Teachers pour their hearts and souls into everything they do for Houston’s children more than 170 days out of every year. Be sure to take some time on Tuesday, May 7, to say thanks to a teacher as part of National Teacher Appreciation Day. It’s a day to honor and celebrate a teacher that has made a difference in your life or in the lives of your children.
Yearly Archives: 2013
HISD, UST Offering Master’s in Special Education Leadership
Those interested can attend informational session on May 15
HISD is expanding its current partnership with the University of St. Thomas to offer a Master’s of Education in Special Education Leadership through a grant program. The district already collaborates with UST to offer a Master’s in Business Administration program for aspiring principals. Like its predecessor, this special education master’s degree features greatly reduced tuition, principal certification and participation in a cohort group that will remain with each other throughout the program. Continue reading
Lee High School Called ‘Turnaround Success’ by Department of Education
Earlier this year, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and members of his staff visited Lee High School to learn more about the campus’ turnaround efforts.
HISD Wins Big at HEB Excellence in Education Awards
HEB Houston President Scott McClelland with Fondren ES Principal Mike Walker
Three HISD educators won top honors at the HEB Excellence Awards on May 3, 2013, and brought home a combined total of $75,000 for their schools.
Mike Walker, the principal at Fondren Elementary, received top honors in the elementary principal category. He received a $10,000 prize and a $25,000 grant for his school.
High School for the Visual and Performing Arts Principal R. Scott Allen was also awarded a $10,000 cash prize and a $25,000 grant for his school. “Winning this award speaks volumes to the importance of combining arts with a rigorous education to create well-rounded, successful students,” said Dr. Allen. He plans to use the $25,000 grant to create a yearly scholarship for an at-risk student on his campus.
Say Thanks During Teacher Appreciation Week
Teachers pour their hearts and souls into everything they do for Houston’s children more than 170 days out of every year. Thus, the Houston ISD extends its gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2013, to the more than 10,000 teachers who educate our students.
Nominate HISD’s Next Employee of the Month!
The next meeting of HISD’s Employee of the Month selection committee is right around the corner,
so don’t wait if you know someone who deserves to be nominated. HISD recently streamlined the process to make it easier than ever for people to submit a nomination. Just click here, fill in the fields, and press “done.” Your nomination will automatically be submitted for consideration at the next meeting. Please note that only employees serving in a non-instructional capacity (i.e. plant operators, secretaries, clerks, custodians, crossing guards, etc.) are eligible for this award.
HISD Hosts Inaugural Districtwide Special Olympics Field Day
Students, parents, and volunteers ventured out to the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on Thursday to show their support on day one of the first annual Houston ISD Special Olympics Field Day. On May 2 and 3, the HISD Office of Special Education Services and Special Olympics Texas are joining together to host the inaugural districtwide event to provide athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
More than 1,200 HISD elementary, middle, and high school students are participating in a variety of athletics events such as basketball, track, flag football, soccer, and softball throw events. During opening ceremonies, participants were all smiles as student representatives and HISD student volunteers lit the Olympic torch and proudly pledged the Special Olympics Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
STAAR Results Begin To Arrive
HISD parents of students in select grades will be receiving a portion of their child’s STAAR exam results over the next week. The Texas Education Agency has released STAAR reading and math scores for students in the fifth and eighth grades only.
HISD elementary and middle schools are now currently distributing the scores to parents and students as well as informing them about the accelerated instruction and intervention resources that will be made available to those who failed one or both subjects. Fifth and eighth grade students who failed the reading and/or math portions of STAAR will retake one or both STAAR exams on May 14 and 15.
The TEA is making results for fifth and eighth graders available earlier than others because students in those grades must pass the math and reading sections to be promoted. All other STAAR subject results for student in grades 3-8 will be released by the TEA and distributed by HISD to students and parents on or before May 31. Ninth and tenth grade students will take STAAR end of course exams from May 6-17. EOC scores will be released to the TEA and distributed to HISD students and parents on or before June 14.
This is the second year students in grades 3-10 are taking the STAAR exam, and unlike last year STAAR scores in certain subjects can determine whether or not a child is promoted to the next grade. See below for a full list of promotion standards for the 2012-2013 school year.
| Grade Level | Promotion Standards |
| 1 and 2 |
|
| 3, 4 and 5 |
|
| 6, 7 and 8 |
|
| 9 – 12 |
|
*Sufficient attendance: A student’s total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10% of class meetings.
For English Language Learners, the Grade Placement Committee (GPC) in consultation with the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) will determine promotion standards.
For students with disabilities, the campus ARD/IEP committee will determine the promotion status based on mastery of IEP goals and objectives and /or course requirements.
If your child does not meet Promotion Standards, your school will contact you for further opportunities to receive additional instruction.
Houston Mayor Encourages Businesses to Partner with YWCPA
Houston Mayor Annise Parker, far right, listens to a presentation at the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker praised HISD for giving students a variety of choices and opportunities, including single gender education, at a recent open house at the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. The mayor also encouraged local business leaders to partner with HISD’s first all-girls school.
“Single-sex education can make a difference in the lives of young women and in the lives of young men,” Parker told the crowd of school staff, parents and local business professionals who came to learn more about the campus.
Grady Middle School Becomes Authorized IB Campus
Grady Middle School students, staff and parents are celebrating recent news that the school is now an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme campus – one of only two HISD middle schools authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme. Lanier MS is the only other authorized HISD middle school.
Grady principal Gretchen Kasper-Hoffman has been fielding congratulatory calls and emails from parents and community members since word came out that the school received IB authorization.
“It’s a great thing for our community,” said Kasper-Hoffman. “They’re looking forward to it.”