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All central office-based staff and campus-based non-instructional staff are invited to attend a variety of professional development opportunities in September hosted by the HISD Organizational Development team. See below for a list of workshops. Spots fill up quickly, so register now in OneSourceMe Learning. Click here for instructions on how to register.
Workshop can be added as Professional Development Activities to an employee’s Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). After completing a professional development activity, employees are encouraged to use the Debrief Discussion Template to organize and share the knowledge and resources gained with their supervisor.
The complete Fall 2017 Course Catalog, along with other professional development opportunities, is available at HoustonISD.org/OD.
Business Writing: Drafting Your Message
09/06/17 9-11:00 a.m.
Course #641001
Audience: All non-instructional staff
This workshop will review the principles of composing a well-written message. Participants will select the appropriate writing style for the audience, determine the message intent, and draft a message using a structured writing technique to ensure the most important topics are conveyed first.
Public Speaking
09/13/17 1-4 p.m.
Course #353002
Audience: All non-instructional staff
Learn techniques for reducing stress related to speaking in public, meeting preparation, speaking with confidence, and using body language to convey your message. You will have an opportunity to apply the techniques by practicing to speak in front of an audience.
Strategic Planning
09/15/17 1-4:00 p.m.
Course #642001
Audience: Managers and aspiring leaders
Gain a wider perspective of the strategic thinking practice by formulating a strategic plan with a mission that aligns to the district and your department’s core values. You will draft a strategic plan using a template which encompasses SMART goals, an assessment of the internal and external environment, and action items.
Forging a Successful Partnership with Your Boss
09/27/17 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Course #643002
Audience: All non-instructional staff
Learn how to build a collaborative partnership with your boss through communication and positive influence. You will apply techniques for identifying and communicating expectations and learn proactive measures for planning effective discussions.
ALL TEACHERS
Please take this survey: All teachers are encouraged to take part in a confidential survey to capture information on policies and practices that influence teaching and learning for students with disabilities and students identified as at-risk. The survey, conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), is part of a larger review by the third party consultant. Please click here to take the survey. The data collected will be analyzed and reported alongside analyses of several other data sources, including a parent survey that will launch the first week of school and interviews and focus groups with district and school staff over the coming months.
NEW! Instructional strategies and ready-to-use resources: The Office of Special Education is excited to share the updates that have been made to the Goalbook Toolkit and Goalbook Pathways. This week, we’re featuring dozens of new instructional strategies with ready-to-use resources. All resources are designed to help teachers implement research-based practices so that ALL students can succeed. Click here to see the updated Goalbook Toolkit.
Storing and sharing files: Are you storing lesson plans on your laptop or on a jump drive? Not sure what the “Cloud” is or how to use it? Struggling with how to add email to your phone? The HISD Information Technology Department is here to help and answer your questions. Click here for solutions to some of the most common problems.
ELEMENTARY
NEW! PK-5 Parent Guides: HISD has produced grade-by-grade guides for parents in English and Spanish that offer a detailed look at what their child should be learning and achieving in each grade level throughout the school year. The guides cover academics, social and emotional learning, parent empowerment, and important dates and tools for success. Every grade level has a guide. For elementary, there will be a total of four guides for the year, one for each nine-week period. PK-5 guides for the first nine weeks are available at www.HoustonISD.org/ParentGuides. Please consider downloading, printing, and distributing these guides to your parents at open house events, meet-the-teacher nights, or during parent-teacher conferences.
SECONDARY
NEW! Grades 6-12 Parent Guides: HISD his produced grade-by-grade guides for parents in English and Spanish that offer a detailed look at what their child should be learning and achieving in each grade level throughout the school year. The guides cover academics, social and emotional learning, college and career readiness, parent empowerment, and important dates and tools for success. Every grade level has a guide. For grades 6-12 there are two guides for the 2017-2018 school year, one for the fall semester and one for the spring. The fall semester guides are available at www.HoustonISD.org/ParentGuides. Please consider downloading, printing, and distributing these guides to your parents at open house events, meet-the-teacher nights, or during parent-teacher conferences.
Additional LIM Materials: As part of the comprehensive literacy plan, Literacy in the Middle, HISD is providing additional instructional literacy materials for the 2017-2018 school year. All campuses will continue to receive both paper and digital copies of Scholastic magazines. They will be available through the HUB, and passwords will no longer be needed. All students in grades 6-8 will have full access to Achieve 3000’s collection of non-fiction articles and tools. Training will be held on your campus in September.
DEAL OF THE WEEK: Dynamo Back to School Night August 26
School-based staff encouraged to provide input on services for SPED and at-risk students
All school-based staff are encouraged to take part in a confidential survey to capture information on policies and practices that influence teaching and learning for students with disabilities and students identified as at-risk in HISD schools. The survey, conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), is part of a larger review by the third party consultant.
The data collected will be analyzed and reported alongside analyses of several other data sources, including a parent survey that will launch the first week of school and interviews and focus groups with district and school staff over the coming months.
Participation in the survey is voluntary, but all school-based staff are encouraged to take 15–20 minutes of their time to share their views and experiences. The effectiveness of the survey depends upon the candid and honest responses of employees, which will remain confidential. Names of respondents are not collected, and all data are aggregated to the district level; therefore, schools will not be identified in the analysis or the report.
Please click here to take the survey.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact AIR representative Allison Gandhi by telephone (781-373-7003) or e-mail (agandhi@air.org).
Eligible Business Operations employees have the opportunity to receive up to $1,000 in additional pay during the 2017-18 school year in exchange for excellent and reliable attendance.
This incentive program is designed to make sure the district has adequate staffing across all areas of Business Operations and to reward those employees who make excellent attendance a priority during the school year.
In order to be eligible, Business Operations employees must be non-exempt and overtime eligible. Employees also must be hired as of the first day of the award period and be continuously employed through the last day of the award period to collect the incentive. The $1,000 stipend will be divided into two amounts to be paid out on Dec. 13 ($500), and May 16 ($500).
To qualify for a payout, employees must have zero absences with the exception of:
- Pre-approved leave, including local, state or vacation (requested 48 hours in advance). There is a maximum of 40 hours (5 days) that can be used per period.
- Jury Duty
- Subpoena
- Funeral leave
The program begins on Aug. 14, with the program divided into two award periods:
- Period 1:
Start/End dates: Aug. 14 – Nov. 19
Payout date of $500: December 13 - Period 2:
Start/End dates: Nov. 20 – Apr. 22
Payout date of $500: May 16
For additional information, please review the FAQ sheet.
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Houston Independent School District’s Facility Services rolled out the red carpet for employees on Wednesday during a Hollywood-themed Welcome Back event designed to recognize workers for their outstanding performance.
Several hundred Facilities Services employees packed the bleachers of Barnett Fieldhouse to learn about new changes for the coming school year, including the development of new departmental values. Employees received surveys during the event to provide input on the values that are most important to them, as well as feedback on ways to improve the workplace culture and environment.
“Each of you is important,” Facility Services Officer Alisha Jolivette said as she addressed the crowd. “You have an impact on student education.”
As the ceremony continued, employees were given suggestions on how to make behavioral changes that can assist the district in saving money, such as turning off unused electronics and lights. Employees also were reminded of the Employee Incentive Program, which provides financial bonuses to employees with good attendance.
HISD Chief Operations Officer Brian Busby said he wants Facility Services employees to know that their roles don’t go unnoticed, which is why they host the annual Welcome Back event.
“We want our staff to know that we honor them for the excellent service they provide the district — not only today, but every day,” Busby said.
During the event, department managers also expressed their appreciation to employees, who work diligently throughout August to help campuses across the district get ready for the first day of school.
“We want to wish you luck on getting schools opened,” Business Operations Officer Eugene Salazar said. “From the bottom of our hearts, we want to say, ‘Thank you.’”
To cap off the ceremony, awards were distributed to Facilities Services employee standouts.
Share your photos from the ceremony using the hashtag #FSLuckyStars
Event extended to include teachers and paraprofessionals
The Strategic Partnerships Department along with Facilities Services, Warehouse Operations, Printing Services, and Human Resources will be conducting its first ever Back to School Office Palooza to help teachers and schools offset any out of pocket costs they might incur.
Originally for principals and department heads, the event is now open to all teachers and paraprofessionals. If interested in attending, please print this voucher and bring to the former Terrell Middle School located at 4610 East Crosstimbers, 77016 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, and Wednesday, August 16.
Attendees will have access to free office supplies, available on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Participants can expect binders, chalk, envelopes, desk trays, highlighters, tape, print paper (8×11 and legal), staples, coloring books, Dynamo bags, binder pins, push pins, dry erase markers, hole punchers, folders, desk organizers and more.
For any questions contact Annie Song Torres at asong@houstonisd.org or 713-556-7218
Sharon Elizabeth Bauknight, a longtime Houston ISD educator for the past 25 years, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2017.
A native San Antonian, Sharon relocated to Houston shortly after graduating in 1986 from Huston-Tillotson University in 1986 Austin, TX. Her career with HISD began in 1991 at Wheatley High School where she served as an Office Education teacher. Later on she transferred to Lee High School in 1996 as a Professional Learning Community Leader in Office Education. In 2004, Sharon briefly relocated to Hollister, California to teach for a year and returned to Houston ISD to continue her work with High School students and their preparation with their career paths. Her work at as a Campus Testing Coordinator at Madison High School in 2004 eventually led to her joining the HISD Student Assessment Department in 2008 as an Assessment Specialist. She eventually worked her way up as the Test Materials Center (TMC) Logistics Manager where she transformed the Test Materials Center and remained in the position for 5 years. Sharon will be greatly missed and her absence felt wide-spread across the district
Weekly New Employee Orientation (NEO) will move to Tuesdays, starting September 12. There will be no NEOs scheduled the week of August 28 or the week of September 4.
During New Employee Orientation, new and returning employees learn about HISD and receive information vital to their success as part of our team. Topics covered include benefits, risk management, IT training, psychological services, payroll, risk management, resource groups, professional development, human resources, appraisal training, and district policies, procedures, and governance.
All sessions take place at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W 18th St., Houston, TX 77092). New employees are scheduled to attend NEO by their Human Resources Assistants once they have cleared the hiring process. Additionally, NEO invitations are sent to new and returning employees’ personal email address as they are entered into OneSource. For questions, please contact Onboarding@HoustonISD.org.
Several courses must be completed by Aug 31
All HISD employees are required to complete a series of compliance courses at the start of each school year. The courses, which are listed below, will automatically appear by August 14 in an employee’s OneSourceMe Learning ‘My Learning Assignments’ list.
All employees must successfully complete the quiz for each online course to receive completion credit. Employees can view their course completions in the OneSourceMe Learning History tile.
In addition to mandatory compliance trainings, all non-teachers must complete the district-required role-based appraisal and development training. Employees must manually register on OneSourceMe Learning for these non-teacher appraisal trainings.
ALL TEACHERS
NEW! Online assessment tool: All teachers will undergo training on OnTrack, the district’s new online assessment platform, during August pre-service. OnTrack, which is replacing EdPlan, is getting rave reviews from teachers who used it during summer school and by those who were involved in the spring pilot. Click here for more information.
NEW! IAT Campus Liaisons: During the 2017-2018 school year, teachers will have access to a campus-based staff member to assist them with tiered instruction and student interventions. The Interventional Assistance Team (IAT) liaison at each school will not only train teachers during August pre-service but will be available throughout the school year to ensure educators on their campus have a clear picture of what instruction should look like in each tier for reading, math, and behavior. Click here for more information.
Job Alike Training Aug. 16 and 23: During the two August pre-service weeks, Wed., Aug. 16 and Wed., Aug, 23 are reserved for “job-alike” training for employees of various job-alike roles. Teachers in the following categories listed below should attend during either date offered. If you have not already done so, register in OneSource ME.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teachers
- ELA/Reading/Literacy – Secondary
- Fine Arts – ES/MS/HS
- Multilingual Dept – ESL/DL/Bilingual – ES/MS/HS
- Health and Physical Education (HPE)
- IB – Middle Years Programme (MYP)
- Mathematics – Secondary
- Special Education
NEW TEACHERS
Through one teacher’s eyes: Still thinking about your amazing experience at the New Teacher Academy? Experience it all over again, through the eyes of one first year teacher.
ELEMENTARY
Curriculum Guides: The 2017-2018 HISD curriculum courses for grades PK-5 are available on the HUB. The content/grade courses are titled with the phrase Elementary Grade# Guide 2017-2018 (e.g., Elementary Grade 5 Guide 2017-2018). These new courses replace courses and documents used last year. These new “super” grade guide courses now include folders for each core content and dual language needed for that grade level. Teachers teaching multiple contents will now be able to access all the curriculum documents for a grade within this one guide course. Enrichment courses will have their own content guide course with folders for each grade level (e.g., Elementary Health and Physical Guide 2017-2018; Elementary Dance Guide 2017-2018). Teachers and administrators must enroll in the new HUB curriculum guide courses to have access to the revised and updated curriculum. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to enroll and download documents.
SECONDARY:
Win $5,000 for your high school campus: Naviance is hosting a competition among its high school users to design the next SuperMatch™ college search tool. All high schools and grades 6-12 combined campuses are eligible to participate. Click here for more information.
Curriculum Guides: The 2017-2018 HISD curriculum guide courses for middle and high schools are available on the HUB. The content/grade courses are titled with the phrase Secondary Content Guide 2017-2018 (e.g., Secondary English Language Arts Guide 2017-2018). These “super” content guide courses include folders for grades 6-8 and high school courses. Teachers teaching multiple grades/courses and administrators will now be able to access all the curriculum documents and master courses for a content area within this one guide course. Master courses will also be pushed to teachers based on data in Chancery. In order to have access to the revised and updated curriculum, teachers and administrators must enroll in the 2017-2018 HUB curriculum guide courses. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to enroll and download documents.
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
Every Saturday and Sunday in August, Barnes and Noble is offering all PK-12 educators 25% off the list price of all books, toys, games, music, movies, and more. Items must be purchased in store to receive discount.
