Author Archives: HISD Communications

Local vendors get tips for accessing capital during February’s Workshop Wednesday

In Texas, small businesses serve as economic engines, making up more than 90 percent of all business activity statewide.

And yet, these small business still struggle with accessing the capital needed to help them grow.

“Many people are not aware that there are a lot of resources in the Houston area for business owners,” PeopleFund Houston Senior Loan Officer Nini Gutierrez said, leading a recent presentation for local minority- and women-owned businesses. “Going out into the community and educating people on these resources and how they can get help is very important so that businesses can continue to grow and be successful.” Continue reading →

Personal stories exemplify how HISD is rebuilding, reimagining education

‘We could be anywhere, and we would still be Robinson’

If anyone could find a silver lining amid the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, it’s Robinson Elementary School Principal Paige Fernandez-Hohos. After being flooded with more than a foot of water, Robinson was relocated and students split between two adjacent campuses. Though not ideal, the situation made Fernandez-Hohos determined to give students a sense of normalcy. Vacant rooms and hallways sprung to life with decorations. Auditorium and gym spaces were transformed into cozy classrooms to accommodate more students. Fernandez-Hohos trekked back and forth between the two campuses. If she started the day welcoming students at one school, she ended it saying goodbye to students at the other. It was important, she said, that every class see her every day. Robinson students returned to their home campus in January, but Fernandez-Hohos said the storm taught her a valuable lesson about the spirit of her school: “When everything else is stripped away, all you’re left with is the bond between teachers and students. We could be anywhere, and we would still be Robinson.”

Continue reading →

Together with Tech Student Conference scheduled for April 7

High school teams should submit proposals by Feb. 28

The Second Annual Together with Tech Student Conference is scheduled for April 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St.)

The theme is “Mind, Body, and Soul,” and the idea is to brainstorm solutions that will help the community. More information is available at the Together With Tech website.

High school teams of between two and five students are encouraged to submit their proposals by Feb. 28. This year’s summit will have two components:  Continue reading →

Superintendent urges business community, lawmakers to advocate for public education funding changes

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000zjhCK43b6tg” g_name=”20180215-State-of-the-Schools” 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” ]

HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones says board is committed to strategic and innovative collaboration on behalf of students

Speaking before a packed crowd, HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza and HISD Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones urged business professionals and state lawmakers to work with the district in advocating for changes to the state’s funding system for public education.

“The last time the state of Texas updated its school funding system, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States. That was 1984, and a lot has changed since 1984,” Carranza said. “We need a school finance system that will reflect the needs of today’s students and does not so heavily rely on local property taxes to fund schools. We continue to do more with less because the state does not give school districts their fair share for public education. We have lawmakers in the room right now, and we urge them to support a system that provides a better education for our children in the 21st century.”

Continue reading →

Parker ES to open new building after Spring Break

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000FL4Jn0Z1qz0″ g_name=”20180119-Parker-ES” 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” ]

With construction nearing completion, Parker Elementary School staff are making plans to move into their new building over Spring Break and open their doors to students on March 19.

The project is more than 80 percent complete. Interior painting and flooring are underway, and crews will finish pouring exterior driveways and walkways later this week.

“We’re really excited to get moved into our new school,” Parker Principal Lori Frodine said, praising the unique architecture of the new building. “It’s such a cool building with a lot of great space.”

Continue reading →

HISD to hold subcontractor outreach session for rebuilding of Harvey-damaged schools

The HISD Business Assistance Supplier Diversity team is holding an outreach session on Friday for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE) interested in working as subcontractors on the projects to rebuild four schools damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Last week, the HISD Board of Education selected Satterfield & Pontikes Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) tasked with overseeing the demolition and construction of the four elementary schools – Kolter, Mitchell, Braeburn, and Scarborough. Continue reading →

Arts Access Initiative team meets to outline path for the future 

The Arts Access Initiative was launched in August of 2015 as a way to provide all students in HISD with equal access to a high quality arts education. At that time, HISD was selected by the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts to serve as the 19th site for their national arts education program.

For the past three school years, the pilot program has utilized resources from the district, Houston arts organizations, the City of Houston, and the Kennedy Center to increase arts opportunities for thousands of HISD students in dozens of schools. Young Audiences also provided invaluable support by acting as the backbone of the organization’s pilot phase. These first three years were funded through the generosity of the Houston Endowment, Inc., and the Powell Foundation.

What began with 11 schools in the first year has grown to 28,000 students in 44 schools for the current year, as well as some 40 partner arts organizations.  Continue reading →

Culinary students from three HISD high schools prepare to compete in Cooking Up Change 

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00003ZffORzaZsk” g_name=”20180213-CookingUpChange2015-16″ 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” ]

A group of Houston Independent School District students will be slicing and dicing their way to a winning recipe as they get ready to compete in Cooking Up Change at the Art Institute of Houston in April.

Cooking up Change is a culinary competition that challenges high school students to create healthy meals that meet the real-life nutritional and cost requirements of the national school meal program.

Seven teams from Northside, Milby, and Westside high schools will spend the next two months getting ready to go head to head on April 21, attempting to wow the judges and claim the winning dish. The winning HISD team will advance to the Cooking Up Change national finals in Washington, D.C. in June.   Continue reading →

New Lamar HS to facilitate innovative approach to learning

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000aqptW_OLofQ” g_name=”20180209-Lamar-HS” 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” ]

At Lamar High School, it’s not uncommon to see a massive crane hoisting steel columns and beams into the air as crews work to rebuild the school as part of the 2012 Bond Program.

The $122.9 million project began vertical construction last November with the installation of the new building’s first upright column. Steel installation has been underway since then, recently reaching as high as the third floor of the building’s north wing.

While crews construct the physical structure, Lamar Principal James McSwain is working with educators to ensure furniture and interior features of the new building enhance the school’s innovative new teaching methods. Continue reading →