Category Archives: Achievement/Recognition

Class of 2019 valedictorians, salutatorians to be honored at Scholars Banquet 

The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute to each high school’s valedictorian and salutatorian during its annual Scholars Banquet. 

Every spring, HISD honors the top two scholars at each of its high schools with a formal celebration of the accomplishment of finishing first or second in their class academic rankings. During the banquet, each valedictorian and salutatorian is presented with a medallion in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements. 

The 2019 Scholars Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at the Westin Galleria Hotel (5060 West Alabama St., Houston, 77056).

Achieve 180’s data-driven teacher is Teacher of the Month

There was much to be celebrated at Pugh Elementary on Tuesday when fourth-grade ELA teacher Julianne DeLay was surprised by Achieve 180 Area Superintendent Felicia Adams as the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for March.  

Only in her third year as a teacher, DeLay is hitting it out of the park with her students, who are producing literacy scores above the district’s average, further driving her as a top performer and role model for those in the Achieve 180 program.  

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Energy Institute HS named National Magnet School of Excellence


Principal Lori Lambropoulos accepts the Magnet School of America’s Waldrip Magnet School of Merit Award on Saturday, April 13 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Energy Institute High School has been named a National Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. 

Energy Institute High School is the first school in HISD devoted to preparing students for careers in the energy field. The mission of the school is to deliver cutting-edge education and to expose students to careers in the energy field. Energy Institute’s vision is to focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while breaking the barriers of the traditional classroom. 

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HISD celebrating Educational Diagnosticians’ Week

HISD celebrates Educational Diagnosticians’ Week during the week of March 4-8 to celebrate and honor educational diagnosticians and their contribution to positive student outcomes. 

With nearly 150 educational diagnosticians employed at the district and the largest populations in the state of Texas, these professionals are trained to formally assess students in the areas of cognition and achievement. More specifically, educational diagnosticians identify challenges a student may be facing on his or her learning path.     

At HISD, one may find a diagnostician attending any type of special education meeting between the school, student and family, functioning as the expert in how a student learns and processes information.  

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Record number of campuses seek certification as Family Friendly Schools

New Platinum certification level being launched as part of program

HISD Family and Community Engagement Department (FACE) continues to make strides with its Family Friendly Schools program, experiencing a new record-high number of 170 campuses seeking to be certified for the 2018-2019 school year.   

Now in its fourth year, the Family Friendly School Program is bringing a new challenge: earning Platinum Certification. Launched during the 2015-2016 school year, the program focuses on guiding campuses who embark in a concerted effort to carry-out research-based activities and strategies to build relationships with families, link family events to student learning, develop parent capacity, and honor families’ diversity.  

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Kinder HSPVA named 2019 Landmark Award finalist

The new Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts building has been named a Houston Business Journal 2019 Landmark Award finalist.

The annual awards program recognizes impressive real estate projects that make a significant impression on the Houston landscape and help sculpt the look, feel, and image of the city.

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HISD names 2018-19 elementary, secondary Principals of the Year

There was a wave of celebrations on Wednesday morning as the district crowned its 2018-2019 elementary and secondary Principals of the Year.  

The first stop for a caravan filled with district leadership and staff was at Durham Elementary School, where campus administrators, teachers and students filled the cafeteria to surprise Principal Amy Poerschke as this year’s Elementary Principal of the Year. 

“When district leadership interviewed Principal Poerschke earlier this year, it was music to my ears to hear her passion and commitment to ensure all children at her campus and beyond received the absolute best in their education,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said.  

It wasn’t hard to keep a smile on everyone’s face as Poerschke was greeted by students offering cheers and high-fives as the third-year principal made her way through the crowd. 

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HISD takes home 18 state awards for communications, community engagement efforts

The Houston Independent School District earned top honors for its work in communications and community engagement during the 2019 Texas School Public Relations Association Annual Conference in Cedar Creek. 

Presented to HISD Communications and HISD Business Operations Strategic Engagement and Outreach teams, the accolades covered nearly all facets of the teams, including writing, videography, graphic design, marketing, branding, and special events. 

HISD Communications took home the prestigious Crystal Award for the 2018 HISD State of the Schools special event “Rebuild + Reimage,” which consisted of a multifaceted communications campaign that employed a variety of media, including graphic design, production, video, livestreaming, social media and three-dimensional table cards with hover animation. In addition, it also won two Crystal Commendations Certificates of Merit. Business Operations Strategic Engagement and Outreach took home 15 Star Awards medals, including five gold, nine silver, and one bronze. 

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Lathan receives Outstanding Texan Award

HISD Interim Superintendent, Dr. Grenita Lathan

Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan has been named one of this year’s Outstanding Texans by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC). 

The award is given to individuals from the public and private sector who demonstrate exemplary service and commitment to their community. 

“I am truly honored to receive this distinguished award, and I am grateful to the Caucus, especially state Sen. Borris Miles, for this amazing recognition,” Lathan said. “This award is the result of our entire team, which consistently gives 1,000 percent toward our goal of making HISD the best school district in the nation.”   

Lathan received her award at the TLBC Outstanding Texan Award Gala in Austin on Monday. The chair of the Caucus for the 86th Legislature is State Rep. Harold Dutton.  

Three HISD schools receive grants to boost theater education programs

Theater programs at three Houston Independent School District campuses have received grants from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative totaling nearly $50,000.   

HISD’s Chavez High School received $30,000 from the group to refurbish its set design workshop. The Chavez Lobo Theatre not only builds its own sets but also provides items for productions, classrooms and clubs for other campuses in the district. 

HISD’s Northside High School received $12,500 from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative to improve its theatrical library, playwriting curriculum and obtain high quality costumes.  

The district’s Gregory-Lincoln Education Center for the Performing and Visuals Arts received $7,107 for the purchase of a spotlight, sewing machine, costumes, stage props, a projector, and to establish a Theatre Arts reading/writing program. 

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