The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to approve two of six proposals designed to adjust neighborhood attendance boundaries at certain elementary schools in an effort to reduce classroom overcrowding.
The two approved proposals include attendance boundary adjustments at 10 elementary schools: Anderson, Ashford, Askew, Bush, Daily, Emerson, Shadowbriar, Tinsley and Walnut Bend elementary schools, as well as Halpin Early Childhood Center. Continue reading
Dr. Grier honored by NSPRA for effective community partnerships, engagement practices
The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) has awarded HISD Superintendent Terry Grier the 2015 Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award. The award recognizes a practicing superintendent of schools for outstanding leadership in school public relations and communications. The award will be presented on July 14 at the NSPRA National Seminar in Nashville, Tenn.
“From the multi-channeled communication program that has been established in Houston ISD to the authentic engagement, transparency, and accountability at all levels, there is no question that Terry Grier leads by example and ‘walks the walk’ in supporting strategic communication as a management function,” said NSPRA Executive Director Rich Bagin.
Smart Financial Credit Union donates 2015 Toyota Corolla for Cool to be Smart
One lucky HISD senior will drive away with a brand new car at HISD’s annual Cool to be Smart event on Sunday, May 17, at the Bayou City Event Center. The 2015 Toyota Corolla was donated by Smart Financial Credit Union, a long-time supporter of HISD and the district’s commitment to expanding student access to Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate , and dual-credit courses.
“It’s an honor to sponsor this great program which rewards the hard work of HISD students,” said Smart Financial Credit Union CEO Gary Tuma. “We only wish we could afford to give every outstanding HISD graduate a car to let them know congratulations, you are important, and job well done.”
Smart Financial and Joe Myers Toyota are taking the car on a “road trip” this week to visit several HISD high schools, so students can check out the new Corolla. Watch the video below to see the reaction from students at Eastwood Academy.
All were formally recognized during HISD’s Asian-Pacific American Heritage Celebration
HISD observed the start of Asian-Pacific Heritage Month on Thursday, May 7, with a kick-off reception held at Kim Son restaurant downtown.
As a part of that celebration, members of the district’s Asian Advisory Committee recognized five outstanding teachers and one student club for their contributions to Asian students and to HISD as a whole.
The teachers honored were: Marilou Alcaraz (Briarmeadow Charter), Pia de Leon (River Oaks ES), Dr. Nghia Le (Washington HS), Oscar Le (Sharpstown International School), and Nazan Sohail (Key MS). The Asian American club at Chávez High School is led by Thanh Hoang and sponsored by Maria de Leon. Each winning teacher received a $500 cash prize. The club received a $200 prize to help fund activities.
Winner to be announced May 15 at Celebration of Excellence
New this year at the HISD Celebration of Excellence is the Fan Favorite award. Over the past week, HISD staff, students, and alumni have been voting for their favorite campus-based Teacher of the Year, as designated by schools across the district. More than 25,000 votes were submitted and tallied—and the top two elementary, middle, and high school teachers are moving on to round two of voting. The top six finalists are:
Samuel Saenz was a KBR Science TOTY in 2013 and a finalist for HISD’s secondary TOTY in 2014
The third time has proven to be the charm for HISD’s Samuel Saenz.
The East Early College High School (EECHS) physics teacher, who placed second for KBR’s Science Teacher of the Year in 2013 and was a finalist for HISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2014, has been named the National Southeastern Consortium of Minorities in Engineering (SECME) Teacher of the Year for 2015.
“Each year, SECME accepts nominations for extraordinary educators to be recognized for their dedication, creativity, and professionalism in inspiring students’ interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM),” said SECME, Inc. Interim Executive Director Michele Williams. “Mr. Saenz clearly demonstrates all of the qualities that SECME encourages in educators to accomplish our mission to engage and prepare a diverse pool of students for college and careers in STEM.”
Almost 100 works by 80 different students featured in The LiterART Greyhound
A team of four educators led by a self-published author has given the gift of literary immortality to 80 students at Johnston Middle School.
The LiterART Greyhound: 2015 officially went up for sale on May 4, through Amazon’s self-publishing arm, CreateSpace.
“As a performing and visual arts school, self-expression is important, and we try to do anything we can to fuel students’ passion for it,” explained campus network specialist Ches Smith. “The process is fairly simple and virtually free if you’re willing to do all the work yourself. And it occurred to me that it would be a great experience for our students if they could see themselves in print.”
EMERGE Class of 2015 awarded more than $20 million in scholarships, collectively
HISD paid tribute to 99 graduating scholars from 24 high schools during the second annual EMERGE Senior Awards Ceremony on April 28.
Through EMERGE, these scholars have earned the distinction of being accepted into colleges and universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Princeton, Rice, Smith, Stanford, Tufts, and Yale. As a whole, the group has been awarded more than $20 million in scholarships and financial aid, with the majority of students receiving individual financial packages totaling upwards of $40,000 per year.
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Kindergarten student in Waller ISD to benefit from E-Nable project
Engineering students at HISD’s Booker T. Washington High School are connecting their learning to the real world in a very tangible way, by using a 3D printer to create a prosthetic hand and part of an arm for a kindergarten student in Waller ISD.
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The students got involved with the project through E-Nable, a global network of volunteers who build free prosthetic hands for people who were either born without them or lost them due to injury or illness. They stumbled upon the organization last fall while researching solutions for another 3D project.
Reagan HS, Pilgrim Academy, and 20 other campuses also rated ‘Gold Ribbon’ schools
Children at Risk released its annual list of the top schools in the greater Houston area on April 27, and for the sixth consecutive year, HISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions was listed as number one.
Four other HISD high schools were included in the top ten: Carnegie Vanguard High School (#2), the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (#4), Eastwood Academy (#7), and North Houston Early College High School (#10).
T.H. Rogers, which serves students in grades Pre-K through 8, has held steady in the number one position among the top middle schools in Houston since 2011, and ranked first at the elementary level since 2012. Other HISD schools in the top 20 were: Wharton K-8 (#5), Pin Oak (#7), Lanier (#8), and Briarmeadow Charter (#15) at the middle-school level; and West University (#2), River Oaks (#3), Horn Academy (#6), Bush (#13), Condit (#14), Oak Forest (#17), and Roberts (#19) at the elementary level.