Teachers at Stevens Elementary School were excited about HISD’s new dashboard when Teacher Development Specialist Alicia Lewis showed them how to log in for the first time at the Rigor Institute. “This is going to save you all so much time that you will just love it,” Lewis said. A few voices around the room spoke out in agreement. Principals were trained in June and most have been using it ever since.
Category Archives: Teachers
Career Pathways Let Top HISD Teachers Lead Without Leaving the Classroom
The second year of HISD’s innovative Career Pathways program kicked off in early August with more than 200 top teachers from across the district attending two-day teacher leadership trainings. The Career Pathways program is designed to give top teachers the opportunity to earn more and expand their influence on their campus without having to leave the classroom.
Ariana Sherman, who moved to the district this year from KIPP, will serve as an instructional practice coach at Patrick Henry Middle School, where she will focus on modeling excellent teaching techniques, observing peers, and providing feedback to help teachers better meet students’ needs. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” Sherman said. “This role lets me grow as a leader and a coach while also continuing to teach science, which is my passion.”
Rigor Institute Creating Lofty Learning Environment for Students
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/72365532 w=320&h=205]
“Climbing the Mountain, Enjoying the Journey” is the name of the 2013 Rigor Institute now taking place at schools across the Houston Independent School District. Thanks to Gwendolyn Tompkins, Dianne Alvarez, and Denise Martinez, all senior managers in Professional Support and Development at HISD, teacher trainers now have a day-by-day training playbook of the same name.
“Last week we trained teacher trainers from 200 secondary and 400 elementary schools,” said Tompkins. “We wrote for three months, trained for three weeks, and now we’re passing the torch into the capable hands of teachers. We were inspired by Dr. Grier’s vision of rigor, consistency, and safety in every classroom.”
61-Year-Old New Teacher Featured in Community eNews
A man who wanted to be a teacher since he was in middle school proves that it’s never too late to realize your dreams. The 61-year-old, who spent about 30 years managing fast-food restaurants, is a new teacher at Deady Middle School, and he’s featured in the Aug. 9 edition of community eNews.
Other stories highlighted in eNews include:
New Teacher Academy for Experienced Teachers Attracts 800 Veterans
The 2013 New Teacher Academy for Experienced Teachers was held August 6-7 at Kingdom Builder Center, and more than 800 experienced teachers new to HISD attended. During the academy, attendees received an overview of the teacher appraisal system, information on curriculum resources, and additional support necessary for success in HISD.
New Teachers Get on the ‘Great All Over’ Bus
As Houston Independent School District representatives welcomed the newest members of Team HISD at this week’s New Teacher Academy, they were introduced to the district’s focus on “becoming great all over.”
“Great all over means having great teachers in every classroom at every school,” Assistant Superintendent of Support and Professional Development Lance Menster told the group of nearly 1,200 teachers.
During the four days of training at the Kingdom Builders’ Center, the new instructors were asked what they could do to help their students “become great all over.” Instead of writing their thoughts down on a piece of paper, however, they were asked to grab a paint pen and “tag” an HISD school bus.
New Teacher Academy Reveals Foundation of Support for Instructors
Hundreds of teachers—some brand-new and some just new to the Houston Independent School District (HISD)—gathered at the Kingdom Builders’ Center on July 29 for the start of the district’s four-day New Teacher Academy.
The event is designed to provide HISD’s newest instructors with an overview of the district, its expectations for their performance, and the many tools available to assist them, both in the classroom and out of it.
Teachers Enjoy ‘Revolutionary’ Trip to Eastern Seaboard, Thanks to U.S. DOE Grant
HISD history teachers pose at the Bunker Hill Monument commemorating a battle in the American Revolution, a stop along the Freedom Trail in Boston, Mass.
Many teachers use the summer months as a time to deepen their knowledge of various subjects, but one group of 36 history teachers took that activity to the next level this year.
The educators, who came from 30 different HISD campuses, developed a new appreciation for this country’s origins and some of its most unconventional thinkers by exploring some of the most historically significant sites related to “revolutionary” activities June 9–15.
All Positions Filled For North Forest Summer School Teachers
Houston ISD has filled all positions for summer school teachers in the North Forest community.
HISD began accepting applications for certified internal educators on July 1, and all positions were filled by July 2.
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Teachers Using Edmodo to Stay Connected, Collaborate
West Briar Middle School teacher Adam Beckham has always been one to embrace new technology, but admits he has had a hard time finding a safe tool to collaborate with his students outside of school hours.
“Teachers know there is technology out there that would truly enhance our teaching and connection with students, but with things changing so fast it is hard to find the right one,” said Beckham.