On Tuesday, community members gathered at Madison High School for the first of nine community meetings to learn more about Houston ISD’s budgeting process.
Author Archives: HISD Communications
HISD recognizes Principals of the Year
Tonya Woods of Lewis Elementary, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.
HISD recognized eight of its most respected and effective administrators on May 1, as the Principals of the Year, First Year Principals of the Year, and Assistant Principals of the Year.
The administrators were nominated by colleagues, teachers, and students for their instructional leadership and efforts to boost student achievement, and the honorees were selected for their outstanding contributions to the district and their school communities.
Here are the 2013 honorees:
Assistant Principals of the Year
Sonja Williams of Madison High School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.
- Elementary: Maria Espinosa, Rodriguez ES
- Middle: Inge Garibaldi, Williams MS
- High: Opal Harrison, Milby HS
First Year Principals of the Year
- Elementary: Abigail Taylor, Sinclair ES
- Secondary: Geovanny Ponce, Hartman MS
Principals of the Year
- Elementary: Tonya Woods, Lewis ES
- Middle: Nicole Moore Morrison, Key MS
- High: Sonja Williams, Madison HS
See photos of all the Principal of the Year winners.
Nicole Moore of Key Middle School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.
Superintendent of Schools Terry B. Grier congratulated the administrators during a ceremony at the monthly principals’ meeting. “There’s no doubt that these administrators represent excellence in leadership,” he said. “But there are many other equally deserving principals in this room.”
HISD Bond Oversight Committee Hears Update on 2007, 2012 Programs at Inaugural Meeting
HISD’s Bond Oversight Committee heard a detailed update on the district’s 2012 and 2007 bond programs during its inaugural quarterly meeting on Tuesday that included the latest steps in planning, renovating and building dozens of schools across the district.
The independent committee was established to monitor the district’s bond programs, which includes ensuring that bond revenues are spent appropriately and evaluating the risks and controls of the bond program.
The district recently reorganized the group’s charter to give it more oversight responsibility, via independent and periodic reports to the superintendent, the Board of Education and the general public.
Internships Give Students a Taste of Possible Careers
Sterling High School students in the automotive internship program pose with their mentors from the Transportation Services department.
Darrien Coleman plans to own his own auto repair shop one day, and although still in high school, he is already taking meaningful steps to achieve that dream.
The Sterling High School senior has been participating in an automotive internship program since last November that allows HISD students to work with members of the district’s own Transportation Department to learn the ins and outs of school bus maintenance.
HISD seeks construction management services on selected 2012 bond projects
HISD is soliciting qualifications from construction companies interested in supplying Construction Manager at Risk services on four schools being renovated or built under the 2012 bond program.
The projects include Waltrip High School, Worthing High School, North Early College and South Early College high schools.
“This is great opportunity for companies that want to work with the district and the architects as we plan and design these schools,” said Robert Sands, Officer of Construction & Facility Services.
HISD Teacher Named Houston Bilingual Educator of the Year
Scroggins Elementary's Maria Elena Galan, the 2013 HAABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year
When Maria Elena Galan first came to the United States in 1993, she immediately enrolled herself in ESL classes at Houston Community College. “I had very limited English skills so I had to study and practice, practice, practice,” said Galan. Twenty years later the Scroggins Elementary School teacher draws from her own personal experience learning the English language to motivate and help her fourth grade students and their parents.
On Friday, April 27, Galan was honored as the 2013 Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE). Galan was nominated for the honor by her principal San Juana Elizando.
Energy Institute High School Open House on May 2
Parents and students interested in attending The Energy Institute High School are invited to attend an open house on Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street). The new HISD magnet school is currently recruiting ninth grade students for the 2013-2014 school year. Subsequent grades will be added each year so that the campus will eventually serve students in grades 9-12.
Academic Signing Day Celebrates Senior Scholarships
Approximately 200 students listened to inspirational words about completing college from HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.
Hundreds of seniors made their intent to pursue higher education official at HISD’s first ever Academic Signing Day held at the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on April 26, 2013. Much like athletes are celebrated for committing to a college, HISD seniors who were awarded scholarships to attend a two or four-year university were honored at the district’s inaugural event.
“I think it’s wonderful that HISD is formally recognizing our students who have worked hard throughout high school and are now seeing the rewards of their academic efforts,” said Austin High School Principal Jorge Arredondo.
“Normally it’s only athletes that have a signing day,” said Jones High School senior Kiara St. John. “It’s pretty cool that we are getting recognized for our talents and accomplishments.”
Sharpstown International students send their condolences to China following deadly earthquake
When students at Sharpstown International learned of the April 20 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, they were sparked to action. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake and its effects have claimed approximately 200 lives and injured thousands more, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.
“As soon as we heard the news about the earthquake, the students were very thoughtful in thinking, ‘We need to do something for the victims,’ said Thuy Le-Thai, principal of Sharpstown International School. “So the art teachers, the Chinese teachers and the homeroom teachers have been working hard with them to express our thoughts and our love, and to express our condolences.”
Rice University Study Shows Performance-Based Awards Improve Teacher Attendance, Retention, Students’ Test Scores
Programs such as HISD’s ASPIRE program improve teacher attendance, retention and increased students’ test scores, according to a study released by Rice University.
The study evaluated award-eligible teachers from HISD’s 279 schools to determine if receiving a monetary reward during the 2009-2010 school year positively influenced teacher outcomes in 2010-2011, according to a news release.
The complete report is available on the website for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
The ASPIRE program (Accelerating Student Progress: Increasing Results and Expectations) began during the 2006-07 school year.