Category Archives: Teachers

Scroggins ES educator named national Bilingual Teacher of the Year

Maria Elena Galán teaches fractions to her third grade class at Scroggins Elementary School, January 14, 2014.

Maria Elena Galán, a third-grade teacher at HISD’s Scroggins Elementary School, has been named the 2014 Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE).

“This award acknowledges your work as an exceptionally skilled and dedicated teacher in a bilingual program,” read the notification letter from NABE. “Your application contained outstanding testimonials and descriptions of your professional role as a bilingual teacher.”

Galán was selected for her ability to inspire students in two languages and her dedicated service to the school and its surrounding community.

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France Honors Kolter Teacher With Award Established by Napoleon

Kolter Elementary School French teacher Claire Frazier was decorated as a chevalie (knight) in the Order of the French Academic Palms by French Cultural Attaché Sylvie Christophe on Nov. 20. The ceremony was attended by HISD Trustee Mike Lunceford, Kolter Principal Stephen Shetzer, French Deputy Attachés Diana Kruger and Laurianne Blandel, Frazier’s family and friends, and her fellow teachers and their students.

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Leadership Development Gets Campus Teams Ready for STAAR/EOC

Smooth-running, secure STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) testing was the focus of three days of training at Forest Brook Middle School last week for 604 educators from HISD campuses.

The Leadership Development Department teamed up with representatives from Student Assessment, Multilingual Programs, and Special Education to offer practical exercises for those involved in the testing at all grade levels, both veterans and newcomers.

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First-Year Teacher: Benchmark Tests Measure Understanding

The window is closing in HISD Friday on two weeks of benchmark testing for grades and courses that are assessed by STAAR. The testing, which will be repeated in the spring, is a way to allow students, teachers and families to get a measure of performance along the way in those courses.

One of our new HISD teachers chronicling their experiences in the 177days.com blog made that her topic this week. Mariela Niland wrote:

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Highly Effective Teachers Staying in HISD

Houston ISD superintendent Dr. Terry Grier comments on effective teacher retention during a news conference on October 30. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Houston ISD superintendent Dr. Terry Grier comments on effective teacher retention during a news conference on October 30. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Teachers whose students show the most academic achievement gains are more likely to continue teaching in Houston ISD classrooms, according to the latest staff retention data.
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More Top Teachers Choosing to Stay in HISD

What: Press conference to announce data showing that the annual retention rate for HISD’s highest-performing teachers outpaces the district average. Applications from teachers hoping to work in HISD have doubled.

Who: Superintendent Terry Grier, Assistant Superintendent for Professional Development Lance Menster, Instructional Practices Coach Kymberly Riggins from the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

When: Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 9 a.m.

Where: Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street

Twain ES Teacher Doesn’t Let Heart Attack Slow Him Down

Robert Bonn with student

Fourth-grade teacher Robert “Bobby” Bonn suffered a major heart attack just three short months ago — but you’d never know it just by looking at him.

The Twain ES educator still hasn’t missed a single day of class due to his health challenges, despite a fairly grim diagnosis initially.

“The outlook was pretty bleak three months ago,” said Twain Principal Melissa Patin. “The damage was so significant that he had to wear one of those LifeVests [a portable defibrillator for patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest]. And he was told that there wasn’t much they could do.”

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Teachers Collaborating and Connecting in Record Numbers

HISD teachers across the district are collaborating and connecting in record numbers thanks to the innovative use of technology. This school year, teachers began using Edmodo, which is a free social-learning platform that allows educators to share resources, ideas, and best practices with colleagues on their campus, at other HISD schools, and with educators around the world. In just a few short months, thousands of teachers have signed up and embraced the online platform, which has resulted in HISD being named as one of the most collaborative Edmodo school districts across the nation.

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