Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD Teachers Signing Up For Edmodo in Record Numbers

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/68313624/ w=320&h=205]

PowerUp schools and Rigor Institute using social learning platform to connect during training

Dubbed the “Facebook of education,” Edmodo now has more than 21 million members globally, and some 3,400 of them are HISD teachers enrolled in the HISD Summer Rigor Institute. Edmodo is also being used as an integral part of the PowerUp training at 11 high schools across the district that are receiving laptops for all of their students in January. Subjects being discussed in the Rigor Institute this week include how to enforce a wait time in the classroom after a question is asked, how to access students’ prior knowledge skills, and how to effectively use student data.

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First-of-Its-Kind Energy Institute High School Debuts


Energy Institute HS Ribbon Cutting from Houston ISD on Vimeo.

Members of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association (PESA) gathered with Houston energy executives and HISD officials on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, to mark the opening of the new Energy Institute High School, the first of its kind in the nation. The revolutionary partnership between local industry leaders and HISD staff will ensure that students receive the skills necessary to compete in today’s 21st-century workforce.

“The energy industry is front and center here in Houston,” said Sara Ortwein, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, “so it’s not only visionary but appropriate that our city, the energy capital of the world, be home to the nation’s first school dedicated to the study of energy.”

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HISD to Host Networking Event for Food Service Vendors

Food service vendors interested in learning more about business opportunities with the Houston Independent School District and meeting potential partners are encouraged to attend a networking event from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.

The event, sponsored by the district’s Business Assistance team for Supplier Diversity, will be held at HISD’s Food Services Administration building at 6801 Bennington, Room 1112. District officials will be on hand to answer questions about HISD’s meal programs, the procurement process and paperwork requirements.

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Energy Institute High School Officially Opens Today

HISD, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), and Houston energy executives will gather to officially open the district’s new Energy Institute High School at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The school, located at 812 W. 28th Street, is the first of its kind in the nation and represents a collaborative effort between a public school district and industry leaders. The school’s vision is to focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while breaking the barriers of a traditional classroom. It will provide students with hands-on learning and externships in the fields of geoscience, alternative energy, and offshore technology.

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Career Pathways Let Top HISD Teachers Lead Without Leaving the Classroom

The second year of HISD’s innovative Career Pathways program kicked off in early August with more than 200 top teachers from across the district attending two-day teacher leadership trainings. The Career Pathways program is designed to give top teachers the opportunity to earn more and expand their influence on their campus without having to leave the classroom.

Ariana Sherman, who moved to the district this year from KIPP, will serve as an instructional practice coach at Patrick Henry Middle School, where she will focus on modeling excellent teaching techniques, observing peers, and providing feedback to help teachers better meet students’ needs. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” Sherman said. “This role lets me grow as a leader and a coach while also continuing to teach science, which is my passion.”

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Rigor Institute Creating Lofty Learning Environment for Students

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/72365532 w=320&h=205]

“Climbing the Mountain, Enjoying the Journey” is the name of the 2013 Rigor Institute now taking place at schools across the Houston Independent School District. Thanks to Gwendolyn Tompkins, Dianne Alvarez, and Denise Martinez, all senior managers in Professional Support and Development at HISD, teacher trainers now have a day-by-day training playbook of the same name.

“Last week we trained teacher trainers from 200 secondary and 400 elementary schools,” said Tompkins. “We wrote for three months, trained for three weeks, and now we’re passing the torch into the capable hands of teachers. We were inspired by Dr. Grier’s vision of rigor, consistency, and safety in every classroom.”

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HISD Begins Distributing Laptops as Part of PowerUp Initiative

The Houston Independent School District began distributing laptops to teachers at 11 high schools this week as part of phase one of the PowerUp initiative, and the district held a press conference to celebrate the roll-out at Austin High School on Aug. 13.

“We all know how kids learn today,” said Superintendent of Schools Terry B. Grier at the event. “Even some adults are learning differently. If we want it to work, instruction has to be rigorous, relevant, and engaging, so we have to modify how we teach and what we teach to meet their styles.”

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Photos: Teachers at PowerUp Schools Receive Laptops

Teachers at schools participating in the pilot stage of the PowerUp program, a districtwide initiative to transform how teachers teach and students learn through technology, are receiving their laptops this week.

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HISD Officially Opens Energy Institute High School

What:  HISD, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), and Houston energy executives will gather to officially open the district’s new Energy Institute High School. The school is the first of its kind in the nation and represents a collaborative effort between a public school district and industry leaders. The high school will provide students with a rigorous STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum, hands-on learning, and externships in the fields of geoscience, alternative energy, and offshore technology.

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