HISD Communications Department nominated for 5 Lone Star EMMY awards 

The HISD Communications Department has been nominated for five Lone Star EMMY awards for district videos and programming produced during the 2017-2018 school year.

Lone Star EMMY represents the most experienced and talented television professionals from all disciplines of the industry and from all television markets in Texas.

“I am incredibly proud of the work HISD’s Communications team has done to be nominated for five of these prestigious Lone Star EMMY awards,” said HISD Communications Chief Rebecca Suarez. “It’s an honor for our team’s talent to be recognized in our daily mission to share the incredible stories of our students, our community and the district.” Continue reading →

Community and corporate partners can be part of HISD Parent University 

The Houston Independent School District is inviting community and corporate to support HISD Parent University by participating in the Resource Fair portion of the events.

On Sept. 27, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan officially launched Parent University, an initiative focused on providing families with the supports they need to be actively involved in the success of their children. The Parent University sessions will take place every month simultaneously at geographically dispersed locations, and will include information and tools about HISD, as well as community resources to help equip and support families.

For vendor and sponsorship opportunities, register here.

For questions, contact Candice Castillo at Candice.Castillo@HoustonISD.org or 713-556-7290.

HISD to kick off Parent University with districtwide events

The Houston Independent School District’s new HISD Parent University will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 27. This new initiative will connect parents and children to resources offered by the district to create successful academic careers as well as safe and healthy environments at home and at school.

The inaugural Parent University workshops will take place at all HISD schools.

A variety of district and community program representatives and experts will be available for parents to connect with individually. Continue reading →

Milby HS selected as finalist for Texas school architecture competition

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000MRfCmFBKxZs” g_name=”Milby-Architectural-photos-08-14-17″ width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Milby High School is one of four finalists vying for the highest honor offered by the 2018-19 Exhibit of School Architecture Competition.

Twenty-seven projects from school districts across the state were awarded 2018 Stars of Distinction in six categories — community, planning, transformation, design, value, and sustainability. Milby was awarded six out of six stars.

The annual architecture competition showcases new and renovated Texas schools and recognizes excellence in their planning and design. It is sponsored by the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. Continue reading →

Magnet school applications for 2019-2020 available on Friday

First school choice fair set for Saturday at Sterling HS

Parents will have the ability to begin applying to magnet program for the 2019-2020 school year on Friday, Sept. 28, and the district’s first school choice fair will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Sterling High School (11625 Martindale, 77048).

HISD offers a robust portfolio of magnet programs at 122 schools to best meet students’ academic needs and interests. The magnet programs within the district include: Continue reading →

HISD Police to host annual National Night Out

Houston ISD staff, vendors and community members participate in National Night Out activities at the Houston ISD Police Department, October 7, 2014. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)The Houston Independent School District Police Department is set to celebrate this year’s National Night Out at Marshall Middle Academy of Fine Arts.

National Night Out is an annual event that aims to make neighborhoods safer by strengthening relationships between community members and police departments.

“This event is a great opportunity for our district, community members, and police officers to mingle, share information, and stand together against crime and other issues of concern,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “We want people to feel confident and secure in their own neighborhoods.”

Continue reading →

Washington HS celebrates the past and future in new building

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000yJ0WKRFlYjI” g_name=”20180920-Booker-T-Washington-grand-opening” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Booker T. Washington High School alumni, community leaders, special guests, and elected officials gathered Thursday to celebrate the school’s 125-year anniversary and newly built engineering magnet school.

The $56.5 million project, which is part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program, highlights the use of 21st century technology through its specialized engineering and science labs and flexible learning spaces that support project-based instruction and encourages collaboration.
Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education votes to initiate national superintendent search

Trustees exercise warranty with executive search firm previously utilized by district

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday voted 6 to 3 to exercise a warranty provision with an executive search firm to conduct a superintendent search.

The executive search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, issued a warranty when it conducted the district’s previous superintendent search, which resulted in the hiring of former superintendent Richard Carranza in August 2016.

Under the firm’s warranty, if the board became dissatisfied with the superintendent within two years from the date of employment, and if the employment was dissolved by either side due to resignation or termination, the firm would conduct a new superintendent search at no cost to the district, except for expenses. Continue reading →

Energy Institute HS celebrates grand opening of new facility

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000Xq33.jv_9tQ” g_name=”20180919-Energy-Institute-building-dedication” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Known for its innovation, Energy Institute — which once programmed robots to shovel dirt at its groundbreaking ceremony — decided to forego a traditional ribbon-cutting, and instead have students use a circular saw to cut a wooden board laser printed with the school’s logo. The cut pieces were then presented to special guests at the event.

“What a journey,” Energy Principal Lori Lambropoulos said as she looked out to the crowd. “This school is the first one of its kind in the nation, and we could not have done any of this without all of you in this room.” Continue reading →

Cooking competition champs serve winning meal to fellow Milby HS students

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000U71gVz3EFw0″ g_name=”20180912-Milby-Student-Meal” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Three Milby High School culinary students were transformed into real world chefs on Thursday, as they led the campus kitchen staff in preparing an award-winning meal for fellow students.

Students Jordyn Moore, Roberto Blas, and Estevan Mata — collectively named the Broadway Buffs — were the second-place winners of the national Cooking Up Change competition, which they advanced to in June after winning top honors in the district’s competition earlier this year.
Continue reading →