Yearly Archives: 2012

Board unanimously approves creation of HILZ campuses at six HISD high schools

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to draw students back into six neighborhood high schools with strong Career and Technical Education programs.

The Board endorsed the plan after hearing from several parents who voiced support for the strategic investment that will strengthen community high schools.

Students at Furr, Kashmere, Long, Scarborough, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools will be able to enroll in the newly created Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) programs beginning this summer. By the time these students graduate high school, they will have earned a college associate’s degree and valuable career certifications to help them immediately land lucrative jobs in some of the region’s most in-demand professions.

Continue reading →

Citing positive data, Board of Education votes to extend Superintendent Terry Grier’s contract to 2014

The HISD Board of Education voted Thursday night to extend Superintendent Terry Grier’s contract through June 2014, signaling their commitment to continuing the bold initiatives that began with his arrival in 2009.

Trustees Paula Harris, Greg Meyers, Manuel Rodriguez Jr., Larry Marshall, and Harvin Moore voted for the extension. President Michael Lunceford and trustees Juliet Stipeche and Rhonda Skillern-Jones abstained. Trustee Anna Eastman voted against the measure.

Trustees who voted in favor of the extension said Dr. Grier has delivered on his promise of swift action to raise academic performance among all children and set HISD on a path to become the best school district in America.

“In 2009 we went out on a superintendent search. The board said we need someone bold and with a vision,” said Trustee Greg Meyers. “If you look at the data tonight, we’re on track. That’s something I feel confident about. … I’m proud to say this superintendent has followed the charge and put together a staff that is dedicated to doing what’s right not for the adults, but for the kids in this district.”

Continue reading →

MLK oratory winners, three ‘living legends’ recognized in observance of Black History Month

Matthias McBride delivers his winning speech at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

The HISD Board of Education opened its regular meeting with a performance from Pleasantville Elementary School student Matthias McBride, the winner of the 2012 Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition. Matthias delivered his winning speech to those in attendance.

 Click here to watch his winning speech.

Also recognized were Donovan Williams from Cornelius Elementary (second place), and Samaya Watson from MacGregor Elementary (third place).

The HISD Board of Education also recognized three “living legends” in observance of Black History Month: Faye Bryant, Felix Cook, and Lawrence Marshall.

  • Faye Bryant is a native Houstonian and a graduate of Wheatley High School. She taught or served as a counselor at both Booker T. Washington and Bellaire high schools, and she was very involved in the district’s first Magnet programs as part of the district’s desegregation efforts. After serving in a number of administrative positions, including acting superintendent, she retired from HISD in 2002 with 42 years of service.
  • Felix Y. Cook was a teacher and administrator at HISD for 36 years, starting in the 1940s. He served as a teacher and coach at E. O. Smith Junior High and Phillis Wheatley High School and as the principal of Sharpstown High School. Cook also served for 12 years as a deputy superintendent. HISD named a school for him in 2006 on the site of the old James Sanderson Elementary School.
  • Lawrence Marshall joined the district as a teacher in 1955 and subsequently served as a principal, area superintendent, assistant superintendent, associate superintendent, and deputy superintendent before retiring in 1991. He was first elected to the Board of Education in 1997, and has served as assistant secretary, first vice president, and president. He was re-elected in 2009 and continues to represent District IX.

HISD names principal for Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School

HISD has selected Bryan Bordelon as the principal of the new Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. 

Applications are currently being accepted for Pre-K, Kindergarten, first, and second grades for the 2012–2013 school year. Visit the HISD Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School website (click image above) for more information about the school or to download a copy of the application.

Bordelon speaks Mandarin Chinese with advanced proficiency and has a Master of Arts degree in China Studies from the University of Michigan. He is also pursuing a Master of Educational Administration as part of the University of Texas Collaborative Urban Leadership Project, a joint endeavor between HISD and the University of Texas. Bordelon has worked as a classroom teacher and currently serves as an HISD Teacher Development Specialist providing job coaching and support for English Language Arts teachers.

“After conducting an international search, we found the right person to lead this exciting new school right here in HISD,” Superintendent Terry Grier said. “Bryan Bordelon is a perfect fit for this position. He recognizes the importance of preparing students to be global citizens and shares our commitment to offering a rigorous academic program at every grade level.”

Bordelon was raised abroad and spent 18 years living in Asia, the Middle East, and South America. In addition to speaking English and Mandarin Chinese, he also has some proficiency in Spanish and French.

“I look forward to engaging the students in Chinese,” Bordelon said. “The kids are going to pick it up quickly. It is going to be second nature to them. They will have a much easier time learning the language than students in middle school, high school, or in their college years.”

Click here for school website.

Click here for video about the program.

Continue reading →

Board of Education votes today on career-training program for six HISD high schools

The HISD Board of Education is scheduled to vote today on a plan to draw students back into six neighborhood high schools with strong Career and Technical Education programs.

The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street.

Under this proposal, the School of Pharmacy Technology at Long would prepare students for the growing pharmaceutical industry by providing them with the clinical and business skills needed to work successfully alongside pharmacists and physicians.

If the program is approved, students at Furr, Kashmere, Long, Scarborough, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools would be able to enroll in the newly created Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) programs beginning this summer. By the time these students graduate high school, they will have earned a college associate’s degree and valuable career certifications to help them immediately land lucrative jobs in some of the region’s most in-demand professions.

“These HILZ programs take traditional vocational education to a higher level,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “HILZ graduates will leave our high schools with certifications that Houston employers seek when filling high-paying job vacancies. HILZ graduates will also have 45 to 60 hours of college credit from our Houston Community College partner. These credits will transfer to articulated programs at Texas universities, positioning HILZ graduates for success in a four-year college if they choose to forego an immediate career.”

Continue reading →

Thousands of canned goods collected at HISD schools during Souper Bowl of Caring

For the past three weeks, schools across HISD have been participating in activities related to the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national campaign that encourages people to collect food for the needy.

At Stevenson Middle School, for instance, students gathered over 2,300 canned goods and non-perishable food items for the Houston Food Bank, while cheerleaders and football players from Lamar High School competed in a friendly relay race dubbed the “Grocery Dash and Pass” at a local supermarket to raise awareness.

And students at West University Elementary School collected a whopping 28,000 pounds of food to help feed the hungry (read related article in the Houston Chronicle).

New elementary school features multi-color tower, artistic touches (w/ video tour)

In 2007, Houston voters passed a $805 million bond referendum to build new schools, renovate and repair others, and upgrade and improve campus safety and security districtwide. Since then, HISD crews have been hard at work building over 15 new campuses and renovating over 100 others.

DeChaumes Elementary School is one of 15 new HISD schools that have opened since 2011 as part of the $805 million HISD Bond Construction Campaign passed by voters in 2007.

Every week, a different campus based construction project will be featured here to showcase some of the amazing facility upgrades happening across HISD and to demonstrate the district’s commitment to taxpayers.

DeChaumes Elementary moved into a new campus in the fall of 2012. The HISD neighborhood school serves over 750 students in Pre-k to grade 5. The new building features lots of open spaces, state-of-the-art technology, and is designed to meet LEED standards.

Click here for a video tour of DeChaumes Elementary.

Click here for more information on the DeChaumes bond project.

Schools stress tolerance, respect during districtwide Anti-Bullying Awareness Week

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/35911522 w=320&h=180]

Learn what staff at Jackson Middle School are doing to prevent bullying on their campus and to educate parents and students.

Campuses across Houston ISD are encouraging students, faculty and staff to create a safe, friendly and positive school environment as part of a districtwide Anti-bullying Awareness Week, February 6 – 10. Through a variety of student games and activities, schools will stress the importance of creating a culture of respect and trust, while providing a friendly campus where bullying is not tolerated. Subjects addressed include identifying bullying behavior, teasing and name calling, steps to stop bullying and examples of emotional and social bullying. For more information on ways to take part in Anti-Bullying Awareness week, contact your school principal.

Trustees review agenda for Thursday’s board meeting

HISD’s Board of Education met to review the agenda for Thursday’s regular meeting. Here’s a link to the agenda:

Agenda for Feb. 9 board meeting

Superintendent Terry Grier is asking the board to approve creating career academies at six high schools that promise associate’s degrees and training. The Houston Innovative Learning Zone academies will be at Washington, Furr, Sterling, Scarborough, Kashmere, and Long.

Other highlights from the agenda review session:

  • Dr. Grier introduced HISD’s new chief high school officer, Orlando Riddick.
  • Chief Operations Officer Leo Bobadilla reports HISD has earned $117,000 so far from advertising on school buses.
  • More discussion about the new Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet at Gordon Elementary School. Current Gordon students may stay if they want to attend the Mandarin Chinese school. Here’s how to apply.

Check back for more updates, or follow @HoustonISD on Twitter.

 

HISD unveils plans for new certification program at Washington High School

Dr. Grier at the Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development luncheon .

Dr. Grier announced plans for the HILZ program at Washington High School.

The new program will offer students manufactory, engineering, and technology training and certifications

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier announced plans to create a new manufacturing, engineering, and technology program at Booker T. Washington High School during an Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development luncheon Thursday, Feb. 2.

The new program is part of a proposal to establish the Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) schools, which would offer students at six Houston ISD campuses the chance to earn associate’s degrees and receive career training in high-demand technical fields.

The proposed schools would be:

  • The School of Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Washington
  • The School of Electronic Engineering at Furr
  • The School for Process Technology at Kashmere
  • The School for Pharmacy Technology at Long
  • The School for Network and Computer Administration at Scarborough
  • The School of Logistics and Global Supply at Sterling

Continue reading →