HISD Police Department’s K-9 unit continues to expand

Most people don’t know that some of the most active members of the HISD Police Department are younger than 6 years old, furry, and do their part to keep the district safe.

The K-9 unit is a vital part of HISD’s Police Department, with all police dogs trained to support and protect officers. The K-9s also conduct area searches for drugs, weapons, or other contraband that may be on school grounds or in district facilities.

“The K-9 unit has been around since the ‘90s,” HISD Police Sergeant Tridung Tran said. “We started with two and now we’ve expanded to five K-9s. They allow us to provide a better service to the district.”

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Two HISD students named winners of Congressional District Art Competition

Two HISD students have been announced as winners of the 2019 U.S. Congressional Art Competition.  

Keren Reyes, a freshman from Sharpstown High School, was chosen as the 9th Congressional District’s winner. Her winning piece, ” La Creola,” is a pencil drawing of one of her closest friends who still lives in her home country of El Salvador. According to Sharpstown art teacher Guadalupe Hernandez, when asked why she decided to create the piece, Reyes said that she did not want to forget where she came from and the people she left behind to come to the United States.  

Julio Bautista, a sophomore from Mickey Leland Prepatory Academy, was selected as the 18th Congressional District’s winner. His original art work, “Mayan Mindbender,” pays homage to his Hispanic background and the beauty of the Mayan culture.  

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Nicole Ayen-Metoyer named new principal of Fleming Middle School

Nicole Ayen-Metoyer has been selected as the new principal of Fleming Middle School. She joins Fleming after recently serving as dean of instruction at Fonville Middle School and has served as a teacher, educational diagnostician, a curriculum specialist, teacher development specialist, assistant principal at Hogg Middle School, and principal at Gregory Lincoln Education Center. Ayen-Metoyer was named interim principal at Fleming in December 2018. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from West Indies, Trinidad and a Master’s in Library Studies from the University of West Indies, Jamaica.  

Racquel Torres-Rosenbalm named new principal of Sherman Elementary School

Racquel Torres-Rosenbalm has been selected as the new principal of Sherman Elementary School. She is currently completing the 2017-2018 school year as the assistant principal of Yolanda Navarro Middle School and has served as a bilingual teacher and teacher specialist. Her previous work experience includes being an administrator at DeChaumes Elementary School, where she assisted in leading the campus to meet all TEA campus distinctions for the 2016- 2017 school year. This year, Torres-Rosenbalm was named the district’s East Area Assistant Principal of the Year. The campus was also recognized as a Gold Ribbon Winner and rated an A+ on the School Report Card. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University. 

Myra Castle-Bell named new principal of Peck Elementary School

Myra Castle-Bell has been selected as the new principal of Peck Elementary School. An educator for 20 years with HISD, Castle-Bell began her career as a third-grade teacher at Rusk Elementary, and has served as a literacy coach and Title I coordinator at Gregory Lincoln Education Center, instructional specialist at Lewis Elementary School, and an assistant principal at Edison Middle School. She joins Peck Elementary after her recent role and first principalship at Kelso Elementary School. She is a HISD alumni of Yates High School and holds two master’s degrees in School Counseling and Education Leadership from Prairie View A&M University.  

Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalist named Teacher of the Month for May

Dogan Elementary got to celebrate twice this month when their fourth-grade ELAR teacher Brittani Rideaux, who was crowned as an Elementary Teacher of the Year finalist was also named the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for May. 

To help close out the school year, Sterling McCall VIP Services surprised Rideaux on Wednesday to celebrate her accomplishments in the classroom that have landed her multiple recognitions across the district.  

“Ms. Rideaux has a strong commitment and passion to Dogan students’ academic achievement,” Principal Sandra Menxueiro said. “Her growth mindset and grit are a motivation to her students and staff, which has resulted in classroom success.” 

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South Early College HS students inspire bestselling author during Literacy Day

After a recent visit to HISD’s South Early College High School, author Shaytee Gadson has announced plans for his second book inspired by students he met during his visit.   

Gadson was invited to speak during South Early’s student-created Literacy Day, where he discussed his acclaimed memoir “Hallelujah! in Hollywood: A True Hollywood Story.” During the visit, each student received an autographed copy of the book and spent the day with Gadson discussing the book’s literary elements. 

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HISD students hold Earth-to-space call with NASA astronaut currently aboard ISS

HISD students from Milby High School, Deady Middle School, and Davila Elementary School had an exclusive opportunity on Wednesday to speak with and interview NASA astronaut Col. Tyler “Nick” Hague, who is currently living and working aboard the International Space Station.  

“Our students are getting a once-in-a lifetime chance today,” said Milby Principal Ruth Ruiz. “This is a great opportunity for our feeder pattern because this is our first year as an aerospace STEM academy.” 

During the 20-minute Earth-to-space call, students asked Hague several different questions about his time in space, future missions and experiments conducted aboard the ISS. The first question of the day went to Davila second-grader Leslie Garcia, who asked Col. Hague about his work schedule aboard the ISS.  

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Chung Ying named new principal of Mandarin Immersion Magnet School

Chung Ying has been selected as the new principal of Mandarin Immersion Magnet School. Ying started his career in HISD in 2003 and has served students as a special education teacher, department chair and LPAC coordinator. For the last six years, he has been an assistant principal in Harmony Public Schools. He has extensive experience in special education and ESL education. Ying earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and holds an advanced degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. He is fluent in Mandarin.

Holly T. Gibson named new principal of Middle College at HCC Gulfton

Holly T. Gibson has been selected as the new principal of Middle College at HCC Gulfton. She began her educational career at HISD in 1991 as a math teacher at Jane Long Middle School and has since taught in Dallas ISD and served as an assistant principal before returning to HISD in 2004 as assistant principal at Fonville Middle school. For the last 10 years, she has served as dean of instruction at Lamar High School. Gibson earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Texas Southern University and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce.