Yearly Archives: 2015

Carnegie Vanguard chemistry teacher wins prestigious award

Rajadurai_Christy_150Christy Rajadurai, a chemistry teacher at Carnegie Vanguard High School, has won the 2015 Thomas Aczel Award for Excellence in High School Teaching from the American Chemical Society – Greater Houston Section (ACS-GHS).

Rajadurai will be presented with a $500 check and a plaque at the ACS-GHS Spring Awards Banquet on June 3. As the winner for the Greater Houston Section, Rajadurai is now a candidate for the ACS Southwest Regional Award.

Rajadurai has taught Advanced Placement and pre-Advanced Placement chemistry for five years at Carnegie.

Elves & More rewards students’ literacy achievements with bikes

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000wXA7zbyXMRE” g_name=”20150515-Elves-and-More-Shadydale-ES” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Elementary students got to build the bicycles they earned through improved literacy goals last Friday, May 15, at the Houston Zoo. Second- and third-graders worked hard all semester to achieve goals set by their teachers to improve their literacy skills. The “Getting Young Minds in Gear” event was led by Elves & More, a program that uses bicycles as an incentive to encourage literacy in elementary school students.

Continue reading →

Recruitment fairs benefit schools, teacher candidates

NOTE: The next teacher recruitment fair is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2015. In order to attend, you must be a pool-approved candidate. To view and apply for teaching positions at HISD, click here.

The lobby of HISD’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center was buzzing on the evening of May 13, filled with occasional cheers and even bell ringing; the sounds reminiscent of a pep rally.

HISD's teacher recruitment fairs give educators a chance to meet directly with principals who are hiring for the upcoming school year to discuss joining Team HISD.

HISD’s teacher recruitment fairs give educators a chance to meet directly with principals who are hiring for the upcoming school year to discuss joining Team HISD.

In reality, the district was hosting a teacher recruitment fair, designed to bring together highly effective educators and principals looking to fill vacancies. Each time a candidate accepted a teaching position at HISD, the Talent Acquisition team would ring a bell and cheer.

Because HISD stresses hiring early in order to attract the best possible quality candidates, events such as these provide a unique opportunity where campus leaders and teacher candidates can find the best fit for the upcoming school year. Continue reading →

HISD superintendent surprises Bellaire High School student with $10,000 scholarship

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000ayHh3znywyw” g_name=”20150520-Scholarship” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier made a surprise visit to Bellaire High School on Wednesday to present a dedicated and hardworking graduating senior with a $10,000 college scholarship.

The award was given to Alisa Hamilton, who was selected by Dr. Grier because of her drive to succeed academically and be involved on campus despite significant personal challenges. Hamilton, who is homeless, does not live with her parents and has worked two part-time jobs to make ends meet. She has done all of this while maintaining good grades and participating in Bellaire’s DECA business club. Continue reading →

High school seniors look forward to maritime careers

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000Ywotsrpn4bk” g_name=”20150514-Yates-Maritime-program” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Senior students in the Yates High School Maritime program recently took a big step forward in their education. On May 14, five seniors in the Maritime program received their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards at the TWIC La Porte office. TWIC cards grant these students access to U.S. ports, waterways, maritime facilities, and vessels.

Continue reading →

Parent Leader Summit helps families arm themselves with information

Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones presents a certificate of recognition to keynote speaker John Robinson.

Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones presents a certificate of recognition to keynote speaker John Robinson.

Dozens of parents came to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on May 16 for the District II Parent Leader Summit. The event connected more than 80 families from 46 different schools with HISD departments and community organizations to share information on parent advocacy, special education, school choice options, and more. The event also featured several organizations that provide parents with options on how to raise money for their children’s schools.

Continue reading →

Texas Connections Academy giving athletes the ‘flexibility’ needed to compete

The Kelley sisters, from left, are: Skyla, Shayla, McKenna, and Emma

The Kelley sisters, from left, are: Skyla, Shayla, McKenna, and Emma

The Texas Connections Academy has been providing students from across the state with the ability to obtain their high-school diplomas online since 2008. Many pupils are attracted by the flexibility of the program, which allows them to accommodate unconventional work schedules, challenging family obligations, or other responsibilities that make traditional programs unfeasible.

Continue reading →

Meet the top students from HISD’s Class of 2015

Each spring, the Houston Independent School District honors the top two scholars at each of its high schools with a formal celebration of their outstanding academic achievements.

In 2015, the district recognized the valedictorians and salutatorians of its 47 high schools during a special ceremony held on April 7. A valedictorian has earned the highest grade-point average in his or her graduating class, and the student with the second-highest grade-point average is designated as the salutatorian.

Continue reading →

Carnegie Vanguard HS freshman wins Congressional Art Competition

The Cowboy

The Cowboy

Oulu Li, a ninth-grader at Carnegie Vanguard High School, has been selected as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for District 18, which is represented by Sheila Jackson Lee.

Each spring, high-school students in each congressional district submit their works to the Artistic Discovery competition, a nationwide visual arts competition designed to recognize budding talent. More than 650,000 young people have participated since the contest began in 1982.

Oulu Li

Oulu Li

Students send entries to their representatives’ office, and panels of district artists select the winners. The winning students are recognized both in their respective districts and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Their works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.