Category Archives: District VIII – Judith Cruz

Principals thank HISD bus drivers, attendants for their hard work

Before bus drivers and bus attendants set off to transport HISD students to and from school for the first week of classes, HISD Transportation managers and a group of principals showed their gratitude and appreciation for employees during a welcome back program at Key Middle School on Friday.

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Austin HS stakeholders learn about design plans for new school

Members of the Austin High School community came out this week for the first of three community meetings to hear about plans for the school’s new campus. As part of HISD’s current bond program, Austin will receive a new $68.4 million building that will accommodate 1,800 to 2,000 students.

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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.

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Wharton Dual Language Academy stakeholders get first glimpse of initial design for new building

Wharton Dual Language Academy stakeholders on Wednesday learned more about the site plan and preliminary design for a new addition and renovations to the school’s current facility, which was built in 1929.

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Steven Stapleton appointed principal of McReynolds Middle School

Steven Stapleton poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Steven Stapleton has been selected to be principal of McReynolds Middle School. He began his teaching career at Madisonville Consolidated ISD and Dickinson ISD as a physics and chemistry teacher. He then moved to Alvin ISD, where he served as district technology-curriculum specialist, assistant principal, and most recently, director of professional learning and innovative teaching.

Mr. Stapleton received his bachelor of science in Biology with a concentration in teaching from University of Texas at Austin. He earned his master’s in Education Administration from Lamar University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University.

Nicole Ayen-Metoyer named principal of Gregory-Lincoln Education Center

Nicole Ayen Metoyer poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Nicole Ayen-Metoyer has been selected as principal of Gregory-Lincoln Education Center. She began her career at HISD in special education as a resource teacher, and she later became department chairperson at Dogan Elementary. Ms. Ayen-Metoyer also served as evaluation specialist, response-to-intervention coordinator, and teacher development specialist. After 13 years of teaching and central office experience, she joined the administration team at Hogg Middle School as lead assistant principal.

Ms. Ayen-Metoyer received her bachelor of science in English from University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, and her master’s degree in library services from University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

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 →

Higher-level math program lets students explore possibilities at Rice University

Forty HISD high school students are getting a taste of college life and higher-level mathematics this month by studying the basics of calculus at the Tapia Math Science Scholars (TMSS) program.

The program, now in its second year, was started by the Rice University School Mathematics Project (RUSMP) and the Rice University Richard Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity (TCEE), in collaboration with HISD. Participating students live at Rice for four weeks, where they study, attend lectures given by Rice professors, and work on their own research projects. Continue reading →

Austin High School alumnus now gives back as a teacher

In this week’s I am HISD, which features district students, graduates, employees, and other team members, José Saenz explains why he just can’t stop coming back to his high school. Saenz attended Austin High School and participated in the school’s teaching program. He graduated in 2003, and is now a teacher there. Given the fact that he also met his wife there in the ninth grade, it is clear that for Saenz, all roads lead to Austin.

Jose Saenz

Jose Saenz

You graduated from Austin HS in 2003, and you have returned as a teacher. What did you do after graduating, and what brought you back?

I had made up my mind to become a teacher towards the end of my senior year. I began attending the University of Houston in the fall of 2003 and majored in history. I went through the education program at UH as well. Students were required to do a set number of observation hours and a semester of student teaching. I requested Austin as the location for both. Since graduating, I was very interested in coming back to Austin to teach and having the opportunity to student-teach there helped me make that decision. I felt that I could connect with the students coming from the same neighborhood and having many of the same life experiences. I began working at Austin in 2008 and even returned to UH while working in 2010 to obtain my master’s in curriculum and instruction in social studies education. Continue reading →