The Houston Independent School District Foundation held their annual State of the Schools luncheon Friday, March 3, at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel where Superintendent Millard House II delivered a keynote address focused on the progress of his strategic plan’s six core commitments and the next 100 years of HISD.
Category Archives: State of the Schools
Superintendent House to deliver State of the Schools address
The Houston Independent School District Foundation’s annual State of the Schools is set for Friday, March 3, from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel.
HISD Foundation hosts virtual State of the Schools
The speech was virtual, but the stunts were very real.
The “stunt” in question was the image of Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan flying hundreds of feet in the air above southwest Houston in a small plane piloted by a teenager.
The segment—with Sterling High School student Trinity Ernest—highlighted the Career and Technology Education programs across the district. It was filmed as part of the 2021 State of the Schools program, held virtually this year for the first time.
Continue readingHISD Foundation’s State of the Schools event focuses on achieving excellence with ‘One Voice, One Vision’
A packed house of public education supporters from the business, academic, advocacy and faith communities attended the HISD Foundation’s Public Education Matters fundraising luncheon on Friday.
HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan delivered the annual State of the Schools address during the benefit. Lathan issued a call to action urging supporters to work together by employing, “One Voice and One Vision” to equitably raise the standard of excellence for all students in the district, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Lathan also told the crowd of about 700 that despite the challenges faced by the district, innovative teachers, inspiring leaders, and resilient students have helped HISD earn its current high “B” rating, with a score of 88 under the Texas Education Agency’s accountability system.
Continue readingHISD takes home 18 state awards for communications, community engagement efforts
The Houston Independent School District earned top honors for its work in communications and community engagement during the 2019 Texas School Public Relations Association Annual Conference in Cedar Creek.
Presented to HISD Communications and HISD Business Operations Strategic Engagement and Outreach teams, the accolades covered nearly all facets of the teams, including writing, videography, graphic design, marketing, branding, and special events.
HISD Communications took home the prestigious Crystal Award for the 2018 HISD State of the Schools special event “Rebuild + Reimage,” which consisted of a multifaceted communications campaign that employed a variety of media, including graphic design, production, video, livestreaming, social media and three-dimensional table cards with hover animation. In addition, it also won two Crystal Commendations Certificates of Merit. Business Operations Strategic Engagement and Outreach took home 15 Star Awards medals, including five gold, nine silver, and one bronze.
Continue readingHISD wins national award for crisis communications during Hurricane Harvey
District wins 5 NSPRA Golden Achievement Awards and multiple honors for print and digital communications
The Houston Independent School District Communications team was honored for its crisis communications to families, staff, and the community during Hurricane Harvey – the worst disaster in Houston history – with a Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).
HISD’s Communications team, under the direction of Chief Communications Officer Rebecca Suarez, worked day and night to keep families and the public informed before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey. In addition to local communications efforts, the team also facilitated the dissemination of information on a state and national level.
“Harvey did not stop us, but it made us stronger. Despite the difficulties from the hurricane, we found creative ways to communicate critical and timely information to our students, parents, employees, and the community during one of the worst disasters in local history,” Suarez said. “I’m very proud of my team for the hard work and commitment to putting students first in everything we do.”
Golden Achievement Awards recognize exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing, and engagement. HISD won a total of five Golden Achievement Awards for the following work: Continue reading
HISD Foundation awards nearly $150,000 to 18 schools across the district
HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza’s call to rebuild and reimagine the future of HISD’s classrooms arrived just in time at this year’s State of the Schools, where Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Carranza announced the recipients of the HISD Foundation’s Innovation Grant.
Using funds raised from last year’s State of the School’s ceremony, the Foundation awarded 18 campuses nearly $150,000 as part of the district’s new Innovation Grant program that was created to provide funds for teachers and schools to purchase equipment, supplies, and other items to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. Continue reading
Personal stories exemplify how HISD is rebuilding, reimagining education
‘We could be anywhere, and we would still be Robinson’
If anyone could find a silver lining amid the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, it’s Robinson Elementary School Principal Paige Fernandez-Hohos. After being flooded with more than a foot of water, Robinson was relocated and students split between two adjacent campuses. Though not ideal, the situation made Fernandez-Hohos determined to give students a sense of normalcy. Vacant rooms and hallways sprung to life with decorations. Auditorium and gym spaces were transformed into cozy classrooms to accommodate more students. Fernandez-Hohos trekked back and forth between the two campuses. If she started the day welcoming students at one school, she ended it saying goodbye to students at the other. It was important, she said, that every class see her every day. Robinson students returned to their home campus in January, but Fernandez-Hohos said the storm taught her a valuable lesson about the spirit of her school: “When everything else is stripped away, all you’re left with is the bond between teachers and students. We could be anywhere, and we would still be Robinson.”
HISD superintendent urges business community, state lawmakers to invest in every child
HISD Board President Wanda Adams says investment in our students is the board’s top priority
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Speaking before a sold-out crowd, HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza and HISD Board of Education President Wanda Adams urged business professionals and state lawmakers to see public education as an investment to ensure the future success of every student that walks through a school’s doors.
“I am here to tell you that we must invest in every child,” Carranza said. “Regardless of where they live, where they were born, the color of their skin, their religion, or the language they speak. Every child at every school deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for a successful future … They are our future leaders, engineers, entrepreneurs, computer programmers. They are the fulfillment of Houston’s enormous potential.” Continue reading
Superintendent to deliver his first State of the Schools address at annual district event
Houston Independent School District Superintendent Richard Carranza will deliver his first State of the Schools address on Wednesday, Feb. 15 to a sold-out ballroom crowd at the Hilton Americas Hotel for the district’s annual luncheon.
Carranza’s speech will focus on the district’s ongoing efforts to strengthen HISD’s academic and fine arts programs, improve equity within schools, and create a world-class school district.