The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a resolution that formally begins the process of renaming four schools in order to represent the values and diversity of the school district, in accordance with the district’s non-discrimination policies.
The resolution affects Henry Grady, Richard Dowling and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson middle schools, and Lee High School. Continue reading
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to name Trustee Manuel Rodriguez as its new president.
Rodriguez has served on the HISD Board of Education since 2003.
Trustees also voted to elect new board officers: Wanda Adams, First Vice President; Diana Dávila, Second Vice President; Jolanda Jones, Secretary; and Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Assistant Secretary. Continue reading
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education will welcome its two newest members on Thursday, swearing in newly elected District VIII Trustee Diana Dávila and District IV Trustee Jolanda Jones.
The two trustees were elected to the board in November. They will be formally sworn in prior to the first meeting of the year during a special ceremony at 11 a.m. in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. Continue reading
The 2016 Board of Education are (L-R): Anna Eastman, Michael Lunceford, Second Vice President Diana Davila, First Vice President Wanda Adams, Assistant Secretary Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Secretary Jolanda Jones, President Manuel Rodriguez Jr., Harvin Moore, and Greg Meyers.
January is National School Board Recognition Month, honoring the men and women who serve on the nation’s thousands of Boards of Education. These dedicated public servants become school board trustees because they are committed to improving public education and their communities.
Our board members devote many hours to making sure Houston’s schools are safe and have the resources and instructional programs needed to educate children to their fullest potential.
“The students in HISD are very fortunate to have dedicated board members who work day in and day out to shape policies that support a high-quality education for all of our students,” said HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier. “If you haven’t reached out, please thank your school board trustee for caring about our children, and let them know that they truly are appreciated for what they do.”
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday is expected to consider a resolution that would begin the process of renaming schools in order to represent the values and diversity of the school district, in accordance with the district’s non-discrimination policies.
The resolution was brought forward by Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones. It would affect eight schools: Henry Grady, Richard Dowling, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Albert Sidney Johnston, and Sidney Lanier middle schools, and Jefferson Davis, John Reagan, and Lee high schools. Continue reading
Jones landed a seat on the board for the first time in November, beating out three opponents to win the District IV spot being vacated by departing trustee Paula Harris, who did not seek re-election. Jones says she is looking forward to focusing on the new superintendent search. She is also planning to advocate for the preservation of existing schools, and to work on resource equity.
A recent policy revision means that HISD students will have more equitable access to the district’s gifted and talented (G/T) program. Under new board policy, once a child qualifies to receive gifted-and-talented services, they will continue to receive services unless a parent or guardian requests otherwise.
Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. were re-elected to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Saturday, according to final, but unofficial results of the trustee runoff election.
Skillern-Jones, who has served on the board for four years, defeated challenger Larry Williams to retain her District II seat. Rodriguez, who has served on the board for 11 years, defeated challenger Jose Leal in the race for the District III spot.
Both will serve a four-year term, which formally begins when they are sworn in during the first 2016 Board of Education meeting on January 14.
In addition to serving as board president, Skillern-Jones also represents HISD on the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Board of Directors. The native Houstonian earned both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in clinical sociology from Texas Southern University.
Rodriguez, who serves as first vice president of the board and was first elected in 2003, is the founder and president of the MARVAA Corporation, which provides assistance in education, housing, and community involvement. A graduate of HISD’s Stephen F. Austin High School, Rodriguez earned an associate of arts degree in social sciences from Solana Community College and studied organizational behavior management and marketing at University of Houston.
Joining Skillern-Jones and Rodriguez are Diana Dávila and Jolanda Jones, both of whom were elected to the board in November’s general election.
Jones won a seat on the board for the first time, beating out three opponents to fill the District IV spot being vacated by departing Trustee Paula Harris. Jones owns the Law Office of Jolanda Jones and previously spent four years on the Houston City Council, where she served as a council member at-large in District V. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Houston and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center.
A former HISD teacher, Dávila previously served on the HISD Board from 2003 to 2010. She defeated incumbent Trustee Juliet Stipeche for the District VIII seat. A graduate of HISD’s Milby High School, Dávila earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on bilingual education from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in educational management and principal certification from University of Houston-Clear Lake.
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to hire a search firm to help find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier.
Trustees hired Ray and Associates, an Iowa-based firm that specializes in searches for educational executives and leaders. The firm was among four companies that responded to a request for proposals issued in October. All four were interviewed by the board last month. Continue reading
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a funding proposal that would add up to $212.4 million to the bond program to cover significant increases in inflation and construction costs.
The proposal passed 8 to 1 with Trustee Juliet Stipeche casting the dissenting vote. Continue reading