World Autism Awareness Day is internationally recognized on April 2 every year and is meant to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and to educate the public about autism.
The entire month of April is World Autism Month, and people around the globe are encouraged to #LightItUpBlue to show support and understanding for those with autism. Learn more about how to Light It Up Blue here.
Autism is a complex mental condition and developmental disability, characterized by difficulties in the way a person communicates and interacts with other people. Autism can be present from birth or develop during early childhood (typically within the first three years). Autism is a lifelong developmental disability with no single known cause.
On Tuesday, April 2, I encourage you all to wear blue to show your support and raise awareness about autism. Let’s join in the commitment to advocating for all people with autism, and to ensure they have the necessary support to exercise their rights and fundamental freedoms.
HISD will implement the “40 in Four” work schedule at the central office and participating schools for summer 2019.
Starting Monday, June 3, 2019, schools and central offices will be closed on Fridays. The “40 in Four” schedule will end Thursday, July 25, 2019, and the district will return to its regular hours of operation on Monday, July 29, 2019.
All offices will be open for business Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Employees will work a 10-hour day, excluding their lunch period. Per your supervisor’s approval, work hours can be flexible and scheduled within the hours of 7 a.m.-7 p.m. All employees must participate.
The potential benefits for employees include one less day of travel per week, a 20 percent reduction in gasoline and transportation costs, and the opportunity to enjoy time off without using leave time. The district also can save the cost of utilities for facilities and fuel for bus transportation.
The district will continue to maintain certain operations on Fridays in departments such as police, technology, maintenance, construction, food service, treasury, and other identified critical areas of operations. All or partial staff from these departments may not be eligible to participate in the program.
Details on entering time will be sent out by Payroll. For general questions about the “40 in Four” summer schedule, please contact Human Resources at 713-556-7400.
Weekly Teacher Download for April 1
ALL TEACHERS
Teacher Job Fair: HISD is seeking new teachers and current HISD teachers to join the Achieve 180 initiative. The research-based action plan is supporting 53 campuses in underserved and underperforming feeder pattern communities. If you’re interested or know someone interested in joining Achieve 180, register today for HISD’s first districtwide fair on Saturday, April 13 at Delmar Fieldhouse (2020 Mangum Dr., 77092) from 9 a.m.-Noon. For more information, click here.
Open Transfer Period: HISD’s annual Open Transfer Period has officially opened and will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019. Transfer requests will not be considered after April 26. During this period, eligible teachers and nurses are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2019–2020 school year. If you are interested in a specific position, you are to apply directly via email to the principal and provide your name, employee ID, job title, and attach a resume or include a summary of your experience. For application guidelines and eligibility requirements, click here.
Pre-K/Kinder Summer School: Teachers assigned to an English Learners (EL) Pre-K/Kindergarten summer school position must possess a bilingual or ESL certification as required for respective programs and attend grade-level specific trainings. A bilingual and ESL pre-k teacher training (OneSource course #453002) will be held May 8 from 4-6:30 p.m. at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092). The bilingual and ESL kindergarten teacher training (OneSource course #453001) will be held May 11 from 8:30-11 a.m. at Hattie Mae White. Training will focus on program requirements, daily schedules, curriculum, instructional strategies, and progress reports (CLPs).
Social and Emotional Learning Trainings: The HISD Social and Emotional Learning Department invites teachers on April 9 at the East Field Office (1102 Telephone Rd., 77023) from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., to attend trainings offered in the Spring semester that will address discipline concerns. The department has also partnered with the Leadership and Teacher Development Department to support schools with substitute teachers and extra-duty pay while teachers attend the trainings. For more information on the courses, descriptions and OneSource course numbers, click here.
Special Education Conference: The Office of Special Education Services will hold HISD’s Sixth Annual Special Education Conference on July 16-18, 2019 at the Kingdom Builders Center (6011 W Orem Dr.,77085). This year’s conference will focus on making the connections among teachers, students, parents, and the community. The Office of Special Education Services seeks presentations that will support educating the whole child. If you would like to present during this year’s Special Education Conference, please submit a proposal here by April 12, 2019.
SECONDARY
CClose Up Washington Program: The Multilingual Programs Department is sponsoring (all expenses paid) 20 high school English Learner (EL) students currently in ninth- to eleventh-grade to attend the Close Up Washington D.C. Program from June 9-14. This program uses real-life applications to show participating students how the US government functions. In addition, famous historical monuments and memorials will be visited throughout the trip. The Multilingual Department is asking that each high school select two EL students to nominate and submit this form to Terrie Armstrong at tarmstr1@houstonisd.org by April 12. For more information on the program, click here.
Hire Houston Youth Application Extension: Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office and HISD has extended the application for those interested in the Hire Houston Youth initiative to April 6 for all City of Houston positions and May 3 for all corporate and non-profit positions. This initiative provides at least 10,000 job opportunities for local youth as well as an opportunity for government entities and public and nonprofit companies to find local talent between the ages of 16-24. Employers will provide youth with at least seven weeks of work during the summer earning at least $8.00 per hour.
District recognizes March’s Associate Teachers of the Month
Human Resources surprised the Associate and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month recipients for March.
Associate Teacher Tonya Sampson at Meyerland Middle School is recognized as the Associate Teacher of the Month recipient.
Her most recent efforts in serving as a long-term substitute for both English and Spanish classes didn’t go unnoticed by the campus’ Dean of Students, Claran Johnson.
“Mrs. Sampson went above and beyond in her role as a long-term substitute when she not only helped cover the classes, but guided the newly hired teachers for the classes in getting antiquated with their students and settled into their new role,” Johnson said.
For the Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month, HR recognized campus favorite Kayla Jones at Worthing High School.
Jones was recognized for her personalized intervention efforts in helping ELL and special education students improve their academic outcomes.
“Her dedication to student needs and climate culture has been inspiring to witness,” Dean of Instruction RaTaisha Davis said. “ She has a model classroom set up in my office suite, where she conducts small group intervention with students under the guidance of an assistant principal and instructional specialist.”
The Associate Teacher of the Month and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month is sponsored by Raising Cane’s. Each recipient receives a gift bag of goodies filled with merchant gift cards and swag.
To nominate an Associate or Achieve 180 Dedicated Associated Teacher of the Month, click here.
Tickets on sale for the 2019 Educators of the Year Celebration
Event honors Teachers and Principals of the Year
*Please check this page periodically for updates*
HISD recognizes teaching excellence across our district through the Teacher of the Year (TOY) awards celebrated at the annual HISD Educator of the Year banquet.
This year, we are saddling up to highlight the district’s ‘2018-2019 Shining Stars,’ which includes campus Teachers of the Year (TOYs), Beginning TOYs, district Librarian of the Year (LOY), Leadership Excellence and several other special recognitions.
HISD Educator of the Year Banquet
Celebrating “HISD’s Shining Stars”
Hilton Americas Hotel
1600 Lamar Street
Houston, Texas 77010
Grand Ballroom
Friday, May 17, 2019
Reception: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.
Attire: Western Best in Boots, Heels & Bling
Every school is encouraged to purchase tickets for your campus TOY and one guest, BTOY honoree and one guest, as well as additional tickets for the campus/community team who will attend to support your campus honorees. The event will honor our educator honorees in an adults-only evening.
To provide an opportunity for all schools and honorees to participate, schools will be limited to the purchase of 10 tickets per campus. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, April 12, 2019, by submitting an EOY Ticket Request form and submitting payment through MOTE transfer using a Transfer of Expenditures Request Form.
The 12 District Teacher of the Year finalists and other honoree winners will receive complimentary tickets issued from Strategic Partnerships. All honoree finalists and winners and their principals will be notified.
If you have questions, please contact:
- Event Tickets or MOTE Process – Sally Morin, Office of Development, 713-556-7210 or TOY@houstonisd.org
- Teacher of the Year information – 713-556-7175 or TOY@houstonisd.org
Weekly Teacher Download for March 25
Teacher Job Fair: HISD is seeking new teachers and current HISD teachers to join the Achieve 180 initiative. The research-based action plan is supporting 53 campuses in underserved and underperforming feeder pattern communities. If you’re interested or know someone interested in joining Achieve 180, register today for the next job fair on Saturday, March 30 from 9 a.m.-Noon at Booker T. Washington High School (4204 Yale St., 77018) . For more information, click here.
Special Education Conference: The Office of Special Education Services will hold HISD’s Sixth Annual Special Education Conference on July 16-18, 2019 at the Kingdom Builders Center (6011 W Orem Dr.,77085). This year’s conference will focus on making the connections among teachers, students, parents, and the community. The Office of Special Education Services seeks presentations that will support educating the whole child. If you would like to present during this year’s Special Education Conference, please submit a proposal here by April 12, 2019.
Lead4ward Educator Survey: Lead4ward Educator Survey: The Research & Accountability department is asking that all teachers complete the Lead4ward Educator Survey that was developed to gather educators’ perceptions about the utility and effectiveness of the tool. The information will be used to inform decision makers and to improve instructional practices in the district. Lead4ward was implemented in HISD to provide instructional resources to educators.
Late Night with Ed Tech: The Educational Technology Department invites all teachers and staff every Thursday from 8-8:30 p.m. right at your desktop. This is a fun PD opportunity where teachers and staff to enhance their technological skills without any disruption to the school day or family time. Participants can join the quick 30-minute sessions right from their home. Register now for the March 28 session in OneSource, course #1435033. For more information, click here.
Digital Literacy Moments: Do you and your students want to become more technology savvy? The Educational Tech team is asking the district to come together to learn and teach students 21st century skills using technology safely, responsibly and effectively in studies, daily lives and future careers. Teachers interested in promoting digital literacy are encouraged to have their students produce 60- to 90- second digital animations and videos, highlighting critical digital issues. To learn more about the program and video format, click here. Videos will be accepted here through March 29 at 5 p.m. Register today.
Open Transfer Period: HISD’s annual Open Transfer Period will begin on Monday, April 1 and end at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019. Transfer requests will not be considered after April 26. During this period, eligible teachers and nurses are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2019–2020 school year. If you are interested in a specific position, you are to apply directly via email to the principal and provide your name, employee ID, job title, and attach a resume or include a summary of your experience. For application guidelines and eligibility requirements, click here.
ELEMENTARY
Read Aloud Month: In celebration of Read Aloud Month, the HISD Elementary Literacy Team would like to provide you with a flyer that can be shared with families on 15 different ways to “Discover 15” minutes of their day engaging with their child using Read Aloud activities. The district is confident with the Read Alouds our students will participate in every day during the literacy block coupled with the Read Aloud support they receive at home, we will reach our goal of every student in HISD reading on grade level by the third grade. Click here for the English flyer. Click here for the Spanish flyer. Additional resources can be found on the Read Aloud webpage and the Barbara Bush Literacy page.
SECONDARY
AP Countdown: HISD Advanced Placement students and teachers are invited to attend AP: The Countdown on March 30
from 8:30 a.m.-Noon at Energy Institute High School (3501 Southmore Blvd., 77004), to prepare for the upcoming Advanced Placement exam season. The event is free, open to all HISD AP students and teachers, and breakfast will be provided. In addition, transportation will be available at select schools. Students should register by March 27 here. Teachers can register in OneSource, course #927001. Throughout the morning, students and teachers will participate in three different review sessions.
2018-2019 HISD Superintendent and Board of Education Scholars Award
The Board of Education is now accepting applications for the second annual HISD Superintendent and Board of Education Scholars Award.
Principals should nominate one senior for this award by Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m. via the form available here.
The purpose of the award is to support high school seniors who have exemplified great character and resilience by facing and overcoming obstacles in their lives; provide a college/career scholarship of either $2,000 or $5,000 to one senior from each HISD high School; help students, who might otherwise not have the opportunity to attend college due to financial constraints.
This award is for high school seniors who have exemplified great character and resilience by facing and overcoming obstacles in their lives.
As such, each principals should be sure to include details on why the principal feels that her or his nominated student deserves and would benefit from the larger award.
It is important that principals do not inform their nominees as HISD College Readiness will provide additional guidelines for announcing a school’s winner after nominations have been reviewed.
We anticipate that this will take place during the last two weeks of April. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact William Solomon atwilliam.solomon@houstonisd.org
Special Education Conference on July 16-18
The Office of Special Education Services will hold HISD’s Sixth Annual Special Education Conference on July 16 – 18, 2019 at the Kingdom Builders Center.
This year’s conference will focus on making the connections among teachers, students, parents, and the community. The Office of Special Education Services seeks presentations that will support educating the whole child.
The conference will offer customized and contextualized professional development and support for general and special education teachers, special education administrators, campus administrators, parents, and classroom support personnel.
During the conference, participants will hear about evidenced-based instructional practices and strategies that work for building inclusive school cultures and supporting all learners.
If you would like to present during this year’s Special Education Conference, please submit a proposal to the below link by April 12, 2019.
Call or email Latricia Borner at 713-556-8000 or latricia.borner@houstonisd.org for clarifying questions and/or additional information.
Weekly Teacher Download for March 18
ALL TEACHERS
Lead4ward Educator Survey: The Research & Accountability department is asking that all teachers complete the Lead4ward Educator Survey that was developed to gather educators’ perceptions about the utility and effectiveness of the tool. The information will be used to inform decision makers and to improve instructional practices in the district. Lead4ward was implemented in HISD to provide instructional resources to educators.
Digital Literacy Moments: Do you and your students want to become more technology savvy? The Educational Tech team is asking the district to come together to learn and teach students 21st century skills using technology safely, responsibly and effectively in studies, daily lives and future careers. Teachers interested in promoting digital literacy are encouraged to have their students produce 60- to 90- second digital animations and videos, highlighting critical digital issues. To learn more about the program and video format, click here. The team is also available to help interested teachers until March 22. Videos will be accepted here through March 29 at 5 p.m. Register today.
Open Transfer Period: HISD’s annual Open Transfer Period will begin on Monday, April 1 and end at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019. Transfer requests will not be considered after April 26. During this period, eligible teachers and nurses are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2019–2020 school year. If you are interested in a specific position, you are to apply directly via email to the principal and provide your name, employee ID, job title, and attach a resume or include a summary of your experience. For application guidelines and eligibility requirements, click here.
2017 When I Grow Up Career Expo: Join us for HISD’s Seventh Annual When I Grow Up Career Expo on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092). More than 60 local and national businesses will provide exhibits for HISD students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, that will enable them to be able to discover and learn about various careers. To learn more about the event, click here. The City of Houston will also host an on-site hiring event for the Hire Houston Youth initiative which offers students the opportunity to interview and gain summer employment on the spot with Houston area businesses. To learn more about the event, click here.
Nominate an Associate Teacher: Do you know an outstanding associate teacher that goes above and beyond their role each day? Nominate them as the Associate Teacher of the Month sponsored by Raising Canes. To nominate an associate teacher, click here.
ELEMENTARY
Read Aloud Month: In celebration of Read Aloud Month, the HISD Elementary Literacy Team would like to provide you with a flyer that can be shared with families on 15 different ways to “Discover 15” minutes of their day engaging with their child using Read Aloud activities. The district is confident with the Read Alouds our students will participate in every day during the literacy block coupled with the Read Aloud support they receive at home, we will reach our goal of every student in HISD reading on grade level by the third grade. Click here for the English flyer. Click here for the Spanish flyer. Additional resources can be found on the Read Aloud webpage and the Barbara Bush Literacy page.
SECONDARY
CTE Job Fair: Do you have graduating seniors who might be interested in a career in construction? C3 – Construction Career Collaborative is hosting a Construction Career Fair for graduating seniors on April 4, 2019 at Wheeler Field House (16325 Lexington Blvd., 77479). Students will have the opportunity to network with 24 companies and associations to hire and help students get training beyond graduation. Students and teachers can register for the event here.
Achieve 3000 Read-to-Succeed Contest: Achieve 3000 is hosting a Read-to-Succeed Contest during the month of March. Through Friday, March 29, every time a student completes an Achieve 3000 activity, their class will earn a point. For every activity score of 75 percent or higher, the class will earn two points. For every activity score of 88 percent or higher, the class will earn three points. At the end of the contest, the class from each area with the most points on average per student, wins a gift card to spend on a class celebration of their choice. To qualify for the contest, each student in the class must complete at least eight activities during the contest window.
Dear Team HISD:
I am excited to share that the Jack Yates High School basketball team is headed to the state tournament after defeating Silsbee High School, 108-89, in the Class 4-A Region 3 finals.
The five-time state champion Lions will take on Faith Family Academy–Oak Cliff in the 4A semifinals at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8 in the San Antonio Alamodome.
The hard work and determination these young men have shown throughout the season has been inspirational. To recognize their success, HISD will observe “Yates Day” on Friday, March 8.
Let’s all get decked out in crimson and gold for work and school on Friday to celebrate our statebound team! Jeans will also be permitted. Please take pictures and post to social media using the #JYFLY hashtag so we can add our show of support to the shout-outs on Twitter and Facebook. Go, Lions!
Sincerely,
Dr. Grenita F. Lathan
