Queinnise Miller named principal of Marshall Middle School

Queinnise Miller has been selected as the new principal of Marshall Middle School. Miller has served as an elementary and high school teacher, department chair, and educational trainer. She has also served as a middle school assistant principal. She also has a background in English as a second language, bilingual education, and foreign language instruction. She joined HISD six years ago and served as a senior manager for Leadership Development and a director in the Office of School Leadership. Most recently, Miller served three years as principal Smith Elementary School. While serving at Smith, she was responsible for the campus embracing a new and exciting culture, which included the expansion of its fine arts program and becoming a dual language campus. She holds a bachelor’s Spanish from University of Houston, a master’s in Educational Administration and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University.

Tanya Edwards named principal of Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan

Tanya Edwards has been selected as the new principal of Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan. She has been a part of Team HISD for 21 years and previously served as the principal of Thompson Elementary School. She has been instrumental in helping to turn around schools in HISD, including at Thompson, where she helped the campus reach academic improvements and earn TEA distinctions for four consecutive years. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Prairie View A&M University, where she holds a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies and a master’s in Educational Administration. Edwards is currently in the Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

HISD Police Department hosts safety and security training to prepare for new school year

As the summer break comes to a close, preparations for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year are in full swing across the district and in the HISD Police Department.  

The department is hosting a slate of professional development training courses in the weeks leading up to the first day of school.  

“Training is always important because it allows for us to prepare for the upcoming school year,” HISD Police Sgt. Quinten Flannel said. “It helps us to keep up with the challenges and demands of the district. We want our officers to be trained and to know how to handle it.”  

Continue reading →

HISD PD receives active shooter kits donation from The 100 Club of Houston

Officers with the HISD Police Department were visibly excited Wednesday when representatives from The 100 Club of Houston formally presented new active shooter kits for campus officers.  

The 100 Club, established in 1953, provides financial support to the dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty in 32 counties surrounding Houston. The club also helps law enforcement agencies purchase life-protecting equipment, such as active shooter kits. 

“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the 100 Club,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “We brought our need to them and they immediately addressed it with their financial benevolence.” 

Continue reading →

Erica Brame-Manuel named principal of Thompson Elementary School

Erica Brame-Manuel has been selected as the new principal of Thompson Elementary School. Brame-Manuel began her career 15 years ago at Bastian Elementary School in HISD before transitioning to KIPP Public Schools in 2006. Her leadership roles include lead teacher, department chair, dean of instruction, and dean of students. Brame-Manuel was instrumental in helping Foerster Elementary School and Lawson Middle School out of Improvement Required status in one school year as the campus’ reading specialist. Most recently, she was the driving force as the ELA teacher specialist at Lawson Middle School which yielded double-digit gains in reading and writing. She earned a bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Wiley College and a master’s from Jones International University.

HISD to host Back to School Extravaganza for 2019-2020 school year

HISD’s Homeless Education Office will host a Back to School Extravaganza on Friday, Aug. 23 to help students get ready for the 2019-2020 school year. 

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Delmar Stadium (2020 Mangum Road 77092). 

Free assistance will be available for Medicaid applications, Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) renewal and recertification, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Health screenings also will be available. 

Also available for free, while supplies last, will be immunizations (must bring original shot record), fresh produce, backpacks, shoes, and school supplies. Students must be present to receive free items. 

For transportation assistance, contact the Homeless Education Office at 713-556-7237.

Erin Trent named new principal of Stevens Elementary School

Erin Trent has been selected as the new principal of Stevens Elementary School. Prior to her appointment, Trent served as an assistant principal at Wainwright Elementary School and started her career as a pre-kindergarten teacher at Kandy Stripe Academy, as well as a curriculum writer at KIPP Houston. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and has earned two master’s degrees in Educational Administration and Curriculum and Instruction from LeTourneau University.

Melinda Daugherty named new principal of Smith Elementary School

Melinda Daugherty has been selected as the new principal of Smith Elementary School. She has 20 years of experience in education with her most recent position being the assistant principal for Smith Elementary for three years. Her educational experience includes serving as a first-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teacher specializing in working with English language learners. Daugherty’s leadership experience also includes her work as a literacy coach, instructional coordinator, and teacher specialist. She holds a bachelor’s in Education with minors in English and Music from Sam Houston State University, and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.

Melissa Melchor named new principal of Oates Elementary School

Melissa Melchor has been selected as the new principal of Oates Elementary School. Melchor began her educational career as a teacher in HISD, with over 10 years of experience. She was part of the turnaround team at Marshall Elementary School in 2013 as a classroom teacher. She has served as an instructional specialist at Paige Elementary School and most recently as the assistant principal of Almeda Elementary School. Melchor holds a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin University.

Erica Avie named new principal of R.P. Harris Elementary School

Erica Avie has been selected as the new principal of R.P. Harris Elementary School. Avie began her career in Alief ISD where she taught middle school math for six years before joining HISD in 2014 at Woodson K-8. At HISD, she has served as an instructional math coach, assistant principal at Clifton Middle School, and a data-driven instructional specialist. At Clifton Middle School, she created an effective in-school interventions math program that helped to increase student growth and completed the first geometry class in more than 10 years. She has a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston and a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.