Author Archives: HISD Communications

Fourth annual Dream Summit prepares HISD international students for the future

Click here for more from the HISD Dream Summit.

Excitement filled the air at HISD’s fourth annual Dream Summit, held Saturday at Hattie Mae White, drawing hundreds of students eager to collect resources and information about college applications and financial aid.

The HISD Office of College and Career Readiness and Multilingual Programs event is held each year to aid HISD DREAMers, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum grantees, along with their families.

Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer Rick Cruz welcomed students and their families to the event applauding them for their commitment to the future. Continue reading →

Looscan ES community to receive $250,000 for neighborhood revitalization project

A $250,000 grant was presented to Avenue CDC during Looscan Elementary’s winter program.

The area surrounding HISD’s Looscan Elementary School will soon be transformed thanks to a $250,000 grant from Republic Services for an upcoming neighborhood revitalization project.

The grant funds, awarded to Houston-area nonprofit Avenue CDC, will be used for the organization’s Boosting Success for Looscan Elementary School project. The funds will be allocated to improve safe routes to school, SPARK Park renovations, and lead abatement in 10 neighborhood homes.

The grant will be presented Wednesday during the school’s winter program.

Avenue CDC is a builder of homes and a builder of communities in Houston, Texas.  The organization builds affordable homes, provides education, and supports robust community engagement programs that promote resident leadership and improved quality of life for all Houstonians.

Winter break begins Friday for students, with classes resuming on Jan. 7  

The Houston Independent School District’s 2018 winter break begins on Friday for all students. Campuses and district offices will be closed for the break starting on Monday, Dec. 24.

Students will be on winter break from school starting on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, through Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Students will return to school on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. HISD central and administrative offices will be closed beginning Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, and will reopen for normal business hours on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019.

Employees with questions should consult the duty schedules posted here.

The HISD Police Department will be patrolling district facilities during the holiday break. Emergencies should be reported by calling 713-892-7777.

HISD Board of Education votes against turnaround and innovation partnerships

The HISD Board of Education rejected, 4-5, a move to request proposals for turnaround partnerships to operate four campuses that have been designated “Improvement Required” for four or more years.

The four campuses are Highland Heights Elementary School, Henry Middle School, and Kashmere and Wheatley high schools.

Under Senate Bill 1882, entering into a turnaround partnership would provide a two-year pause on accountability from the Texas Education Agency and prevent sanctions from the state related to House Bill 1842, including school closures or the appointment of a Board of Managers.  Continue reading →

Board of Education to consider authorizing request for school partnership proposals

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday will consider whether to authorize the district to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for school partnerships, as outlined under Senate Bill 1882.

The board’s regular monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, in the Manuel Rodríguez Jr. Board Auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St., 77092. Click here to view the full agenda.

Entities eligible to be considered for partnerships are non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, or governmental organizations. Continue reading →

Six HISD schools set to open new facilities in January

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HISD will open six new schools next month, bringing the total number of new campuses opened during the past year to 21 and marking the completion of more than 80 percent of all school construction projects.

Schools include Madison and Worthing high schools, Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center, Barbara Jordan Career Center, Wharton Dual Language Academy, and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. All are part of the 2012 Bond Program.

“We’ve completed a record-breaking number of projects,” HISD Construction Services Officer Derrick Sanders said. “Essentially, that means more students now have access to vibrant, modern, state-of-the-art learning spaces. That’s our goal.” Continue reading →

Second-generation teacher surprised as December Teacher of the Month 

Known as an “unsung hero” at Sam Houston Science, Math and Technology Center (SHSMTC), English teacher Margaret Licea was recognized as the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for December on Tuesday.

“When Licea’s name is mentioned to anyone at the campus, it’s instantly met with a huge smile and enthusiasm,” Principal Alan Summers said. “It is without questions she is a campus favorite here and the award is well deserved. She is so committed to our faculty and students’ excellence that I was actually urged by our instructional specialists to submit her as a nominee this month.”

The second-generation teacher, who also works alongside her mother at SHSMTC, was so overcome with emotion during her surprise, it was hard for the classroom not to join in excitement to express their love for Licea.  Continue reading →

Barbara Jordan Career Center to open new building next month

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With construction nearly 90 percent complete, the new Barbara Jordan Career Center will officially open its doors to students when they return from winter break on Jan. 7.

Crews are in the final stretch of carpet and floor tile installation. Plumbing and electrical teams are about 75 percent done with their work, and phone and gas lines have been connected to the building.
Continue reading →

HISD Athletics Director Andre’ Walker recognized by NIAAA 

HISD Director of Athletics Andre’ Walker has received the designation of Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Through a voluntary NIAAA certification process, Walker was evaluated on his background, experience, and professional contributions. He joins an elite group of administrators who demonstrate exemplary professionalism in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.

Walker has spent the past 18 years serving students in HISD as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and most recently as a senior athletics program administrator for the district’s Athletics Department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas Southern University, Master’s in Education from Prairie View A&M University.  Continue reading →

PSAT scores from October test now available 

PSAT scores from the October test have been released, and they are available now. After spending time to take the test, it’s important to access, understand, and use the PSAT scores to your advantage.

PSAT scores will help you understand how close you are to being college ready in math, reading, and writing. PSAT test scores can also connect you to other benefits you hadn’t thought of, including enrichment programs, internships, summer camps, scholarships, and the ability to take college-level courses in high school.

Some schools are creating a special event or day to explain what you need to know, but you don’t have to wait for that. You can access your scores online NOW and learn how ready you are for college, explore which Advanced Placement courses are a good match for you, and gain insight into which skills to focus on in order to prepare for the SAT.   Continue reading →