Author Archives: HISD Communications

Instrument drive to benefit HISD school music programs

HISD is partnering with the CMA Foundation and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to host a citywide Houston Instrument Drive through Monday, Oct. 1 to benefit school music programs and their students.

So, round up those lonely instruments gathering dust in your closet or garage and put them in the hands of deserving kids who will truly enjoy bringing their music back to life. There are convenient drop-off times and locations throughout the greater Houston area. To find donation locations, go to www.mhopus.org/instrument-drive.

In addition, CMA will be hosting Maddie and Tae (www.maddieandtae.com) at Waltrip High School on Sept. 17 to talk to band students about futures in the music industry.

I am HISD: Yates HS alum focuses on giving back to the community through success as restaurateur

In August 2018, 29-year-old Joe Anderson opened a Chick-fil-A restaurant at I-45 and Almeda, becoming the youngest African-American owner-operator among Texas franchises. A Third Ward native and Jack Yates High School graduate, Anderson was determined to succeed in the restaurant industry and has put in long hours and hard work to achieve his dream.

You grew up in HISD and had some great success as a student athlete at Yates High School. What was your experience like as a student at Yates High School and growing up in the Third Ward?

I was so involved in track, and I was so passionate about competing at the next level and going to the state meet. I had transferred to Yates for my senior year and was there to get my diploma and run track. So, something I didn’t do well in high school was socialize a lot. There are times I wish I would have socialized more, but I’m also appreciative of the sacrifices I made then and the hard work that came with being a student athlete. Continue reading →

No classes on Monday for fall holiday; professional development planned

Students will not have classes on Monday, Sept. 10, for the district’s fall holiday. Classes will resume at the normal time on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Schools will be holding professional development, and administrative offices will be open during normal business hours on Monday. School-based staff who have their principal’s permission to use previously uncompensated professional development time in lieu of Monday’s work day may do so.

View the full academic calendar to review other holidays during the 2018-2019 school year.

HISD dietitian earns School Nutrition Specialist credential

Elementary students may know her as the Lunch Lady – the lovable storybook character who serves up lunch with a side of justice. But Nan Cramer takes school lunches and good nutrition seriously.

Cramer, a registered dietitian with HISD’s Nutrition Services, recently earned certification as a school nutrition specialist. She received the credentials last month after taking a comprehensive credentialing exam administered by the School Nutrition Association, a national industry association that supports schools with professional development and other programs. Continue reading →

Lawson MS celebrates grand opening of new building

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Festive music by the Lawson Middle School band greeted guests Wednesday as they arrived to celebrate the grand opening of the school’s new $66 million building – one of 13 new or renovated HISD schools that opened in August.

The event paid tribute to the school’s namesake, Audrey H. Lawson, and was attended by parents, students, staff, alumni, and community members, along with members of the Lawson family.

“This building is absolutely beautiful. It represents our investment in this community and the future of our students in the Hiram Clarke neighborhood,” said Houston Independent School District Board of Education Trustee Wanda Adams, who served as emcee for the event. “The new Lawson Middle School will have a huge impact on this community for generations to come.” Continue reading →

Braeburn ES students settling into new temporary campus

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Braeburn Elementary School students are continuing to settle into their new temporary home on the Welch Middle School campus, where they will remain until their flood-damaged school can be rebuilt.

“Students entered the campus excited and ready to start this new school year,” Braeburn Principal Amanda Rodgers said last week as students arrived for their first day of school in the temporary campus. Continue reading →

New initiatives to address bus service challenges expected Tuesday

Bus riders across the district could see changes to their scheduled pick-up and drop-off times as part of an ongoing review designed to ensure all students have access to safe and reliable transportation.

In addition to scheduling changes, the Transportation Services department also is expanding the magnet hub program with the addition of two new hub locations, continuing to assign students to routes, and ramping up bus driver recruitment efforts to prevent driver shortages.

“Transportation to and from school is one of the building blocks for academic success,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “It’s imperative that we provide safe, reliable and timely service to our students. We will continue making changes until we can ensure we are meeting that goal.” Continue reading →

KHOU anchor Sherry Williams named HISD press secretary

Sherry Williams has been selected as press secretary for the Houston Independent School District.

Williams, an Emmy-winning journalist whose career spans three decades, joins HISD from Houston’s KHOU 11 news team, where she anchors the Saturday morning news from 7 to 9 a.m. She previously anchored the 9 p.m. news at CW 39 and reported for Fox 26 Houston. She also has worked in broadcast markets in Dallas, Detroit, and Bryan-College Station.

Williams grew up in Houston’s Third Ward near the Texas Southern University campus and attended HISD’s Turner Elementary School, Lanier Middle School and Lamar High School. Continue reading →

Askew ES opens new building for 2018-19 school year

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Askew Elementary School’s All-Stars walked hand-in-hand into a bright and colorful new 2012 Bond building for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Almost 1,000 students and parents walked down the school’s hallways awestruck as they toured their new facility for the first time on Monday.

“Welcome, welcome, welcome Askew All-Stars,” a voice said over the school intercom. “We are so excited to start this wonderful new school year. We hope you love and enjoy this new building just as much as we do.” Continue reading →