Monthly Archives: October 2015

HISD schools participate in attempt to set reading world record

Ninety-two HISD schools participated in Read Across the Globe on Oct. 19, an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of children being read to in a 24-hour period. The goal was to read the same book, “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, to 300,000 children simultaneously.

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Hundreds of generous Houstonians, including former First Lady Barbara Bush, volunteered to be a classroom reader, timekeeper, or witness of the event. Many HISD schools tweeted photos during the event, and you can see a collection of those at the end of this article. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education to vote on proposed attendance boundary changes

On Thursday, the HISD Board of Education will  vote on a plan to adjust attendance boundaries at 10 elementary schools for the 2016-2017 school year to address classroom overcrowding.

The proposal affects these elementary campuses: Bastian, Hartsfield, Highland Heights, Kelso, Smith, Stevens, Wainwright, Young, Frost, and Law.

Community meetings regarding the proposals took place in October.

Complete details, including maps and frequently asked questions, can be found here.

New tool determines which magnet schools students qualify to attend

Parents who are looking to choose a magnet school for their children now have a new tool to help them make their selections. The Magnet Matrix Calculator determines whether a student is qualified for inclusion in the lottery for some magnet secondary non-vanguard and fine arts schools. The calculator is based upon the matrix many schools use to determine student eligibility.

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Revere MS teacher showcased on Doug Lemov’s ‘Teach Like a Champion’ blog

Erin Krafft, a math teacher at HISD’s Revere Middle School, was spotlighted last year for her effective instructional practices. Now, she’s getting recognition from the very person whose techniques she has been implementing in the classroom: Doug Lemov, author of the bestselling book, “Teach Like a Champion.”

Krafft was the subject of a “Field Notes” entry on Lemov’s blog dated Oct. 19, in which Colleen Driggs highlights “how beautifully she built a positive, productive and efficient procedure for Turn and Talk,” and how skillfully she laid the foundation for a method she could build upon the entire school year.

To read the full story and see the video, please visit the Teach Like a Champion website.

Tech leaders visit HISD to see digital conversion

Digital curriculum efforts showcased at three-day conference

Technology leaders from schools districts throughout Texas and the U.S. traveled to Houston Oct. 14–16 to get a firsthand look at HISD’s digital transformation efforts — including the conversion of curriculum and the launch of the HUB, the district’s new online teaching and learning platform.

The visit was part of the Teaming for Transformation conference sponsored by the Consortium for School Networking, also known as COSN. HISD is a member of COSN and was asked to host the event because of its efforts with PowerUp, a comprehensive initiative aimed at digitally transforming teaching and learning across the district. Continue reading →

Automotive technician training program offers Sterling HS students hands-on career experience

Mapping out the road for life after high school can be intimidating for some students, but with the help of HISD’s Transportation department and International Trucks of Houston, students from Sterling Aviation High School are quickly on their way to meaningful careers in the automotive industry.

The Automotive Diesel Internship Program, sponsored by HISD’s Transportation Fleet Operations, creates a hands-on opportunity for departmental staff to train future automotive technicians and provide guidance to students. Training is divided among all five motor pools in the district in hopes of giving students the background and initiative to succeed in automotive mechanics.

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Lisa Hernandez named principal of new Mark White Elementary School

Lisa Hernandez poses for a photograph, November 2, 2015. (Dave Einsel)Lisa Hernandez has been named the principal of the new Mark White Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in August 2016. She previously served as the assistant principal at the School at St. George Place, a position she held since 2012.

In her 18 years as an educator, Hernandez has also served as a teacher, instructional specialist, and International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator. She began her career as a fifth-grade teacher in Austin ISD, where she taught for 10 years before becoming a math instructional specialist. In 2008, Hernandez moved to HISD and worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Twain Elementary School.

Hernandez received a bachelor’s degree in applied learning and development from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas State University.

Mark White ES community meeting offers update on construction, introduction to new principal

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Community meeting attendees for the new Mark White Elementary School on Thursday heard an important update on the construction phase of the project and received a formal introduction to the newly hired principal for the relief campus.

Lisa Hernandez, former assistant principal at The School at St. George Place, will lead the campus when the school opens in August 2016.

“We’re going to be looking at building a strong community for the school and really setting the mission for the school,” Hernandez said. “Our job as educators is to prepare students for the 21st century, and that is something I’m really looking forward to building at Mark White.”

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Nutrition classes let students learn through baking

HISD’s Nutrition Services culinary team is teaching students about baking and healthy eating through Nutrition Education Classes.

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At the Gregory-Lincoln Education Center, which has a culinary arts program, the classes are a collaboration between Dietitian Jennifer Lengyel and Gregory-Lincoln Culinary Arts Instructor Kelly Karavias.

The goal is to develop students’ interest in kitchen fundamentals while also letting them practice concepts learned in math and other subjects. Continue reading →

Next School Choice Open House set for Oct. 24

Parents who have not yet decided where to send their children for the 2016–2017 school year still have plenty of time to make up their minds, and HISD is helping them narrow the field with a series of four School Choice Open Houses scheduled through mid-December.

The first Open House took place on Oct. 3, but if you missed it, don’t worry. The next one is this Saturday, Oct. 24, at Sharpstown High School (7404 Bissonnet, 77074), and there will be two more before the deadline for guaranteed first-round consideration of magnet applications on Dec. 18. Continue reading →