A Houston Independent School District varsity high school football game planned for Thursday, Nov. 5 is being rescheduled as a result of schedule conflicts caused by the recent storm. Continue reading
Author Archives: HISD Communications
HISD CFO/deputy superintendent wins national award for urban education
Houston Independent School District Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Ken Huewitt has been honored by the Council of Great City Schools with the 2015 Bill Wise Award for distinguished service to urban education.
The national honor was established in 2000 to recognize school district business officials who distinguish themselves through their service to urban education and exemplify professionalism, commitment, integrity and leadership. The award is bestowed by Council of the Great City Schools, which brings together 68 of the nation’s largest urban public school systems in an effort to improve the education of urban schoolchildren. Continue reading
HISD Student Congress leader advises peers to ‘embrace the uncertain’
Amy Fan
In this week’s “I Am HISD,” which features district students, graduates, employees, volunteers, and other team members, Bellaire High School senior Amy Fan talks about why she got involved in the HISD Student Congress, what her goals are for this school year, and the biggest hurdle she had to get over in embracing her role as speaker of the congress.
You served as the outreach chair of the Student Congress during its inaugural year of operation. What made you decide to throw your hat in the ring for the top leadership position?
You make me sound like a politician. Actually, I’ve been really interested in education reform for a while, even before the Student Congress was founded (mostly just through reading and watching videos), and I’ve come to embrace its mission. And after being part of the Student Congress Cabinet in its founding year, I learned a lot more about the district, both from a student perspective and an adult perspective, and it seemed logical to run for speaker my senior year. Continue reading
Brookline ES kicks off $100,000 capital campaign to renovate library
A student reads at Brookline Elementary School’s Literacy Night on Oct. 7.
Brookline Elementary School is on a quest to upgrade its campus library, and the “Books for Bobcats” kickoff it held on Oct. 26 has already received a boost from an anonymous donor, who promised to match up to $50,000 — or half of the campaign’s stated $100,000 goal.
“This person is a college friend of one of the faculty who has been very successful in the corporate world,” said Brookline teacher and capital campaign director Theodore Wills. “He has been a generous benefactor to public libraries and many other causes.”
Wills noted that Brookline devotes its resources to improving student achievement in math and reading each school year. This year, campus leaders determined that updating the library collection was critical to preparing students to be successful global graduates, so Brookline is devoting its entire library budget to the purchase of new STEM-focused (science, technology, engineering, and math) books. Continue reading
HISD Board of Education Election Results
Diana Dávila and Jolanda Jones were elected to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Tuesday, according to final, but unofficial results of Tuesday’s trustee election.
Jones won a seat on the HISD Board of Education for the first time, beating out three opponents to fill the District IV spot being vacated by departing Trustee Paula Harris. Jones defeated Davetta Daniels, Ann McCoy, and Larry McKinzie. Continue reading
2015 holiday greeting card artwork winners announced
The winners of HISD’s annual 2015 Holiday Greeting Card competition were announced on Nov. 3, and one was a repeat from last year.
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Gloria Xie, who won in the middle school category in 2014, also claimed that honor this year as a seventh-grader at Pershing Middle School. “I would just like to say thank you to my principal, Ms. (Kim) Heckman, and my teacher, Ms. Perugini, and my parents,” she said.
Each year, the district sends out hundreds of holiday greeting cards to principals, board members, legislators, local leaders, parents groups, and community partners. Since 2003, these cards have featured the artwork of HISD students.
The other students whose artwork was selected for 2015 were: Continue reading
Washington HS students deliver on prosthetic hand project
A 6-year-old girl from Waller ISD is very close to making a dream of hers come true, thanks to five students at HISD’s Booker T. Washington High School and a 3D printer.
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The high-schoolers used the printer to build a prosthetic arm for Gracie Henderson over the past year, and they presented the completed device to the youngster on Nov. 2.
“We wanted to help her fulfill her dream of picking up an apple,” explained senior Leslie Cosme, who worked on the project. “I was very nervous before she first received the hand, but when I saw her face lite up, it made me really happy.” Continue reading
Register now for Nov. 7 ‘Parents as Advocates’ Family Conference
All HISD families are invited to attend the “Parents as Advocates” Family Conference and Resource Fair on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Burbank Middle School (315 Berry Rd., 77022) from 8 a.m. to noon.
The event will feature a panel discussion and short workshops on school choice, selecting the right courses, graduating from high school, applying to college, and advocating for children with special needs.
Board of Education member Anna Eastman has partnered with the Family Learning Academy to host the event, which will have a special focus on how parents can best ensure that their children receive the highest quality education in HISD, personalized to their children’s unique needs. Continue reading
HISD, Furr HS Green Institute recognized for partnership with U.S. Forest Service
Green Ambassadors visit local schools, communities, and parks to spread the conservation and environmental awareness message. They work with Woodsy Owl and his animal friends.
The Green Institute at Furr High School is only two years old, but that program is already getting national attention for its efforts.
In March, a group of students from there delivered a presentation at the National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program in Washington, D.C. And this week, students and educators will travel to the nation’s capital again to be honored alongside Forest Service representatives for the Abraham Lincoln Honors Award for Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Principal Bertie Simmons will accompany students and educators in support of their recognition for this prestigious award. Continue reading
HISD launches 3rd annual Eco-Schools USA Green Schools Challenge
HISD and the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco Schools USA have teamed up to launch the third annual Green Schools Challenge in an effort to decrease the district’s energy consumption and increase environmental awareness.
The contest runs from Nov. 1 through April 30, 2016. Schools will have until Nov. 15 to sign up for the competition.