Author Archives: HISD Communications

Sanjuanita Mottu named new principal of Tijerina Elementary School

Sanjuanita Mottu

Sanjuanita Mottu has been selected as the new principal of Tijerina Elementary School. Mottu is a product of HISD schools and has served as a teacher at Lyons Elementary, magnet coordinator at Burbank Middle School, and for the past 3 years as the Assistant Principal at Tijerina Elementary, her childhood school. In 2019, she was awarded the East Area Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year.

Mottu earned her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University, and her master’s degree from the Concordia University-Austin. 

Lindsey Vela named new principal of Pin Oak Middle School

Lindsey Vela has been selected as the new principal of Pin Oak Middle School. Vela has 18 years of experience serving diverse student populations in rural, suburban and urban districts. Vela has served HISD as a Dean of Students at West Briar Middle School for the last 3 years. Most recently, Vela was named West Area Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year. 

She graduated from the University of Texas—Pan American with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English and Concordia University—Austin with a Master’s in Educational Leadership.

Jesseye Brown named new principal of Bellfort Early Childhood Center

Jesseye Brown has been selected as the new principal of Bellfort Early Childhood Center. Brown began her educational career in Aldine ISD as a 5th grade elementary school teacher. Most recently, she served in HISD as a teacher, department chair, teacher specialist, and assistant principal at Ortiz Middle School. Brown was selected as the Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year for the East Area for 2020-2021.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at University of Houston and her master’s degree from University of Texas at Arlington

Inaugural Men’s Leadership Summit champions new generation of male educators

Although Houston—and the Houston Independent School District—is a long way from his home in New Jersey, Baruti Kafele felt right at home in Westbury High School’s dining commons.

That’s because despite being thousands of miles away from his home base, he was speaking to a group of people that shared one very important trait—being an educator. Kafele, a nationally recognized teacher, principal, and summertime speaker at conferences across the country, was in Houston to speak at the HISD Men’s Leadership Summit.

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HISD to host Educator of the Year Awards on June 15

A two-part event will celebrate the Houston Independent School District’s “rock star” teachers on June 15.

During the day, an in-person and socially distanced event will take place at Delmar Stadium. Set for two different windows, teachers will receive swag bags and celebrate winners from 2020 and 2021. Teachers from the North, Northwest, and West areas will be able to attend from 9:30 to 11 a.m., with teachers from A180 schools, as well as the East and South areas, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

That evening, a virtual event will be held to recognize the Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year, Teachers of the Year, Beginning Teachers of the Year, Librarians of the Year, the Ann Sledge Instructional Coach winners, and the various winners for nurses, teachers, and Associate Teachers of the Month throughout the school year.

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Gifted and Talented launches community partnership program

With barely a week left of their time at Burbank Elementary School, a group of fifth-graders gathered in the school’s green-and-blue painted library for what may be the last time.

These students—a part of the Gifted and Talented program on campus—were not there for a graduation or year-end celebration, but rather a mentorship program with KPMG that helped them set goals for the summer as they transition into middle school.

“I want to read more over the summer,” one student said during his session. “That way I can get to sixth grade ready to go.”

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Nutrition Services hosts student workshops during Food & Agriculture Day at Mykawa Farm

Nearly two dozen students craned their necks to see the green plants and bright, booming flowers as their buses arrived Wednesday at the Food and Agriculture Literacy Center at Mykawa Farm.

As they got off the bus, they bounded toward a hollowed-out tree trunk, eager to visit the workstations designed to help them connect classroom science to real-life agriculture, nutrition, and the natural world.

“We’re here today to share with you how food comes from the soil and ends up on your plate,” said Marcus Glenn, Area Manager for Nutrition Services Food and Agriculture Literacy.

The Food and Agriculture Literacy Center at Mykawa Farm is a working educational farm that integrates nutrition and food science with core curriculum to provide students with hands-on learning experiences.

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Community food distributions end after challenging year

Nearly 1,200 cars and trucks looped around Barnett Stadium under a blazing sun, waiting for their final distribution of family food and household supplies from the Neighborhood Supersite at Barnett Stadium.

First in line was father of seven Enrique Alvarado, who said he was thankful for the support because the pandemic had negatively impacted his job.

“I am grateful that my children were able to get food, especially milk,” he said.

HISD Nutrition Services launched its community food distribution program last March, just days after the district had to close its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Summer Student Leadership Program accepting applications from high school students, district alumni

HISD is now accepting applications for its 2021 Summer Student Leadership Program, a six-week paid summer internship and leadership development program for HISD high school students and alumni currently enrolled in college. 

In line with HISD’s mission to provide students with the tools to reach their full potential, the program addresses the need to expose students to fulfilling careers and skills employers demand in a rapidly changing world. Participants will gain valuable employment experience and can test-drive career pathways before choosing a college major or entering the workforce.

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