Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD Communications wins three Lone Star Emmys  

The HISD Communications Department was honored with three Lone Star Emmy awards on Saturday in Houston.

HISD Communications brought home the gold for work on three separate projects produced during the  2017-2018  school year.

“The powerful stories of determination and success of our students, families, teachers, staff, and community is what makes our school district HISD strong,”  Chief Communications Officer Rebecca Suarez said. “I am proud to be part of a team that is made up of truly gifted storytellers.”  Continue reading →

Special Olympics Field Days postponed due to inclement weather

The Houston Independent School District Special Olympics Field Days planned this week (Tuesday, Nov. 13 through Nov. 15) at Butler Stadium will be rescheduled due to inclement weather.

HISD officials have closely monitored the weather forecast and determined that lower temperatures may impact the district’s Special Olympics event. As a result, Special Olympics Field Days will be rescheduled at a later date.

The event, which is held in partnership with Special Olympics Texas, gives students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a chance to showcase their athletic skills by taking part in fun athletic contests. The friendly competition includes basketball, tennis, soccer, and track and field for all ages, as well as flag football for high-schoolers.

Five HISD campuses becoming community schools to meet the needs of students, families 

Trustees approve $2.5 million grant to fund variety of wraparound services

About 4,000 students and their families in high-poverty areas will benefit from a $2.5 million grant that will provide wraparound services, including social, medical, financial, and emotional support.

The Board of Education approved the use of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education that will convert five HISD campuses to community schools under the district’s Every Community Every School initiative.

The five schools are Thomas Middle School and Lockhart, Benavidez, Marshall, and Robinson elementary schools. The schools serve 3,898 students in communities with high poverty rates and a demonstrated need for wraparound services and supports.   Continue reading →

HSPVA principal receives top honor from national arts group 

The nation’s largest organization for specialized schools for the arts has named R. Scott Allen, Principal of Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, its top administrator of the year.

The Arts Schools Network stated it selected the Houston Independent School District principal for its most coveted honor, the Jeffrey Lawrence Award, because he exemplifies an uncompromising commitment to excellence in arts education and arts training.

“What an honor to be recognized for doing something I love,” Allen said. “Watching our young people grow into the next generation of artists is unbelievable, and this is what I do every day.” Continue reading →

H.E.A.R., HISD’s legislative advocacy group, gathers for first meeting  

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The Houston Independent School District’s newly created Houston Educational Advocacy Representatives, made up of 44 community members, convened its first meeting on Tuesday.

H.E.A.R. is a volunteer coalition of public education advocates tasked with educating lawmakers about HISD’s state and federal legislative priorities, especially school finance reform. Members will travel to Austin during the 2019 Texas Legislative Session to advocate for school finance reform.

The state’s school finance system is outdated and continues to have a profound impact on HISD classrooms. The current system requires HISD and other property wealthy school districts to send a portion of their local property tax collections to the state under a process called recapture.   Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves district’s legislative agenda

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved the district’s legislative agenda for the 86th Texas Legislative Session.

The agenda, which outlines the district’s legislative priorities, will be shared with members of the Texas Legislature. It focuses on reforming the state’s school finance system and reducing recapture, improving school safety and security, and addressing accountability ratings and sanctions.

The 86th Texas Legislature convenes for the 140-day regular session on January 8. The session will adjourn on May 27. Continue reading →

HISD Transportation Services continues to update routes, reinstate bus stops

Almost 80 bus routes impacting more than 3,750 students across the district have been updated this week and six major bus stops in west, south, and southwest Houston are being reinstated.

The changes are part of Transportation Services continued efforts to review and streamline operations, improve services, increase efficiency, and ensure all students arrive at school each day safely and on time.

“The changes we’re making might seem incremental, but they’re all important,” HISD Transportation Services Interim General Manager John Wilcots IV said. “Each update we make increases our operational efficiency, but more importantly, it helps us provide better service to our students.”

Continue reading →

Mickey Leland College Prep principal named NABSE’s Principal of the Year

Dameion Crook

Principal Dameion Crook of Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy has been named Principal of the Year by the National Alliance of Black School Educators in Washington, D.C.

The alliance noted that Crook was selected because he excels in the field of education and provides great contributions to African-American students and educators. Earlier this year, Crook was named Texas’ Principal of the Year by the alliance.

“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by such a prestigious organization,” Crook said. “I have to give credit to the entire Mickey Leland staff and community for the hard work being every day to educate our scholars.” Continue reading →

Finger scholarship offers opportunities for career, technical education

Considering a career in construction, transportation, cosmetology, nursing, or industrial technology? HISD students may qualify for a full scholarship in one of these fields or many more! Local and national industry data show a need for highly skilled employees in high-growth jobs with great earning potential.

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Since 2012, the Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship has been awarding worthy HISD graduates full scholarships covering their two-year degree or certification program in these high-demand careers.

Austin High School graduate Isai Gutierrez won a full scholarship from Finger and now works for Higman Marine. “I’m very thankful to have received this scholarship,” Gutierrez said. “It allowed me to secure a career that I can be proud of as a Tankerman and eventually Captain.” Continue reading →

Fourth annual Dream Summit planned for Dec. 15

Event to help students apply for college, financial aid

College Readiness and Multilingual Programs will be hosting the fourth annual Dream Summit to assist students with college applications and the financial aid process on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St., Houston 77092.

High school students and their families are encouraged to attend the free event. Students should contact their campus college-access coordinator, counselor, or college-success adviser regarding transportation. Five seniors will have a chance to win a $500 scholarship for college.

The event aims to help HISD DREAMers, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum grantees, along with their families. Students will be able to speak with district representatives regarding financial aid requirements and get help with the college application process.  Continue reading →