Alicia Puente-Sanchez has been selected as the new principal of Durkee Elementary School. Puente-Sanchez started her career 18 years ago as a bilingual teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School. She has served as a magnet coordinator at The Rusk School K-8 and teacher interventionist at Barrick Elementary School. She went on to be an assistant principal at McReynolds Middle School, Wisdom High School, and Marshall Middle School. Most recently, Puente-Sanchez served as a program manager with the Leadership Development department. Puente-Sanchez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston Downtown and Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University.
Mikia J. Barnes named new principal of Osborne Elementary School
Mikia J. Barnes has been selected as the new principal of Osborne Elementary School. Barnes began her 15-year career as an elementary teacher in Aldine ISD. She has served as a team leader, middle school teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. For the past four years, she was as an administrator in Spring ISD, where she most recently served as associate principal of Bailey Middle School. Barnes holds a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University, a Master of Education from Lamar University, and a Bachelor of Science from Alcorn State University.
Erica Tran named new principal of Bonham Elementary School
Erica Tran has been selected as the new principal at Bonham Elementary School. Tran is returning to HISD, where her career began as a teacher at J.C. Mitchell Elementary. Tran previously served as a third-grade teacher at Harlem Elementary School in Goose Creek ISD. Tran then became the campus reading specialist for grades 3-5 and later an assistant principal at Gentry Junior School. After three years as an assistant principal, Tran was named principal at Horace Mann Junior High School, where she led the school in continuously meeting state standards. Tran earned her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and master’s in Education from Lamar University.
HISD meets state accountability standard for 2017-2018
Under new accountability rating system, the number of schools with “Improvement Required” rating
declines to lowest number since 2012
Although the Houston Independent School District received a “Not Rated” label for meeting the state’s criteria to qualify for the Hurricane Harvey waiver, the district was calculated to have earned an overall B rating under Texas’ new school accountability system, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Wednesday.
According to the ratings released today by TEA, 91 percent of HISD schools (251 out of 275 rated campuses) earned a “Met Standard” rating for the 2017-2018 school year.
“I’m elated about the progress we’ve made,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “It shows that the allocation of additional resources for critical staffing, student supports, and wraparound services encompassed by Achieve 180 is working. Though we are excited about the news we’ve received today, we know we still have work to do.” Continue reading
HISD asking parents to complete socioeconomic form
The Houston Independent School District will provide free breakfast and lunch to students at no charge for the 2018-2019 school year, but parents will need to fill out a new form to ensure Title I funding for HISD schools.
All HISD schools are now qualified to operate under the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Community Eligibility Provision, which allows HISD to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner at no charge to all students, eliminating the need for free and reduced-price meal applications.
While parents will not need to complete and return a free and reduced-price meal application, they will need to complete a socioeconomic form (see below), known as the blue form.
In order for campuses to receive their Title I funding, HISD is still required to collect and report the socioeconomic status of each students to the Texas Education Agency. Continue reading
Richard Peña named new principal of Sherman Elementary School
Richard Peña has been selected as the new principal of Sherman Elementary School. Peña began his 20-year career with HISD as a second-grade bilingual teacher at Allen (now Kennedy) Elementary School, and has served as an instructional specialist, literacy coach and team leader. He most recently served as principal of Tijerina Elementary School. While at Travis Elementary School, he was nominated for Assistant Principal of the Year. Additionally, he served as an assistant principal for six years in Aldine ISD, HISD and Spring ISD. Peña holds a Master of Educational Leadership from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Houston.
Renesiaha Marshall named new principal of Reynolds Elementary School
Renesiaha Marshall has been named as the new principal of Reynolds Elementary. Marshall is a product of HISD, having attended Petersen Elementary School, Dowling (now Lawson) Middle School, and Madison High School. She started her teaching career in HISD in 2005 as a first-grade teacher at Montgomery Elementary School. While at Alcott and Foerster elementaries, she served as reading interventionist and teacher specialist. Most recently, Marshall served the Almeda Elementary School community as a school counselor and assistant principal for three years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Houston.
Derrick Estes named new principal of Law Elementary School
Derrick Estes has been selected as the new principal of Law Elementary School. Estes started his career with HISD in 2008 as a general clerk at Cornelius Elementary School. After graduating from the University of Houston Downtown with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, he obtained his first teaching job at Cornelius, where he served as a third- and fifth-grade teacher. He served as instructional specialist and later as assistant principal of Golfcrest Elementary School. Estes currently is a doctoral degree fellow in Educational Administration at Texas A&M Commerce.
Philip Steuernagel named new principal of McReynolds Middle School
Philip Steuernagel has been selected as the new principal of McReynolds Middle School. Steuernagel has 16 years of experience in education as a bilingual teacher, ESL college adjunct instructor, assistant principal and most recently principal of R. Martinez Elementary. Under his leadership, student enrollment has increased, and the campus has made significant academic gains. Prior to Steuernagel’s arrival, R. Martinez was rated as an Improvement Required campus, and under his leadership it has been rated as Met Standard each year he has been principal. Steuernagel earned his Bachelor of Arts from American University in Washington, D.C. and his Master of Education from the University of Houston.
Tiffany Bob named new principal of Fondren Middle School
Tiffany Bob has been selected as the new principal of Fondren Middle School. Bob began her career in education over 16 years ago in HISD. Bob has served students as a Special Education teacher, Reading teacher trainer, Special Education program specialist, and assistant principal. Most recently, Bob has served as the high school dean at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University.