Category Archives: Achievement/Recognition

HISD recognizes Principals of the Year

Tonya Woods of Lewis Elementary, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Tonya Woods of Lewis Elementary, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

HISD recognized eight of its most respected and effective administrators on May 1, as the Principals of the Year, First Year Principals of the Year, and Assistant Principals of the Year.

The administrators were nominated by colleagues, teachers, and students for their instructional leadership and efforts to boost student achievement, and the honorees were selected for their outstanding contributions to the district and their school communities. 

Here are the 2013 honorees:
Assistant Principals of the Year

Sonja Williams of Madison High School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Sonja Williams of Madison High School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

  • Elementary: Maria Espinosa, Rodriguez ES
  • Middle: Inge Garibaldi, Williams MS
  • High: Opal Harrison, Milby HS

First Year Principals of the Year

  • Elementary: Abigail Taylor, Sinclair ES
  • Secondary: Geovanny Ponce, Hartman MS

Principals of the Year

  • Elementary: Tonya Woods, Lewis ES
  • Middle: Nicole Moore Morrison, Key MS
  • High: Sonja Williams, Madison HS

See photos of all the Principal of the Year winners.

Nicole Moore of Key Middle School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Nicole Moore of Key Middle School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.

Superintendent of Schools Terry B. Grier congratulated the administrators during a ceremony at the monthly principals’ meeting. “There’s no doubt that these administrators represent excellence in leadership,” he said. “But there are many other equally deserving principals in this room.”

HISD Teacher Named Houston Bilingual Educator of the Year

Scroggins Elementary's Maria Elena Galan, the 2013 HAABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year

Scroggins Elementary's Maria Elena Galan, the 2013 HAABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year

When Maria Elena Galan first came to the United States in 1993, she immediately enrolled herself in ESL classes at Houston Community College. “I had very limited English skills so I had to study and practice, practice, practice,” said Galan. Twenty years later the Scroggins Elementary School teacher draws from her own personal experience learning the English language to motivate and help her fourth grade students and their parents.

On Friday, April 27, Galan was honored as the 2013 Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE). Galan was nominated for the honor by her principal San Juana Elizando.

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Academic Signing Day Celebrates Senior Scholarships

Approximately 200 students listened to inspirational words about completing college from HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.

Approximately 200 students listened to inspirational words about completing college from HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.

Hundreds of seniors made their intent to pursue higher education official at HISD’s first ever Academic Signing Day held at the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on April 26, 2013. Much like athletes are celebrated for committing to a college, HISD seniors who were awarded scholarships to attend a two or four-year university were honored at the district’s inaugural event.

“I think it’s wonderful that HISD is formally recognizing our students who have worked hard throughout high school and are now seeing the rewards of their academic efforts,” said Austin High School Principal Jorge Arredondo.

“Normally it’s only athletes that have a signing day,” said Jones High School senior Kiara St. John. “It’s pretty cool that we are getting recognized for our talents and accomplishments.”

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Inaugural HISD Academic Signing Day

Ceremony will honor students who have been awarded scholarships to attend two or four year universities or colleges

For the first time, the Houston Independent School District will honor seniors who have been awarded scholarships to attend two or four year universities or colleges during an academic signing day ceremony. The “Academic Ambassadors” will be recognized during a ceremony similar to ones held for senior student athletes. Five students from each high school will be recognized for academic excellence; overcoming personal obstacles; or for performing great service to their school or community. State Representative and Milby High school alumna Mary Ann Perez will serve as keynote speaker. HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will also deliver remarks. Following the ceremony, the media will have an opportunity to interview the students.

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HISD Recognizes Top Six JROTC Cadets in HISD Class of 2013

Students come from HSLECJ, Lamar, Reagan, SHMSTC, Scarborough, and Waltrip

HISD’s JROTC program formally honored its top six cadets from the Class of 2013 during the Annual HISD JROTC Final Review and Awards Ceremony on April 20.

The students were chosen from the ranks of all graduating seniors in HISD’s 25 JROTC programs and all were promoted to Cadet Colonel, which is the highest rank attainable in the JROTC program. Continue reading →

Record Number of Houston Schools Make Nation’s Top 9 Percent

Carnegie Vanguard HS

Carnegie Vanguard High School is one of the national top 100 schools in the Washington Post High School Challenge.

Houston ISD high schools made their strongest showing ever this year in the prestigious Washington Post High School Challenge rankings that were released this week.

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HISD Claims Nearly One-Quarter of Texas’ Top High Schools

Record number of Houston Schools Make Nation’s Top 9 Percent

Houston ISD high schools made their strongest showing ever this year in the prestigious Washington Post High School Challenge rankings that were released this week. 

The rankings are based on the number of college-level Advanced Placement exams attempted, the number of students passing at least one AP or International Baccalaureate exam, and the percentage of students from low-income families at each campus. Only the nation’s top 9 percent of schools make the rankings. This year, HISD landed 33 high schools on the list, the best showing since 2010 when 25 HISD schools made the cut.  Statewide, 146 high schools appeared in the rankings, meaning Houston high schools account for 23 percent of all Texas campuses named in the annual report.

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Sharpstown International One of 12 HISD Schools to Advance to State Odyssey of the Mind Competition

Students from 12 HISD schools will compete in the state Odyssey of the Mind competition on April 13.

For students at Sharpstown International School, the excitement of advancing past the regional competition is particularly meaningful as 2013 marks their second year of participation and back-to-back wins.

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Seven HISD Seniors Awarded National Achievement Scholarships

Ten percent of Texas winners are from HISD

April 10, 2013 – Seven Houston Independent School District students have been named National Achievement Scholarship winners and will each receive a $2,500 scholarship for their undergraduate studies.

Each year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards scholarships to African-American students who have excelled in academics and have demonstrated the potential for academic success in college.
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