Transportation Services to host Coffee & Conversations, add new stops

Transportation Services will host its third round of Coffee & Conversations on Wednesday — an opportunity for the department to share important updates and progress, as well as gather feedback to better identify ongoing challenges.

The bi-monthly meetings are normally held in the morning and evening at rotating locations. This time, the group will gather at Transportation Services’ Northwest Terminal and Eastwood Academy.

In the morning session, Interim General Manager John Wilcots IV will guide attendees on a tour of an HISD school bus to demonstrate the features of Zonar, a fleet management and tracking system implemented earlier this school year. Continue reading →

HISD Police Department swears in new sergeants and officers

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The Houston Independent School District Police Department hosted a ceremony Wednesday to recognize the promotions of six new sergeants and to swear in seven new officers.

The celebration, which was held at the High School for Law and Justice for the officers and their families, honored the new sergeants, who were officially sworn into their roles last month, as well as the new officers, who were sworn in at the event.

“This is more than a swearing in,” Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “This is a public commitment to the principles of law enforcement, and it’s our officers reinforcing their commitment to serving the community.”

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan expressed her appreciation to the department and the new officers for their work in keeping HISD schools safe. Continue reading →

Sterling Aviation ECHS student immortalized in national art piece  

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Sterling Aviation Early College High School senior Icetria Green is one of seven students selected nationwide as the inspiration for a series of mosaic portraits, which were unveiled this week in Washington, D.C.

Green and the six other students share stories of overcoming enormous challenges. Those stories served as inspiration for the artwork created by pop artist Jason Mecier in collaboration with Communities In Schools. The exhibition is titled “What We Are Made Of.”

The oldest of four children raised by a single mother, Green was forced to live apart from her family for months after Hurricane Harvey. However, she has overcome those obstacles to maintain high academic standing, become senior class president and to enroll in Texas Southern University’s Trio Upward Bound program.

Explore Green’s portrait in this interactive tour

Green credits her Communities In Schools student support specialist, Alma Gutierrez, for being a source of encouragement and assistance.  Continue reading →

Thank your school counselor during the week of Feb. 4-8  

If a school counselor has ever helped you to calm an anxious student, console a grieving child, or help a family in distress, then take a moment during the first week of February to thank him or her.

National School Counseling Week runs from Feb. 4–8, and this year’s theme is “School Counselors: Providing Lessons for Life.”Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, the event highlights the work school counselors do to inspire students, help them achieve school success, and prepare for college and careers.

School counselors play a vital role in the lives of students and their families, offering guidance through difficult situations and pointing them toward additional resources.   Continue reading →

Applications for EMERGE due on Feb. 14

Sophomore students who want to explore in-state and out-of-state college options and would like to work with a mentor to create a competitive college application, should apply to be an EMERGE fellow.

Applications are open and are due on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019.

The application is available at HoustonISD.org/EMERGE.

EMERGE empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from top colleges and universities across the nation. These institutions offer substantial financial-aid packages to students.

Recruitment sessions will be held at HISD high schools Jan. 21-Feb. 8, 2019. Continue reading →

Graduation ceremony schedule, venue information available for Class of 2019 

Hundreds of HISD seniors will walk across the stage this spring during graduation ceremonies planned for May 29 through June 9.

Most ceremonies will take place at various locations around the city (primarily the Barnett Fieldhouse, Butler Fieldhouse, Delmar Fieldhouse, NRG Arena, NRG Stadium, Texas Southern University campus).

A few will be taking place early (HSPVA and E-STEM on May 29 and May 30, respectively) or later (Liberty HS on June 9), so be sure to check the schedule for times and locations at HoustonISD.org/GraduationCalendar. Continue reading →

Six HISD educators nominated for national LifeChanger of the Year award

Six HISD educators have been nominated for the 2018-2019 national LifeChanger of the Year award.

Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

The following HISD educators have been nominated by students, colleagues, and parents:

  • Carlotta Brown, lead principal at Peck Elementary School
  • Olga Catoni, fifth-grade teacher at School at Saint George Place
  • Deitra Ford-Robinson, senior manager of South Area Special Education Services
  • TaNitra Robinson, second-grade teacher at B.K. Bruce Elementary Music Magnet School
  • Aletha Williams, chemistry teacher at Milby High School
  • Gina Wilkins, assistant principal at Woodson PK-5 Academy

Continue reading →

Lockhart ES student wins annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition

Fifth-grader wins $1,000 prize for original speech inspired by civil rights leader

Lockhart Elementary School fifth-grader Nyla Johnson channeled both Thomas Jefferson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while presenting her winning speech at the 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition.

Nyla was awarded first place for her original speech titled “What Would Dr. King Say?” The event was held Friday at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ in downtown Houston. Johnson was among 12 HISD students to participate in the final round of the competition sponsored by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP.  Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education elects new president, officers for 2019

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday elected new officers for 2019, naming District VIII Trustee Diana Dávila as board president.

Dávila served as HISD trustee from 2003 to 2010 and was elected again to the board in 2015. She is a former teacher and a lifelong resident of the East End. She attended HISD’s Park Place and Lewis elementary schools and Deady Middle School before graduating from Milby High School.

Outgoing Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones transferred the gavel to Davila, signifying the change in office. Continue reading →

Construction of new Austin HS to reach milestone on Monday

An immense construction crane will lift the first wall of the new Austin High School into place on Monday, marking a significant development for the 2012 Bond project.

The news was announced to the school’s Project Advisory Team on Wednesday during its regular meeting, which also included general construction and budget updates.

The $80.9 million project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2020, will feature modern classrooms and flexible learning spaces while also preserving the historic front facade of the original main building, which opened in 1937.

“Tours of the construction site for small groups of students would really build excitement about the progress we’re making,” HISD Construction Services Senior Manager Meredith Smith said. Continue reading →