Author Archives: HISD Communications

District’s new career and technical education center at Jordan HS accepting applications

Rising juniors at nine HISD high schools have the opportunity to explore different careers without changing schools, thanks to the district’s first regional career and technical education center at Barbara Jordan.

The Barbara Jordan Career Hub is now taking applications from 10th-grade students zoned to Davis, Furr, Kashmere, North Forest, Reagan, Sam Houston, Washington, Wheatley, and Yates high schools to participate in the specialized program at Jordan, where they will get specialized education and training in high-demand fields.

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HISD Board of Education to consider Kashmere High School construction contract

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday is expected to consider a construction contract for Kashmere High School, which is undergoing significant renovation as part of the 2012 Bond Program.

The bid for the renovation work was submitted by DT Construction in response to a February request for competitive sealed proposals. The proposal — one of three submitted — includes a base bid of $13 million with a construction contingency of $1.1 million, meaning the total costs would not exceed $14.1 million. Continue reading →

Longfellow Elementary hosts leadership expo for faculty from area districts

Longfellow Elementary School students have embraced FranklinCovey’s “The Leader in Me” whole-school transformation process, which teaches them leadership, responsibility, self-direction, teamwork, and much more.

In fact, the innovative model, based on Stephen Covey’s 1989 book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” has been so successful that Longfellow is now a “Lighthouse School,” or an exemplary campus. The school hosted an annual Leadership Day Expo on April 7, 2016, attended by teachers, principals, administrators, and even parents from HISD and other districts across the state.

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‘When I Grow Up Expo’ draws crowd for hands-on career exploration

Houston families stepped out into the sunshine for a productive, fun-filled day on Saturday at the “When I Grow Up Expo” at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.

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Approximately 6,000 people took advantage of the more than 100 exhibitors, including Exxon Mobil, Centerpoint Energy, and the Chavez High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) showcased hands-on career awareness and exploration activities. Face painters and food vendors maintained a party atmosphere. Students were encouraged to take part in numerous exercises designed to help them explore different career options.

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On SAT School Day, juniors can take test for free during school hours

Thousands of HISD high school juniors will have the opportunity to take the SAT college admissions test during normal school hours, free of charge, on Tuesday, April 12 during SAT School Day.

SAT School Day takes place in both the fall and spring, offering students the chance to experience firsthand what it’s like to take the SAT in the familiar surroundings of their own school, thus reducing test anxiety.

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Anticipation is growing as Furr High School construction makes progress

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Construction on the new building for Furr High School is set to be complete just 12 short months from now and open to students for the start of the 2017-2018 school year, project manager Michael Scott confirmed at the school’s quarterly Project Advisory Team meeting last week.

“I’m really pleased with the progress that’s been made in the first quarter,” Scott said. “Despite a couple of rain delays, we’re on schedule and we expect to stay that way.”

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With magnet deadline passed, are you still looking at school options? Here are a few 

School Choice JordanWhether you missed the magnet deadline, your child was waitlisted, or you recently moved into the district, there are still many school choice options available for the upcoming school year.

One of the best places to explore those options is at the upcoming Houston ISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 23 at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4440 West 18th St.).

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HISD Scholars Banquet to recognize 90-plus high school seniors at top of their class

The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute next week to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet.

In addition to their outstanding academic achievements, these 98 valedictorians and salutatorians have garnered more than $10 million year-to-date in scholarship and financial aid offers.

The students will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during the banquet, which will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 at The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Road. Continue reading →

Construction on Davis HS campus to begin this summer

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Work on the bond project to rebuild Davis High School is slated to begin this summer when construction gets underway on a parking lot off Tackaberry Street.

That new lot is part of an expansion plan for the Near Northside campus, and the first step in a three-phase project that will bring two additions and renovations to create a newly modernized school for 1,500 to 1,700 students.

“We’re basically working from the left of the campus to the right,” Architect Mark French of the IBI Group, told more than 40 people who turned out Thursday for a meeting to get the latest updates on the historic school.

Davis Principal Julissa Alcantar-Martinez opened the meeting by thanking the school community, especially the Project Advisory Team, for working together to move the project forward and to advocate for the best facility possible for students.

“They have stuck with this for three years even when it hasn’t been easy,” she said, noting that the school received $19 million in additional funding in December because of that support.

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HISD Foundation names new executive director

The Houston ISD Foundation has selected Ann Best Scott as its new executive director to lead efforts to support districtwide and school-based programs that provide every student with a rigorous education.

Scott has worked with education-based nonprofits such as Raise Your Hand Texas as a vice president of board development and recruitment and with Teach for America as a senior vice president of education leadership. She previously worked at HISD as a chief human resources officer. She will begin this week in her new role at the foundation, which was most recently led by interim executive director and former HISD Chief of Staff Michele Pola. Continue reading →