Category Archives: Achievement/Recognition

Walnut Bend ES team earns first place at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals

For the first time in school history, a team of students from Walnut Bend Elementary School was crowned champions at the Odyssey of the Mind 2019 World Finals for its outstanding performance and problem-solving skills.  

The team, along with six other HISD schools, traveled to East Lansing, Mich., for the 40th annual World Finals held May 22-25. 

Teamwork and creativity helped the Walnut Bend team earn first-place honors in the “Structure Toss” category, in which students were required to “design, build, and test a structure, made only of balsa wood with the option of using glue to connect the parts, and to test it by placing weights onto it.” The Walnut Bend’s structure held an impressive 780 pounds. 

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Two HISD students named winners of Congressional District Art Competition

Two HISD students have been announced as winners of the 2019 U.S. Congressional Art Competition.  

Keren Reyes, a freshman from Sharpstown High School, was chosen as the 9th Congressional District’s winner. Her winning piece, ” La Creola,” is a pencil drawing of one of her closest friends who still lives in her home country of El Salvador. According to Sharpstown art teacher Guadalupe Hernandez, when asked why she decided to create the piece, Reyes said that she did not want to forget where she came from and the people she left behind to come to the United States.  

Julio Bautista, a sophomore from Mickey Leland Prepatory Academy, was selected as the 18th Congressional District’s winner. His original art work, “Mayan Mindbender,” pays homage to his Hispanic background and the beauty of the Mayan culture.  

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Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalist named Teacher of the Month for May

Dogan Elementary got to celebrate twice this month when their fourth-grade ELAR teacher Brittani Rideaux, who was crowned as an Elementary Teacher of the Year finalist was also named the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for May. 

To help close out the school year, Sterling McCall VIP Services surprised Rideaux on Wednesday to celebrate her accomplishments in the classroom that have landed her multiple recognitions across the district.  

“Ms. Rideaux has a strong commitment and passion to Dogan students’ academic achievement,” Principal Sandra Menxueiro said. “Her growth mindset and grit are a motivation to her students and staff, which has resulted in classroom success.” 

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HISD celebrates 2018-19 Educators of the Year at western-themed banquet

The Houston Independent School District crowned the district’s top elementary and secondary teachers of the year during the annual, western-themed Educators of the Year banquet on Friday, which honors teaching excellence across the district.

Nazaret Chavez-Guerrero, a second-grade ESL math teacher at R.P. Harris Elementary School, and Jose Clemente, a math teacher at Westbury High School, were named the 2018-2019 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, respectively.

“I want you to know we appreciate the countless sacrifices and time you have spent in making sure every student knows their potential and greatness,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “You are the most important indicator of a student’s academic outcomes.”

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Longtime Washington HS educator wins HEB Excellence in Education award

Booker T. Washington Engineering teacher Nghia Le accepts the
Secondary Education Leadership prize at HEB’s Excellence in Education Awards on Saturday, May 4.

An engineering teacher at HISD’s Booker T. Washington High School and the High School for Engineering Professions is one of the eight educators statewide receiving this year’s HEB Excellence in Education Awards. 

Nghia Le was awarded HEB’s Secondary Education Leadership prize, which honors teachers with 10 to 20 years of classroom experience. The award comes with a $10,000 grant for his school and a $10,000 check for his personal use.  

“Dr. Le is certainly one of our shining stars in the classroom,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “He leads an out-of-this-world program and deserves this prestigious honor and the prize that accompanies it.” 

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HISD Police to celebrate Police Appreciation Week

This week, law enforcement officers in HISD and across the country will be celebrated for their service and sacrifice as part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.

The annual observance was created in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which the date falls as Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.

“Every year we use this time to reflect on the value of peace officers to our society and the immense sacrifices they make on a daily basis to protect the community,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “During this week we want to honor both the living and the dead who have dedicated their lives to serve others.”

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HISD students honored at Marvy Finger Family Scholarship ceremony

Houston Independent School District seniors who hope to pursue career and technical education opportunities after graduation were honored at the annual Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship Ceremony on Wednesday evening.  

At the ceremony, which was held at the Delmar Field House, the 65 scholarship recipients and their families were treated to a dinner and reception attended by members of HISD’s Board of Education, Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan and the Finger family. 

Since 2013, the Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship has awarded worthy HISD graduates full scholarships covering their two-year degree or certification program in high-demand careers. 

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HISD to celebrate top teachers, principals at western-themed Educators of the Year banquet

The Houston Independent School District will honor its teachers and principals at a western-themed Educators of the Year banquet at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17 at the Hilton Americas Hotel (1600 Lamar St., Houston, 77010).

During the banquet, the district will announce its 2018-2019 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, as well as the recipients of the Beginning Teacher of the Year honors for elementary, middle, and high school. The Fan Favorite Teacher, who was selected by survey, also will be announced. Additionally, the district will recognize the teachers of the year from all HISD campuses.

Both winners of Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year each will be surprised with a fully loaded 2019 Lexus luxury vehicle at the end of the program. The teachers will be able to drive the cars for the entire summer, courtesy of Sterling McCall VIP Services.

HISD celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-11, and HISD is asking students, families and the community to “Thank a Teacher” in person or on social media using #ThankAnHISDTeacher.  

To celebrate our teachers’ commitment and service, HISD will recognize teaching excellence across our district at the annual Educators of the Year banquet on May 17, at the Hilton Americas Hotel.  

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Ascending to Men Project celebrates inaugural year with districtwide summit

The Houston Independent School District’s Ascending to Men Project (ATMP) held its districtwide youth summit to mark the end of its inaugural year on Friday.  

The summit, titled Changing the Narrative of Our Story, was held at Kingdom Builders’ Center to celebrate a successful year of the districtwide program, which connects male students with mentors who provide a wide range of support to keep students on track toward success in college, careers and beyond. 

“The Ascending to Men Program was just a vision 12 months ago,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said to the crowd of students, staff and guest. “We are here today because of your hard work.” 

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