The Houston Independent School District is relocating its professional development operations to provide impactful and engaging training opportunities that meet the wide-ranging needs of employees across the district.

The center will occupy the original North Forest High School building, located in northeast Houston. The building was vacated in January when North Forest students and staff moved into their new facility across Mesa Drive.

The new learning center, which is tentatively scheduled to open for training in late winter, will provide a comfortable, welcoming, and professional training environment with updated technology designed to enhance the professional development offerings available across the district.

The building has been updated to accommodate a variety of training sessions — from small group planning retreats to large conference-style sessions.

“We have a great need for a facility like this that can host many types of training,” said HISD Director of Academic Support Services Melanie Evans-Smith, who oversees the learning center. “The new center will be a cost-effective option for professional development and meeting space.”

The relocation from the existing Ryan Professional Development Center also enables HISD to continue to be an active part of the North Forest area by maintaining a physical presence in a school building that once served as the center of the community.

More information about the new center and how to reserve space will be sent to employees as the opening date draws near.