Dr. Tabitha Davis has been named principal of Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center. Dr. Davis graduated from Worthing Senior High School and earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Houston Baptist University. She holds a masters in Business Administration from University of St. Thomas, a masters in Education Administration from Lamar University, and a doctor of education from University of Houston. Continue reading
Author Archives: HISD Communications
Class helps HISD youngsters learn about healthier trick-or-treating
With Halloween as the official start of the holiday candy season, HISD Nutrition Services Dietitians Julia Jarrell, Alberto Garcia, and Nan Cramer are teaching healthy Halloween classes to elementary school students to help them become responsible trick-or-treaters.
The dietitians teach strategies and techniques to students to prevent overeating candy. Children can consume more than 700 grams of sugar on Halloween night if they go unsupervised, and high amounts of sugar can cause stomachaches, headaches, and cavities.
Anthony Bourdain show to feature Wisdom HS, diversity of HISD
Nearly two years ago, Wisdom High School Principal Jonathan Trinh was featured in a local newspaper story about adults who immigrated to the United States as a child and how they adjusted to life here.
So when producers for Anthony Bourdain’s show on CNN, Parts Unknown, were doing research for their upcoming show on Houston, they read the story and wanted to include the Trinh family.
New HSPVA campus to benefit from Kinder Foundation gift
The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) is set to receive a contribution in the amount of $7.5 million from the Kinder Foundation, after HISD trustees voted to accept the donation at the October Board of Education Meeting.
The school’s new campus, which is part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program and is now under construction in downtown Houston, will be renamed Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in recognition of the gift.
The additional funding will enable the school to upgrade theater seating and equipment, audio/visual systems, music practice rooms, and more, beyond the district standard for high schools that was provided through the bond project budget. Continue reading
21st century learning comes into focus as new schools open their doors
As new bond schools are opening across the district, teachers and students are discovering first-hand how new spaces and teaching techniques can enhance learning.
Rather than simply memorizing facts and figures, students in 21st century classrooms embrace a more holistic approach to learning that fosters in them the ability to collaborate, think critically, and problem solve. Students must not only be able to master content, but also evaluate and process what they learn and apply it effectively in the real world.
In 21st century schools and classrooms, this plays out in both traditional and non-traditional ways. Students may work individually, in clusters, or in a customary classroom set-up — or in any combination of the three. They may even work in small groups outside the classroom, using technology for project-based learning. Continue reading
Tune in to superintendent’s Virtual Listen & Learn
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Superintendent Richard A. Carranza wants to hear from the community on the last stop of his Listen & Learn Tour – and you don’t even have to leave your house to join in the discussion.
Carranza will take community questions and comments in a virtual town hall meeting on Nov. 14. The discussion will be streamed live on HoustonISD.org, Facebook.com/HoustonISD, and on HISD-TV (Comcast 18 and Uverse 99).
HISD names new deputy superintendent
Samuel Sarabia
Houston ISD Superintendent Richard Carranza has selected Chief School Officer Samuel Sarabia as the district’s new deputy superintendent.
Dr. Sarabia, a 29-year veteran educator, has spent his entire public education career working at HISD. He currently serves as chief school officer in the HISD Office of School Support for the district’s south area. He previously served as a chief school officer over elementary schools.
“Dr. Sarabia has been a well-respected and dedicated leader at HISD for more than two decades,” Carranza said. “He carries a robust background in public education and school administration with a remarkable track record in leading student-focused learning and increasing achievement for students of all backgrounds. I am excited to work with him closely as we focus on making HISD a world-class school district.” Continue reading
35 schools to be under construction by year’s end, BOC learns at quarterly meeting
The Houston Independent School District expects to have almost three dozen schools under active construction by the end of 2016, HISD Construction Officer Derrick Sanders told the Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) on Tuesday during their quarterly meeting.
Pending board approval of additional contracts, the district will have 35 projects actively underway, leaving just two — Austin and Bellaire high schools — to begin construction in 2017. Up from about two dozen projects in the last quarter, that is more active construction than at any time in HISD’s history, and also believed to be record-setting in Texas and the U.S.
“The quantity of contracts that we’ve moved through the process is incredible,” Sanders said. “We’ve gotten a lot done, but have a lot more to do. We welcome the challenge.” Continue reading
Notice of Destruction of Special Education Records
Special Education records that have been collected by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of Special Education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for a period of five years after Special Education services have ended for the student. Special Education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, completes his or her educational program at age 22, or moves from the district.
This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of HISD’s intent to destroy the Special Education records of students who are no longer receiving Special Education services as of the end of the 2010-2011 school year. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise.
After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but they may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for Social Security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request the records in writing or in person at the following address:
HISD Records Management Department
4400 W. 18th Street
Houston, Texas 77092
Phone: 713-556-6055
Fax: 713-556-7010
Requests for records must be received by December 16, 2016.
HISD-HCC Transition Program helps students with disabilities find gainful employment
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HISD has several programs to help young adults with significant disabilities transition successfully from high school to a productive adult life. In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we are featuring three of these programs. This is the third in the series. Read the first in the series, about students at the Houston Food Bank, here, and the second in the series, about students working with Texas Children’s Health plan, here.
HISD teacher Jilianne Barzilla begins her HISD-Houston Community College Transition class each morning with physical warm-up exercises to get her students’ blood flowing. After that, she grabs a large purple ball and asks them to think of three words to describe themselves. She tosses the ball to a tall young man named Patrick.