Yearly Archives: 2013

Flurry of Activity to Ensure Campuses are Prepared for Students

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With school about to start, HISD staff and construction workers are working around the clock to ensure all of the district’s 282 schools are ready for students when they walk in the door on Aug. 26.

“We’re committed to creating facilities that support academic achievement and ensure safety,” said HISD’s Officer of Construction & Facility Services Robert L. Sands, Jr. “Every HISD family should feel confident that their child’s school is clean, well-maintained and ready for learning.”

This summer has been especially busy with more than 60 building projects in full swing after the school year ended on June 6. The work marks another milestone in the 2007 bond program, which has included more than 180 expansion, renovation and maintenance projects across the district.
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Special Ed Teachers Gather to Prepare for New School Year

Special education teachers gathered across HISD to train, network, and share ideas as they prepare for the new school year. The training on August 15, called Job-Alike, brings together participants with similar roles at various campuses. It’s all part of efforts by the Office of Special Education to strengthen services to the district’s nearly 16,000 special-education students.

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Share Your Back-to-School Photos for a Chance to be on TV

From first day of school clothes to first time on campus, last year’s parents and eager students were willing to share with us some candid snapshots of their first week of school. We want to show how proud we are of all of our students, so we’re asking for your photos again for the kickoff of the 2013-2014 year. Share them with us and they may end up on TV. Continue reading →

HISD Teachers Signing Up For Edmodo in Record Numbers

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/68313624/ w=320&h=205]

PowerUp schools and Rigor Institute using social learning platform to connect during training

Dubbed the “Facebook of education,” Edmodo now has more than 21 million members globally, and some 3,400 of them are HISD teachers enrolled in the HISD Summer Rigor Institute. Edmodo is also being used as an integral part of the PowerUp training at 11 high schools across the district that are receiving laptops for all of their students in January. Subjects being discussed in the Rigor Institute this week include how to enforce a wait time in the classroom after a question is asked, how to access students’ prior knowledge skills, and how to effectively use student data.

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First-of-Its-Kind Energy Institute High School Debuts


Energy Institute HS Ribbon Cutting from Houston ISD on Vimeo.

Members of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association (PESA) gathered with Houston energy executives and HISD officials on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, to mark the opening of the new Energy Institute High School, the first of its kind in the nation. The revolutionary partnership between local industry leaders and HISD staff will ensure that students receive the skills necessary to compete in today’s 21st-century workforce.

“The energy industry is front and center here in Houston,” said Sara Ortwein, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, “so it’s not only visionary but appropriate that our city, the energy capital of the world, be home to the nation’s first school dedicated to the study of energy.”

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HISD to Host Networking Event for Food Service Vendors

Food service vendors interested in learning more about business opportunities with the Houston Independent School District and meeting potential partners are encouraged to attend a networking event from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.

The event, sponsored by the district’s Business Assistance team for Supplier Diversity, will be held at HISD’s Food Services Administration building at 6801 Bennington, Room 1112. District officials will be on hand to answer questions about HISD’s meal programs, the procurement process and paperwork requirements.

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Energy Institute High School Officially Opens Today

HISD, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), and Houston energy executives will gather to officially open the district’s new Energy Institute High School at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The school, located at 812 W. 28th Street, is the first of its kind in the nation and represents a collaborative effort between a public school district and industry leaders. The school’s vision is to focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while breaking the barriers of a traditional classroom. It will provide students with hands-on learning and externships in the fields of geoscience, alternative energy, and offshore technology.

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Career Pathways Let Top HISD Teachers Lead Without Leaving the Classroom

The second year of HISD’s innovative Career Pathways program kicked off in early August with more than 200 top teachers from across the district attending two-day teacher leadership trainings. The Career Pathways program is designed to give top teachers the opportunity to earn more and expand their influence on their campus without having to leave the classroom.

Ariana Sherman, who moved to the district this year from KIPP, will serve as an instructional practice coach at Patrick Henry Middle School, where she will focus on modeling excellent teaching techniques, observing peers, and providing feedback to help teachers better meet students’ needs. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” Sherman said. “This role lets me grow as a leader and a coach while also continuing to teach science, which is my passion.”

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Rigor Institute Creating Lofty Learning Environment for Students

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/72365532 w=320&h=205]

“Climbing the Mountain, Enjoying the Journey” is the name of the 2013 Rigor Institute now taking place at schools across the Houston Independent School District. Thanks to Gwendolyn Tompkins, Dianne Alvarez, and Denise Martinez, all senior managers in Professional Support and Development at HISD, teacher trainers now have a day-by-day training playbook of the same name.

“Last week we trained teacher trainers from 200 secondary and 400 elementary schools,” said Tompkins. “We wrote for three months, trained for three weeks, and now we’re passing the torch into the capable hands of teachers. We were inspired by Dr. Grier’s vision of rigor, consistency, and safety in every classroom.”

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