and Development section of the AIM Portal in the TADS Toolbox. To access the video, click on the link to the TADS Toolbox and then click on the Feedback and Development tool option under Resources.
SEL and Rethink Ed: We have compiled a few resources to assist you as you plan for the first few weeks of school. The attached resources will help teachers and counselors address student concerns, specifically about COVID-19 and trauma and will help teachers use Rethink Ed resources. Check out the HISD Rethink Communication page. If you need assistance, please visit the SEL Google Site or contact us at SEL@HoustonISD.org
SEL Trauma Sequence: This scope and sequence provides educators, counselors, etc. with a roadmap to easing students back into school via direct instruction in the areas of Emotions, Stress Management, Support Systems, and Resilience. If taught in pieces throughout a single week, this scope and sequence will carry educators through the first four weeks (view the video on Monday, discuss on Tuesday, and complete activities on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). Educators and counselors will filter the Emotions/Stress Management/Support Systems/Resilience SEL areas in the program by grade level (using the filters shown in the lesson library). To prep, the educator/counselor should watch the educator video on trauma, located in the My Training area section of the platform. The educator can use the guided lesson plans and activities to situate students in today’s environment and climate. Click here to view the Trauma Toolkit Curriculum flyer.
SEL Social Story (Wearing a Mask): This social story will be for students who required differentiated instruction in wearing masks for COVID-19. It is a PDF document you can share electronically or via an online platform.
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS
Sanford Harmony: Available at no cost, Sanford Harmony is a social emotional learning program for Pre-K-6 grade students designed to foster intergender communication and understanding, connection, and community both in and outside the classroom and develop boys and girls into compassionate and caring adults. The Online Learning Portal empowers Pre-K-6 grade teachers with everything they need to successfully integrate our social emotional learning program into their classroom, including one-click navigation for all classroom activities, SEL stories, role-playing games and sing-along songs.The SEL department is providing an asynchronous training option. Completing this course is equivalent to attending the live session and participants will be certified to implement the program in their classroom. Click here to join the course page.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
Professional Development Enrichment Opportunities: The Career Readiness Department will offer two professional development training sessions on Sept. 28: “Expanding Learning Opportunities Through DiscoverU” and “A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience (ASPIRE),” hosted by the MD Anderson Department of Behavioral Science. ASPIRE is a virtual bilingual autonomous curriculum program that teaches students about the dangers of traditional nicotine products and emerging products, such as e-cigs, hookah, and marijuana. We will discuss the dangers of vaping and nicotine products, introduce ASPIRE, and outline the benefits of implementing the program for CTE teachers and their students. Click here to view the professional development sessions. Click here for more sessions and OneSource course numbers.
Drone Competition Planning Session: Join the Career Readiness Department to receive more information about the various events expected to take place during the 2021 Drone Competition at Booker T. Washington High School, including how to register your team. Do you want to make STEM engaging and fun for your students? Do you want to find out how to provide a hands-on experience using drones and a competition that will make STEM learning a complete blast? If you answered yes to these questions, look no further! All middle school STEM educators and high school STEM educators are welcome!
Weekly Teacher Download for August 31
ALL TEACHERS
TADS Feedback and Development Tool via AIM Teacher Support
The Appraisal and Incentive Management (AIM) Portal, which currently contains Link and ePortfolio, will now integrate TADS Student Performance/Grow and TADS Feedback & Development, bringing multiple processes to one site. While the changes to the platform should be easily manageable, we want to ensure you have the support you need to access and complete the TADS program forms with ease within the AIM Portal. As a first step, there are two support options available to aid teachers in becoming more familiar with the Feedback & Development section of the AIM Portal.
Teacher Support Option One:
Join us for a live webinar overview of the AIM Portal via the Microsoft Teams application. Use the Microsoft Forms link below to register for a live webinar during teacher pre-service days.
Click here to register for a live webinar overview of the AIM Portal.
Teacher Support Option Two:
Teachers can also access a navigational video recording of the Feedback and Development section of the AIM Portal in the TADS Toolbox. To access the navigational video, simply click on the link below to the TADS Toolbox and then click on the Feedback and Development tool option under Resources.
Click here to access the TADS Toolbox.
Professional Development Enrichment Opportunities: The Career Readiness Department is offering virtual professional development training sessions during enrichment dates, Sept. 1-3. Some of those sessions include “Virtual Engagement Ideas for CTE High School Students” and “Learning How the Discovery Education Experience Supports Flexible Learning Environments.” Click here for more sessions and OneSource course numbers. Click here and here to view the professional development sessions.
Professional Development Enrichment Opportunities: The Career Readiness Professional Development Team has created a 2020-2021 Professional Development Interest Survey and added it to the Professional Development page. Career and Technical Education teachers can select Professional Development (PD) topics that they are interested in pursuing. Topics are related to CTE teaching and learning, as they prepare students for further careers in current or emerging professions. The Professional Development Team has created editable student data and goal trackers for teachers to download on the PD website. Click here to download additional instructional resources.
Call for CTE Teacher-Led Presenters: Do you have any CTE best practices to share, pedagogical approaches, prior instruction-related CTE struggles you have mastered, or simply want to foster CTE teacher-to-teacher professional learning? Then we would love for you to share how you prepare students for skills needed for further education and careers in emerging professions. Click here to submit your request.
2020 SECME Virtual STEM Institute: This isan opportunity for FREE professional development to assist with starting the year virtually.Due to COVID-19, SECME is unable to host its annual in-person summer institute. This year, we are going VIRTUAL! This year’s theme is Moving STEM Beyond the Cloud!There are a limited number of sponsorships available for HISD teachers.This is your opportunity to learn about STEM education content and strategies. There will be sessions geared towards our current reality of starting class virtually, including hands-on STEM in a virtual world, VEX robotics, virtual teaching tips, and more!If you are interested in attending the 2020 SECME Virtual Institute, please register here. Limited spaces remain. Click here and here to learn more about HISD SECME. Watch a video about HISD SECME.
SEL Trauma Sequence for Back to School: The scope and sequence will carry educators through the first four weeks and will provide educators, counselors, etc. with a roadmap to easing students back into school via direct instruction in the areas of Emotions, Stress Management, Support Systems, and Resilience. Educators and counselors will just filter the Emotions/Stress Management/Support Systems/Resilience SEL areas in the program by grade level. Check out the HISD Rethink Communication page. Contact us at SEL@HoustonISD.org for assistance. Visit the SEL Google Site for more information and to register to attend a training.
HISD SEL and Rethink Ed: To prep, the educator/counselor should watch the Educator video on Trauma, located in the My Training area section of the platform. The educator can use the guided lesson plans and activities to situate students in today’s environment and climate. Click here to learn more about pairing RethinkEd and Google Classroom.
HISD SEL Social Story (Wearing a Mask): This social story will be for students who required differentiated instruction in wearing masks for COVID-19.
HISD provides free flu shots for all employees
HISD will provide free flu shots for all employees. In adherence to physical distancing, the flu shots will be given at specific drive-through locations, where employees will drive into a designated parking lot area and receive the flu shot in their car.
When you arrive, look for the flu shot signs, and people will direct you to the flu shot tent. Stay in your car with the window rolled up, have your ID ready, wear your mask, and follow instructions.
There are three days when you will be permitted to enter the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center and visit Rooms 1E01 and 1E02. You will be screened and required to sign in at the security desk at the front entrance.
For more information, see this message from the Texas Vaccine Institute, which will be administering the flu shots.
For questions, please call Aetna’s on-site representative, Jeanne’ Johnson, at 281-627-7489 during regular business hours.
For a complete flu vaccination schedule, see this page on HISDBenefits.org.
HISD Nutrition Services Sr. Manager named to TASBO School Nutrition Committee
The Texas Association of School Business Officials Board of Directors has named Nutrition Services Senior Manager of Compliance and Accountability Frank Milton as vice chair of the School Nutrition Committee.
The association — more commonly known as TASBO — is an independent, not-for-profit association that supports public education business and operations professionals.
“I am very excited to be appointed to the vice chair position,” Milton said. “It is very encouraging to know that I’ve been recognized as a leader of TASBO within a short period of time.”
Milton was recruited to join the School Nutrition Committee in August 2019 as a member of the TASBO Emerging Leaders. As vice chair, he will support the committee chair in the development of school nutrition certification curriculum and professional development offerings.
His term begins in October 2020 and lasts through September 2021, at which point he will advance to the committee chair position and serve in that role from October 2021 through September 2022.
HISD teachers work with IT to provide new gradebook system training
HISD teachers have been working with the HISD Information Technology department this summer to provide HISD Connect training for the new gradebook system.
The training sessions will continue to be offered to all teachers through Aug. 21 virtually through Microsoft Teams.
Forest Brook Middle School Teacher Specialist Kristen Rillieux, who is helping to deliver the training, said teachers enjoy learning from other teachers.
“We understand each other’s challenges and woes when it involves grading and implementing a new system,” Rillieux said.
Teachers can register for a training session in OneSource. Sessions are offered every day at 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Course numbers are as follows:
1441065 – Elementary PowerTeacher Pro (Gradebook)
1441053 – Secondary PowerTeacher Pro (Gradebook)
“Everyone can master this user-friendly system after a week of using it,” Rillieux said. “I also enjoy this system because of the reports you can create to differentiate instruction and scaffold learning in the classroom.”
Teachers will be compensated for their time for attending the training. Although it is not required to attend this training during off-contract time, attending during the summer will allow teachers more time to become familiar with the new system.
“Teachers should take this training now because online learning will entail learning a lot of new things, so this would be one less thing they have to worry about mastering during the new school year,” Rillieux said.
Lawson Middle School Science Teacher Tricia Nicholas said the training was very informative.
“I feel confident using the new system,” Nicholas said.
Piney Point Elementary School First-Grade Teacher Kristen Lowery agreed that the training was valuable and effective.
“The presenter was very helpful, well-organized and answered all questions,” Lowery said. “I am excited to use this during the school year.”
Supplemental Sick Leave Bank (SSLB): 2020-21 Open Enrollment Aug. 3 – Aug. 31, 2020
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.
SSLB membership enrollment and disenrollment are now online! Access is available through OneSource ESS.
The SSLB membership enrolled or not enrolled notices will be emailed to eligible employees during the week of Aug. 3, 2020. Enrollment information and plan details are also available on the SSLB webpage. Please note that current SSLB members are automatically re-enrolled in the program, as long as there is an available local leave day to donate as of Sept. 1, 2020.
Eligible employees may enroll or cancel membership during the pre-enrollment period through August 31, 2020. A final enrollment period for the school year will be held in November for enrollment only.
Contact Employee Support Services via email at BenefitsESS@HoustonISD.org for additional assistance.
Employee Assistance Program Webinar Schedule 2020
Join us for free virtual webinars sponsored by the HISD Employee Assistance Program. Register online via the links provided. If you happen to miss a webinar, recordings are available within 24 to 48 hours after the conclusion of the webinar and will remain on the website for up to a year. Visit the HISD Benefits Calendar for links to past and future webinars.
If you have any problem enrolling online, please email BenefitsOffice@HoustonISD.org or call the Benefits Office at 713-556-6655.
| DATE | START | END | TOPIC | REGISTRATION LINK |
| 7/8/2020 | 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. | The Basics of Estate Planning | Click here |
| 7/16/2020 | 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Being Accountable in Work and Life | Click here |
| 7/23/2020 | 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. | The Five Pillars of Personal Finance | Click here |
| 9/24/2020 | 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Developing Grit: Strategies for Success in Work & Life | To be announced |
| 10/22/2020 | 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Managing Worry & Anxiety | To be announced |
| 11/5/2020 | 12 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Managing Holiday Stress | To be announced |
For more information on the Employee Assistance Program, please call ComPsych Guidance Resources at 833-812-5181.
