The holiday season kicked off in earnest as student artists and district leaders gathered at HISD’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on Monday, Nov. 14, to celebrate the 2022 HISD holiday greeting card competition winners.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Achievement/Recognition
51 HISD seniors named semifinalists in National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program has selected 51 Houston Independent School District seniors as semifinalists for the 2022-2023 scholarship competition year.
The scholarship program gives seniors the opportunity to compete for about 7,250 monetary scholarships to help jumpstart their college careers.
Continue readingNorth Houston Early College HS latest National Blue Ribbon School
North Houston Early College High School was named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education during a ceremony Dec. 3.
Continue readingSuperintendent House announces leadership changes, restructuring to meet student needs
As part of the collective work moving the district towards improved student outcomes, it is critical that Houston Independent School District have aligned structures and efficient processes.
Over the past several weeks, Superintendent Millard House has closely examined the district’s overall structure, identifying opportunities for the district to become more efficient and responsive to student needs.
The following district leadership changes will help lead HISD to become a more effective organization:
Continue readingHISD inducting inaugural class into newly created Athletic Hall of Honor
The Houston Independent School District has a rich history of student athletes not only making an impact but making history in the sports world. These athletes will be recognized at the inaugural induction ceremony into the HISD Athletic Hall of Honor on August 14.
A project spearheaded by Athletics Director Andre’ Walker and the Hall of Honor Executive Committee, the Class of 2021 consists of 16 individuals and one team. They include Super Bowl champions, Olympic winners, a basketball player whose college team inspired a movie, a tennis champion who led the way for tennis to become a professional women’s sport, and the best football team in state history.
Continue readingLamar HS internships produce ongoing dividends
As the school year wrapped up in June, rising Lamar High School senior Ariana Valdez pondered her future.
The 17-year-old had been tapped in the spring for a financial internship sponsored by the Smart Financial Credit Union branch on the Lamar campus. As she embraced the program, her perspective shifted.
Continue readingRobinson ES teacher awarded Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award
A Robinson Elementary School teacher is the recipient of the prestigious Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.
Johanna Heegeman, a 4th grade teacher at Robinson, was surprised with the award at the elementary school last week. The award also comes with a $25,000 prize.
Continue readingHISD educator named Texas Poet Laureate
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.
Continue readingHigh School Ahead Academy hero places sharp focus on helping students
As Michael McClendon begins his day at High School Ahead Academy, you can usually find him moving about the campus, stopping to check in with various students along the way.
The dedicated employee often serves a mentor and role model for the nearly 200 students on campus. He listens to their joys and frustrations, offering a kind word or two in return.
Continue readingEducators of the Year recognized in virtual event
As heavy storms—the kind typical of Houston summers, dark clouds heavy with rain—moved through the area on Tuesday night, spirits in teachers’ homes across the area could not be dampened.
And as the skies cleared, a rainbow appeared over Rosa Oviedo’s house, just in time for her to be surprised as the Elementary Teacher of the Year.
“It feels really good as an educator,” Oviedo said. “We don’t do this job to be recognized, but for HISD to put this together for us despite the pandemic is truly appreciated.”
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