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.

Tammie R.J. Moran named new principal of Franklin Elementary School

Tammie R.J. Moran has been selected as the new principal of Franklin Elementary School. Moran began her career in 1996 with HISD and has served as a science teacher, department chair, new teacher induction coach, registrar, and most recently an associate principal. Her years in education have consistently increased academic performance at the schools where she served. Most recently, Moran served as an assistant principal at Furr High School. Moran holds a bachelor’s in Biology from Texas Southern University and a master’s in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Cesar Martinez named Northwest Area Superintendent

Cesar Martinez has been selected as Northwest Area Superintendent within HISD’s School Offices department. Martinez brings 22 years of experience as a leader at the local, regional, and state levels of education. He started his career in the Broad Prize-winning Brownsville ISD as a middle school teacher, elementary school assistant principal, and principal. Martinez then continued as an education specialist with the Statewide Initiatives Division of the Education Service Center – Region XIII in Austin, Texas. There he managed the Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) Program and developed, identified, and supported effective instructional practices for the Title I School Improvement Plan (SIP) campuses of Regions IV and V of the state of Texas. He returned to a state school district as a middle school principal in Austin ISD and as a school leadership coordinator in Dallas ISD. Most recently, Martinez has coached and developed 34 principals from early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school campuses over the last five years as a School Support Officer (SSO) in HISD. He earned a bachelor’s from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s from the University of Texas at Brownsville and currently working to complete a doctorate in Education at the University of Texas at Austin.

HISD prepares to welcome nearly 1,500 teachers for 2019-2020 school year

HISD’s Office of Leadership and Teacher Development will host all new teachers during the district’s annual New Teacher Academy (NTA) on August 6-9 at Kingdom Builders Center (6011 W. Orem Dr., 77085) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

With nearly 1,500 new teachers set to be in attendance, NTA is the largest teacher induction conference in the state to welcome those new to the industry and provide insight into the district’s processes, resources and expectations.

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HISD partners with community leaders for new juvenile justice program

The Houston Independent School District, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and the Houston Police Department joined forces Monday to announce the launch of a juvenile justice diversion program that aims to transform the lives of HISD students in the Fifth Ward.

The program, which will be run by the Fifth Ward redevelopment corporation’s new Center for Urban Transformation, will assist students, ages 12 to 16 who are accused of nonviolent offenses. Instead of utilizing the court system, the CUT program will offer mentorship opportunities, volunteer work, and community-based supportive services.