Category Archives: District I – Elizabeth Santos

Amy Poerschke named new principal of Durham Elementary School

Amy Poerschke poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Amy Poerschke has been named the new principal of Durham Elementary School. She previously served as the assistant principal of Garcia Elementary School.  Prior to that, she taught reading language arts at Dodson Elementary and Garcia. In 2012, she was awarded the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.

Poerschke holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in executive leadership from the University of Houston.

Laura Alaniz named new principal of Harvard Elementary School

Laura Alaniz poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Laura Alaniz has been named the new principal of Harvard Elementary School. She previously served as the principal at Gabriela Mistral Center for Early Childhood for five years.  Under her leadership, the school established a working collaboration with Rice University to create the Rice Oral and Written Language Lab, which operates as a teaching lab for educators in the greater Houston community.

Alaniz has an extensive career in education. She has served as an elementary teacher, a bilingual evaluation specialist, a parent involvement manager, and an assistant principal at a comprehensive high school.

Laura received a bachelor’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake University and a master’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Erin A. Chávez named new principal of Looscan Elementary School

Erin Chavez poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Erin A. Chávez has been selected as the new principal of Looscan Elementary School. She has been a part of Team HISD for seven years, and has served as a bilingual teacher, dual-language teacher, magnet coordinator, and most recently an assistant principal at Bonham Elementary School.

Chávez has also served in several other leadership capacities, including Limited English Proficient coordinator, Title I coordinator, summer school coordinator, testing coordinator, Gifted and Talented coordinator, and Intervention Assistance Team chairperson.

Chávez completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Houston Central Campus with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  She received her master’s degree in education administration with a concentration in urban schools from the University of Texas. Chávez and her husband are proud products of HISD, and their two daughters attend HISD schools as well.

‘Caught in the Act’ spotlights two educators this month

Fourth episode features geography and world history teachers at Davis HS

Davis High School teachers John-Paul Cortez and Alan Browne were recently “Caught in the Act” (CIA) of delivering great instruction during their lessons on world history and geography, respectively. An HISD video crew, along with Secondary Curriculum and Development Officer Annie Wolfe, surprised the educators and their students, and captured the video below.

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The “Caught in the Act” video campaign was started by HISD to recognize highly effective teachers who are delivering instruction that will lead to students becoming Global Graduates – young men and women who possess the skills necessary to ensure success in college and the ability to compete in today’s global workforce.  Continue reading →

HISD principal declared best in Region 4

Angela Lundy JacksonAngela Lundy-Jackson, principal of North Houston Early College High School (NHECHS), was awarded the Region 4 Secondary Principal of the Year on June 25. She is now a candidate for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals’ Principal of the Year award.

Lundy-Jackson was selected to represent HISD in the Region 4 segment of the competition based on her school’s academic ratings, overall student performance, Advanced Placement and SAT participation, and her leadership skills. Region 4 consists of 50 school districts across seven counties.  Continue reading →

Students’ graduation stories publicized in Times Square

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Three lucky HISD students got to see their names in lights on June 10, when hundreds of students from across the country were featured on a Times Square billboard in New York City.

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DiscoverU providing HISD students with global education opportunities

Turning out global graduates is the mission of HISD, and Houston-based nonprofit organization DiscoverU is helping the district achieve that goal. Forty-four HISD students completed college and career preparatory programs worldwide during the 2014–2015 school year, and more than 200 more are taking advantage of programs this summer.

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HISD graduate reflects on the district resources that made the difference

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Meylin Ramirez just graduated with honors as a member of Reagan High School’s Class of 2015. But the journey behind that diploma is a testament to both her willpower and the strength of HISD’s support systems for students.

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Students win study abroad opportunities

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Two HISD high school juniors are well on their way to an education that straddles continents. On June 15, the Institute of International Education (IIE) bestowed Passport Awards on Luz De Leon of Davis High School and Karen Ortiz of Sharpstown International School. The Passport Awards were given to 13 students across the country in an effort to encourage these students to go abroad in college.

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