Yearly Archives: 2015

Austin HS stakeholders learn about design plans for new school

Members of the Austin High School community came out this week for the first of three community meetings to hear about plans for the school’s new campus. As part of HISD’s current bond program, Austin will receive a new $68.4 million building that will accommodate 1,800 to 2,000 students.

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Nutrition Services awarded second Oliver Foundation grant

Dietitian Jennifer Griffin Lengyel advices a parent during a community outreach event at Elrod Elementary School.

Dietitian Jennifer Griffin Lengyel advices a parent during a community outreach event at Elrod Elementary School.

HISD Nutrition Services has been awarded a second grant from the Oliver Foundation, a local organization dedicated to preventing childhood obesity. The award will help the department to promote, educate, and encourage HISD students to adopt healthy eating habits.

Nutrition Services received $3,000 from the Oliver Foundation last October and partnered with Davis High School’s culinary program to teach nutrition education to fellow students. The Oliver Foundation awarded $5,000 this year to Nutrition Services to continue its efforts.

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Summer STEM Institute helps teachers infuse learning with fun

More than five dozen HISD science, technology, engineering, and math teachers took part in a summer institute recently that was designed to help boost students’ math and science scores by incorporating more fun into their lessons.

The educators came from 23 HISD elementary and middle schools that received part of a TIF4 STEM grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant also provides resources such as equipment and technology, and participating teachers will receive additional training opportunities throughout the school year and share what they have learned with other faculty members at their campuses.

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New Teacher Academy provides enthusiastic welcome to district

NTA1 Part pep rally, part teacher development, the district’s 2015 edition of the New Teacher Academy kicked off on Aug. 5 with hundreds of enthusiastic educators soaking up HISD culture and information at the Kingdom Builders’ Center.

The annual event is designed to introduce new HISD teachers to the district, connect them with resources they’ll need throughout the year, and provide professional development opportunities geared toward helping them hit the ground running on the first day of school. This year, more than 1,500 teachers registered to attend. Continue reading →

Wharton Dual Language Academy stakeholders get first glimpse of initial design for new building

Wharton Dual Language Academy stakeholders on Wednesday learned more about the site plan and preliminary design for a new addition and renovations to the school’s current facility, which was built in 1929.

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Mesha Greene selected as principal of Woodson Leadership Academy

Mesha Greene has been appointed principal of Woodson Leadership Academy. Ms. Greene served as principal of Fain Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, for the past five years. Prior to this position, she served as a district model teacher leader, collaborating with K-8 teachers throughout the district to strengthen their math practices. She also served as assistant principal, instructor of gifted and talented students, and middle-grades math teacher. Ms. Greene began teaching in 2000 as a seventh-grade math teacher at Woodland Middle School in Fulton County Public Schools, Fulton, Georgia, and was identified as an exemplary teacher.

Ms. Greene earned a bachelor of science in Finance from University of West Georgia. She has a master’s of Middle Grades Mathematics Education and an Educational Specialist Degree in Middle Grades Education from Mercer University. She is currently completing her doctorate of philosophy in Educational Leadership from Mercer University.

Geraldine Russ Cox appointed principal of Highland Heights Elementary

Geraldine R. Cox poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Geraldine Russ Cox has been selected to be principal of Highland Heights Elementary School. Mrs. Cox comes to HISD with a record of more than 30 years of achievement in the educational arena across multiple settings. For the past four years, she has worked in Illinois as a chief turnaround officer. Prior to her tenure in Illinois, she successfully led two elementary schools in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Under her leadership, each campus was recognized as a Most Improved School in Guilford County

Mrs. Cox holds both a bachelor’s degree in Child Development & Family Relations and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from North Carolina A&T State University. She received an additional master’s degree in Educational Administration from Gardner Webb University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

Leigha Curry named new principal of Elrod Elementary School

Leigha Curry poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Leigha Curry has been appointed principal of Elrod Elementary School. Ms. Curry began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Aldine ISD before joining HISD in 2008 as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Codwell Elementary School. She also served as Codwell’s instructional technologist, helping teachers and students integrate technology tools into their everyday teaching and learning. After six years of teaching, Ms. Curry joined the administration at Mading Elementary, where she was a teacher specialist and interim principal. Most recently, she served as elementary math teacher development specialist.

Ms. Curry received her bachelor of arts from University of Houston-Downtown and her master’s in Education from Texas Southern University. She is currently a doctoral student at Texas Southern University.

Reginald Bush selected as principal of Kashmere Gardens Elementary

Reginald Bush poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Reginald Bush has been appointed principal of Kashmere Gardens Elementary School. Mr. Bush previously served as assistant principal at Burrus Elementary School. He began his career at HISD teaching seventh- and eighth-grade social studies at M. C. Williams Middle School, where he also served as dean of students, district coordinator for after-school programs, and instructional interventionist.

Mr. Bush holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Delta State University and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Steven Stapleton appointed principal of McReynolds Middle School

Steven Stapleton poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Steven Stapleton has been selected to be principal of McReynolds Middle School. He began his teaching career at Madisonville Consolidated ISD and Dickinson ISD as a physics and chemistry teacher. He then moved to Alvin ISD, where he served as district technology-curriculum specialist, assistant principal, and most recently, director of professional learning and innovative teaching.

Mr. Stapleton received his bachelor of science in Biology with a concentration in teaching from University of Texas at Austin. He earned his master’s in Education Administration from Lamar University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University.