HISD is always looking for ways to improve its outcomes for students, and that includes how the district appraises and develops its teachers.
To refine this process, the district is proposing a series of updates to the Instructional Practices Rubric, the document that outlines HISD’s standards of teacher effectiveness. It also serves as a guide for teachers and appraisers to increase student achievement.
A select group of teachers recently attended a focus group at the Ryan Professional Learning Center to review and give feedback on changes to the district’s Instructional Practices Rubric.
Before proceeding with any changes, district officials first wanted to give a select group of teachers the chance to evaluate the changes and provide feedback.
One of those teachers is Mini Simon from Pugh Elementary School, who said she was thrilled to be contacted about reviewing the rubric, because this work will help develop and retain effective teachers.
“HISD is a great district and has lots of great systems in place,” Simon said. “But every system needs improvement. I’m getting the opportunity to open up and HISD is willing to listen to me.”
Led by a team from the Professional Support and Development department, 108 teachers and 42 school leaders recently took part in two focus groups to review the changes. The revisions centered on best practices related to college and career readiness, literacy, and technology education, which will produce graduates ready to compete in a global environment.
Gail McGee, manager of Teacher Support, reports that much of the feedback was positive, and groups were able to identify places where the rubric could be further clarified and streamlined. Her team also plans to give teachers and campus leaders a chance to review and understand the updated document.
“Input from all stakeholders is invaluable to the continuous improvement of the appraisal system,” McGee said.
Simon added that she’s encouraged by the spirit of collaboration between the district and its teachers.
“When we get to share our thoughts, you realize you’re not alone in this,” she said. “You’re part of a team.”
Charlotte Scott
This week’s Shout Out goes to Charlotte Scott, a secretary at West Briar Middle School, from Student Information Representative Lauri Lamar.
“Her soft-spoken attitude and kind-hearted disposition make her a joy to work with,” said Lamar. “She demonstrates a willingness to listen, learn, and try new things, and she will approach employees to seek out tasks or parents to offer assistance to resolve any situation.”
“Her positive attitude helps employees go above and beyond to get along with co-workers—even difficult ones—and respond to constructive criticism with maturity and a willingness to improve,” added Lamar. “West Briar would not be same without her.”
A select group of HISD dual language teachers met at Carnegie Vanguard High School on Thursday, April 30, 2015, to discuss challenges and share success stories. The Onboarding and Organizational Development team organized the Teacher Exchange forum.
As HISD prepares to expand its dual language program to 21 more campuses next year, a group of teachers and subject-matter experts gathered last week to share their experiences and best practices.
The Teacher Exchange forum, which was held at Carnegie Vanguard High School on April 30, was organized by the Onboarding & Organizational Development team in partnership with Multilingual Programs and Biliteracy Teacher Development.
Dual language teachers from across the district gathered to discuss challenges and how to refine their teaching practices to ensure students are getting the most out of the program. The 18 participants were able to obtain insight and a deeper understanding of what works and what doesn’t work in a dual language classroom setting. Additionally, administrators were able to share a preview of future plans for the district’s dual language program.
Brian Nguyen, an onboarding program specialist with Onboarding & Organizational Development, said this Teacher Exchange focused on Dual Language because of the planned expansion, as well as the district’s overall goal of producing graduates who are ready to compete in a global economy.
“There are numerous studies that show learning additional languages improve students’ analytical skills, enhance memory and creativity, and add long-term academic and social benefits,” Nguyen said. “We want to do our part to ensure HISD’s teachers are well-prepared to give them that education.”
Feedback from both groups will be shared with both participating teachers and administrative staff, with action items provided to improve the program for incoming, as well as existing, dual language teachers.
The Texas Education Agency has recognized two dozen HISD schools for high performance and/or high progress for the 2014-2015 school year based on 2013-2014 student performance results.
Sixteen HISD schools were included on the agency’s list of Title I High Performing Schools and eight schools were named as Title I High Progress schools. All eight of the High Progress schools were also recognized as High Performing schools. Title I schools are defined as campuses with a student population of at least 40 percent low-income.
Get that full story (and a list of all the schools) here.
Congratulations also go out this week to:
- The Energy Institute, which was named the beneficiary of this year’s Offshore Technology Conference dinner. The annual event raises thousands of dollars for worthy causes, and the campus will receive $250,000 to support its programs. Get the full story here.
- Robert Childress, a senior at Sterling High School, who will be following his military dreams to Texas A&M University this fall at minimal cost to himself, after representatives of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the winners of the Gates Millennium Scholarships for 2015. Childress, who is the valedictorian at Sterling this year, was one of only 1,000 students chosen from more than 52,000 applicants nationwide—and the sole student selected from HISD. You can read more about him here.
- High School Ahead Academy bus driver Clarissa Davis, who was recognized on April 30 for providing exceptional customer service to one of her students. Davis was honored for offering a ride to a student who had missed his bus and gone home to get his bicycle, after recognizing him on the road as he was riding the ten-plus miles back to school. Read that full story here.
- Milby High School senior Nancy Casarrubias, whose video showcasing her campus library won a national digital storytelling contest sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians. Learn more about her and see the video here.
| If you know someone who should be featured in Accolades, please email us at info@houstonisd.org and tell us why. |
If you’ve ever worried about what might happen to your family if you were laid low by a lengthy illness or a debilitating injury, then HISD’s Employee Support Services department has a suggestion for you:
Sign up for the district’s Supplemental Sick Leave Bank (SSLB) by May 29, and you could buy yourself a little peace of mind for the next school year.
The SSLB offers participants up to 30 additional paid leave days in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury, resulting in an extended absence from work. Eligible employees must agree to contribute one day of their earned Local Leave to the SSLB to participate.
A number of employees have offered testimonials about their experiences with the SSLB. Oates Elementary School life skills teacher Louvenia Matthews tapped into this benefit after an unexpected surgery came hard on the heels of a bout with meningitis. Janowski Elementary School instructional technologist Joshua Martinez, meanwhile, used this particular kind of “bank” to keep his family’s finances afloat three different times. And Multimedia Services web designer Quentrella Joyce says she doesn’t know what she would have done without it in the summer of 2011.
For more information about the SSLB, please visit the Benefits website or see this related article on the May 11–29 enrollment period. And if you’d like to share your experiences with the SSLB in a future edition, please send an email to info@houstonisd.org with the subject line “SSLB.”
HISD’s Supplemental Sick Leave Bank (SSLB) program offers participants up to 30 additional leave days in the event of a catastrophic injury or illness, resulting in an extended work absence.
SSLB membership confirmations and enrollment materials will be emailed to eligible employees during the week of May 11, 2015. Enrollment forms and plan details are also available on the SSLB webpage. Current SSLB participants are automatically re-enrolled in the program.
Eligible employees may enroll or cancel membership for the 2015–2016 school year during the early enrollment period through May 29, 2015. An open enrollment period will also be held in September for employees to enroll or terminate membership. A benefits-concurrent enrollment period will be held in November for enrollment only.
Contact Employee Support Services at 713-695-5561 for additional assistance.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2015 (May 4-8), many restaurants, stores, and organizations are giving away free food, discounted tickets, and extra rewards and discounts on school supplies and other purchases. Thank you, HISD teachers, for all that you do!
Chick-fil-A:
Many Chick-fil-A locations are providing teachers with free breakfast, lunch, or dinner entreefor Teacher Appreciation Week. Register on Facebook for details. Here is a list of participating outlets, but check with your local Chick-fil-A, if it is not listed here:
- 45 & Wayside (free entree daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. May 4-8)
- Sawyer Heights (free breakfast entree 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. May 4-7)
- I-10 & Silber (free breakfast entree 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. May 4-7)
- Memorial & Dairy Ashford (free breakfast entree 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. May 4-7)
- Kirkwood & Westheimer (free breakfast entree 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. May 4-7)
- 610 & Shepherd (free Chick-fil-A sandwich May 4-8)
- Cinco Ranch (free breakfast entree 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. May 4-7)
- North Houston (free breakfast, lunch, or dinner entree May 5, but only for Alden Bridge, Conroe, Lake Woodlands Drive, the Woodlands at College Park, Sawdust Road, Magnolia, the Woodlands Mall, and Willis locations)
Houston Astros:
Educators can save $5 to $7 at Houston Astros Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night on May 15 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Use the code TEACHER to get the special discount. Follow detailed directions here.
Salata:
On May 5, teachers get half off any salad or salad wrap with a valid school ID. This is available nationwide from open to close at 42 Salata locations.
SeaWorld:
Texas teachers can visit SeaWorld + Aquatica for free through September 7, 2015, thanks to the Teacher Appreciation Fun Card. Online pre-registration is required by May 31. This freebie is for active certified Texas teachers, not homeschool teachers, student teachers, school nurses, or custodial staff members. Show your required credentials, which include a copy of your Texas Teacher certification, a paystub from the last 30 days, and a valid Texas ID. Sign up online at SeaWorld.
Staples:
Staples is offering 40 percent back in rewards on school supplies for Teacher Rewards members. This is 35 percent more than any other time of year! Available through May 9 on school supplies, teaching and art essentials, posters, laminating, and cleaning supplies.
Three Brothers Bakery:
This local, family-owned bakery is offering a 20 percent discount from May 4-10 on jumbo cupcakes to teachers and school administrators. Simply show your teacher ID to get this deal at all three Houston-area locations: Braeswood, Memorial, and Washington Avenue.
McDonald’s:
Offers vary by location, but some McDonald’s establishments are offering free breakfasts, while others are giving away a free McCafe beverage with a purchase. Contact the McDonald’s closest to you for more details.
CiCi’s Pizza:
Teachers enjoy the adult pizza buffet from 4 p.m. until closing on May 5. There are reportedly 450 restaurants participating in the promotion.
Ann Taylor Loft:
Teachers receive 15 percent off their in-store purchases by signing up for Ann Taylor Loft’s teacher-only perks. Must provide title and grade level when registering.
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores:
Sign up for Jo-Ann’s teacher rewards discount card and receive 15 percent off every purchase, every day. Some exclusions apply.
J. Crew:
No coupon code is required to receive a discount during Teacher Appreciation Week. Simply show your ID at checkout to receive a 15 percent discount. Discount cannot be applied to previous purchases, used in combination with another promotion, or used to purchase a gift card.
Banana Republic:
Students and teachers receive 15 percent off any in-store purchase of full-priced items. The offer is valid only at stores in the U.S. and Canada. Banana Republic Factory Stores are not participating. The offer is good for multiple uses now through Jan. 31, 2020.
Aerosoles:
Treat your feet to a new pair of shoes from Aerosoles. Simply show your teacher ID or most recent pay stub at any participating store and receive 15 percent off any footwear item priced at $39.99 or higher. Orders may also be placed by calling 1-800-798-9478.
HISD will be conducting a “drug-free workplace” training session on Thursday, May 28, 2015, for all principals, assistant principals, work-location supervisors, and any other administrators who have the authority to call for reasonable-suspicion drug/alcohol testing.
The session will take place from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092), and attendance is mandatory for eligible employees.
Participants will learn how to recognize impaired employees and how to call for a reasonable suspicion drug/alcohol test. The training is good for four years before having to take a refresher course.
Employees must register through e-TRAIN using course code # BN0005. Class size is limited to 100 participants.
Please note that the session originally slated for May 20 has been cancelled.
Questions may be directed to Lynette Prater at 713-695-5862.
Carrie Gilmore
Carrie Gilmore did not originally plan to be a teacher. With two educators for parents, the artist describes teaching as “something I did not want to do” when she was a rebellious youngster considering future careers.
Nevertheless, Gilmore obtained her teaching certification as a back-up plan at their urging, after first obtaining a master’s degree in art. And in early 1980, when her husband—also an educator—could not find work in Ohio due to ongoing teacher strikes, she and her family relocated to Houston.
“I tried to be a practicing artist, but life happened,” she explained. “I thought, ‘Well, I guess I’ll be an educator for a few months,’ but I was blessed to be put in a school where children were so enthusiastic about learning. They just soaked everything up like little sponges. I fell in love with the children and with teaching art. It was a perfect fit.”
Gilmore has now taught art to HISD students for 35 years, the first 14 at River Oaks Elementary School, and the remainder at The Rice School, where she has been since it opened in 1994.
“I’m enjoying it, too,” added Gilmore. “It’s not like I have any regrets. All of us are made to be creative in some way. And I haven’t met a kid yet who doesn’t like art. My goal is to give them the confidence that they need to trust their creative juices. If they do that, they can do marvelous things.”
Gilmore officially marked her 35th anniversary with the district on April 21, but a few other employees also observed theirs over the past few weeks (April 19–May 2). See if you know anyone on this list:
30 years
- Jerry Agnew, maintenance team lead, Construction & Facility Services
- John Burrisk, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Deborah Gouge, teaching assistant, Anderson ES
15 years
- Rose Hernandez, teaching assistant, Briscoe ES
10 years
- Joann Chavira, crossing guard, White ES
- Charles White Jr, maintenance repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Queen Taylor, teacher, Roosevelt ES
5 years
- Nana Baffour, teacher, Welch MS
- Claude Johnson, associate teacher
- Rage Mohamoud, associate teachers
| Check back in future editions of eNews for more Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
