Category Archives: District V – Sue Deigaard

Students respond enthusiastically to Dogs of Character

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The rescued dogs visiting Condit Elementary School recently were part of an anti-bullying, empathy-based program aimed at teaching students important life lessons. Sponsored by Dogs of Character, these working dogs serve as living examples of courage, perseverance, and loyalty.

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Two HISD teachers named finalists for H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards

Two HISD teachers got a big surprise this week, when they learned that they had been named finalists for H-E-B’s 2015 Excellence in Education Awards.

Michael Clark, who was named HISD’s own Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2011, was selected as a finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category at the secondary level, while Dr. Nghia Le, who was recognized by H-E-B in 2011 with the Rising Star Award, was chosen as a finalist in the Leadership category at the secondary level.

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Pin Oak MS student named myON’s inaugural ‘Reader Leader’

Alfredo Castillo-Sosa Photo courtesy Muses3, LLC.

Alfredo Castillo-Sosa
Photo courtesy Muses3, LLC.

Alfredo Castillo-Sosa, a sixth-grader at Pin Oak Middle School, has been named the very first “Reader Leader” by myON for logging the most time spent reading on that website during a particular month.

Alfredo read for eight hours and 15 minutes on myON in February. He also completed 55 books and took their accompanying quizzes.

As a part of his prize, Alfredo received an ASUS laptop (with computer case) from Muses3, LLC, the representative of myON in southeast Texas.

“This was a tight race,” noted Linda Bessmer, managing partner of Muses3. “Several elementary school students came very close to winning but, in the end, a secondary school student took the prize.”

Alfredo was formally recognized during a special ceremony held on his campus March 10.

 

Condit ES project moving forward into next phase of construction

Bond ConditCondit Elementary School received permitting this month from the City of Bellaire to proceed with the next phase of construction on the school’s new 88,000-square-foot facility.

As workers have fenced and cleared the site in recent months, the project team has worked to finalize utility easements and put together a parking plan.

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Student wins recognition, concert tickets through Reliant

Front row (L to R): Elizabeth Bandercan, German Lerma's soccer coach at Johnston, and one of his teachers, Kristen Aust. Back row (L to R): Rainatu Gabisi, Yolanda Guillory, and Sid Evans from Reliant; winner German Lerman; nominating teacher Lanena Berry; Johnston teacher William Aust; and Johnston MS Assistant Principal Claran Johnson.

Front row (L to R): Elizabeth Bandercan, German Lerma’s soccer coach at Johnston, and one of his teachers, Kristen Aust. Back row (L to R): Rainatu Gabisi, Yolanda Guillory, and Sid Evans from Reliant; winner German Lerma; nominating teacher Lanena Berry; Johnston teacher William Aust; and Johnston MS Assistant Principal Claran Johnson.

An HISD student recently was named a grand prize winner in the Reliant Student Recognition Program. Johnston Middle School student German Lerma was selected for his academic achievement, outstanding citizenship, and improved academic performance.

Lerma was nominated by his principal, teachers, and parents. For this honor, he received four premier tickets to see the Fallout Boys in concert at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 8.

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Digital Learning Spotlight: McNamara ES

Teachers “blending” face-to-face instruction with technology

During the month of February, all HISD teachers are being encouraged to try something new in their classrooms, as well as share ideas, resources, and lessons learned by posting their experiences and photos on social media using the hashtag #HISDdigital. Each week during the month, we are profiling a teacher or campus that is using technology to break up rows in classrooms, engage students, and innovate instructional practice. This week’s profile features McNamara Elementary.

Earlier this year, McNamara Elementary School  teacher Carlos Rosario started videotaping some of his lessons instead of delivering them in front of the class. The result has been somewhat surprising.

“I find that many of my students are more engaged watching me deliver a lesson on video than when I do it in person,” said Rosario. “Plus, I have built in questions with the videos to check for understanding. At the end, I also get a report, so if I need to pull anybody out to reteach or focus on small group instruction, I can do that.”

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HISD teams see district basketball playoff action

Teams from 12 Houston ISD high schools — including last year’s state champion Yates HS — launch district basketball playoffs this week.

North Forest, Sharpstown, Madison, and Sterling all have their first games Monday, with Yates, Sam Houston, Bellaire, Lamar, Westside, Scarborough, Worthing, and Wheatley seeing action Tuesday.

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HSPVA leader participates in inaugural Cooke Foundation Summit

Dr. R. Scott Allen

Dr. R. Scott Allen

Dr. R. Scott Allen, the principal of The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) was one of only 100 campus leaders from around the country to be invited to participate in at a two-day summit last week to identify solutions to close the excellence gap—the troubling disparity in academic performance between lower-income and higher-income students at advanced levels.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation convened “Closing the Excellence Gap” on Feb. 5 and 6 to share cutting-edge research and best practices for supporting high-achieving, low-income students.

A number of principals formed a new organization at this landmark event, called the “Coalition of Leaders for Advanced Students Success,” whose goal is to support and advocate for high-achieving students with financial need.

“We are leaders in our communities who have a stake in nurturing talent wherever we find it and regardless of a student’s economic status,” said Dr. Allen. “We need talent to remain competitive as a nation. This summit underscored the fact that HSPVA is part of the solution.”

“This summit confirmed my belief that these leaders have excellent insights to offer policymakers at all levels of government,” said Harold Levy, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and former chancellor of New York City Schools.

The creation of HSPVA in 1971 represented the first attempt by any public high school in the nation to correlate an academic program with concentrated training in the arts. It was one of only three public schools in the nation to offer programs in both the visual and performing arts, and the first such institution in the Southwest. HSPVA is fully accredited and offers the same academic curriculum and graduation requirements as all HISD high schools.

33 HISD high schools rated as best in nation in annual Washington Post rankings

More than two-thirds of the high schools in the Houston Independent School District made the Washington Post’s annual list of the Most Challenging Schools in America — and four schools cracked the top 100.

Carnegie Vanguard High School took home top honors for HISD, ranking 11th out of the 2,156 high schools from across the country that made the list. Energized for STEM Academy came in 32nd place, the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice ranked 52nd and Challenge Early College High School came in at 97th place. Continue reading →

Super Bowl champ and HISD grad surprise students

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Former Houston Astros Manager Marquis Donnell “Bo” Porter and wide receiver Brandon LaFell of the Super Bowl championship New England Patriots surprised students at Revere Middle School on Feb. 13, when they visited the campus to talk to them about what it takes to be successful.

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