Yearly Archives: 2016

Berzayda Ochoa named new principal of Davila Elementary

Berzayda G. Ochoa poses for a photograph, April 4, 2016. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Berzayda Ochoa has been selected as the new principal of Davila Elementary School. Ms. Ochoa just completed her fourth year as dean of instruction at Navarro Middle School, previously known as Jackson Middle School. She began her educational career in HISD in 2007 as a bilingual elementary school teacher. Ms. Ochoa, who is a graduate of HISD schools, holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.

HISD voters may be asked if they are willing to send local school tax dollars to the state

Texas’ school finance law gives HISD trustees little choice but to place an item on the Nov. 8 ballot asking voters for permission to send $165 million of their local tax dollars to the state.

Trustees will meet Thursday to consider calling the election, which is necessary because Texas’ school finance law considers HISD to be a “wealthy” district, even though 3 out of every 4 students live in a low-income household. As a property wealthy district, HISD is required by law to send an estimated $165 million in locally generated property taxes to the state. HISD, however, cannot pay the money the state says the district owes unless voters approve.

Continue reading →

HISD welcomes teachers back with creative, inspiring day

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000nAP2Ekng7dA” g_name=”20160808_WelcomeBack_KateSmithES” 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” ]

Across the district, thousands of teachers returned to their campuses Monday to begin preparations for the 2016-2017 school year.

Principals got the chance to show off their creative side, as they welcomed their campus staff back with a wide range of themes and events. Continue reading →

Workshop attendees learn about overcoming small business obstacles

This month’s Workshop Wednesday featured a presentation by Michelle Levi, president & CEO of Elite Tax and Notary Service, titled Overcoming Small Business Obstacles. Participants learned techniques to increase operational efficiency and boost productivity in a small business environment.

“If you own a small business or are planning to start one, it’s important to know your industry and pitfalls to avoid,” Levi said. “Planning is essential for long-term success.”

Levi stressed the importance of sound administrative practices to about 40 attendees and explained that maintaining a successful small business comes through having a strong structure that is purposefully organized.

Continue reading →

Trustee Harvin Moore to step down

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000sBImh7shQsA” g_name=”2016-HarvinMoore” 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” ]

Moore has represented Trustee District VII nearly 13 years

HISD District VII Trustee Harvin Moore has announced that he is stepping down from the board.

A former Houston Independent School District student, Moore was first elected to the board in 2003, and served as president in 2008. He is currently the longest-serving member of HISD’s nine-member board. Continue reading →

HISD Department of Transportation honored for use of ‘green’ school buses

Resized_20160801_150000

Mahmoud Chami, Transportation Mechanic Team Lead

District is only one in Texas to receive special recognition

The Houston Independent School District Department of Transportation has been honored with the inaugural Leadership with Propane Autogas Award by the Propane Education and Research Council.

HISD is the only school district in Texas, and one of three in the country, to be recognized by the council for creating a cleaner environment for student bus riders by using propane school buses. The award recipients were announced last week in Reno, Nev. at the Green Bus Summit.

Continue reading →

HISD middle schools receiving $4.6 million in books for classroom libraries

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000KHJ53.O8HGs” g_name=”20160803-Literacy-in-the-Middle” 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” ]

Thousands of books are arriving at HISD middle schools daily, and they are being placed in all core-subject classrooms—not just English and reading.

This massive influx of books is a vital key in the new initiative known as Literacy in the Middle, a three-year plan to to increase literacy in middle schools. The program aims to continue the great work accomplished through the Literacy By 3 initiative, which was launched in 2014.

Continue reading →

Construction progress on new Milby HS hard to miss

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000rIVtuW7E5nk” g_name=”20160728-Milby” 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” ]

If you haven’t driven by the new Milby High School recently, the progress is hard to miss and it’s even visible from the 610 Loop.

Construction on the new 267,000-square-foot project along Broadway in Houston’s East End is about 65 percent complete and tracking on schedule for a projected summer 2017 opening. The school is a combination of new construction and renovation that preserves the historical front entrance while creating a modern learning environment for up to 2,000 students.

Continue reading →

Texas A&M University tour inspires both students and parents

College tours can have a dramatic effect on current HISD students as they prepare for life after high school. They can encourage students to set goals, take more rigorous classes, improve grades, and participate in extracurricular activities that may increase their chances of being admitted to the college or university of their choice.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000PucGDl.VGdQ” g_name=”20160801-Texas-A” 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” ]

Continue reading →