Yearly Archives: 2017

Thank your school counselor during the week of Feb. 6-10 

HISD Counseling and Student Support Department

If an HISD school counselor has ever helped you or your family to calm an anxious student, console a grieving child, or help with plans for college success, then take a moment to thank him or her. February 6–10 is National School Counseling Week, and the theme this year is “School Counselors: Helping students realize their potential.”

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, highlights the contributions that school counselors make in helping students achieve success and prepare for college and careers.

Please join HISD in recognizing the unique contribution to the academic success and personal well-being of our students that district counselors make each and every day. Share photos and posts on social media using #NSCW17 and #HISDcounselors.

HISD’s Counseling and Student Support Department provides districtwide support and resources for 286 campuses. The department works in collaboration with counselors, registrars, records clerks and other individuals providing counseling, guidance, and student support. Moreover, the department helps families find solutions to real-life problems, and points them toward additional resources. The Counseling and Student Support Department aims to ensure all students gain academic and personal tools to successfully reach their full potential, ultimately resulting in graduation.

Celebrate Black History Month with family-friendly events 

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the richness of African-American culture and recognize the central role of African Americans in U.S. history, as well as the numerous contributions African Americans have made to society.

Below are some ways to celebrate Black History Month in Houston: Continue reading →

HISD’s top student athletes commit to colleges on National Signing Day

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More than 100 of HISD’s top athletes made commitments to colleges on Wednesday as part of a National Signing Day ceremony at Forest Brook Middle School.

Among the signees were Bellaire High School triplets Maxwell, Megan, and Maya Evans. Brother Maxwell is headed to Vanderbilt University for basketball, while his two sisters will attend Tennessee State University to play volleyball. Continue reading →

Honor African-Americans during Black History Month by learning about HISD’s namesake elementary schools 

HISD is celebrating Black History Month by exploring the many schools named for distinguished African-Americans in our community. The district has more than 30 schools that recognized the contributions of African-American leaders ranging from renowned educators to legislators to community leaders. The first week’s story will focus on early childhood centers and elementary schools. Next week, the series will continue with middle schools, and the third week will be high schools, charter schools, and alternative schools.  Continue reading →

Almost half of HISD bond projects to be finished by summer 2017

Almost half of the schools being renovated or rebuilt as part of the Houston Independent School District’s 2012 Bond Program will be complete and open to students by the end of this summer.

The Bond Program team expects to have 40 percent of all bond projects wrapped up and opening their doors by the end of the second quarter, HISD Construction Services Officer Derrick Sanders told the Bond Oversight Committee on Tuesday during their regular quarterly meeting.

“Tremendous progress was made in the fourth quarter,” Sanders told the oversight committee. “This thing has taken shape. It’s real, and it’s way further along than what most people realize.”

Continue reading →

Energy Institute HS students create art car for Super Bowl festivities 

Energy Institute High School unveiled a student-created art car on Monday at Discovery Green that was created in partnership with Noble Energy for this year’s Art Car Parade.

The car was on display Monday night as part of the Super Bowl showcase. The goal was to create a car that revealed how oil and gas companies extend to our everyday lives beyond the gas pump. Continue reading →

Katherine Keafer named new principal of Longfellow Elementary

Katherine Keafer (Houston Independent School District)Katherine Keafer has been selected to be the new principal of Longfellow Elementary School. Most recently, she was assistant principal at Shearn Elementary School.

Keafer began her career in 2010 as a Teach for America corps member teaching fifth-grade science at Shearn. She has also taught fifth-grade math and fourth-grade writing. Keafer has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. She was a part of HISD’s leadership cohort through the University of St. Thomas, and in 2016 she earned her master’s degree in educational leadership.

Mayra Romero named new principal of Shearn Elementary

Mayra Romero (Houston Independent School District)Mayra Romero has been selected as the new principal of Shearn Elementary School. Most recently, she served as assistant principal at Wainwright Elementary School. Romero began her career in 2010 as a kindergarten teacher at John F. Kennedy Elementary School. She also served as a HUB Teacher Development Specialist training teachers districtwide. Romero has a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Texas Pan-American and a M.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. 

Jeffrey Whitaker named new principal of McGowen Elementary

Jeffrey Whitaker poses for a photograph, April 4, 2016. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Jeffrey Whitaker has been appointed new principal of McGowen Elementary School. Most recently, he served as assistant principal at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School for three years. Before that, Whitaker taught at Sutton and Burbank elementary schools, where he was lead teacher, department chair, and three–time winner of Teacher of the Year. Last spring, he successfully completed HISD’s Principal Candidate Development Opportunity program for aspiring leaders. Whitaker has a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Houston and a M.Ed. in educational administration from the University of St. Thomas. He grew up in the area surrounding McGowen and is excited to have the opportunity to serve as principal.

 

Luis Landa named new principal of Sutton Elementary

Luis Landa poses for a photograph, November 7, 2016. (Dave Einsel)Luis Landa has been selected as the new principal of Sutton Elementary School. Most recently, he served as assistant principal at Austin High School and teacher specialist at Patrick Henry Middle School. Landa taught at McReynolds Middle School, where he was a lead teacher, department chair, and teacher of the year. For the last two years, he has served on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council, where he provided support on national education initiatives. Landa earned a B.S. in biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from the University of St. Thomas. He is in the process of completing his Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Houston.