Test out OnTrack for yourself
Staff and students across the district are proclaiming their love for OnTrack, the district’s new assessment platform that will launch districtwide during the 2017-18 school year. Currently a group of campuses are testing out the new system and response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Check out the reaction and “love-o-meter” ratings from students and staff at the High School for Law and Justice in the video below. The school is one of 18 elementary, middle, and high schools across the district who began piloting the new system last month.
[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/209567310″]
ALL TEACHERS
Pre-K/Pals PD April 22: The Elementary Curriculum Department is pleased to announce a special professional development event for Pre-K/PALS teachers scheduled for Saturday, April 22, at Kingdom Builders’ Center. As a kick-off for Week of the Young Child (WOTYC), two well-known national speakers will address the critical importance and impact that dramatic play and music and movement have on our youngest learners and how these components complement oral language and literacy development. Teaches can register through OneSource #437001. Pre-K/PALS teachers will receive a $100 stipend for attending as well a book bundle of 35 books to start, or enhance, a classroom check-out library to further support the home-school connection and parent engagement. These books align to Frog Street resources and include parenting suggestions for the read aloud at home. Teachers will also receive recommendations for how to use these books to reinforce classroom instruction.
Special Education Conference registration now open: Registration is now open for the 4th Annual HISD Special Education Conference. The conference is July 18-19 at Pin Oak Middle School from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days. All K-12 teachers are invited. This year’s conference will focus on “Design with the End in Mind,” and will feature presentations that will support the academic achievement of students with disabilities and other learners who may be struggling or at risk of not achieving academic success. During the conference, participants will hear about evidenced-based instructional practices and strategies that work for building inclusive school cultures, and supporting all learners. Register now in OneSource using Session ##446002If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Kelli Charles at 713-556-7025 or kcharle1@houstonisd.org.
Is it possible to love OnTrack? HISD teachers say yes, and so do their students. Find out why staff say they are in love with this new HISD tool that gives students the ability to monitor their own progress and take control of their learning. Check out the reaction and “love-o-meter” ratings from students and staff at the High School for Law and Justice in this video
ELEMENTARY
Useful Spanish content for your classrooms: “Targeting the 2 Percent” on the Texas Gateway has been updated to include Spanish versions of reading intervention lesson s for grades K-5. This resource can be used by teachers to improve the instruction, content knowledge, and academic achievement of students transitioning from assessments based on modified standards to the general state assessment. Locate these resources at: https://www.texasgateway.org/binder/targeting-2-percent
SECONDARY
Review of math and ELA Scope and Sequence documents: The Secondary Curriculum and Development office is requesting feedback regarding the mathematics and English language arts Scope and Sequence documents from all secondary mathematics and ELA teachers. As planning for next year begins, we invite teachers to review their data and look for units of study that might benefit from time allotment adjustments. Additionally, suggestions about which TEKS should be grouped, removed, or added to a unit will be appreciated. Click here for the dates, times, and OneSource information for each session. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to provide mathematics input via the mathematics Google form and ELA input via the ELA Google form.
Advanced Placement Studio Art Opportunity: High school teachers are encouraged to let their students know about a free innovative program available to help them develop photography-based portfolios for Advanced Placement Studio Art submission. Through The Lens-Houston is offering a free afterschool program that specifically targets students at HISD campuses that do not currently have a photography-based AP Studio Art program. Eligible students include rising juniors and seniors who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and who have maintained a minimum of a “C” average in all classes. Interested students can learn more and apply at http://ttl-houston.org/. Accepted students attend an onboarding session in late May 2017, complete a series of practical summer assignments, and attend weekly after-school educational sessions during the academic year. Through The Lens-Houston convenes most sessions at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, though monthly field trips are also part of the program. Accepted students may check out the necessary photography equipment to complete assignments, and there is no cost for students to participate in the program. Through The Lens-Houston can provide vouchers to students who need to use public transportation to attend sessions. Contact Terry Merwin at TMerwin@HoustonISD.org for details about this unique program.
READ OF THE WEEK
Study: A teacher’s encouragement gives students a lasting boost
Event honors Teachers and Principals of the Year
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 “luau-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
Bayou City Event Center
9401 Knight Road
Houston, Texas 77046
Grand Ballroom
Friday, May 19, 2017
Registration 6:00 P.M. — Dinner 7:00 p.m.
$50.00 per person — $500 table of 10
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. Tickets are $50 per person.
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 April 28, 2017, 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.
If you have questions, please contact:
- Event Tickets – Tanya Mackey or Tina Thompson, Strategic Partnerships, 713-556-7200
- MOTE Process – Patricia Batiste (pbatiste@HoustonISD.org), Strategic Partnerships, 713-556-7200
- Teacher of the Year – Professional Development Services – TOY@houstonisd.org, 713-696-0600
ALL TEACHERS
- Open Transfer Period Opens April 10: HISD’s annual Open Transfer Period will begin on Monday, April 10, and end at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 12. During this period, eligible teachers and nurses are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2017–2018 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. Due to the high volume of applicants, principals may only contact candidates of interest. Click here for more information.
- OnTrack Coming Soon: For the 2017-2018 school year, teachers and students will have access to a new assessment platform to track student progress through TEKS-aligned assessments. Click here to watch a short video. The new system is called OnTrack and will replace EdPlan with an easier-to-use, intuitive format for users. The platform allows for a more comprehensive student learning profile through a variety of assessment options. Unlike any system HISD has had before, OnTrack features a student dashboard, giving students the ability to monitor their own progress and take increasing ownership of their learning. Want to try OnTrack? Go to http://hisdtrain.schoolcity.com to explore the system in a test environment. Teachers can access it using the username “HoustonISD_Teacher” and the case-sensitive password “Houston1”.
- Fostering a Culture of Inclusion: As we prepare for testing season, now is a good time to ask: Does anything in my classroom or on my campus get in the way of my students’ success? Campuses that embrace a culture of inclusion create a learning environment with limited barriers, a place where all students can feel respected and most importantly, where success is expected. Learn more about fostering a culture of success for all students by taking the new course, Culture of Inclusion Online. Click here to sign in and enroll. Course number: 377005.
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS
- Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy: 16 teachers will have the opportunity to participate in the 2017 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. The MEMTA is a national five-day professional development program that helps third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teachers implement research-based instructional strategies to engage students in science and mathematics inquiry learning. The Academy will take place at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Houston from Sunday, June 25, 2017 through Friday, June 30, 2017. This is a residential Academy and all the participants selected are required to stay at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel the entire length of the academy, all expenses paid. Interested teachers should CLICK HERE and complete the form by noon on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Selected teachers will be notified on Friday, March 31, 2017. For general information about the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, please visit http://mickelson.nsta.org/.
SECONDARY TEACHERS
- Think Through Math Intervention Pathways: To assist secondary mathematics teachers with personalizing interventions for students, the Secondary Mathematics Curriculum and Development Team has created a series of Think Through Math [TTM] pathways that are aligned by Snapshot assessment. This arrangement more easily allows teachers to assign and customize student learning objectives based on the district’s Snapshot assessment data. For more information, please feel free to email Princess Granger at pgrange1@houstonisd.org or Alyssa Howell at ahowell1@houstonisd.org.
- Participate in the Largest Hacking Competition in the World: Carnegie Mellon University’s picoCTF is the world’s largest online hacking competition and takes place March 31, 2017 – April 14, 2017. picoCTF is designed as a computer security game targeted at students grades 6-12. The game consists of a series of challenges presented in the context of a story-driven video game. This year’s storyline is: “When your friend disappears unexpectedly, you must learn and use computer security skills to uncover and decipher critical evidence behind their whereabouts. Can you find your friend before it’s too late?” The challenges are all set up with the intent of being hacked, making it an excellent, legal way to get hands-on experience in cyber security. Students with no programming experience get the same opportunity as experienced students to practice critical-thinking skills, develop more sophisticated concepts of programming and cyber security, and win prizes. For more info and registration, go to https://2017.picoctf.com/. Educators can contact educator@picoctf.com for additional information about the competition.
READ OF THE WEEK
New employee orientation dates revised due to testing
To avoid removing campus staff from their main work locations during the upcoming student testing days, the Onboarding and Organizational Development team will NOT be holding New Employee Orientation (NEO) during dead weeks or testing weeks.
New employees beginning work during these weeks should be scheduled to attend on the first available NEO date outside of these weeks. Upcoming scheduled New Employee Orientation dates are listed below:
- March 27
- April 24
- May 15
- July 10
Should a new employee require an employee ID badge sooner than their scheduled NEO date, please have them visit the HISD Employee ID Badge Desk, located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, on or after the date they begin work at HISD.
Questions may be directed to the Onboarding & Organizational Development team via email at Onboarding@HoustonISD.org or by phone at 713-556-7575.
Sign-up now for April 26 morning or afternoon session
All campus and non-campus administrative assistants, clerks, and other non-instructional support professionals are invited to attend the 2017 HISD Administrative Support Professional Summit (ASPS) on Wednesday, April 26. The event will feature professional development and, in honor of Administrative Professionals’ Appreciation Day, light refreshments will be served.
Secure your spot by registering in OneSourceMe Learning. Search for course title “OB_Administrative Support Professionals Summit” or course #363002.
Date: April 26, 2017
Location: Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.
Morning Session: 9am – 12pm
Afternoon Session: 1pm – 4pm
What will you learn?
- How to manage your emotions under pressure.
- Tools for improving your email communication and online etiquette.
- Using assertiveness to get the best results and solve problems.
ASPS is brought to you by Organizational Development in collaboration with the Benefits Office.
Questions? Email orgdev@houstonisd.org or call 713-556-7575
Schedule begins May 29 and ends July 27
HISD will again implement the “40 in Four” work schedule at the central office and participating schools for summer 2017. Central offices will be closed on Fridays during “40 in Four” schedule, which begins Monday, May 29, 2017, and ends Thursday, July 27, 2017. The district will return to its regular hours of operation Monday, July 31, 2017.
Schools will have the option of operating on a four- or five-day week but will still be required to work 40-hours. If your supervisor approves the four-day work week (Monday-Thursday), you must work 10 hours each day.
Please review the following guidelines regarding the “40 in Four” schedule:
- Subject to supervisor approval.
- All employees will be required to submit a summer work schedule to their supervisor. Employees can select either 30 or 60 minutes for lunch. Once a work schedule has been approved, it must remain the same for the entire summer program.
- An employee cannot work through lunch in order to leave early. The entire 30- or 60-minute lunch break must be taken.
- All employees will be required to follow standard sign-in/sign-out and reporting procedures during this time period.
- Non-exempt employees will be required to sign in and out for lunch breaks or follow other standard procedures that departments have in place to monitor and report lunch breaks.
- A 40-hour work week is required of all employees. Employees who do not work 40 hours will use leave time and/or incur a reduction in pay to cover the shortage or be docked. Employees will not be allowed to work from home or telecommute during this program.
- Any absences from work during this time period will be calculated at 10 hours per day.
- Campuses that opt for the “40 in Four” schedule: For attendance and absence reporting during the week of May 29th and July 4th, the observance of the holiday counts as 10 hours. All employees will be required to account for 30 hours that week. The district will be closed on Monday, May 29th and Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of Memorial Day and Independence Day.
- An immediate supervisor will have to approve any variation of an employee’s daily schedule outside of operating hours (7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday).
- The Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center will be open 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday during this period.
- Schools and office locations will have to obtain prior written approval from their chief, if there is a need for any variation of operational hours during this program.
- Supervisors reserve the right to alter work schedules should needs arise that are critical to maintaining operations and meeting departmental goals.
- Disciplinary action will be taken if there was documented evidence of abuse of time/schedules during this program.
- Payroll will be distributed according to the district’s calendar.
If you have further questions about the 2017 summer schedule, please contact Human Resources at 713-556-7323.
Team HISD raises nearly $250,000
Thanks to the combined efforts of schools and departments, Team HISD raised nearly $250,000 in the 2017 Combined Charities Campaign. The top contributors were honored at special luncheon on March 7 hosted at the new Delmar Fieldhouse.
The theme of this year’s campaign honored the recent Olympic Games and encouraged employees to “go for the gold” in their fundraising efforts. Board Trustee Diana Davila recognized the top fundraisers with a special medal presentation and personally thanked them for their contributions.
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“You all are truly Olympians for the children of HISD and our city,” Davila said. “You are just as generous as you are hard working.”
The departments and campuses with the highest pledge amounts this year were:
Non-campus-based work locations:
- 76 or more employees: Special Education Speech and Language
- 40 to 75 employees: Community Services
- 21 to 39 employees: Special Education North
- 1 to 20 employees: Information Technology Project Management
Campus-based work locations:
- 206 or more employees: Bellaire High School
- 138 to 205 employees: Madison High
- 69 to 137 employees: Rice School La Escuela
- 1 to 68 employees: Anderson Elementary
Eligible employees may transfer between campuses during this timeframe
HISD’s annual Open Transfer Period will begin on Monday, April 10, and end at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 26.
During this period, eligible teachers and nurses are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2017–2018 school year. Please visit the Careers page on the HISD website to view 2017–2018 vacancies.
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. Due to the high volume of applicants, principals may only contact candidates of interest.
If you receive an offer, click here for step-by-step instructions to continue the process. However, if you decide to resign, please be reminded that the penalty-free deadline is July 14, 2017.
Also, be aware that this transfer period does not apply to at-will employees (i.e. Clerks, Teaching Assistants, Grad Coaches, etc.). At-will employees can transfer any time during the year with a two-week minimum notice. Promotions, for all employees, may also be processed any time during the year.
If you have additional questions, please contact Human Resources at 713-556-7406 or hiring@houstonisd.org.
ALL TEACHERS
- District piloting new student assessment platform: For the 2017-2018 school year, teachers and students will have access to a new assessment platform to track student progress through TEKS-aligned assessments. The new system is called OnTrack and will replace EdPlan with an easier-to-use, intuitive format for users. The platform allows for a more comprehensive student learning profile through a variety of assessment options. Unlike any system HISD has had before, OnTrack features a student dashboard, giving students the ability to monitor their own progress and take increasing ownership of their learning. Click here to learn more.
- Goalbook March Live Webinars: The Office of Special Education encourages teachers to learn more about Goalbook by tuning into one or more of these upcoming webinars. This month’s topics are focused on fostering social skills and positive peer relationships within the classroom. Our three-part Culturally Responsive Teaching series continues with providing opportunities for student voice and validating experiences. We will also focus on instructional strategies in Goalbook Toolkit designed to support students with moderate to severe disabilities. Please click the links below each title to register:
- Designing Instruction with a Focus on Social Skills and Positive Peer Relationships
- Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning: Validating Students’ Experiences and Providing Opportunities for Student Voice
- Using UDL Strategies and Goalbook Toolkit to Support Students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities
- Learn more about the district’s upcoming Special Education Conference: The Office of Special Education Services will host its fourth annual Special Education Conference on July 18-19. This year’s conference will focus on “Design with the End in Mind,” to share practices that support the academic achievement of students with disabilities and other learners who may be struggling or at risk of not achieving academic success. The conference will offer customized and contextualized professional development and support for general and special education teachers, special education administrators, campus administrators, and classroom support personnel. If you would like to submit a proposal to present during the Special Education Conference, click here. The deadline for proposals is March 24, 2017. Call or email Joan Anderson at 713-556-7025 or jander13@houstonisd.org if you have questions.
