If you’re interested in doing business with the Houston Independent School District or would like some more information about the 2012 bond program, here’s your opportunity. Continue reading
Author Archives: HISD Communications
$1.25M Grant Awarded for University of St. Thomas and HISD Special Education Partnership
A $1.25M grant recently was awarded to the University of St. Thomas for their Preparation of Special Education Leaders program, a partnership with the Houston Independent School District that over a 5-year grant period will award 80 Master of Education degrees with emphasis on Special Education leadership. Currently, 7.8 percent of the HISD school population receives special education services. Continue reading
Want to network and learn? Check out these business outreach events
For M/WBEs or other suppliers who want to learn and network, there are host of opportunities across the city. Just click on the individual links to find out more about each event.
November
Wednesday, Nov. 28 – Houston ISD networking event: The Houston Independent School District is hosting a networking event for subcontractors interested in providing services to architecture and engineering companies, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Carnegie Vanguard High School, 1501 Taft Street.
HISD Board President Television Show Takes an Up Close Look at HILZ Program
Who: The November/December 2012 edition of HISD Up Close hosted by HISD Board President Michael Lunceford gives viewers an inside look at the Houston Innovative Learning Zone academies at Jane Long and Scarborough High School, two of six HISD schools that have these new career and technical education programs on their campus. The show also features a tour of the district’s Las Americas Newcomers School, which has students from 32 countries who speak 29 different languages. Continue reading
Longfellow Elementary Students Reveal Top 10 Toys for Kids this Holiday Season
Since 2001 HISD’s Longfellow Elementary students have been helping parents tackle their holiday shopping with a list of kid-friendly and cost-effective gifts. Today, fifth-grade students at Longfellow held a news conference to announce this year’s top 10 most-wanted holiday gifts.
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“It was hard work. We had to work together,” said Erik Cuellar, fifth-grade student. “But in the end we had a lot of fun, and we are making holiday shopping easier for many parents.”
Every year, the fifth-graders at Longfellow divide into teams and spend a month surveying their classmates on the most desirable toys for the holiday season. The students conduct the surveys on their own, record the data, and use data analysis and math skills to tally the results and release their top 10 list to the media.
YWCPA Hosts Computer Programming Symposium
[slideshow]More than 200 area third- through eighth-grade students, teachers, and parents attended a computer programming symposium on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy.
The Inaugural Schlumberger Log-in Symposium provided participants with free access to computer programming and robotics software, equipment, training, and other resources. There also were student robotics and computer exhibitions from Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy on display.
Volunteers from Schlumberger, Rice University, University of Houston and Texas Southern University served as mentors and instructors for the students. They also held informational seminars for parents interested in learning about education opportunities in the computer programming and technology fields.
Halpin Early Childhood Center Distributes Thanksgiving Baskets to Families
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Thanksgiving arrived early for 150 Halpin Early Childhood Center families. Last week, the Houston Community Service Club provided the families with everything they will need to have a fantastic Thanksgiving meal. In fact, the turkey and all the trimmings were even loaded up in each family’s car. Students dressed up in Thanksgiving outfits and sang a song of thanks for the service club members.
Halpin Early Childhood Center principal Jessica Tejada said in today’s economy everyone needs a little help and she is thankful to service organizations like the Houston Community Service Club for lending a helping hand. “Our parents were so appreciative of this wonderful gift, and our community is happy to receive such a thoughtful donation,” Tejada said.
One of the Service Club members, Harold Goldstein, has a special connection with Halpin Early Childhood Center since it was dedicated to his daughter, Sharon Goldstein Halpin, in 1997 to honor her exceptional dedication as a teacher in HISD.
HISD Names New Chief Information Technology Officer
Lenny Schad, a 25-year veteran of the technology industry who has introduced the latest classroom hardware and software to schools throughout Katy, has been named Chief Information Technology Officer for the Houston Independent School District.
Schad will succeed Arnold Viramontes, who is retiring in January after a distinguished career in Texas public education. Schad’s job duties in HISD will include overseeing the expenditure of $100 million in classroom technology funds at campuses across the district. The technology money was included in the $1.89 billion bond proposition approved by 69 percent of HISD voters earlier this month.
“This is a critical time for the future of technology in Houston classrooms, and our students are fortunate to have a proven innovator such as Lenny Schad leading the way,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.
Schad has served as Chief Information Officer in the 64,000-student Katy Independent School District for nine years. Highlights of his career include managing and leading technology departments for the 1991 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations, the 1992 Republican National Convention as well as creating and managing technology departments for joint ventures and global organizations.
“HISD is known as a school district that is making great progress toward closing the achievement gap by raising the level of performance for all students,” Schad said. “I am excited to lead the effort to equip teachers and students with the tools and training they need to build on this progress.”
Through his leadership, Katy ISD is in year four of a mobile learning initiative focusing on Web 2.0 integration, digital citizenship and mobile devices. For the past four years, fifth graders at 18 elementary schools have been using mobile learning devices in their classes with great success. For the second year, public Wi-Fi will be available at every K-12 campus in Katy allowing students and teachers to bring their own device. Schad’s first book, Mobile Learning: It’s Not About the Device, is due to be published next year.
Schad’s professional recognitions include:
- National School Board Association’s “20 to Watch” educators for 2008
- The Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) Volunteer Hall of Fame
- CoSN 2011 National School District Team Award
- CIO Leadership Forum “2011 Next Level Leadership Award”
HISD Athletic Director Recognized as Region’s 2012 Athletic Director of the Year
HISD’s Athletic Director Marmion Dambrino has been selected as the region’s 2012 Athletic Director of the Year by the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association.
“To be selected from a group of peers who are truly talented, exemplary and committed to their school districts, student athletes, and coaches is truly an honor,” said HISD Athletic Director Marmion Dambrino. “I am humbled to have the opportunity to represent our region in the upcoming THSADA convention.”
HISD’s Parent Super Centers cited by Education Week for technology outreach
Houston ISD and its Parent Super Centers were recently cited in an Education Week article about school districts reaching out to the community with technology and social networking.