Transportation updates routes ahead of new school openings, continues to recruit drivers

Transportation Services has updated all bus routes assigned to Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts in preparation for their relocation to their new campus in downtown Houston.

The school is moving out of its current campus in Montrose and into a new building located at 790 Austin St. during the upcoming winter break. The new facility, built as part of the 2012 Bond Program, will officially open its doors to students when they return from winter break on Jan. 7, 2019.

The updated routes take effect on Jan. 7, 2019. HSPVA parents and students were notified of the changes via phone and text message earlier this week and will receive reminders again next week. Continue reading →

Six HISD schools set to open new facilities in January

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HISD will open six new schools next month, bringing the total number of new campuses opened during the past year to 21 and marking the completion of more than 80 percent of all school construction projects.

Schools include Madison and Worthing high schools, Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center, Barbara Jordan Career Center, Wharton Dual Language Academy, and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. All are part of the 2012 Bond Program.

“We’ve completed a record-breaking number of projects,” HISD Construction Services Officer Derrick Sanders said. “Essentially, that means more students now have access to vibrant, modern, state-of-the-art learning spaces. That’s our goal.” Continue reading →

Second-generation teacher surprised as December Teacher of the Month 

Known as an “unsung hero” at Sam Houston Science, Math and Technology Center (SHSMTC), English teacher Margaret Licea was recognized as the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for December on Tuesday.

“When Licea’s name is mentioned to anyone at the campus, it’s instantly met with a huge smile and enthusiasm,” Principal Alan Summers said. “It is without questions she is a campus favorite here and the award is well deserved. She is so committed to our faculty and students’ excellence that I was actually urged by our instructional specialists to submit her as a nominee this month.”

The second-generation teacher, who also works alongside her mother at SHSMTC, was so overcome with emotion during her surprise, it was hard for the classroom not to join in excitement to express their love for Licea.  Continue reading →

Barbara Jordan Career Center to open new building next month

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With construction nearly 90 percent complete, the new Barbara Jordan Career Center will officially open its doors to students when they return from winter break on Jan. 7.

Crews are in the final stretch of carpet and floor tile installation. Plumbing and electrical teams are about 75 percent done with their work, and phone and gas lines have been connected to the building.
Continue reading →

HISD Athletics Director Andre’ Walker recognized by NIAAA 

HISD Director of Athletics Andre’ Walker has received the designation of Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Through a voluntary NIAAA certification process, Walker was evaluated on his background, experience, and professional contributions. He joins an elite group of administrators who demonstrate exemplary professionalism in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.

Walker has spent the past 18 years serving students in HISD as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and most recently as a senior athletics program administrator for the district’s Athletics Department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas Southern University, Master’s in Education from Prairie View A&M University.  Continue reading →

PSAT scores from October test now available 

PSAT scores from the October test have been released, and they are available now. After spending time to take the test, it’s important to access, understand, and use the PSAT scores to your advantage.

PSAT scores will help you understand how close you are to being college ready in math, reading, and writing. PSAT test scores can also connect you to other benefits you hadn’t thought of, including enrichment programs, internships, summer camps, scholarships, and the ability to take college-level courses in high school.

Some schools are creating a special event or day to explain what you need to know, but you don’t have to wait for that. You can access your scores online NOW and learn how ready you are for college, explore which Advanced Placement courses are a good match for you, and gain insight into which skills to focus on in order to prepare for the SAT.   Continue reading →

Board of Trustees hears update on positive developments in Achieve 180 program 

As the district prepares to wrap up the first half of the school year, Achieve 180 leadership had nothing but positive results to share on the program’s first semester to Board of Trustees on Monday.

Achieve 180 Area Superintendent Felicia Adams provided an update that focused on how the program’s pillars have yielded immediate outcomes within the first half of the school year.

The six guiding pillars within Achieve 180 program provide the strategic framework for the transformational work being done at campuses.

The pillars focus on leadership excellence, teaching excellence, school design, social and emotional learning support, and family and community empowerment.  Continue reading →

Seniors invited to audition as emcee for Public Education Matters benefit dinner

One lucky HISD senior will have the chance to show off their emcee skills and win a college scholarship at the HISD Foundation’s 2019 Public Education Matters Benefit Dinner.

The winning student will host the event on Tuesday, March 5, and will earn a $2,500 college scholarship. This year’s master of ceremonies will host a crowd of over 1,500 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston. Attendees will be a who’s who of the city, including elected officials, notable community members and business leaders.

“We are excited to include one of the district’s own students in the evening’s events,” said HISD Chief Development Officer Ann Best Scott. “I can’t think of anyone better to serve as emcee than a student who directly benefits from public education.”  Continue reading →

HISD canceling after-school activities due to inclement weather forecast 

Due to impending inclement weather and the potential for hazardous road conditions, the Houston Independent School District is canceling all after-school activities for Friday, Dec. 7.

Additionally, all varsity basketball games scheduled for tonight are being rescheduled for Saturday, December 8. The revised schedule for Saturday games, including times and locations, is:

GIRLS/BOYS HOME VISITORS LOCATION TIME
Girls Wheatley HS Scarborough HS Barnett 10 a.m.
Girls Yates HS Furr HS Barnett 11:30 a.m.
Boys Yates HS Worthing HS Barnett 1 p.m.
Boys Wisdom HS Austin HS Butler 1 p.m.
Boys Milby HS Sterling HS Butler 2:30 p.m.
Boys Lamar HS Westside HS Butler 4 p.m.
Girls Lamar HS Westbury HS Delmar 1 p.m.
Girls Westside HS Bellaire HS Delmar 2:30 p.m.
Boys Waltrip HS Madison HS Delmar 4 p.m.
Girls Kashmere HS North Forest HS Wilkins Pavilion 1 p.m.
Boys Furr HS North Forest HS Wilkins Pavilion 2:30 p.m.
Boys Washington HS Wheatley HS Wilkins Pavilion 4 p.m.
Girls Waltrip HS Wisdom HS TJ Engram 1 p.m.
Boys Northside HS Sharpstown HS TJ Engram 2:30 p.m.
Boys Mickey Leland Westbury HS TJ Engram 4 p.m.

Games originally scheduled for Saturday will be played at their planned times and locations. Any school activities rescheduled for Saturday will not begin until after 9 a.m.

For additional updates, please visit www.houstonisd.org and follow district updates on Twitter and Facebook: twitter.com/houstonisd and facebook.com/houstonisd.

Transportation Services to review afternoon routes

Transportation Services is conducting a comprehensive review of all afternoon bus routes to ensure all stops are scheduled appropriately and all routes can be completed safely in the time allotted.

This analysis comes on the heels of a similar review of all morning bus routes, which is wrapping up. Department staff are expected to complete the review and make any necessary route changes by February 2019.

“I want parents to know we hear them,” Interim General Manager John Wilcots IV said, noting that they focused first on morning routes to ensure students were getting to school on time. “They want us to get these afternoon routes reviewed and updated, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

As part of the review, stop times will be updated to accurately reflect the time needed to execute each route. This will help the department provide parents with accurate pick-up and drop-off times. Continue reading →