Category Archives: District I – Elizabeth Santos

Preparing today’s high school graduates for the future

HISD recognizes the need to instill in students the skills they will need to be successful after high school, in college, or the workplace, and to compete in today’s global economy. In this month’s edition of Up Close, HISD Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones discusses the skills and characteristics of the Global Graduate with HISD Secondary Curriculum and Development Officer Annie Wolfe, Davis High School Principal Julissa Alcantar-Martinez, Chief Elementary Curriculum and Development Officer Lance Menster, and Shadydale Elementary School Principal Tammie Daily.

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“HISD engaged industry leaders, educators, university professors, community leaders, parents, and students to determine what knowledge, skills, and dispositions are critically important to have in place when a child graduates from HISD,” explained Menster. “Interestingly, they all focused on the six characteristics that form HISD’s Global Graduate profile.” Continue reading →

Principal uses HISD training to help crash victim

(Houston Independent School District)

Principal Angela Sugarek

Hogg Middle School Principal Angela Sugarek used the fire extinguisher training she received through HISD on Aug. 7, when she witnessed a fiery crash while on her way to work.

Sugarek said a driver slammed into the back of a truck that was preparing to turn, and she stopped to make sure everyone was OK.

“I saw that one of the drivers was still in his car, and that the engine was on fire,” Sugarek said. “I helped another witness to get a car door open so that the driver could get out.” Continue reading →

Nutrition Services awarded second Oliver Foundation grant

Dietitian Jennifer Griffin Lengyel advices a parent during a community outreach event at Elrod Elementary School.

Dietitian Jennifer Griffin Lengyel advices a parent during a community outreach event at Elrod Elementary School.

HISD Nutrition Services has been awarded a second grant from the Oliver Foundation, a local organization dedicated to preventing childhood obesity. The award will help the department to promote, educate, and encourage HISD students to adopt healthy eating habits.

Nutrition Services received $3,000 from the Oliver Foundation last October and partnered with Davis High School’s culinary program to teach nutrition education to fellow students. The Oliver Foundation awarded $5,000 this year to Nutrition Services to continue its efforts.

Continue reading →

Summer STEM Institute helps teachers infuse learning with fun

More than five dozen HISD science, technology, engineering, and math teachers took part in a summer institute recently that was designed to help boost students’ math and science scores by incorporating more fun into their lessons.

The educators came from 23 HISD elementary and middle schools that received part of a TIF4 STEM grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant also provides resources such as equipment and technology, and participating teachers will receive additional training opportunities throughout the school year and share what they have learned with other faculty members at their campuses.

Continue reading →

Mar Azcarraga appointed principal of Roosevelt Elementary School

Mar Azcarraga poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Mar Azcarraga has been selected as principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. She has been part of Team HISD for 13 years, during which time she served at the elementary level as curriculum developer, bilingual teacher, and in other leadership capacities, including grade chairperson, math lead, and presenter. Most recently, Ms. Azcarraga served as assistant principal of Hartman Middle School for three years.

Ms. Azcarraga received a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science from University of Houston-Downtown and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.

Diana De La Rosa appointed new principal of Northline Elementary School

Diana De La Rosa has been selected as principal of Northline Elementary School. Ms. De La Rosa retired after 34 years of service with HISD and is returning after a two-year hiatus, during which she volunteered and taught in various schools. Before retiring, she served as principal of Benavidez Elementary, Jane Long Middle School, and Patrick Henry Middle School. Before that, she was a teacher, supervisor, and assistant principal. Ms. De La Rosa received her bachelor of science degree in Bilingual Education from University of Texas at Austin and her master’s degree in Educational Administration from University of Houston.

North Houston Early College HS reaches building project milestone

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Construction crews work on the new North Houston Early College High School.

HISD’s North Houston Early College High School (NHECHS) reached a major milestone last week in the construction of its new building, as work crews began erecting steel columns and beams, taking the project into the vertical phase of construction.

Continue reading →

STEM fields come to life for ELL, migrant students at Rice

Twenty-eight students in HISD’s English Language Learner and migrant programs spent two weeks of their summer participating in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities at the STEM Leadership and Design Fabrication Academy at Rice University.

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The students, who attend Austin, Chávez, Davis, Furr, Kashmere, Liberty, Lee, Sam Houston, Sharpstown, and Waltrip high schools, got a taste of what careers in a STEM-related field could be like. Continue reading →

Nutrition Services turning food waste into rich resource

HISD Nutrition Services is piloting a composting program to help local agriculture by recycling food leftovers. Last fall, the department selected the Gregory-Lincoln Education Center, Garden Oaks K-8 Montessori, and Briargrove Elementary to pilot the program, which will help HISD become even greener.

Dietitian Jennifer Lengyel manages the new initiative and is excited about Nutrition Services’ involvement in the program. “Compost soil has super nutrients,” said Lengyel. “Instead of food waste going to the landfill, now it will help grow more food.” Continue reading →

Irma Sandate named new principal of Durkee Elementary School

Irma Sandate poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Irma Sandate has been named the new principal of Durkee Elementary School. She began her education career in Corpus Christi ISD, where she taught Spanish at Moody High School and served as an assistant principal at Moody and Miller high schools, a principal at Driscoll Middle School, and a turnaround principal at Allen Elementary School.

Sandate has 14 years of experience in public education and holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in secondary education from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi.  She is currently pursuing a master’s degree from Texas A&M University – Commerce in global eLearning.