Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD Police Department hosts safety and security training to prepare for new school year

As the summer break comes to a close, preparations for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year are in full swing across the district and in the HISD Police Department.  

The department is hosting a slate of professional development training courses in the weeks leading up to the first day of school.  

“Training is always important because it allows for us to prepare for the upcoming school year,” HISD Police Sgt. Quinten Flannel said. “It helps us to keep up with the challenges and demands of the district. We want our officers to be trained and to know how to handle it.”  

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HISD PD receives active shooter kits donation from The 100 Club of Houston

Officers with the HISD Police Department were visibly excited Wednesday when representatives from The 100 Club of Houston formally presented new active shooter kits for campus officers.  

The 100 Club, established in 1953, provides financial support to the dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty in 32 counties surrounding Houston. The club also helps law enforcement agencies purchase life-protecting equipment, such as active shooter kits. 

“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the 100 Club,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “We brought our need to them and they immediately addressed it with their financial benevolence.” 

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HISD to host Back to School Extravaganza for 2019-2020 school year

HISD’s Homeless Education Office will host a Back to School Extravaganza on Friday, Aug. 23 to help students get ready for the 2019-2020 school year. 

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Delmar Stadium (2020 Mangum Road 77092). 

Free assistance will be available for Medicaid applications, Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) renewal and recertification, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Health screenings also will be available. 

Also available for free, while supplies last, will be immunizations (must bring original shot record), fresh produce, backpacks, shoes, and school supplies. Students must be present to receive free items. 

For transportation assistance, contact the Homeless Education Office at 713-556-7237.

HISD prepares to welcome nearly 1,500 teachers for 2019-2020 school year

HISD’s Office of Leadership and Teacher Development will host all new teachers during the district’s annual New Teacher Academy (NTA) on August 6-9 at Kingdom Builders Center (6011 W. Orem Dr., 77085) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. 

With nearly 1,500 new teachers set to be in attendance, NTA is the largest teacher induction conference in the state to welcome those new to the industry and provide insight into the district’s processes, resources and expectations.  

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HISD partners with community leaders for new juvenile justice program

The Houston Independent School District, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and the Houston Police Department joined forces Monday to announce the launch of a juvenile justice diversion program that aims to transform the lives of HISD students in the Fifth Ward.  

The program, which will be run by the Fifth Ward redevelopment corporation’s new Center for Urban Transformation, will assist students, ages 12 to 16 who are accused of nonviolent offenses. Instead of utilizing the court system, the CUT program will offer mentorship opportunities, volunteer work, and community-based supportive services.  

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Lamar HS construction reaches 80 percent completion

In 2017, Lamar High School celebrated its 80th anniversary with a groundbreaking ceremony. Now the school’s construction has reached nearly 80 percent completion, with doors of the school’s new academic building opening to students for the 2019-2020 school year.

Both painting and flooring in the gymnasium is underway along with the installation of first- and second-floor ceilings, culinary and dining equipment, and joining the new building addition’s HVAC to the existing facility.   

Phased renovations to the existing facility are also in progress and an enclosed second-story skybridge connecting the two buildings is set for completion in August. 

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HISD sees tremendous growth in CTE certifications

Career and Technical Education (CTE) in HISD is growing, with an increase of over 2,000 student CTE certifications in the 2018-2019 school year. 

Over the last year, students from across the district obtained 2,772 TEA Industry-Recognized Certifications. In comparison, just over 700 students obtained a CTE certification during the 2017-2018 school year.  

“This increase reflects our district’s focus and the intent behind College and Career Readiness for all students,” said Assistant Superintendent for Career Readiness Michael Love. “Industry certifications are just one form of the many college and career resources the district provides students across HISD.” 

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HISD expands free, full-day pre-K program across district

HISD is expanding its free, full-day pre-kindergarten program at schools across the district to provide more three- and four-year-old students with the opportunity to attend a high-quality program that will build a strong foundation of learning and support the needs of the families it serves. 

A total of 12 elementary campuses throughout the district will be expanding pre-K classrooms for a total of 38 pre-K rooms. Those campuses are Neff Early Learning Center, Isaacs, R. Martinez, Rucker, Love, Browning, Shadowbriar, Askew, Mitchell, Garden Villas, DeAnda and Wesley elementary schools.

Two schools – Hillard and Oates elementary schools – are implementing pre-K for the first time.

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HISD students selected to share radiation-proof clothing design with NASA

Two teams of HISD students have been invited to NASA’s Langley Research Center in August to share their student-designed, wearable, radiation-proof clothing with NASA engineers and scientists as part of the 2019 NASA Wearable Equipment for Adverting Radiation (WEAR) challenge. 

The WEAR challenge tasks middle and high school students to design garments to help mitigate radiation exposure during deep space missions. The teams, made up of students and teachers from Milby High School and Deady Middle School, submitted design proposals for wearable anti-radiation garments via video for review by NASA personnel.  

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Lauren K. Price named new principal of Marshall Elementary School

Lauren K. Price has been selected as the new principal of Marshall Elementary School. She most recently served as the dean of students at Meyerland Middle School for the Visual and Performing Arts and assistant principal at Crespo Elementary. Price relocated to Houston from California where she spent eight years as a building principal in the Long Beach Unified School District. She holds a bachelor’s in English from Spelman College and a master’s in Education Management from the University of La Verne.