Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD Board of Education will not vote on partnership for “Improvement Required” campuses

HISD will not submit any plans to the Texas Education Agency related to SB 1882

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Tuesday adjourned without  approving a contract to partner with the governing board of Energized for STEM Academy as part of Senate Bill 1882. The district will no longer pursue this proposal, nor will the district submit plans for partnerships to the TEA.

The proposal was intended to give HISD a two–year pause on accountability from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and prevent sanctions from the state related to House Bill 1842.

HISD will continue to operate and manage the 10 campuses that have been in Improvement Required (IR) status with the state for four years or more. Those campuses are: Blackshear, Dogan, Highland Heights, Mading, and Wesley elementary schools, Henry Middle School, Woodson PK-8, and Kashmere, Wheatley, and Worthing high schools. The district’s goal is to help these 10 schools exit IR and continue to meet yearly standards.

“We are not bringing another partnership proposal to the Board, nor will there be another meeting to consider partnerships for the 10 schools,” said Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan. “Instead, we will continue to reinforce our commitment to helping students, staff, and families of our Achieve 180 schools continue the hard work they’ve done this year to transform their campuses and increase student achievement.”

HISD will make the necessary changes to the Achieve 180 framework to ensure the district provides them with the additional resources and supports they need to be successful. District administration will be holding meetings with staff and parents at these 10 schools to discuss Achieve 180 plans for their campuses in the 2018-2019 school year. Staff will remain in place at these 10 campuses unless a position is closed as part of the reduction in force HISD is experiencing across the district due to the $115 million budget shortfall.

 

High schools focus on good food at Spring Cookouts

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000jD59LOhEGJ4″ g_name=”20180419-Chavez-Spring-Cookout” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_smooth=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”676″ height=”507″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#AAAAAA” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”t” twoup=”t” trans=”xfade” tbs=”5000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_htmllinks=”f” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Standing in a line that snaked across the school courtyard, hundreds of Chavez High School students shuffled under bright blue tailgate tents, eager to enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken sandwiches.

“We got some really good food, and I wish I could grab seconds,” said Chavez senior Corinthia West regarding the recent Spring Cookout at her school. “I think the whole school came out, and we all enjoyed each other. This is fun!” Continue reading →

Bond Oversight Committee hears update on school construction, plans for new bond program

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000Pv4673I2jBA” g_name=”20180424-bondmeeting” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

The Houston Independent School District has opened nine new facilities since the start of the year and is on track to open 15 more by January 2019, according to a report given to the Bond Oversight Committee on Tuesday.

In total, the district will have completed and opened two dozen new facilities between January 2018 and January 2019, bringing the program’s overall completion rate to 80 percent by the end of the year.

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education to consider partner for Improvement Required campuses

Board also to consider change to grade-level configuration at Woodson PK-8,
hear an update on 2018-2019 budget

 The Houston Independent School District Board of Education will hold a workshop on Tuesday, April 24 to consider a contract with Energized for STEM Academy to operate 10 Improvement Required (IR) campuses.

Trustees are expected to consider the approval of a contract with the governing board of Energized for STEM Academy to enter into a five-year partnership with HISD under Senate Bill 1882, or SB 1882.

Continue reading →

HISD bus attendants celebrate literacy by reading to bus riders

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000CQxdWM8JAMM” g_name=”20180423-RidingWhileReading2018″ width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Perched on the edge of a firm green seat, bus attendant Loretta Gallaviz picked up a book and began to read aloud.

“One morning, Annie could not find Taffy anywhere,” she read, as the bus on which she was riding made its way down the street. “She looked and looked, but Taffy was gone. Annie was very lonely.”

Continue reading →

Two coaches receive Ann Sledge Instructional Coach Excellence Awards

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000uU6kaXit9d0″ g_name=”20180420-AnnSledgeSurprise” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Two HISD instructional coaches received a big surprise in their classrooms on Friday as HISD administrators dropped in to present them with the second annual Ann Sledge Instructional Coach Excellence Awards.

Continue reading →

Help determine the Fan Favorite Teachers of the Year 

Winners to be announced at May 18 Educators of the Year banquet

It’s that time of the year again to decide the “Fan Favorite” Teachers of the Year, who will be announced on Friday, May 18, as HISD honors teachers and principals across the district at the Educators of the Year banquet.

The districtwide elementary and secondary Teachers of the Year are determined using performance data and other criteria, but the Fan Favorite category was created so the HISD community could vote on social media for their favorite elementary and secondary teacher.

All campus-based Teachers of the Year are eligible for this award, which will be determined by who has the largest number of fans. Anyone can vote—including colleagues, parents, students, and former students.  Continue reading →

HISD names 2017-18 Teacher of the Year finalists, Beginner Teacher of the Year winners 

Winners will be recognized on May 18 at the Educators of the Year banquet

In recognition of teaching excellence across the district, HISD will officially crown its principals and teachers at the “royal wedding-themed” Educators of the Year banquet on Friday, May 18, at the Hilton Americas Hotel.

Fourteen finalists have been named for the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the year. The two winners, who will go on to represent the district in Region 4, will be announced during the Educators of the Year banquet on Friday, May 18. The 14 finalists were selected from all 287 campuses based on performance data and other criteria.  Continue reading →

State Board of Education creates ethnic studies class based on HISD’s Mexican-American Studies course

Douglas Torres-Edwards, center, with HISD trustees Elizabeth Santos and Sergio Lira.

Course author honored by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Councilman Robert Gallegos

After more than four years of debate, the Mexican-American Studies course pioneered in HISD will be used as the framework for the first statewide high-school ethnic studies class.

The State Board of Education (SBOE) voted unanimously on April 13 to create TEKS standards for an ethnic studies class based on HISD’s course, written primarily by veteran educator Douglas Torres-Edwards. Continue reading →