Incoming seventh grader, Kirsten Aparicio, believes in-person learning at Ortiz Middle School has been the key to her success this summer.
After learning online since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the 12-year old finally returned to the classroom in June for summer school.
An avid reader, Kirsten said she now feels prepared for the seventh grade and ready to break out of her shell.
“When I came back, it’s like the old me again, and I’m making good grades,” she said.
Continue readingAs he walked through the first and second grade classrooms at Mading Elementary School, Superintendent Millard House was greeted with the smell of freshly made tamales.
Students attending summer school at Mading were taking a break for lunch just as the new superintendent of HISD stopped by for a visit. It was a well-earned break after a morning full of learning for the students.
“You guys continue working hard,” House said as he exited one of the classrooms. “We are proud of you. We are glad you are back.”
That school was just one of many as House toured several schools on his second official day on the job.
Continue readingRoam the hallways at Moreno Elementary School in north Houston, and you might see some lions, tigers, or even a few bears.
That’s because the elementary school’s theme for summer school is Summer Safari, giving students the chance to see wild animals without ever leaving their classrooms.
Enrollment for summer school at Moreno has increased this year, as it has at schools across Houston Independent School District. Many students are attending to help close the learning gaps from the previous year’s obstacles. And for teachers, it is a chance to see students in their classrooms—some for the first time in-person.
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Dr. Alexis Clark has been selected as the new principal of Crockett Elementary School. Clark started with HISD as a teacher at Brookline and Harvard Elementary Schools. She then served as the Assistant Principal of Harvard for almost five years. While at Harvard, she helped to close the student achievement gap through the authenticity of the PLC process and the implementation of depth and complexity elements for all students. Most recently, she served as an educational consultant with an organization specialized in early childhood brain development. Clark also has experience in dance and vocal performance.
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All HISD campuses and offices will be closed Monday, July 5 for the observed Independence Day holiday.
Schools and offices will reopen for normal business on Tuesday, July 6.
The HISD Police Department will be patrolling district facilities. Emergencies may be reported by calling 713-892-7777.
The Office of Special Education Services invites parents to take part in a survey on its Autism Services meetings for the upcoming school year.
The brief survey helps determine what topics will be covered in next year’s parent meetings. The meetings are an opportunity for parents of children with autism to engage with other parents, learn what’s happening in the classroom, and hear about new research developments.
The survey can be found at bit.ly/auparentsurvey. Please complete the survey by August 16, 2021.
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A Houston Independent School District educator has been named Texas Poet Laureate.
Lupe Mendez is an HISD teacher development specialist with more than ten years of experience with the district. The former classroom teacher has also received fellowships from CantoMundo, Macondo, and the Crescendo Literary/Poetry Foundation.
Mendez is an internationally published writer. His work is featured in The Kenyon Review, Gulf Coast Journal, the Texas Review, Poetry Magazine, and Poem-A-Day from the Academy of American Poets.
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Jose Hilario Cordova has been selected as the new principal of Memorial Elementary School. He is a proud product of Houston ISD graduating from Carnegie Vanguard High School. He has served as an Assistant Principal at Lanier Middle School for the past two years. He began his career with HISD in 2014 as a social studies teacher at Welch Middle School. He was named “Beginning Teacher of the Year” for the District in 2015. He then transitioned to being a teacher and administrator at Lanier Middle School.
Continue readingAlexander Gonzalez has been selected as the new principal of Helms Elementary. Gonzalez first began his career in education as a middle school reading teacher at Killough Middle School in Alief ISD. In 2014, he served as a teacher, department chair, and site coordinator for Houston ISD’s Advanced Virtual Academy. In 2017, he became a Teacher Specialist at Hines-Caldwell Elementary overseeing IAT, LEP, and 504. For the last three years he has served as an Assistant Principal at Scarborough High School.
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Holley Mays is the new principal for Neff Early Learning Center. Over the past 8 years she has served as a teacher, Teacher Specialist and recently Assistant Principal of Neff Elementary, grades 2-5. She has been a participant in various leadership training opportunities within the district, including the Assistant Principal Candidate Development Opportunity, West Area Emergent Leader Cohort, and Principal Candidate Development Opportunity. She was named “Assistant Principal of the Year” for West Area Elementary Schools for the 2020-2021 school year.
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