Whether it applied to building solid relationships between Team HISD members or making the most of tools from the Digital Age, “connection” was the common thread that tied many of the break-out sessions together on the final day of HISD’s 2013 Summer Leadership Institute on June 20.
Hundreds of campus leaders took part in the three-day event at the Reliant Center this year, and many came away with new insight into how the concept of “connectedness” could help boost student achievement.
Campus and central office leadership teams are gathering at Reliant Center for three days of professional development at the 2013 Houston ISD Summer Leadership Institute.
This year’s theme is “Becoming Great All Over … The Connection Between Rigorous and Consistent Instruction and School Safety,” and attendees took part in a number of breakout sessions designed to show how those concepts intersect.
Houston ISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier smiles after writing a message on a bus during the Summer Leadership Institute at Reliant Center, June 18, 2013.
During the first day of the HISD Summer Leadership Institute, Superintendent of Schools Terry Grier challenged principals to share what they can do every day to help their staff, their school, and their students to “become great all over.” Instead of writing their thoughts down on a piece of paper, however, the school leaders grabbed paint pens and “tagged” an HISD school bus parked in front of Reliant Hall.
“Great teachers, principals, and support staff is what it is all about,” said Dr. Grier, as he grabbed a black paint pen and inked his thoughts on the bus. “Our investment in human capital here at HISD is sincere and it is an extremely important piece of what we are ultimately trying to do, which is to make all our schools and students great.”
Instructor Edward Wilson uses a nursery rhyme to explain the basics of writing at the Summer Writing Institute.
Even though classes for students ended last Thursday, some teachers were on the other side of the desk this week as they began work on their own lessons during Houston ISD’s Summer Writing Institute.
More than 230 educators began learning the ins-and-outs of writing, including assessment, instruction, development and theory in one of the four 12-day training sessions this summer. The Institute is the first of its kind for the district as it continues its effort to increase teacher development.
The 2012-2013 school year may be coming to an end, but for newly hired HISD teachers, preparation for the 2013-2014 school year is just beginning. During May 21-23, newly hired teachers participated in observational rounds at the School at St. George Place, McReynolds Middle School, and Furr High school during which the new hires observed HISD teachers.
“We know that we have a really large number of new teachers who will be working in the district next year, and we really wanted to give them the opportunity to set the context for what HISD has to offer,” said Gail McGee, HISD Manager of New Teacher Induction. “We want our teachers to succeed, and we know that they are going to have to hit the ground running. The more opportunities they have, the better off they’ll be.”
Mark Wurtzel
A mind for music has led two HISD teachers into contention for a prestigious new national award for educators.
Lamar High School’s Scott Houston and Pershing Middle School’s Mark Wurtzel are two of the 217 music teachers from across the country to be named quarterfinalists for the inaugural Music Educator Award.
Teachers of the year from all 276 HISD schools will walk the red carpet on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at the annual HISD Celebration of Excellence at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Joining them will be the 22 finalists for the districtwide teacher of the year, along with the beginning teachers of the year, the principals and assistant principals of the year, first-year principals of the year and the employees of the month.
Even if you are not planning to attend, you can catch live coverage on Facebook. We’ll be taking and posting photos of attendees in their snazziest duds on the red carpet, so be sure to like us at facebook.com/houstonisd.
You can read more about the 22 finalists for Teacher of the Year by clicking here. If you don’t have access to Facebook, read about the finalists on Pinterest.
UPDATE: See who won and check out pictures from the red carpet.
Parents, teachers and principals need to fill out ‘Your Voice’ survey by May 20
HISD Board President Anna Eastman and Board Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. are encouraging HISD parents, teachers and principals to fill out and return the Your Voice customer satisfaction survey by May 20, 2013. The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside party so all responses will remain confidential and anonymous. Continue reading
Because of the overwhelming response and interest in teaching positions for the 2013-14 school year, we have decided to extend our spring application deadline to May 22, 2013.
If you are passionate about teaching and committed to boldly impacting student achievement, we urge you to apply for a teaching position with HISD. To get started, simply click here and follow all instructions.
While vacancies exist in all areas, HISD has a high need for instructors with strong backgrounds in the following areas:
Five-thousand dollar incentives are available, while they last, for teachers hired for the 2013-2014 school year to teach in critical shortage areas including: bilingual (Spanish), Spanish, secondary math, secondary science, and special education areas such as autism, life skills, Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities, DeafEd, and behavior support.
HEB Houston President Scott McClelland with Fondren ES Principal Mike Walker
Three HISD educators won top honors at the HEB Excellence Awards on May 3, 2013, and brought home a combined total of $75,000 for their schools.
Mike Walker, the principal at Fondren Elementary, received top honors in the elementary principal category. He received a $10,000 prize and a $25,000 grant for his school.
High School for the Visual and Performing Arts Principal R. Scott Allen was also awarded a $10,000 cash prize and a $25,000 grant for his school. “Winning this award speaks volumes to the importance of combining arts with a rigorous education to create well-rounded, successful students,” said Dr. Allen. He plans to use the $25,000 grant to create a yearly scholarship for an at-risk student on his campus.