Bond Oversight Committee hears update on school construction, plans for new bond program

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The Houston Independent School District has opened nine new facilities since the start of the year and is on track to open 15 more by January 2019, according to a report given to the Bond Oversight Committee on Tuesday.

In total, the district will have completed and opened two dozen new facilities between January 2018 and January 2019, bringing the program’s overall completion rate to 80 percent by the end of the year.

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HISD Board of Education to consider partner for Improvement Required campuses

Board also to consider change to grade-level configuration at Woodson PK-8,
hear an update on 2018-2019 budget

 The Houston Independent School District Board of Education will hold a workshop on Tuesday, April 24 to consider a contract with Energized for STEM Academy to operate 10 Improvement Required (IR) campuses.

Trustees are expected to consider the approval of a contract with the governing board of Energized for STEM Academy to enter into a five-year partnership with HISD under Senate Bill 1882, or SB 1882.

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HISD bus attendants celebrate literacy by reading to bus riders

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Perched on the edge of a firm green seat, bus attendant Loretta Gallaviz picked up a book and began to read aloud.

“One morning, Annie could not find Taffy anywhere,” she read, as the bus on which she was riding made its way down the street. “She looked and looked, but Taffy was gone. Annie was very lonely.”

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Student World AIDS Day art posters on display

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The colorful banners hanging on the fence between the HISD baseball field and the Hattie Mae White Education Support Centers are eye-catching works of art by district middle-school children. They were put on display recently after being displayed at the City of Houston’s Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center in December to honor World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

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Two coaches receive Ann Sledge Instructional Coach Excellence Awards

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Two HISD instructional coaches received a big surprise in their classrooms on Friday as HISD administrators dropped in to present them with the second annual Ann Sledge Instructional Coach Excellence Awards.

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New Askew ES set to open in August

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Construction on the new Askew Elementary School is set to wrap up this quarter, with school officials making plans to move in over the summer and welcome students to the new building in August.

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Help determine the Fan Favorite Teachers of the Year 

Winners to be announced at May 18 Educators of the Year banquet

It’s that time of the year again to decide the “Fan Favorite” Teachers of the Year, who will be announced on Friday, May 18, as HISD honors teachers and principals across the district at the Educators of the Year banquet.

The districtwide elementary and secondary Teachers of the Year are determined using performance data and other criteria, but the Fan Favorite category was created so the HISD community could vote on social media for their favorite elementary and secondary teacher.

All campus-based Teachers of the Year are eligible for this award, which will be determined by who has the largest number of fans. Anyone can vote—including colleagues, parents, students, and former students.  Continue reading →

HISD names 2017-18 Teacher of the Year finalists, Beginner Teacher of the Year winners 

Winners will be recognized on May 18 at the Educators of the Year banquet

In recognition of teaching excellence across the district, HISD will officially crown its principals and teachers at the “royal wedding-themed” Educators of the Year banquet on Friday, May 18, at the Hilton Americas Hotel.

Fourteen finalists have been named for the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the year. The two winners, who will go on to represent the district in Region 4, will be announced during the Educators of the Year banquet on Friday, May 18. The 14 finalists were selected from all 287 campuses based on performance data and other criteria.  Continue reading →

State Board of Education creates ethnic studies class based on HISD’s Mexican-American Studies course

Douglas Torres-Edwards, center, with HISD trustees Elizabeth Santos and Sergio Lira.

Course author honored by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Councilman Robert Gallegos

After more than four years of debate, the Mexican-American Studies course pioneered in HISD will be used as the framework for the first statewide high-school ethnic studies class.

The State Board of Education (SBOE) voted unanimously on April 13 to create TEKS standards for an ethnic studies class based on HISD’s course, written primarily by veteran educator Douglas Torres-Edwards. Continue reading →