Author Archives: HISD Communications

Board President Michael Lunceford: “We’ve made great strides”

Board of Education President Michael Lunceford:

Thank you.

Good morning! It’s an honor to stand before you today, as we take a look at the state of our schools — our achievements as well as our challenges.

I would like to recognize and welcome my fellow trustees on the Board of Education. Trustees, please stand as I introduce you.

First, our immediate past president, Paula Harris, who did an outstanding job of leading the Board in 2011. Thank you, Paula, for your dedication and hard work last year.

And our other board trustees:

  • Manuel Rodríquez
  • Anna Eastman
  • Larry Marshall
  • Harvin Moore
  • Juliet Stipeche
  • Greg Meyers

And our newly elected trustee, representing District II – Rhonda Skillern-Jones.

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SOTS begins: Stevenson Middle School Principal praises colleagues, teachers

Stevenson Middle School Principal Alisa Zapata-Farmer:

Let’s give a round of applause to the Pin Oak Middle School Orchestra. Weren’t they great?

Hello and welcome to the 2012 State of the Schools.

It is an honor to be here with Superintendent Terry Grier and to welcome my HISD colleagues, Board of Education trustees, elected officials, parents, students, and business and community leaders.

The State of the Schools is a time for all of us to come together and celebrate our accomplishments, as well as determine our next steps on where we still need to go and the best way to reach our destinations.

As I reflect on the many goals we have set for ourselves this year, I think about the students in class – working to understand concepts, asking questions, and seeing their faces once they understand the concept being presented.

I think about the lessons that my teachers plan for them. Every time I hear the phrase, “effective teachers in every classroom,” I think about my school community – how the teachers at Stevenson plan together; how they truly care about the students.

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Follow the 2012 State of the Schools speech

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will highlight the outstanding work of the district’s principals, teachers, and community partners in his annual HISD State of the Schools address, and you can follow the event at http://houstonisd.org/stateoftheschools/.  Check in for live photo coverage, Twitter updates, a link to live streaming video via KTRK Channel 13, plus highlights from the annual report.

Students, parents weigh options at Career and Technical Fair

Students interested in the culinary arts, stenography, the military, the automotive industry and other career opportunities packed the Hattie Mae White building for the Career and Technical Education College Fair hosted by HISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department. Representatives from the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, The Culinary Institute of America and others were on hand to give students and their parents practical advice on deciding a career path.

Jones High School 11th grader Lashunda Mason, who showed up at the fair with aspiring nurse Krystal Burleson, originally had considered the veterinary sciences, but upon leaving the fair found herself surprised that she was interested in joining the U.S. Army. “I really wanted to sign up for it, but I was like ‘I don’t know,’ ” said Mason. Other students expressed similar sentiments – that the fair exposed them to options they didn’t know existed.

“It’s a way of creating awareness,” Texas Chiropractic College representatives Monique Lewis and Jena Rogers said, when asked why the fair was important. “The most asked question we get is ‘What is a chiropractor?’ ”

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HISD hosts Career and Technical Education College Fair

HISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department, in partnership with the College and Career Readiness Department, is hosting a Career and Technical Education (CTE) College Fair  at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092) from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m today.

Students and their parents can discuss career options with representatives from various two-year colleges and technical and vocational institutions. Information will be available on several fields of study including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Automotive Services
  • Computer Technology
  • Cosmetology
  • Health & Medical Services
  • Hotel & Restaurant Services
  • Law Enforcement
  • Manufacturing
  • Military
  • Technology
  • Welding

See who came out to the live STAAR information session

 More than 100 people crowded the main studio and two overflow areas  to learn more about the new state end-of-course examinations  at HISD’s live STAAR forum. Parents, students, educators and other members of the community engaged a panel of experts in a question and answer session covering a variety of issues related to STAAR.

Click through the photos below to see who came out to the event.

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Calls, emails pour in during live STAAR session at HISD-TV studio

The calls poured in as HISD hosted a live forum on the state’s new accountability test: STAAR. More than 100 people crowded the HISD-TV studio and two overflow areas to watch the forum, and viewers at home called in and emailed their questions throughout the show. More than 75 phone calls were received during the event.

Students in the live studio audience.

Host Denisse Cantu fielded questions from the live studio audience, callers, and email. A common theme emerged from the students who participated: “Why the change to STAAR?” (Answer: To measure students’ college readiness.)

“STAAR will prepare students for high school and beyond,” said Chief Middle Schools Officer Dallas Dance.

Other students and parents asked about preparations for STAAR. Some expressed concern about whether tutorials would be enough, and what the district was expecting  performance-wise in the first year of a new accountability system.

“It’s our expectation that you will do very well,” said Mark Shenker, director of the High Schools Office. He emphasized the Grad Labs, tutorials, after-school resources, and weekend sessions that continue to be available to students in HISD.

Several viewers called in to ask about the district’s plans for delaying the 15 percent requirement for high schoolers’ end-of-course exams. Based on the Texas Education Agency’s  move to defer the rule, HISD administration will recommend to the school board that the requirement be delayed a year.

A complete report of the questions and answers from this event will be posted here and on houstonisd.org in coming days. If you have a question about STAAR, please email STAAR@houstonisd.org.

Frost Elementary school celebrates milestones at dedication of new building

Houston Independent School District Board of Education trustees Larry Marshall and Paula Harris were on hand at the official dedicatory service of Frost Elementary School, built thanks to the $805 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2007.

“None of this could have occurred without the parents and community who voted for the bond program,” Trustee Marshall said as he commended the HISD facilities team for their hard work. “The support of this community has been integral for the success of this bond program to provide modern, healthy, technologically advanced campuses for the district’s students.”

The new school features science labs, a library, a computer lab and Smart Board technology in every classroom.

Click through the photos below to see scenes from the dedication ceremony and pictures of Frost Elementary School.

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HISD superintendent to highlight district accomplishments in State of the Schools Address

State of the Schools 2012

Nearly 2,000 community and business leaders, educators, and elected officials are expected to attend HISD’s State of the School luncheon on March 1 at the Hilton Americas Hotel.  Superintendent Terry Grier will address the many accomplishments and progress HISD has made made toward preparing students for college and future careers. Among the year’s highlights:

Although the luncheon is sold out, coverage of the event will be provided on the HISD News blog, HISD’s Twitter stream (@HoustonISD) and a live stream on abc13.com.

For more information, please click here to visit the Houston ISD website.