Author Archives: HISD Communications

October is National Principals Month

Thank an HISD leader using a special image and hashtag on social media

Next to classroom instruction, the role of an effective school leader is crucial to the success of a school and its students. That’s why NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators have designated October as National Principals Month to honor principals nationwide.

Texas Governor Greg Abbot has also issued a proclamation declaring October 2017 Principals’ Month in Texas. HISD is joining in on the festivities by encouraging students, parents, staff, and community members to honor and thank district principals by downloading the image below and posting it on social media. Be sure to include the name of the principal you would like to acknowledge along with the school he or she leads. Also include the hashtags #ThankaPrincipal and #HISD in your posts.

Click here to download

Lauren Mailhiot named new principal of DeAnda Elementary

Lauren Mailhiot has been appointed principal of James DeAnda Elementary School. Mailhiot previously served as assistant principal at DeAnda Elementary, and prior to that she was the dean of instruction. She began her career in 2009 with Teach For America, teaching fifth grade at Pat Neff Elementary. Mailhiot graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from University of Michigan and a master’s degree in education from University of Houston.

Erwin Garcia named new school support officer for South Area

Erwin Garcia poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Erwin Garcia has been selected as the new school support officer for the South Area Schools Office. Garcia has served as the principal of DeAnda Elementary School since 2014. He began his career as a bilingual teacher in Magnolia ISD and continued his teaching career at Ray Daily Elementary before serving as assistant principal at Sanchez Elementary. Garcia holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the Universidad Adventista de Colombia, a master’s in school administration from Lamar University, and a master’s in bilingual education from the University of Saint Thomas. Garcia is working on his doctorate in executive leadership at Houston Baptist University.

Stephen Linkous named new school support officer for North Area

Stephen Linkous poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD) Stephen Linkous has been selected as school support office for the North Area Schools Office. Linkous has served as the principal of Hartman Middle School since 2014. Linkous began his teaching career in Colorado as a middle-school bilingual social studies teacher, an ESL teacher, and an administrator at the high school level. He was also the principal of Franklin and Kempner middle schools in Colorado. Linkous holds a B.A. in history from Park University and a master’s in educational administration from the University of Denver. He is currently participating in the ALAS Superintendents Leadership Academy, Class of 2018. Linkous starts in his new role on September 25.

Delesa O’Dell-Thomas named new school support officer for West Area

Delesa O’Dell-Thomas has been promoted to school support officer for the West Area Schools Office. O’Dell-Thomas has been an educator for 26 years, 22 of which were with HISD. She began her teaching career in Orleans Parish School Board before joining HISD as a teacher at Henry Middle School. She was promoted to principal of M.C. Williams Middle School, and under her leadership, the school was rated recognized by the TEA. In 2011, she was instrumental in opening and serving as principal of HISD’s first all-girls STEM magnet school, Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. O’Dell-Thomas was named one of Houston’s 30 Most Influential Women this year. She earned her undergraduate degree from Southern University of New Orleans, her master’s in school administration from Xavier University of Louisiana-New Orleans, and she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Houston. O’Dell-Thomas starts in her new role on September 25.

Connie Berger named new school support officer for Northwest Area

Connie Berger, Principal at Reagan High School (Houston Independent School District)Connie Berger has been appointed as the new school support officer for the Northwest Area Schools Office. Berger grew up in Houston and attended schools in HISD, graduating from Reagan High School, now Heights High School. She has been an educator for more than 34 years, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, and high school principal. Berger has been an HISD principal since 1999 and was named Secondary Principal of the Year in 2012. As the principal of Heights High School for 11 years, she was responsible for dramatic growth and improvement, as the school evolved from an improvement-required campus to being named a Best of the Best High School by U.S News & World Report. Berger has a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin University.

Teachers awaiting start of school attend trauma training and plan community event

Displaced teachers gathering at Kingdom Builders Center for week of training and collaboration

HISD teachers working at schools with delayed starts are gathering at the Kingdom Builders Center in southwest Houston for a week of planning, collaboration, and learning how to best meet the emotional needs of students affected by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

Later in the week, staff from the nearly a dozen campuses will travel to the impacted neighborhoods surrounding their schools for a community event.

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HISD implements rolling school start dates, will move students from most damaged schools to temporary locations

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The Houston Independent School District is implementing rolling start dates for the first day of school based on the level of flooding damage at campuses, and students from the schools most devastated by Hurricane Harvey will be relocated to temporary campuses.

“During Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the surrounding school districts took six months to open their schools,” said HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza. “Hurricane Harvey was just as destructive, and we’re attempting to open a much larger school district in two weeks.  Because of that, not everyone is going to start on September 11.”

Click here for an up-to-date database of school start dates. Please note that school start dates may change, so continue to monitor the list in the coming days and weeks.

Hurricane Harvey aftermath: FAQs

After completing an assessment of 306 school and office buildings in an area spanning 312 square miles, HISD has found that some schools have substantial damages and will require students to attend classes at nearby vacant school buildings or underutilized campuses. Below is a list of affected campuses. Students will have their first day of classes at new locations to be determined: Continue reading →

Donate to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

Individuals and organizations locally and out of state can assist for relief efforts

Many HISD families have been devastated by the catastrophic flooding in the Houston area caused by Hurricane Harvey, and HISD welcomes assistance from local individuals and organizations, plus state and national groups or corporations that would like to help our students recover and prepare for the coming school year.

Donate to the HISD Foundation

The HISD Foundation is accepting monetary donations to help families recover, and 100% of funds raised will go directly to helping HISD students and families. Click here to make a donation, and please specify “Harvey” as the purpose of your donation.

Volunteer at HISD donation site

Donate clothing and supplies

Those in the Houston and surrounding area can bring donations to Delmar Fieldhouse, 2020 Mangum Rd., Houston, TX 77092, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m through Friday, Sept. 29. People wanting to drop off donations should enter the complex on Mangum Street. Signs will be posted. Continue reading →

HISD schools, offices closed all week due to severe weather conditions

Weather Alert

Houston Independent School District schools and offices will be closed all week, from Monday, Aug. 28 through Friday, Sept. 1, due to widespread damage from Tropical Storm Harvey.

HISD officials have been closely monitoring the forecast and have determined that the storms and heavy rains that affected parts of the city make conditions too dangerous for school to begin any sooner. Many in our HISD family will be dealing with the task of cleaning up the damage Harvey left behind. As a result, all HISD schools and district administrative offices will be closed all week.

Schools and offices are expected to reopen at their regularly scheduled time on Tuesday, Sept. 5. (Monday, Sept. 4 is the Labor Day holiday.)

For additional updates, please visit www.HoustonISD.org, or call the HISD Inclement Weather Hotline at 713-556-9595. You can sign up for HISD text message alerts to receive updates on school weather conditions by texting YES to 68453. You also can follow the district on Twitter and Facebook: twitter.com/houstonisd and facebook.com/houstonisd.