Yearly Archives: 2013

Sharpstown International students send their condolences to China following deadly earthquake

When students at Sharpstown International learned of the April 20 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, they were sparked to action. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake and its effects have claimed approximately 200 lives and injured thousands more, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

“As soon as we heard the news about the earthquake, the students were very thoughtful in thinking, ‘We need to do something for the victims,’ said Thuy Le-Thai, principal of Sharpstown International School. “So the art teachers, the Chinese teachers and the homeroom teachers have been working hard with them to express our thoughts and our love, and to express our condolences.”

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Rice University Study Shows Performance-Based Awards Improve Teacher Attendance, Retention, Students’ Test Scores

Programs such as HISD’s ASPIRE program improve teacher attendance, retention and increased students’ test scores, according to a study released by Rice University.

The study evaluated award-eligible teachers from HISD’s 279 schools to determine if receiving a monetary reward during the 2009-2010 school year positively influenced teacher outcomes in 2010-2011, according to a news release.

The complete report is available on the website for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

The ASPIRE program (Accelerating Student Progress: Increasing Results and Expectations) began during the 2006-07 school year.

Barbara Jordan HS students show off NASA project build

Multiple Houston ISD schools are partnering with NASA to allow students the opportunity to produce equipment and apparatus for the space agency.

The HUNCH program, or High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware, is in its tenth year and has expanded to 13 states. In the program, based out of the Johnson Space Center, students to use their skills in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics to build various devices.

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HISD Hosting Community Meetings to Answer Budget Questions

Nine meetings scheduled across Houston in April and May

April 25, 2013 – In an effort to provide taxpayers a guide to understanding the district’s budget, the Houston Independent School District is hosting a series of community meetings across the city that will outline the budgeting process from planning, to adoption and implementation.

“We want our constituents to understand how HISD’s budget process works, how much money does each school get and even how they can get involved,” said HISD Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Huewitt.  “Our goal is to ensure HISD’s budget and financial information is readily available and user friendly so that taxpayers know exactly how their tax dollars are allocated and spent.”

The meetings will cover key aspects of HISD’s budgeting process such as where the money comes from, how much is designated to each of the 276 campuses, who decides how the money is spent at each campus and who monitors the budget, among other topics.

HISD’s General Manager of Budget and Financial Planning Sharon Eaves will be leading the budget presentations at the community meetings.

Upcoming Community Budget Meetings:

  • May 13 – 6 p.m. at Lamar High School (3325 Westheimer)
  • May 14 – 6 p.m. at Revere Middle School (10502 Briar Forest)
  • May 15 – 6 p.m. at Reagan High School (413 East 13th)
  • May 16 – 6 p.m. at Milby High School (1601 Broadway)

HISD School Choice Fair Offers Parents Opportunity to Explore Education Options for Students

Representatives from more than 70 HISD schools will be on-site

April 25, 2013 – When it comes to selecting a school, parents and students at the Houston Independent School District have a multitude of options from magnet programs to preschool programs to career and technical education academies and early college high schools.  Houston families will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 70 HISD schools at the upcoming HISD School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

“In HISD, we are committed to providing equity in access to quality educational programs for all students,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat.  “We want to help families choose an ideal school for their children based on the students’ interests, talents, and needs.”

The schools at the fair are those that still have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year.  The representatives from these schools will be available to answer questions, provide detailed information about their campuses and help parents fill out the application on site.

Information will be provided about HISD’s magnet schools, early colleges, vanguard programs for gifted and talented students, preschool programs, multilingual programs and other specialty programs, including the district’s newest additions to its portfolio, the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan and The Energy Institute High School.   Parents and students have until May 16 to apply for these two new magnet schools that will feature a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For more information about the School Choice Fair, please contact the Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.

Inaugural HISD Academic Signing Day

Ceremony will honor students who have been awarded scholarships to attend two or four year universities or colleges

For the first time, the Houston Independent School District will honor seniors who have been awarded scholarships to attend two or four year universities or colleges during an academic signing day ceremony. The “Academic Ambassadors” will be recognized during a ceremony similar to ones held for senior student athletes. Five students from each high school will be recognized for academic excellence; overcoming personal obstacles; or for performing great service to their school or community. State Representative and Milby High school alumna Mary Ann Perez will serve as keynote speaker. HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will also deliver remarks. Following the ceremony, the media will have an opportunity to interview the students.

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Upcoming School Choice Fair Provides Options, Answers for Parents and Students

These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.

These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.

At HISD, parents and students have a multitude of education options. From Montessori and magnet programs to preschool programs and early college high schools, representatives from over 70 different HISD schools will be on-hand at the third annual HISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27, at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

Schools that have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year will be available at the fair to answer questions and provide more detailed information about their campuses, answer questions about the application and student transfer process, and assist parents with making the best school choice for their children.

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District Joins with City, Metro, Port of Houston to Foster Mentor-Protégé Relationships

Prospective mentors and protégés exchange information at an information session last Thursday at Metro downtown.

HISD is kicking off a program to help small and minority-owned businesses develop the skills needed to compete for government contracts as part of an Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program sponsored with the City of Houston, Metro, and the Port of Houston Authority.

“Programs like this are going to help you take advantage of all the opportunities,” said Bernard Willingham, HISD’s team lead for Supplier Diversity, at an event last week to help introduce the initiative.

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HISD Recognizes Top Six JROTC Cadets in HISD Class of 2013

Students come from HSLECJ, Lamar, Reagan, SHMSTC, Scarborough, and Waltrip

HISD’s JROTC program formally honored its top six cadets from the Class of 2013 during the Annual HISD JROTC Final Review and Awards Ceremony on April 20.

The students were chosen from the ranks of all graduating seniors in HISD’s 25 JROTC programs and all were promoted to Cadet Colonel, which is the highest rank attainable in the JROTC program. Continue reading →