Yearly Archives: 2016

Magnet school applications for 2017-18 are now available

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It’s time to apply to a magnet program for the 2017-18 school year. HISD has more than 119 magnet programs at 111 schools throughout the district in:

  • Fine Arts/Performing & Visual Arts
  • College & Career Readiness
  • International Baccalaureate
  • International Studies
  • Dual language
  • Literature
  • Montessori
  • STEM
  • Technology
  • Vanguard (Gifted and talented)

Ten new magnet programs have been added at Atherton ES, Crockett ES, Hartsfield ES, Kashmere Gardens ES, Stevens ES, Lawson MS, Key MS, Ortiz MS, The Rusk School, Kashmere HS and Westbury HS. Continue reading →

HISD names new chief academic officer

Houston ISD Superintendent Richard Carranza has selected Chief School Officer Grenita Lathan as the district’s new chief academic officer.

lathan“HISD is very fortunate to have Dr. Lathan on our team,” Carranza said. “She is a strong leader with a reputation for improving outcomes for students and engaging our families and school communities. She has a deep understanding of effective classroom teaching, student-focused instruction, and school leadership that will help our students and educators succeed. I am confident that her depth of knowledge will continue to move HISD into a consistently high-performing public school district.” Continue reading →

Tailgate parties entice HISD students to enjoy lunch outside

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It’s fall in Houston, and with the season comes football and tailgate parties. HISD’s Nutrition Services department is hosting lunch-time tailgate parties every Thursday at several HISD high schools. Jones Futures Academy and Scarborough High School were the first two schools to win an all-out tailgate party where students can enjoy a meal and socialize outside the cafeteria.

Continue reading →

Hispanic Heritage Month continues with six more HISD school namesakes

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Click image to enlarge.

The Houston Independent School District is observing Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15, by honoring the Hispanics for whom many of the district’s schools are named.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions made to this country by people of Hispanic descent, including those whose ancestors immigrated from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Continue reading →

Jesse Herrera named new principal of The Rusk School

Jesse Herrera poses for a photograph, November 2, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Jesse Herrera has been named the new principal of The Rusk School. Most recently, he served for more than three years as the chief operating officer for the national office of AVANCE, an innovative family education and support center dedicated to empowering families to break the cycle of poverty. For eight years before that, Herrera served as the principal of Sanchez Elementary School, which earned the state’s top academic rating for student performance under his leadership. Before that, Herrera served as assistant principal at Crespo and Park Place elementary schools. He is a Houston native with a bachelor of fine arts in Radio/Television/Film from Sam Houston State University and a masters of education in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. Herrera and wife Natalie have two sons.

HISD schools win National Blue Ribbon Award

U.S. Department of Education recognizes Lovett, Oak Forest elementaries

Lovett and Oak Forest elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District received a 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award on Wednesday from the U.S Department of Education. The schools are among just 329 schools nationwide and 26 public schools in Texas to receive the honor.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap, especially among disadvantaged and minority students. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. Continue reading →

HISD PD to throw crime a going-away party for National Night Out

The Houston Independent School District Police Department is celebrating National Night Out by giving crime a going-away party on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m.

HISD Police are hosting the “Giving Crime a Going-Away Party” at their department headquarters at 3500 Tampa St., 77021. The community is invited to celebrate with free food and drinks, music, games, and prizes. Several law enforcement agencies, as well as fire-safety and health vendors, will be on hand to meet with the community.

Continue reading →

Tracie Hart-Jackson named new principal of Gross Elementary

Tracie Hart poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Tracie Hart-Jackson has been named principal of Gross Elementary School. She is a graduate of Ross Sterling High School and began her career as a kindergarten teacher in the North Forest School District. Hart-Jackson served for seven years as an assistant principal and six years as a principal at Thurgood Marshall Early Childhood Center. In 2011, while at Marshall, she was named Principal of the Year. Hart-Jackson transitioned to HISD in 2012, becoming principal of Halpin Early Childhood Center. She has a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education and a masters in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.

 

Myra Castle-Bell named new principal of Kelso Elementary

Myra Castle Bell poses for a photograph, November 2, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Myra Castle-Bell has been selected as the new principal of Kelso Elementary School. Castle-Bell attended HISD schools, graduating from Jack Yates High School. She has 17 years of experience in HISD elementary and middle schools, beginning as a teacher and literacy coach at The Rusk School and Gregory-Lincoln Education Center. Castle-Bell then became an instructional specialist at Lewis Elementary School, and most recently served as assistant principal at Edison Middle School. She received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Prairie View A&M and holds a masters degree in both Guidance and Counseling and Educational Leadership.

 

Houston ISD students participate in National Voter Registration Day

The Houston Independent School District launched a district-wide voter registration drive as part of the district’s ongoing efforts to teach students about their civic duties and the voting process.

HISD  celebrated National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday at Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center by assisting eligible students with voter registration.

HISD has partnered with several local non-profit organizations that promote civic engagement to assist in HISD’s voter registration efforts. In addition, pursuant to Texas state law, all HISD high school principals are designated to serve as High School Deputy Voter Registrars and are required to register eligible high school student voters by distributing voter registration forms at least twice during the school year. An official from the Harris County Tax Assessor’s Office trained all HISD high school principals on the proper protocol to follow for notifying students of the voter registration process and disseminating and collecting voter registration applications.

There are more than 6,500 HISD high school students who will be eligible to vote for the upcoming November election.  All HISD high schools will have voter registration cards available on campus to encourage all eligible students to register to vote.