Category Archives: Teachers

Achieve 180 campuses providing literacy and wraparound supports for students 

Leaders from Dogan ES and Henry MS provide progress update to board 

Students at Patrick Henry Middle School are getting intense support and specialized interventions to improve their literacy skills as part of the district’s Achieve 180 initiative. The campus has added a literacy specialist, is utilizing a universal screener to determine student reading levels, and is providing literacy report cards for every student.

“We will be having meetings for all of our parents to go over the report cards so they can understand what level their child is at,” said Principal Kenneth Brantley. “Plus we are going to provide them with free resources and things they can do at home to directly support their child in reading and writing.”  Continue reading →

HISD teachers receive Hurricane Harvey relief grants 

This week, more than 140 teachers  across the district were awarded grant money that will go toward putting classrooms back together in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Thanks to the HISD Foundation and many philanthropists and corporations locally and nationally, nearly $178,000 was awarded to teachers in partial or full grants of up to $1,500. The grants were awarded based on need, the number of applications, and available funds.

The storm left many HISD schools across the city damaged, and many teachers had limited resources to get their classrooms back up and running before the start of school. In September, teachers were encouraged to submit an application to request funds that would cover the costs of replacing classroom supplies, technology, and other resources that were lost as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey.   Continue reading →

Want to become an HISD teacher? Here’s how you can become certified

District’s alternative certification program hosting info session

Thinking about changing careers and love working with children? Thought about becoming a teacher, but not sure what’s involved with getting your certification?

The Houston ISD Alternative Certification Program invites you to attend its upcoming ACP Teacher Information Sessions and On-site Application Events. Prospects can learn more about the ACP program and candidate selection process, as well as meet current teachers with HISD and those enrolled in the HISD ACP program.  Continue reading →

Nominations for H-E-B Excellence in Education awards due Oct. 22 

Staff, students, parents, and community members can make nominations 

Do you know an HISD educator that deserves the ultimate recognition for their hard work?

Nominate your favorite teacher and/or principal for H-E-B’s Excellence in Education award. Anyone can make a nomination, including HISD staff, students, parents and community members. You can even nominate yourself. Click here to nominate one or more HISD educators by Sunday, October 22, 2017.

Teacher finalists will win $1,000 for themselves and $1,000 for their campus. Principal finalists will win $1,000 for themselves and $2,500 for their campus. In addition, all finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the awards celebration and a special reception in their honor.  Continue reading →

HISD awarded more than $60 million in federal grants

U.S. Department of Education funding to target teacher recruitment, STEM programs

The Houston Independent School District has been awarded three grants, including one that is believed to be the largest grant the district has ever received.

Each of the three grants is from the U.S. Department of Education. The largest totals $47 million and will go to recruiting and retaining the best teachers and administrators at the district’s most struggling schools.

The district also received a nearly $15 million grant for STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — education at six HISD schools, and a $1.3 million grant that will go toward professional development for music and arts teachers in high-poverty schools. Continue reading →

Teachers begin extended-day training on Achieve 180

Campuses receiving extra support and training every Wednesday

Teachers from across the district gathered at their campuses on Wednesday afternoon for their first extended-day, professional development session as part of Achieve 180, the district’s initiative to support underserved and academically challenged schools.

Achieve 180 contains six research-based best practices or pillars that provide a framework for the transformational work happening at 44 schools throughout HISD. One pillar of the plan, instructional excellence, includes two-hours of specialized and differentiated professional development for core teachers every Wednesday afternoon. The campus trainings are supported by district Teacher Development Specialists and staff from the Elementary and Secondary Curriculum Departments. Teachers at the Achieve 180 campuses receive extra-duty pay for the weekly professional development.  Continue reading →

HISD teachers can apply for ‘Harvey Relief’ grant 

Applications are due Friday, Sept. 29 

In response to the devastating damage left behind by Hurricane Harvey on HISD schools and across the city, philanthropists and corporations locally and nationally have come together to create a Harvey Relief Fund that is managed by the HISD Foundation. Funds raised will go directly to support HISD teachers to eliminate as much financial burden as possible in replacing damaged classroom resources so instructional time can be maximized.

Teachers are encouraged to submit an application for funding to cover the costs of replacing classroom supplies, technology, and other resources that were lost as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey. Applications will be accepted Friday, Sept. 22, through Friday, Sept. 29. 

Each applicant may be awarded up to $1,500. Partial or full grants may be awarded based on need, volume of applications, and available funds. Due to limited funds and the urgent needs of HISD teachers and students, all applications will be reviewed and awarded the week of Oct. 2, 2017.    Continue reading →

HISD Foundation to offer grants for teachers impacted by Hurricane Harvey 

$100 gift cards distributed to teachers with delayed start dates

The HISD Foundation’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has raised more than $1.3 million and the nonprofit group is wasting no time distributing the funds to support schools and staff that were most severely impacted by the storm.

On Friday, Sept 15, Foundation Director Ann Scott surprised those teachers still awaiting the start of school on their campus with a $100 gift card to either Office Depot, Crystal Children and Teacher Supply, or Lakeshore Learning. The amount of donated gift cards totaled nearly $37,000 and will be used by the teachers to redecorate their damaged classrooms or supply a new classroom in a different facility.

In addition, Scott announced that starting next week, the Foundation will begin offering grants of up to $1,000 to all HISD teachers who were impacted by Harvey.    Continue reading →

Teach Forward Houston fellows meet at UH Summer Bridge 

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A new cohort of Teach Forward Houston students just wrapped up Summer Bridge 2017 at University of Houston, where they lived in the dorms and attended orientation and classes for four days.

The week began with an opening ceremony with last year’s fellows, who will be sophomores this fall. Summer Bridge exposed the new UH students to Cougar Culture, best practices for studying, advice regarding health and wellness, and financial planning to ensure they survive college life. Summer Bridge 2017 ended with a celebratory lunch with family, HISD officials, and UH College of Education (UHCOE) representatives.  Continue reading →

New teachers join Houston Food Bank to help feed local kids 

A group of teachers new to HISD for 2017-2018 school year kicked off their introduction to the district on a very positive note Monday by volunteering at the Houston Food Bank.

The new teachers, a few from as far away as Spain, joined an assembly line process to sort and pack food supplies for the HISD families and many surrounding counties.

“The children deserve all of our efforts and all of our hours together to put together the food they need to have the nutrition that they need to learn,” said Idrisa Abdul-Hamid, HISD senior manager for Onboarding.

For more information on volunteering with the Houston Food Bank, go to HoustonFoodBank.org/Volunteer