HISD and HFT hosts several forums to receive feedback on the PowerUp program
In an effort to continue the way HISD transforms teaching and learning in the classroom through technology, the district has partnered with Houston Federation of Teaching (HFT) to gather feedback, raise questions or concerns, and suggest changes to HISD’s PowerUp program.
Please choose from any of the dates below to join us in sharing your thoughts, addressing challenges and collaborating on ways HISD can improve the program.
HISD launched PowerUp as a districtwide initiative to help support Houston’s students for a world beyond the four walls of the classroom. The program is about “powering up” our high schools to create a personalized learning environment for today’s 21st-century learners and enable teachers to more effectively facilitate instruction, manage curriculum, collaborate with their peers, and engage today’s digitally-wired students.
To RSVP, click on any of the dates below:
Lenny Schad
Chief Technology Information Officer
University of St. Thomas Bilingual Cohort
HISD has partnered with the University of St. Thomas and Houston Community College (HCC) to bring a bilingual cohort for current district paraprofessionals, who are aspiring teachers wanting to earn a bachelor’s degree.
The cohort was created to help prepare new elementary bilingual education and ESL teachers for the classroom through a
seamless collaborative process.
For more details about the program and participant requirements, click here.
Next Steps
- Click here to complete a survey to express interest in the program.
- RSVP to attend an information session on Wednesday, April 25 at 5 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at Hattie Mae White
- Bring two transcripts for review
- Request a letter of recommendation from your supervisor (principal).
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Luis Lucio at luis.lucio@houstonisd.org, Dr. Kristi Honore at khonore@houstonisd.org, or Evelyn Martinez at Evelyn.Martinez@houstonisd.org.
Volunteers needed for the 2018 Special Education Parent Summit & Forum
HISD is encouraging employees to volunteer for the 2018 Special Education Spring Parent Summit & Forum on Saturday, April 28 at Hattie Mae White from 7:00 a.m.-3 p.m. HISD is hosting this year’s event where parents and guardians can meet with special education professionals, attend learning sessions, ask questions, and share input about special education in the district.
Click here to volunteer for the Parent Summit from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Click here to volunteer from 1-3 p.m. for the Parent Forum.
The summit portion of the day begins at 9 a.m. and includes interactive presentations on understanding the IEP and special education process, supporting student achievement, supporting healthy parent and student relationships, and transition services. Food and child care will be provided.
Read more here for more information on how to register for the 2018 Special Education Spring Parent Summit & Forum and to register.
2018 HISD Administrative Support Professionals Summit (ASPS)
All campus and non-campus administrative assistants, clerks, and other non-instructional support professionals are invited to join the Organizational Development department and Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) for the 2018 HISD Administrative Support Professionals Summit (ASPS) on Tuesday, April 24. For those interested, you are encouraged to attend either morning or afternoon session.
Employees will also enjoy light refreshments in honor of Administrative Professionals’ Appreciation Week.
Space is limited and employees should secure their spot by registering in OneSource, course #968001.
Date: April 24, 2018
Location: Ryan Professional Development Center
Morning Session: 9 a.m. – Noon
Afternoon Session: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Come learn about the following:
- How to enhance your personal, school, and team culture by applying cultural proficiency principles
- Techniques to leverage active listening strategies and identify communication blockers
- How to apply the five dimensions of customer service
- Methods for communicating with emotional parents and customers
ASPS is brought to you by Organizational Development in collaboration with the Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) team.
Email questions to orgdev@houstonisd.org or call 713-556-7575.
Weekly Teacher Download for April 9
ALL TEACHERS
Free Breakfast on Tuesday: To kick off STAAR testing, participating Houston-area McDonald’s will be giving free breakfast to students and teachers on Tuesday, April 10, from 6-9 a.m. (dine-in only). Limit one breakfast per student or teacher. Student must be present and accompanied by a parent or legal-aged guardian. Make sure you have your school I.D. Click here for flyer.
New Teacher Appraisal System: All teachers and administrators are invited to attend a session to learn more about T-TESS, the state’s new appraisal system for teachers. You will learn how the new system compares with HISD’s locally developed system, TADS, and have an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback regarding the district’s model for teacher appraisals in the future. Attend the next session on Wednesday, April 18, at Key Middle School (4000 Kelley, Houston 77026) from 5-6:30 p.m. Click here for more information, including additional dates and information.
Summer Intensive Institute: Interested in taking your knowledge on minority dramatic literature up a notch? Texas Southern University is announcing a call for applications by May 1 for their Back to Basics Summer Intensive Institute taking place July 9-13 on the TSU campus. The institute will require each teacher to select five students to participate in a one-week intensive program. There is limited seating for teachers and students, and selection will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on how to apply, click here. For details on the program, click here.
Houston Dynamo Art Contest: Art teachers, are any of your students die-hard Houston Dynamo fans? Here’s an opportunity for them to score tickets. Students should create an art piece of any kind that includes a STEM, soccer, or Houston Dynamo theme, and submit their art piece by April 14. Winners will receive a family pack of tickets to the Dynamo game on Saturday, April 21. For details and instructions, click here.
Attendance Tip of the Week: Instead of blame and punishment, try reducing chronic absences through problem solving and support. Click here to learn ways you can provide more social and emotional support for chronically absent students.
SECONDARY
STAAR/EOC Social Studies Training: Are you an eighth-grade teacher who needs help preparing your students for STAAR? Secondary Science Curriculum and Development is offering a training session on April 21 at Ryan Professional Development Center, 4001 Hardy St., Houston 77009. You’ll learn how to maximize student achievement on STAAR through the use of learner-centered strategies designed to not only review but also diagnose student knowledge gaps. There are only 50 spaces allocated for this session. For more information, click here. Register in OneSource, course #97001.
Secondary Literacy Tours: Like Literacy in the Middle but want to see how it works in action? Join the Secondary Curriculum on two self-guided tours of hand-picked campuses and classrooms on Tuesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 26. You will leave the tour loaded with ideas on how to best implement strategies and increase literacy in your classroom. For literacy instruction in four core content-area classrooms on April 24, register in OneSource, course #779003. For classrooms with small groups in action and Achieve 3000 on April 26, register in OneSource, course #779004.
Young Historian Challenge: Implement our HISD Young Historian Challenge in your classroom to bring history alive for your K-5 students. The Young Historian Challenge gives students the opportunity to develop and hone the skills of a historian through the creation of a micro-research project. Teachers can implement this project before STAAR testing for review purposes. Projects will serve as a jigsaw. Teachers can use the project after STAAR testing for renewed enthusiasm or implement this project anytime to increase depth and complexity for your identified G/T, IB, and Pre-AP students. Click here for more information.
Pre-AP Social Studies Workshop: Join the Office of Advanced Academics for a Pre-AP Social Studies workshop July 30 through August 2. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore Pre-AP pedagogy and plan future lessons with Pre-AP colleagues. Participants will also explore community resources and meet with local experts to develop engaging lessons that align with Advanced Placement expectations. This a great opportunity to hear about field experiences from guest speakers who will help bring social studies alive for you and your Pre-AP students. Register for all four days in OneSource, course #827002.
Encourage parents to register for pre-K during Week of the Young Child on April 16-20
The Houston Independent School District is encouraging parents to register early for pre-K for the 2018-2019 school year during the Week of the Young Child, which is April 16 through 20.
Pre-registration will still be available before and after this week, but the Week of the Young Child will serve as a formal window for pre-K roundup and to showcase HISD programs and celebrate the district’s young learners. The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Finding a program
To locate an Early Childhood Center or an HISD Elementary School, parents may visit HoustonISD.org/FindASchool. They can filter their search by clicking the PK grade level button in the Advanced Search. For more information, they also may email the HISD Early Childhood Curriculum Department at Curriculum@HoustonISD.org.
Eligibility
All children who will be 4 years old by Sept. 1 and live within the boundaries of HISD are welcome to apply. To be eligible for free pre-K, a child must meet any of the following criteria:
- Unable to speak and understand the English language
- Economically disadvantaged (eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program)
- Child of a member of the United States Armed Forces
- Has ever been in state foster care
- Homeless
- Child of a peace officer, firefighter, and emergency medical first responder eligible for the Star of Texas Award
If a student is not eligible based on the criteria above, he or she may be eligible for tuition-based pre-K if space is available.
To register
To secure a spot for their child, parents may contact the school of their choice or visit the HISD website HoustonISD.org/PreK to download an Intent to Apply form. They must have the following documents to register:
- Child’s official birth certificate
- Child’s immunization record
- Proof of address (utility bill)
- Proof of income (current pay stub)
- Photocopy of parent ID
To complete the registration process, parents must also submit an Official Pre-K Application Form, available 60 days before the first day of school. Forms may be downloaded online at HoustonISD.org/PreK or picked up at a campus. For more information about registration and the district’s enrollment policies, click here.
Week of the Young Child Celebration Suggestions
Raise Public Awareness:
- Hold pre-kindergarten round-up Weeklong event.
- Invite community members to assist with pre-registration.
- Publicly recognize those who work with and for young children in your school and community.
Reading and Writing:
- Coordinate special programs or classroom activities that include parents, businesses, feeder patterns, and other community partners.
- Work with local library, literacy organizations, civic clubs, book store owners and other members of the education community to plan community wide celebrations.
- Write letters or thank-you notes to campus personnel, such as cafeteria staff, the nurse, counselor, office staff, parents, etc.
Creativity and Play:
- Showcase students’ artwork throughout the campus.
- Have students make a video or picture book of their favorite school activities for the week to showcase.
- Organize an event to celebrate teachers and students.
- Have students develop a theme for the Dramatic Play center.
Click on the following link to read about additional ideas to celebrate.
Share tweets with pictures or video of your pre-kindergarten round-up event using #WOYC18 and tag @HISDECH. If you have any questions pertaining to pre-K enrollment, please contact Gabrielle Coleman at gcoleman@houstonisd.org, or call the Early Childhood Department at 713-556-6823.
Tickets on sale now for Educators of the Year banquet
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. The year’s banquet is “royal wedding-themed” and will recognize the district’s campus TOYS, Beginning TOYS, Principals of the Year, and other special recognitions.
HISD Educator of the Year Celebration
“A Royal Celebration”
Hilton Americas Hotel
1600 Lamar Street
Houston, Texas 77010
Grand Ballroom
Friday, May 18, 2018
Reception: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.
$65.00 per person — $650 table of 10
Attire: Royal Best (semi-formal)
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 20, 2018, by submitting an EOY Ticket Request form and submitting payment through MOTE transfer using a Transfer of Expenditures Request Form.
The 14 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.
Create your royal sash
In alignment with the theme of the royal affair, we invite each school to provide the campus TOY with a royal sash (decorated cloth to drape over-the-shoulder and attach at opposite waist) that they can wear to the event. Be creative and elegant in designing your TOYS royal sash – incorporating school colors, representation of TOYs honor, etc. For samples, click here.
Parking:
Valet: $19 at front of hotel, 1600 Lamar Street entrance (map)
Self-park: $13 at 1701 Polk Street entrance (map)
Payments accepted at:
- Ground floor kiosk with cash or credit card
- Garage exit with credit card only
- Table with attendants at second floor walkway entrance by credit card only
Hotel Reservations:
The Hilton Americas Hotel has offered a great discounted rate for the hotel rooms on the evening (and weekend) of the HISD Educator of the Year event. This can be a bonus get-away (stay-cation) opportunity added to enjoying the festivities of the event.
There are a limited number of rooms held in the HISD discounted block. The cost of the hotel room is $109.00 (single/double occupancy) and higher for up to 4 occupants.
If you would like to stay the evening or weekend, use the below information to personally reserve a room, while rooms are available. All room rates, taxes, parking fees, food and/or other fees/expenses incurred are at the expense of the individual employee(s). HISD does not assume any financial responsibility.
Hotel block link: https://book.passkey.com/go/HISDEducatoroftheYear
Code: 1HI
Campus EOY Ticket Pick-up:
Purchased tickets will be available for pick up at Hattie Mae White, 1W (Strategic Partnerships front desk) on Friday, May 11 and Monday, May 14 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The principal or designee should pick-up tickets and distribute. Honoree complimentary tickets will be included in the school envelops to be provided to the honoree (TOY, BTOY, LOY, etc.). Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.
If you have questions, please contact:
- Event Tickets or MOTE Process – Jacqueline Snowden, Strategic Partnerships, 713-556-7200 or jsnowde1@houstonisd.org
- Teacher of the Year information or Royal TOY Sash – 713-556-8815 or 713-696-0600, TOY@houstonisd.org
- Librarian of the Year – Kallie Benes, Library Services, 713-556-3017 or LibraryServices@houstonisd.org
- Ann Sledge Instructional Coach Excellence Award – 713-556-8815 or TOY@houstonisd.org
The district’s first Fine Arts Summit
HISD’s first Fine Arts Summit takes place this weekend
The district’s new Fine Arts Dept. is hosting the first Fine Arts Summit from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, at Westbury High School, 11911 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, 77035. Fine Arts teachers from every grade level are encouraged to attend and hear from keynote speaker John Abodeely, chief executive officer of the Houston Arts Alliance and former acting executive director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Teachers who attend will receive a $100 stipend.
There will be something for everyone at the summit
Attendees will hear from numerous practitioners from around Texas, who will present on topics in theater education such as helping students to build and present a portfolio of their work, building sets with a limited budget, and supporting transgender students.
Led by district educators, administrators, college representatives, professors, and industry professionals, fine arts teachers will engage on relevant topics for students in kindergarten through 12th grade such as: appraisals and program ideas on a budget, starting new programs at your campus, how to reach every student on campus, mastering UIL, and even choral demonstration.
Visual arts teachers will gain experience in printmaking, using materials donated by the community. Teachers will learn how to use the donated materials and how they can apply the technique into their lesson plans. There will also be a digital art room where teachers can learn how to deliver instruction that will help students gain 21st-century visual arts skills. Sessions will be led by HISD visual arts teachers, collegiate professors, and professional local artists.
Dance educators will explore nonverbal expression and communication through movement, dance techniques, stage lighting, lesson plans, and concepts of shaping the future of dance education.
Arts Integration Track
With many HISD teachers bringing various forms of art into the classroom, HISD Fine Arts Dept. has established a professional development series called Arts Integration Track. This series was created for ELA, science, social studies, and math teachers interested in adding elements of arts into their curriculum. The Arts Integration Track will provide teachers with resources that will help them begin the journey in utilizing all four types of fine arts in the classroom to their greatest potential that benefits all students. Teachers will have the opportunity to learn more about the program at the summit.
HISD Chief Technology Information Officer wins Houston CIO of the Year Award
HISD’s Chief Technology Information Officer Lenny Schad has been named a Houston CIO of the Year ORBIE Award winner
The award, given by the Houston CIO Leadership Association, is the premier technology executive recognition program of its kind, recognizing chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership.
Since joining HISD in January 2013, Schad has spearheaded efforts to digitally transform teaching and learning in HISD. He leads a team of 268, with divisions covering educational technology, project management, strategic planning, student management systems, and more. In 2013, he began implementation of the district’s PowerUp initiative, which has supplied laptops to all of HISD’s 50,000 high school students. With constantly evolving technology, Schad has worked to provide consistent educational technology assistance and training, with a focus on emerging technologies and finding the best fit for classroom resources.
“I am very honored and humbled by this award,” Schad said. “This recognition is more about my great team than me. They work hard every day for our students.”
The ORBIE Award was presented by the Houston CIO Leadership Association during a ceremony on Thursday. Finalists and winners were selected through an independent peer review process led by prior Award recipients.
Weekly Teacher Download for April 2
ALL TEACHERS
HISD Fine Arts Summit: HISD is proud to announce the first Fine Arts Summit, which will be held 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, at Westbury High School. HISD Fine Arts teachers from every grade level are invited to attend. The Fine Arts Dept. will be providing teachers with essential information and learning relevant to their area of expertise. Professional development will be provided on a variety of topics and content integrations. Fine arts teachers will receive a $100 stipend for attending. Click here to see the flier.
New Teacher Appraisal System: All teachers and administrators are invited to attend a session to learn more about T-TESS, the state’s new appraisal system for teachers. You will learn how the new system compares with HISD’s locally developed system, TADS, and have an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback regarding the district’s model for teacher appraisals in the future. The first information session will be held Tuesday, March 27, at Waltrip High School (1900 W. 34th St., Houston, 77018) from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Click here for more information, including additional dates and information.
Social Studies Teachers PD: Global Kids has received a grant to bring a professional development curriculum to educators in Houston that will enable them to implement the Haunts game-design program in afterschool or informal settings. Haunts is a STEM-based learning program in which youth designers create a mobile, geo-locative alternate reality game that explores local history and contemporary issues facing a particular neighborhood. Social Studies teachers interested in STEM are encouraged to sign-up for the free training being held June 4-7 at the African American Library at the Gregory School. To participate, email Valerie Wade of the Houston Public Library at valerie.wade@houstontx.gov.
Attendance Tip of the Week: Do you know how harmful school absences can be to your campus? The U.S. Dept. of Education states that “nearly half of American parents underestimate the harm of school absences.” It’s important for the administration to share with parents the importance of attendance and how it relates to student achievement. Click here for key research related to elementary school attendance, and click here for secondary research that will help convey the importance of attendance to parents.
ELEMENTARY
Stage Educational Media Training: Elementary Curriculum and Development has a partnership with “Take the Stage” produced by Gordon Education Initiatives for the Performing Arts with a mission to make arts education free, fun, and accessible for all students. HISD K-5 teachers and fine arts teachers are encouraged to attend a free professional development training hosted by Gordon Education Initiatives on Saturday, April 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Neff Elementary School. The training will cover how to use Take the Stage educational media in the classroom and how to use the fine arts to teach the TEKS. Register in OneSource, course #1025001.
SECONDARY
Together with Tech Student Conference: This year’s tech summit topics include sound, nutrition, and community safety, and include two events:
- Open Expo: Students showcase their work in a pre-assigned presentation space during the event. Open Expo allows students to exhibit the skills they have developed without entering the competition component of the conference.
- Tech Summit Competition: Students deliver a five-minute presentation in which they demonstrate the development of a solution to one of the guiding questions and its impact on the community, as well as demonstrate the competencies of the Global Graduate profile. Each campus is allowed two entries.
To learn more about the competition, click here or consult your Campus Instructional Technologist.
Secondary Curriculum and Development Summer Conference: Secondary teachers and leaders are encouraged to attend the Secondary Curriculum and Development summer conference July 23-24. The theme is ”Reflect, Refocus, Renew.” School leaders and teachers are invited to submit breakout session proposals here. The call for proposals will close on May 18. Participants should register in OneSource. Click here for course codes.
STAAR/EOC Science Training: Are you an eighth grade or high school science teacher who needs help preparing your students for STAAR? Secondary Science Curriculum and Development is offering a training session on April 5 that features hands-on activities and interactive stations where students can review previously taught content and focus on check-for-understanding strategies to promote student comprehension. Middle school science teachers can register in OneSource, course# 1005001. High school science teachers can register in OneSource, course# 1005003.
