Author Archives: HISD Communications

Beatrice Akala named new principal of Sutton Elementary School

Beatrice Akala has been selected as the new principal of Sutton Elementary School. She began her career in Education as an English teacher in Kenya before moving to the United States. In the U.S., she started her career as a prekindergarten through fourth-grade teacher in private school. For the last fourteen years, she has served at HISD in various capacities, including as an ESL teacher at Sam Houston High School, teacher development specialist, assistant principal, and dean of instruction at Wisdom High School. As a member of the instructional leadership team at Wisdom, the school earned four distinctions in ELA, math, science and social studies. She holds a bachelor’s in Education from Moi University Kenya, a master’s degree in Education from the University of Houston, a master’s in Human Resource Management from Walden University. She is also currently working on a doctorate’s in Education at North Central University.

Mayte Garcia-Olivo named new principal of Seguin Elementary School

Mayte Garcia-Olivo has been selected as the new principal of Seguin Elementary School. She began her career at St. Charles Parish Public Schools and later moved back to the Houston area. She has served as a regular and bilingual teacher, peer facilitator, teacher specialist, and assistant principal. Her years in education has consistently increased academic performance at the schools she serviced. During her most recent tenure at Brookline Elementary School, the campus received an “A” rating and numerous distinctions. Olivo earned two bachelors’ in Operations Management and Marketing from the University of Houston and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans.

HISD students awarded scholarships to travel the world, study abroad

This summer more than 80 HISD high school students will practice their linguistic skills, develop cultural awareness and learn just what it takes to become a global citizen through The Council on International Educational Exchange’s (CIEE) Global Navigator High School Study Abroad Program. 

Students who hail from 19 different high schools will represent the district in 20 different countries on six different continents, including Australia, Botswana, China, Chile, France and Mexico.

This life-changing experience was made possible after the students earned a total of $370, 367 in financial aid to embark on their trips.

Continue reading →

HISD offers free EKGs to student-athletes during inaugural outreach program

Thousands of Houston Independent School District middle and high school student-athletes will be offered free electrocardiograms (EKGs) during a first-time HISD event aimed at detecting heart defects in young people, possibly preventing a fatal cardiac event.

The event, which will be held at Delmar Fieldhouse, will be held on from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, August 3. The test will also be offered to cheerleaders, band, drill team, and dance team members, as well as any other students involved in similar extracurricular activities.

“We were inspired by other districts in our area to offer this possibly life-saving program,” HISD Director of Athletics Andre Walker said. “This is an important step to protect our students and provide parents with a little peace of mind.”

Continue reading →

HISD students develop STEM, literacy skills at Camp Adventure

It was no ordinary birthday for rising fifth-grader Cameron, who celebrated turning eleven years old with a birthday song serenade from a group of teachers, students and Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan during Camp Adventure at HISD’s Atherton Elementary School.  

Cameron, along with hundreds of other students from around the district, is spending his summer break immersed in a flurry of STEAM activities at the camp, which is sponsored by The Children’s Museum of Houston and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.  

“I love Camp Adventure because we get to do a lot of fun science activities,” Cameron said. “We’ve already made a balloon rocket, a glider and guacamole.”  

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves budget to raise minimum wage to $14 an hour

With a vote of 5-1, HISD’s Board of Education passed the budget for the 2019-2020 school year that will increase the district’s minimum wage from $12 an hour to $14 an hour. 

Trustees proposed and adopted an amendment that included $17 million in department cuts but any staff reductions as a result would be offset by utilizing fund balance. 

The spending plan mandates that district employees will see no increase in health insurance premiums.

The budget approved provides teachers, full-time counselors, full-time nurses, full-time librarians and other educational professionals with raises ranging from 3.5 percent to 8 percent, depending on years of service in HISD.

Trustees also approved increasing bus drivers’ minimum wage to $18/an hour.

The board also approved an amendment to provide no raises for staff earning more than $75,000 per year.  Instead, these employees would receive a one-time bonus of $1000 and two extra vacation days.

HISD’s administrators had presented a balanced budget for consideration to the Board of Education that included raises for every district employee and no staff reductions.

Several other amendments were made by Trustees which administrators will be analyzing over the next several days to incorporate into the budget.

Astros, Chevron kick off ‘Wins for Kids’ initiative at Young ES

After a rainy start to the week the sun shone brightly on HISD students from Young Elementary School on Wednesday as they were treated to a visit from Houston Astros star outfielder Myles Straw and mascot Orbit to help kick off the “Wins for Kids” Initiative. 

Chevron and the Houston Astros Foundation have teamed up to launch the new program, which invests in local youth organizations. Throughout the 2019 season, they will each donate $500 for every Astros win to a local youth charity.

Young Elementary was chosen to be the initiative’s first recipient.

Continue reading →

HISD wins 28 national honors for print and digital communications

The Houston Independent School District has been selected as the winner of 28 National School Public Relations Association’s (NSPRA) awards, including six Golden Achievement Awards for 2019.

The awards were won by the HISD Communications and HISD Business Operations Strategic Engagement & Outreach teams. The HISD’s districtwide Communications team took home 18 awards, while Business Operations Strategic Engagement & Outreach earned 10.

HISD’s Communications team, under the direction of Chief Communications Officer Rebecca Suarez, has worked diligently to keep employees, families, and the public informed of all district news at every level.  

Continue reading →