Category Archives: Every Community Every School

HISD expands student access to mental health supports

Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan and community partners on Friday will announce the expansion of district mental health and social emotional supports for students.

Through the mental health and wellness initiative, hundreds of HISD students at 15 campuses will have direct access to school administrators trained in trauma, crisis, abuse, and suicide prevention. This initiative is part of Dr. Lathan’s strategic priorities for the 2019-2020 school year to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of students.

Schools participating in the initiative include Dogan, Hartsfield, and Rucker elementary schools; Attucks, Fleming, Holland, M.C. Williams, Sugar Grove, and Thomas middle schools; Liberty, Madison, Washington, Westside, Wisdom, and Yates high schools.

Continue reading →

Five HISD campuses becoming community schools to meet the needs of students, families 

Trustees approve $2.5 million grant to fund variety of wraparound services

About 4,000 students and their families in high-poverty areas will benefit from a $2.5 million grant that will provide wraparound services, including social, medical, financial, and emotional support.

The Board of Education approved the use of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education that will convert five HISD campuses to community schools under the district’s Every Community Every School initiative.

The five schools are Thomas Middle School and Lockhart, Benavidez, Marshall, and Robinson elementary schools. The schools serve 3,898 students in communities with high poverty rates and a demonstrated need for wraparound services and supports.   Continue reading →

HISD Transportation Services holding job fair to recruit bus drivers

The Houston Independent School District’s Transportation Services department will host a job fair this month to recruit bus drivers as part of continuing efforts to make sure all routes are fully staffed and drivers are available for both new routes and to provide coverage if employees are absent.

The job fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Sterling High School.

Selected applicants will earn a starting hourly wage of $16.65 and will be provided free CDL training. Other benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, Teacher Retirement System participation and special trip pay options. Continue reading →

Sharpstown HS officer puts focus on community outreach

Each school day at the heart of Sharpstown High School is a bubbly campus officer whose contagious smile and positive attitude reflects on the students she waves to.

“Hey Michelle. How did you do on your test?” Community Outreach Officer Vanessa Losey says as she greets students walking between classes. “Hi ’mijo,’” — Spanish for son — “How are you doing?”

Though small in stature, Losey is known for her rapid walking pace, which, according to Sharpstown students, no one can keep up with. Every day, Losey can be found rushing between corridors and classrooms with four noisy radios in tow as she heads to her next post or assignment. Continue reading →

Wraparound services at center of new districtwide initiative 

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Campus specialists to coordinate non-academic supports for students 

Wisdom High’s School’s new Wraparound Resource Specialist Wagma Isaqzoy has only officially been on the job for a few weeks, but her efforts are already making a lasting impact on students.

Recently, with the help of the nonprofit group Be the Peace Be the Hope and the support of Wisdom High School’s ESL Department, Isaqzoy organized a three-day workshop for 200 of the school’s newcomer students. The workshop focused on the unique social and emotional needs of being new to the United States and culminated with a celebration event on campus Dec 11. At the event, students received a Citizenship Month certificate from the Houston Mayor’s Office of New Americas.  Continue reading →