Author Archives: HISD Communications

HSPVA joins newly formed CLASS Coalition

The High School for the Visual and Performing Arts (HSPVA) is part of a new nationwide coalition aimed at promoting school success.

The Coalition for Leaders for Advanced Student Success (CLASS) was established this year and is focused on helping students overcome challenges to gain the skills needed to succeed after graduation.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to join with like-minded educators nationwide to help advance curriculum, policies, and activities that will help more high school students gain the valuable experiences and knowledge that will serve them well in both college and career,” said HSPVA Principal R. Scott Allen. Continue reading →

Atherton ES wins music scholarship from gospel association

Students at HISD’s Atherton Elementary School students will soon have more reasons to toot their own horns, after the Gospel Music Heritage Month Foundation (GMHMF) awarded that campus a $750 scholarship to support its fine arts programs.

Dr. Albert Lemons, who serves as Atherton’s principal, accepted the award on behalf of his school on Sept. 14, during the GMHMF’s annual show at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

“I’m very seldom speechless,” said Dr. Lemons. “But this came as a complete surprise. Every year, I work backstage at this event, helping the artists, making sure they have refreshments, and getting other people who don’t belong back there out. This year, nobody was saying anything, but they treated me like a guest and seated me in the front row. I thought, ‘Well, I guess they just want me to rest. And for the first time, I’ll get to see the show.’ But near the end of the last number, they sent someone out to say they needed me, and that’s when Sheila Jackson Lee told me my school was being honored.” Continue reading →

New Confucius garden helping Kolter ES ‘cultivate’ global graduates

“Growing” Global Graduates just got easier at HISD’s Kolter Elementary School, thanks to a new garden built in honor of a legendary Chinese philosopher.

The Confucius Garden — which has eight beds for cultivating traditional Chinese herbs such as mustard, cilantro, and parsley, as well as two different varieties of bok choi — was unveiled during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 29. The garden was built with funds from Hanban and the Asia Society, which provides a grant to Kolter each year as a member of its Confucius Classrooms Network.

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“We are so appreciative of the Asia Society and everything it has done for us,” said Principal Steve Shetzer. “We look forward to watching this garden grow along with our students.” Continue reading →

Principal stages freestyle rap session to help students ‘PowerUp’

Furr High School is new to HISD’s PowerUp initiative, but that didn’t stop enthusiastic campus leaders from spreading the word.

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Longtime HISD educator named Bilingual Education Secondary Teacher of the Year

A recently retired teacher from The Rice School has been selected as the 2015 Texas Association for Bilingual Education Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Tanya Thompson, who retired in May after more than three decades with HISD, was selected because of her teaching philosophy, which uses personalized learning to cater to the learning style of each student. Continue reading →

Upperclassmen invited to attend Top-Tier College Night Oct. 6

High-achieving HISD juniors and seniors who want information about opportunities at the nation’s most-prestigious institutions of higher learning should mark their calendars, as HISD’s Top-Tier College Night has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Washington High School (119 E. 39^th, 77018).

Formally known as “Ivy-Plus College Night,” this event allows students to interact directly with admissions representatives from top-tier schools across the nation, as well as participate in hands-on workshops on the following topics:

Personal statements
Financial aid
Branding yourself as top-tier student
Liberal arts colleges
National research universities

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education outlines timeline for superintendent search

Search firm to be selected by December, community input to be gathered beginning in January

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday outlined a timeline for the search for a new district leader to replace outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier, who announced last month that he is resigning in March.

Trustees plan to issue a request for proposals this month, pending approval at the regular board meeting on Oct. 15. They then would interview potential search firms in the latter half of November, with the ultimate goal of making a final firm selection in December.

Once a search firm is in place, they can start gathering community feedback to develop a superintendent candidate profile, a process that would begin in January. The selected firm would help trustees host community meetings and gather input from various district stakeholders, including parents and students, school-based staff, district employees, and business and community members.

Trustees also have scheduled a training session focused on the search process for early November. The training will be conducted by Cathy Mincberg, a former HISD school board member who now serves as president and CEO of The Center for the Reform of School Systems.

Dr. Grier has said he plans to step down on March 2, 2016. This is his seventh year as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District.

HISD offering school tours, open houses to help families select schools for next year

The Houston Independent School District Office of School Choice will host four open houses and offer weekly campus tours throughout the fall semester to help families make more informed school selections for the next year.

Families will be able to explore their neighborhood schools, as well as the district’s 100-plus magnet programs, specializing in areas such as fine arts, language studies, college and career readiness and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math).

The weekly tours will be held at all HISD campuses every Thursday from Oct. 8 through Dec. 3. Elementary and K-8 school tours are scheduled for 9 a.m. Middle and high school tours begin at 1 p.m. Continue reading →

Bellaire HS senior aces both SAT and ACT

September 30, 2015 – Bellaire High School senior Antony Yun has officially earned bragging rights after receiving a perfect score on both the SAT and the ACT college entrance exams.

Antony Yun

Yun was among four Houston Independent School District students from two schools to earn perfect scores on the SAT during the 2014-2015 school year. Three seniors from DeBakey High School for Health Professions —Anushka Madhuvarshi, Sasha Raman, and Gary Zhang — also earned the highest possible score on the SAT. Continue reading →

Video highlights bond progress amid booming construction market

Houston’s construction market is booming, and HISD is a big part of that.

A new video released this week highlights progress that has been made since Houston voters overwhelmingly approved the district’s $1.89 billion bond program three years ago.

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