Category Archives: Achievement/Recognition

Director of Literacy Recognized with National Award

HISD’s Director of Literacy Carol Bedard has been honored along with two of her colleagues by the National Council of Teachers of English.

Dr. Bedard, who serves as an associate professor at the University of Houston Downtown in the Department of Urban Education, shared the role of co-editor on a prize-winning article with fellow faculty members Kim Pinkerton and Leigh Van Horn.

The article, entitled “English in Texas,” won first place in the Affiliate Journal Awards.

You can read the full story here.

Two HISD Educators Named ‘Champions of Change’ by White House

Two HISD educators are being honored at the White House on Friday, Aug. 31, as “Champions of Change” for their efforts to improve the lives of Hispanic youths.

Teacher Development Specialist Ben Hernandez and Austin High School teacher Armando Orduña were nominated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which also handpicked them to be members of that organization’s inaugural Teacher Advisory Council earlier this year.

“I don’t even know how to feel yet,” said Hernandez. “I was just excited that they had created this award to honor the hard work and the success that teachers experience. (HISD is) very progressive and aggressive, so I think in a lot of ways, it can turn national eyes on us to see what we’re doing right.”

You can watch a live feed of the awards ceremony on the White House’s website (www.whitehouse.gov/live) starting at 12:30 CDT.  Members of the media are also welcome to visit Austin High School (1700 Dumble) where fellow staff members and students will be watching the live ceremony.

‘We’re Looking for Gold!’

HISD Police Officer and boxing coach Rudy Silva at Olympic Village

Editor’s note: This is a guest blog entry from HISD Police Officer Rudy Silva, who coaches U.S. Olympic boxer Marlen Esparza. On Monday, Esparza won her quarterfinal match. She is guaranteed to win at least a bronze medal. Her next match is on Wednesday.

Marlen and I have been doing this for 11 years. Today, I was about to catch the train and we were about to be in our first Olympic fight. I was thinking hard work really pays off. You always hear people say that, but today it really hit me. We have come a long way. There were times when I know Marlen wanted to stop because people weren’t giving women enough recognition. I told her, “Just keep winning and people will notice.”

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Davis High School Graduate Wins Free Car at ‘Cool to Be Smart’ Celebration

Davis High School graduate Marisol Lara, who came by bus with her family amid the stormy weather, left the Second Annual Cool to Be Smart celebration on Sunday with a brand new Dodge Caliber donated by Helfman River Oaks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

“I can’t believe I won this car!  This is a dream come true for me and my entire family,” said Lara whose family does not own a car and uses public transportation on a daily basis.  “This car will help me get to school every day, and it will inspire my younger siblings to work hard to pursue their dreams too.”

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More HISD Students Graduate on Time as Dropout Rate Hits Historic Low

District’s graduation and dropout rates reach best levels under the modern accountability system

HISD’s streak of declining dropout rates and increasing graduation rates hit four years for the class of 2011, according to preliminary Class of 2011 figures released by the Texas Education Agency.

HISD’s latest dropout rate of 11.8 percent and four-year graduation rate of 78.5 percent are the best they have been under the accountability system Texas put into place in 2007. And while the district’s overall enrollment has remained steady during that time period, the number of annual graduates has risen strongly from 6,978 graduates in the Class of 2007, to 9,070 graduates in the Class of 2011 – a 30-percent increase of 2,092 diplomas in just four years.

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“Houston students are proving they are willing – and more than able – to achieve academically when we show faith in them and put them in a position to succeed,” said Trustee Michael Lunceford, president of the HISD Board of Education.  “We all know the dropout rate remains a critical problem in our city, but we are making strong progress. The students, with help from the school administrators and teachers, have made a concerted effort to stem the tide of dropouts”
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HISD Students Selected as National Merit Scholarship Winners

Six Houston Independent School District students have been selected among the final group of National Merit Scholarship winners announced for 2012.  A total of 26 HISD students were awarded National Merit Scholarships this year for undergraduate studies.  Each student will receive a $2,500 award.  Here are the recent winners.

  •  Jonas A. Actor – Carnegie Vanguard High School
  • Hader Ali – Lamar High School
  • Victor S. Prieto – Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
  • Mitchell A. Sawyer – Bellaire High School
  • Frederick D. Vu – Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
  • Lawrence Y. Zhu – Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions

 Here are the previously announced winners for 2012:

  • Olivia Arena – Bellaire High School
  • Dana Felberg – Bellaire High School
  • Meghana Golla – Bellaire High School
  • Weiting Ji – Bellaire High School
  • Amy Jiang – Bellaire High School
  • Joseph Lewis – Bellaire High School
  • Carrie Li – Bellaire High School
  • Natalia Majewska – Bellaire High School
  • Denes Marton – Bellaire High School
  • Ankeet Mutha – Bellaire High School 
  • Adriana Pantazis – Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
  • Spencer Shen –  High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
  • Lavanya Sunder – Lamar High School
  • Jincy Varughese – Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
  • David Williams – Bellaire High School
  • John Williams – Bellaire High School
  • Yihui Yang – Carnegie Vanguard High School 
  • Daniel Yun – Bellaire High School
  • Ni Zhan – Bellaire High School
  • Zhongmin Zhang –  Bellaire High School 

The winners were juniors when they received the highest scores on the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test.  The students also had to demonstrate an outstanding academic record; had to be actively involved in their school and the community and had to be recommended by a high school official. This year approximately 8,100 students nationwide will receive National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $35 million.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Over the past 57 years, more than 292,000 students have won National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $1 billion.  

The majority of awards offered each year are underwritten by approximately 440 independent corporate and college sponsors that support NMSC’s efforts to recognize scholastically talented youth and to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.

Three from HISD Selected for Gates Foundation’s Teacher Advisory Council

Three members of Team HISD have been selected by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help in their efforts to dramatically increase the number of U.S. students who graduate from high school ready for college and careers. In mid July, the trio will join a select group of about 40 other teachers from around the U.S who were handpicked to form the foundation’s Teacher Advisory Council.

Dr. Nghia Le

Selected for the council are: Dr. Nghia Le, a teacher at Booker T. Washington High School for Engineering Professions (see story on school’s website); Ben Hernandez, a teacher development specialist; and Armando Orduna, a teacher at McReynolds Middle School.

“I am extremely honored and humbled that I was selected for this amazing opportunity,” Le said. “I look forward to sharing my own thoughts and gaining the wisdom and best practices of other highly effective teachers from around the country.”

“Dr. Le is an extraordinary educator,” said Washington High School Principal LaShonda Bilbo-Ervin. “Our students are involved in groundbreaking research due to his ability to embrace professional development. His participation on this council will allow him to learn and share the best ideas with teachers from around the country. I am thrilled about the impact this will have on the students at Washington.”

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HISD Awards Top Food Services Staff and Recognizes Cafeterias of the Year

The Houston Independent School District presented numerous awards to recognize the hard work and excellence of the district’s Food Services Department and school cafeterias.

“Providing nutritious meals to more than 200,000 students throughout the school year and summer school takes hard work, and it’s important our employees know just how valuable they are to the district,” Superintendent Terry Grier said.  “We applaud their commitment to ensuring every student has access to a good, healthy meal at school.”          

Awards were given for the following categories: Spirit of Service Award, Honorary Spirit of Service, and Team Lead of the Year.

“We are truly proud of these employees.  The positive attitude and dedication they bring to work every day is truly exceptional,” said Brian Giles, Senior Administrator for Food Services.  “These annual awards serve as a means to let them know we recognize and thank them for their hard work and efforts.”

HISD also recognized the 2011-2012 Cafeterias of the Year based on their ability meet and exceed goals set by the department and provide excellent dining atmospheres, among other guidelines.

 HISD’s Food Services Department has almost 2,000 employees who service nearly 300 schools.  These employees are tasked with providing healthy, nutritious meals for all students, teachers and staff in the district.

 Below is list of awards presented:

Spirit of Service Award         

Kandy Simmons, Herrera Elementary School
Samantha Pearson, Cook Elementary School
Alicia Villalobos, Lantrip Elementary School
Patricia Strickland, Bonner Elementary School
Antionetta Means, Frost Elementary School
Robin Morris, Hobby Elementary School
Janet Vallair Perry, Lovett Elementary School
Maggie Hughes, T.H. Rogers
Veronica Means, Blackshear Elementary School
Gilda Canales, Oak Forest Elementary School
LaDeshia Ricks, Furr High School
Tammie Green, Chavez High School
Kimberly Wilson, Westbury High School
Chiquia White, Marshall Middle School
Ola Livingston, Energized STEM

 

Honorary Spirit of Service

Mark Allen, Operations Area Manager
Bridgette Chenier, Operations/SEA Associate

 Cafeteria of the Year

Lee High School
Hamilton Middle School
Herrera Elementary
Durham Elementary

 Team Lead of the Year

Lanquelyn Sumler, Reagan High School
Marylyn Williams, Hartman Middle School
Danielle Wiltz, Bastian Elementary School
Eliva Jimenez, Gregory Lincoln K-8

Photo gallery: HISD student stars shine at AHSA Noche de las Estrellas

On June 13th, the Association of Hispanic School Administrators (AHSA) hosted the 21st annual Noche de las Estrellas Scholarship and Awards Banquet.  AHSA gave away $17,000 in scholarships to eight notable HISD students who plan on becoming educators. To read the Superintendent’s wrap-up of the event, please visit his blog, Talk Supe.

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