Category Archives: Achievement/Recognition

DeBakey wins $7,500 grant in national H&R Block budget challenge

The DeBakey High School for Health Professions recently received a $7,500 grant from the H&R Block Budget Challenge, a teen financial literacy program that rewards high school classes for mastering real-world budgeting and personal finance decision-making. H&R Block representatives presented campus leaders with a check at a special gathering held in December.

High school students and educators nationwide are competing this year to win a portion of $3 million in classroom grants, college scholarships, and cash prizes through the Challenge, which was created to help students learn to manage their money and become financially responsible adults. Continue reading →

School secretary Karen Reed is HISD Employee of the Month for January

Karen Reed, left, is recognized as the January 2015 Employee of the Month at the HISD Board Meeting in December.

Karen Reed, Employee of the Month for January, is a Special Education secretary at Hogg Middle School, a position she has held since 2012. She walked away from a lucrative career in commercial real estate to join Team HISD, after realizing that her job wasn’t meaningful enough.

“As a research analyst, I did all this work so brokers could go home with big commissions,” said Reed. “I was padding someone else’s pocketbook, but not making a difference. I wanted somewhere for my stamp to be. These kids provide me with what I need: a purpose.”

Continue reading →

Teacher wins Texas A&M education award thanks to former student

Carnegie Vanguard High School history teacher Andrew Dewey has been selected to receive the Texas A&M University Inspiration Award for Exceptional Education.

Dewey was nominated for the award by his former CVHS student, Brookelynn Russey, who will graduate from Texas A&M on Friday, Dec. 19. He will be presented the award during the commencement ceremony. Continue reading →

HISD alumna wins $2,500 scholarship for essay on female leadership

Bellaire High School alumna Anna Hiran, who is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, was recently selected by Womenetics and Discover Card to receive a $2,500 scholarship during the fourth annual Global Women’s Initiative Symposium. Continue reading →

Chuck Norris congratulates HISD students at martial arts belt ceremony

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Martial arts champion and actor Chuck Norris visited Revere and Thomas middle schools for a belt ceremony last week to congratulate hundreds of students who have excelled in martial arts. Continue reading →

Solving math problems equals large sums for charities

$Think Through Math winners$ When Think Through Math’s “Time for Giving” contest ended on Dec. 5, Ms. Argue’s “Math Masters” team of scholars was just one of two teams that won from the U.S. Central Time Zone and only one of eight teams nationwide. Students earn points by completing math lessons, and the points are then converted into dollars, which are donated to charities across the country. The River Oaks Elementary School math students earned enough points to donate $17,712 to the charities of their choice – Big Brothers Big Sisters and No Kid Hungry. Continue reading →

Italian Consulate celebrates winners of literary contest

Students who are taking Italian at Bellaire High School and Pin Oak Middle School entered projects in a literary contest organized and sponsored by the Italian Consulate and the Committee of Italian Residents Abroad. Italian journalist and archeologist Valerio Massimo Manfredi presented the winners with certificates during the 10^th Conference of Italian Researchers in the World, which was held at the Italian Consulate on Dec. 6. Continue reading →

HISD school named finalist for national urban education award

Sanchez Elementary School is among 22 schools from across the country–and the only one from HISD–selected as a finalist for the National Excellence in Urban Education Award. The school was recognized by the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) for generating strong test results, high attendance rates, and excellent student behavior among all student demographics. Continue reading →

Students learn what it takes to run the City of Houston

Twenty-one seniors from Barbara Jordan High School for Careers were recognized Tuesday, Dec. 9 by the City of Houston for their commitment to job shadowing with more than 10 city departments to get a comprehensive look at what it takes to provide services to residents of the nation’s fourth largest city. Continue reading →

HISD employees donate more than $309,000 to Combined Charities

Top contributors saluted for Combined Charities participation

HISD’s Combined Charities Campaign concluded on Oct. 31 this year, and when all of the pledges were tallied, district employees had contributed more than $309,000 to support their favorite causes.