Author Archives: HISD Communications

A day in the life of a Wraparound Resource Specialist 

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HISD spotlights its newest role that supports the needs of the whole child

To describe a wraparound resource specialist’s day as “busy” would be an understatement. The newly created role at HISD is part of Every Community Every School, a districtwide initiative that focuses on providing students with non-academic support that improves their well-being and academic achievement.

Meet Kirkland Hall, who serves in this unique position at Achieve 180 and Superintendent School, Highland Heights Elementary School. Hall’s work day is anything but typical. In the morning, he might be networking with a group of prominent community leaders to encourage support on his campus, and in the afternoon, he’s assisting a student who is struggling with an incarcerated parent. No two days are ever the same.  Continue reading →

Superintendent surprises HISD staff affected by Harvey

Nearly 400 staff members receive relief grants 

HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza and the Houston ISD Foundation are making the holidays a little merrier for several hundred members of Team HISD affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Earlier this week, about 400 staff members received an email and video from Carranza informing them that they were the recipient of a special grant to help them recover from the storm.

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“When I got the email, I just started crying,” said Booker. T. Washington High School clerk Kimberly Grover. “We lost everything in the storm, and I didn’t think my kids and I would even be able to have a Christmas, but because of this we will.”   Continue reading →

HISD bus driver receives meaningful message from student

School bus drivers are usually the last to get recognized for their hard work. This holiday season, transportation employee Vivian Ivory was not only recognized, but she was given a gift of thanks.

Ivory is a 26-year school bus driver who was placed on a new bus route after Hurricane Harvey to help transport students to Lanier Middle School. One student personally thanked Ivory for allowing her to continue her education and for providing a means for her to get to and from school.

KHOU (Channel 11) covered the story earlier this week. The full story and video can be found here: http://www.khou.com/news/eighth-grader-writes-touching-note-to-hisd-bus-driver/501182466]

Winter break begins Monday; classes to resume Jan. 8  

HISD schools and district offices will be closed for Winter Break beginning Monday, Dec. 25. Classes and regular business hours will resume on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018.

Friday, Dec. 22 is a teacher preparation day, and students will not attend classes.

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 to open four new or renovated schools Jan. 8

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Three Houston Independent School District high schools and one elementary school will open their doors and welcome students in to new facilities when they return from winter break on Jan. 8.

The schools are Sharpstown, Scarborough and North Forest high schools, and Robinson Elementary School.

Sharpstown was rebuilt and Scarborough was renovated as part of the district’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program. The construction of the new North Forest High School and renovation of storm-damaged Robinson Elementary School were overseen by the bond team, but not funded with bond dollars. Continue reading →

Northside HS classroom renovations lead campus into 21st century

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When Northside High School alumnus Machell Blackwell walked through the doorway on the third floor of her alma matter, she said she felt like she was walking through time.

On one side of the well-worn building, it seemed dark and confined — even a bit dated. But on the other, hallways were lighter, classrooms were brighter, and there was a colorful, collaborative space where students could gather to work in small groups.

“To me, I feel like I was walking through a time machine,” said a smiling Blackwell, who also serves as a Northside PTO recruiter and member of both the Northside Project Advisory Team and Shared Decision-Making Committee. “I just walked into the 21st century.”

Continue reading →

Summer internship available for juniors, seniors interested in medical research career

HISD is partnering with MD Anderson Cancer Center to offer three current juniors or seniors a paid summer research internship on cancer science.

If you are interested in a career in medical research, this could be a great opportunity for you. Applications are due by Jan. 11, 2018.

The 10-week program runs June 6 through Aug. 10, 2018.  Students receive a $6,000 stipend paid in installments throughout the internship.  Continue reading →

Organization provides East End students with 2,500 pairs of shoes for holidays

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Students in Houston’s East End gathered at Austin High School on Thursday to receive new shoes in time for the holidays, thanks to the Navigation Area Business Association’s annual Shoes for Kids donation.

For the 30th year, NABA donated more than 2,500 pairs of shoes to students from 10 HISD elementary schools: Burnet, Carillo, DeZavala, Franklin, Gallegos, J.R. Harris, J.P. Henderson, Lantrip, Page, and Tijerina. Continue reading →

Board approves plan to rebuild four Harvey-damaged schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education during its December meeting on Thursday approved a plan to rebuild four elementary schools that sustained the most severe flood damage as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

Facilities assessments of the four elementary schools — Braeburn, Scarborough, Kolter, and Mitchell — found significant property damage, as well as a strong need to raise the elevation of the buildings to prevent potential future flood damage.

The cost to replace the four schools is estimated at $126 million, which will be funded by a combination of Operations reserves and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) funds. Continue reading →

Aramco donates $4.7 million to support students, teachers at schools affected by Harvey

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The HISD Foundation today announced seven schools in which students were displaced due to damage from Hurricane Harvey will be the beneficiaries of a $4.7 million flood relief donation from Aramco Services Company, the Houston-based U.S. subsidiary of Saudi Aramco.

“The schools that will benefit from this grant are still working toward a sense of normalcy,” said Superintendent Richard Carranza. “It’s overwhelming, in a good way, to know that these students, staff, and school communities are the beneficiaries of this kind of generosity and kindness.”

The donation will be used by the foundation to replace and enhance technology and fulfill needs requests for Braeburn, Hilliard, Kolter, Mitchell, Robinson, and Scarborough elementary schools, and Liberty High School. Those items include, but are not limited to: Continue reading →