Monthly Archives: June 2014

Two new Middle College High Schools offer small, personal approach

HISD is recruiting students who can’t engage in a traditional high school environment to explore a new option — two Middle College High Schools on Houston Community College campuses in southwest Houston and east of downtown that will open in August.

The schools will offer personalized instruction through one-on-one support and small classes — averaging 15 students per teacher — that will lead to a diploma while providing opportunities for college credits and workforce certifications simultaneously through HCC. A total of 150 students will be enrolled at each campus.

The middle college concept aims at re-engaging students who feel disconnected from or distracted by the traditional high school culture so that they can proceed with their studies and accelerate their college and career readiness. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education adopts 2014-2015 budget

New magnet funding formula approved 5 to 4

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education Thursday approved a $1.74 billion budget for the 2014-2015 academic year that addresses the district’s key priorities – increasing teacher pay, supporting the implementation of a comprehensive literacy plan and funding required expenditures that will ultimately save the district money in the long term.  Continue reading →

‘Leader in Me’ leading Longfellow ES students to academic excellence

Thousands of adults have benefited from Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People since that book was first published more than 20 years ago, and now, HISD students are starting to benefit from it, too.

Over the years, that self-help classic has been refined and reimagined to help young people cultivate a sense of personal responsibility and leadership skills, and the result is “The Leader in Me (LIM),” which is currently in place at Longfellow Elementary School and two other HISD campuses, Shearn ES and Garden Oaks Montessori.

“’The Leader in Me’ provides the most solid foundation I have ever seen to help kids lead a principled, centered life,” said Longfellow ES Principal Norma Perez-Gwynn. “It has made an incredible difference with our children.”
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HISD board to vote on 2014-2015 budget at special session Thursday

After two months of preparation and review, the Houston ISD Board of Education will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at district headquarters to consider adopting a $1.74 billion budget for 2014-2015. The proposed budget addresses the district’s key priorities – increasing teacher pay, supporting the implementation of a comprehensive literacy plan, and funding required increases and expenditures that will ultimately save the district long term.

“Preparing an annual budget is a complex process that requires sound forecasting and tough discussions,” Houston Independent School District Chief Financial Officer Ken Huewitt said. “The workshops, countless hours of review and discussion have resulted in what we believe is a very strong budget proposal that is fair and in line with the district’s goals and priorities.”

Under the proposal, all teachers will receive raises between $1,100 and $2,300, depending on length of service. The budget also begins a phased-in plan to adjust the overall teacher pay scale, bringing starting salaries to $49,100 to make HISD more competitive with neighborhood districts in an active recruiting market.
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Love of literacy brings out colorful characters

School leaders dress up as favorite book character to bring attention to importance of reading

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The second day of the HISD Summer Leadership Institute attracted some colorful characters to share their love of reading, including Fancy Nancy, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Willy Wonka. Continue reading →

Dowling MS community hears about plans for new school

Dowling Middle School community members and staff on Tuesday night had a chance to learn about some of the beginning steps in the design process for the new fine arts school, which is being built under the district’s 2012 bond program.

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Literacy By 3 takes the spotlight at HISD’s Summer Leadership Institute

An individual’s ability to acquire knowledge is usually contingent on one simple fact: whether or not he or she is literate. Without the ability to read and write with ease, even the simplest of concepts can remain stubbornly—and maddeningly—out of reach. That’s why HISD has made this critically important topic the focus of its annual Summer Leadership Institute.

The Institute got started this year on June 17 at the NRG Center, and the district’s Literacy By 3 movement—which aims to have all students reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade—was in the spotlight.
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Washington HS design internship kicks off with straw bridge challenge

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Engineering students at Booker T. Washington High School cut straws into triangles and fastened them with tape to build a two-foot bridge that could hold a little extra weight.

“We need to build a sturdy platform that can withhold everything,” said student Nakiyah Scott while working with her teammate Monday on a bridge-building challenge that helped kick off a summer-long design team internship program at Washington.

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