Yearly Archives: 2017

Power of Public: Investing in the next generation of teachers for every child

Ty-Rinetta Sanders-Washington is one of 58 seniors from 27 HISD high schools who pledged to return to the district to teach as part of Teach Forward Houston. The grow-your-own program is training a new generation of HISD teachers who have a personal connection to the district that gave them the foundation they needed.

Editor’s Note: February 27 through March 3 is Texas Public Schools Week, and we are celebrating by sharing personal stories throughout HISD on how public education is helping students succeed. Tweet at us @HoustonISD and share how public education is positive force for you or your student, using the hashtag #PowerofPublic.

Ty-Rinetta Sanders-Washington knew she wanted to enter a profession where she could help people.

“I looked at going into physical therapy, being a motivational speaker … I just wanted to impact lives,” Ty-Rinetta said.

Then a counselor at Booker T. Washington High told her about Teach Forward Houston, an innovative fellowship program that is training the next generation of HISD teachers.

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Celebrating Read Across America with Dr. Seuss

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This year’s Read Across America day fell on Dr. Seuss’s 113th birthday, and Anderson Elementary School went all out to celebrate the beloved author and the 20th annual Read Across America day. Some three dozen volunteers were honored at a breakfast of green eggs and ham, and other breakfast treats before spreading out to various classrooms to read Dr. Seuss books to students.

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Power of Public: Creating leaders for tomorrow

Victor Rodriguez inspired his classmates to create 16 metal roses in just three days — and he gave one of them to his mother, Rosa. CTE programs like welding at Milby, along with eight Futures Academies and 14 CTE workforce level I certificate programs, are helping HISD graduates fill jobs in some of Houston’s most high-demand industries.

Editor’s Note: February 27 through March 3 is Texas Public Schools Week, and we are celebrating by sharing personal stories throughout HISD on how public education is helping students succeed. Tweet at us @HoustonISD and share how public education is positive force for you or your student, using the hashtag #PowerofPublic.

When a popular Milby High welding project, completed each year by the senior class, was in jeopardy of not getting off the ground, the instructor knew he could count on Victor Rodriguez to get things rolling again.

A junior at the time, Victor had the leadership skills to rally his classmates to complete 16 metal roses for Valentine’s Day in three days — a record for the class.

“I rounded up all my good friends, and I said, ‘OK, you’re making this, you’re drilling this, you’re making the petals, you’re making the leaves.’ We created an assembly line,” Victor said.
“I truly felt like a leader. The teacher let me keep one, and I gave it to my mom for Mother’s Day.”

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Askew ES community hears construction update on new school

Parents and neighbors gathered Tuesday at Askew Elementary to learn more about the construction of their new school, which is being built as part of HISD’s 2012 bond program.

“Construction is well underway. We’re moving and we’re moving fast,” Jorge Huerta, Askew’s project manager told the group, many of whom cheered the announcement.

The new school has a target opening in the third quarter of 2018, in time for the start of the new school year. Crews then will demolish the old building to make way for a parking lot and playgrounds, work that is expected to be completed by the end of that year.

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Power of Public: Bringing science to life for every child

Nicole Mut turned quantum physics into something anyone can understand, making her one of 15 finalists in a global contest. HISD is exposing students to STEM at all levels and offering STEM-focused programs at magnet schools and public charters, pathway schools, and through 23 TIF 4 grant schools.

Editor’s Note: February 27 through March 3 is Texas Public Schools Week, and we are celebrating by sharing personal stories throughout HISD on how public education is helping students succeed. Tweet at us @HoustonISD and share how public education is positive force for you or your student, using the hashtag #PowerofPublic.

As far back as she can remember, Nicole Mut has been interested in science. Her parents, both engineers, wove science and engineering topics into everyday activities. Family vacations were often spent in national parks, where Nicole’s dad would explain about animals or the environment, and discussions often dealt with the reasons behind why things are the way they are.

Nicole’s passion for all things STEM was further nurtured by enthusiastic teachers with whom she felt a personal connection. She remembers her seventh-grade science teacher explaining course material in ways that made the lesson seem like an adventure. Her fifth-grade teacher made a strong impact when she encouraged Nicole to participate in a STEM contest where she explored turning algae into biofuel.

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HISD students to interview NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station   

Houston ISD students from Hartsfield Elementary School will be given an exclusive opportunity to speak with and interview NASA astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson, who is currently living and working aboard the International Space Station, where she serves as the flight engineer on Expedition 50.

Students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades will ask Dr. Whitson about her time in space and what motivated her to become an astronaut. The 20-minute Earth-to-space call at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 3, will allow students to hear and see crewmembers live from space. The livestream of the call will air on NASA Television and http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv.

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Power of Public: Providing resources that give every child a level playing field

Valencia Grayson put in practice time off the field with Khan Academy’s free SAT prep courses — and gained the point increase she needed to pursue her dream of playing sports at a Division I university.

Editor’s Note: February 27 through March 3 is Texas Public Schools Week, and we are celebrating by sharing personal stories throughout HISD on how public education is helping students succeed. Tweet at us @HoustonISD and share how public education is positive force for you or your student, using the hashtag #PowerofPublic.

Valencia Grayson loves sports, and she was fairly certain that her SAT scores were not good enough to get her into a university where she could compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.

“I knew I had to get my math scores up, and I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “Then somebody at school showed me Khan Academy.” Continue reading →

HISD names new chief of staff

Cynthia Wilson

The Houston Independent School District has selected Cynthia Wilson as the district’s new chief of staff.

Dr. Wilson currently serves as chief of staff of the Dallas Independent School District, with more than 20 years of experience in public schools. Prior to joining Dallas ISD, she served as a superintendent of the Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 in South Carolina.

She also is a former HISD staff member, having served in various roles, including a regional and area superintendent, school principal, assistant principal, and teacher.

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Help make this a prom to remember for HISD students 

HISD’s Homeless Education Office is requesting donations of formal attire for hundreds of homeless and at-risk high school seniors planning to attend their prom. The homeless office is requesting formal dresses, shoes, handbags, and jewelry for girls and tuxedo rentals, men’s shirts, and men’s shoes for boys.

Donations may be dropped off at the following locations:

  • Hattie Mae White Education Support Center, Room 3SW11, 4400 W. 18th St., Houston, 77092 (713-556-6800)
  • HISD Homeless Education Office, Peck Elementary School, 5001 Martin Luther King, Houston, 77021 (713-556-7237)
  • Bee Busy Wellness Center, 8785 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77031 (713-771-2292)

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Milestone ceremonies planned this week for Codwell ES, Sterling Aviation HS

The South Area feeder pattern on Friday will host milestone celebrations at Codwell Elementary School and Sterling Aviation High School to showcase improvements and investments in South Area schools.

The event will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony at Codwell Elementary, which is receiving a $12.5 million renovation that will allow it to reopen to students. The event will conclude at Sterling Aviation High School, which will celebrate its new 237,000-square-foot facility, which was constructed as part of the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program.

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