Category Archives: Teachers

Former HISD trustee now serving children as a classroom teacher

In this week’s edition of I am HISD, which features district students, graduates, employees, and other team members, Harvard Elementary School third-grade teacher (and former District I Board of Education member) Karla Cisneros talks about how she went from the classroom to the boardroom and back again, the greatest gifts of her experience as a trustee, and if she’d ever consider running for that office again.

You represented District I on HISD’s Board of Education for five years in the early aughts, even serving as its president one year. Now you’re teaching third-graders at one of our elementary schools. How did that transition come about?

Karla Cisneros with her students at Harvard ES

Karla Cisneros with her students at Harvard ES

Well, I was not a certified teacher before. I was just sort of a mom who got pulled in. They hired me at Travis Elementary to be a part-time science teacher, and one thing just led to another. After I left the board, I was going to work with my husband, but I realized I wanted to be back in education at kind of a grass-roots level, so I went back to school and got certified.

And I really, really, really like being a teacher. The best part of all is the kids, but then, that’s always the best part. I knew when my own children grew up and moved on that I was going to hate being an empty nester, but so much of teaching is not just about teaching. It’s about helping usher children through their lives, not just the curriculum.

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Professional development sessions challenge teachers in STEM subjects

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HISD teachers attended their first “STEM Reboot” session earlier this month at Ryan Professional Development Center, where Teacher Development Specialists from the Innovative Curriculum and Instruction Department guided team through a series of hands-on experiments. As part of the science, technology, engineering, and math training, they were challenged to create a hot air balloon from a variety of materials, including plastic cleaners’ bags and tissue paper, and build boats out of aluminum foil that could float while supporting a penny. In addition, the teachers had a rocket-building session and were trained in an Hour of Code.

Westside HS educator named finalist for SHAPE’s Health Education Teacher of the Year

Delia Thibodeaux

Delia Thibodeaux

Delia Thibodeaux is one of only three teachers from across the nation to be so honored

A veteran educator with more than a decade of service to HISD students has been named one of three finalists for the national Health Education Teacher of the Year award by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America).

Delia Thibodeaux, who teaches at Westside High School, advanced to the national round of the competition after being named SHAPE’s 2015 Health Education Teacher of the Year for the Southern District, which encompasses 13 states from Virginia to Texas.

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ACP grant lets teacher pursue professional development in Singapore over Spring Break

Shannon Kelly

Shannon Kelly

Program yet another benefit of obtaining alternative certification credentials through HISD

Shannon Kelly, a ninth-grade geography teacher at Milby High School, has big plans for her spring break.  She will be attending the fourth International Problem-Based Learning Symposium in Singapore March 18–20, thanks to HISD’s alternative certification grant program.

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Highly effective teachers invited to ‘Experience HISD’ on March 14

To advance its vision of Becoming #GreatAllOver, and its commitment to placing a highly effective teacher in every classroom, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) will host its fourth annual Experienced Teacher Fair from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Saturday, March 14, 2015. This interactive information session is open to all experienced teachers from outside of the district who have a proven track record of success.

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Anderson ES principal receives Living Legend Award from Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators

Dr. Roslyn Stiles Vaughn, principal of Anderson Elementary Dual Language School, was honored by the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators (HAABSE) with the 2015 Living Legend Award. Dr. Vaughn has served the district for 36 years, 28 of those at Anderson ES. She began her career as a teacher at Scarborough, Brookline, and then Anderson elementary schools, before serving as principal for 16 years.
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HISD and union leaders challenge area school districts to address workplace bullying

Wretha Thomas, president of Houston Education Support Personnel, with HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. (Houston Independent School District)

Wretha Thomas, president of Houston Education Support Personnel, with HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. (Houston Independent School District)

Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier and local and state leaders from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) joined forces on Monday, Feb. 9, to challenge school districts across the Houston area to join HISD in implementing a policy that formally bans workplace bullying.

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Gallegos ES educator named finalist for TCEA Teacher of the Year

 

Alex Jones works with students on a geography lesson using both old (the globe) and new (iPads) technology.

Alex Jones works with students on a geography lesson using both old (the globe) and new (iPads) technology.

Alex Jones, a science lab teacher at Gallegos Elementary School, has been named one of only three finalists (.pdf) for Texas Computer Education Association’s (TCEA) Classroom Teacher of the Year. The award is presented annually to the educator who best recognizes the importance of technology in school and actively tries to promote its use in his or her classroom.

Jones previously served as an education specialist, a special projects coordinator, and an educational technologist, “but my love for children brought me back to HISD and the classroom” this year. His passionate lobbying also persuaded Principal Jessica Tejeda to purchase iPads especially for the science lab.

“I am extremely passionate about teaching young children and enhancing my lessons through the use of technology,” explained Jones, “especially with iOS devices.”

ReelEducation shows students that disabilities do not define their lives

ReelAbilities, the Houston Disabilities Film Festival, will be coming to the Bayou City Feb. 9–12, 2015, and all secondary teachers are invited to take advantage of it by scheduling free movie screenings on their campuses or at local movie theaters. Teachers can begin signing up for a screening on Jan. 15. Continue reading →

Two alternative certification grads discuss what makes HISD’s program superior

Physics teacher Adeeb Barqawi works with his students at Kashmere High School.

Physics teacher Adeeb Barqawi works with his students at Kashmere High School.

The one thing most participants in HISD’s Alternative Certification Program have in common is that they did not originally plan to pursue a career in education. However, the desire to be a positive influence on children and the greater Houston community eventually brought them to the classroom, and to HISD.

Recently, we sat down with Cory Bates, a bilingual Pre-K teacher at Stevens Elementary School, and Adeeb Barqawi, a physics teacher at Kashmere High School, to reflect on their experiences in the district’s Alternative Certification Program, also known as the Effective Teacher Fellowship (ETF), and why they feel HISD’s program is superior to others. The deadline to apply to the next Effective Teacher Fellowship cohort is Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015.  Continue reading →