Bond Oversight Committee tours North Forest HS, hears update on bond and building programs

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The Houston Independent School District Bond Oversight Committee got an up-close and personal look at a 21st-century learning environment on Tuesday when they toured the new North Forest High School during their regular quarterly meeting.

The eight-member group gathered first in the auditorium for a brief introduction and a chance to see the space’s retractable seating, before moving on to the dramatic main hall, which serves as a focal point for the school.

The space features modern chandeliers and lots of windows providing both natural light and views of the surrounding landscape. It connects to a food-court-style dinning commons with two levels of flexible seating. Continue reading →

HISD announces winners of Elementary College Week 

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Over the past week, elementary schools throughout HISD were challenged to showcase their campus’ college knowledge.

In partnership with Counseling & Student Support, HISD’s Office of College & Career Readiness hosted the district’s first Elementary College Week! More than 70 schools actively competed for the chance to win a trip to UT-Austin, as well as classroom pizza and ice cream parties.

Each day, students answered essential college questions, such as “What is college?” or “Who can go to college?” As part of the competition, teachers and other school personnel were encouraged to post pictures and videos of Elementary College Week Activities on Twitter and Facebook, using #HISDElem2College.  Continue reading →

Black History Month events scheduled around the city 

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the richness of African-American culture and recognize the central role of African Americans in U.S. history, as well as the numerous contributions African-Americans have made to society. HISD’s 2018 theme, “African Americans in Times of War,” commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I and recognizes the participation of African Americans in all U.S. wars.

Below are some ways to celebrate Black History Month in Houston. Continue reading →

Wharton DLA construction project nears halfway mark

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Construction on the new Wharton Dual Language Academy is almost halfway complete, with structural steel erected for the building addition and exterior and interior wall framing underway.

Roof installation and interior wall framing of the existing building also are nearly complete, and the parking and driveway areas have been poured.

“We’re looking forward to having a modern, 21st-century building,” Wharton Principal Jennifer Day said, noting that she and her staff were already looking forward to moving into the facility. “I love how the design incorporates the historical building with the new.”

Continue reading →

National School Counseling Week is Feb. 5-9

Have you thanked your school counselor lately for all that they do? National School Counseling Week, which focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors, runs Feb. 5-9.

This year’s theme is “School Counselors: Helping Students Reach for the Stars.” Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, the event highlights the work school counselors do to inspire students, help them achieve school success, and plan for a career.

Join HISD in recognizing the unique contribution to the academic success and personal well-being of our students that district counselors make each and every day. Share photos and posts on social media using #NSCW18 and #HISDcounselors.

HISD hosting community meetings on Improvement Required campuses

HISD Board of Education President Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Trustee Jolanda Jones, and Trustee Wanda Adams are hosting a series of community meetings at schools currently in “improvement required” status, or IR, as designated by the Texas Education Agency.

Ten HISD campuses have struggled academically for four or more years and must meet all state standards this year. State law under House Bill 1842 says if any school currently in IR for the fourth year or more does not meet state standards this year, the state will close it or appoint a Board of Managers to run the school district. Continue reading →

Milby HS awarded LEED Silver certification

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Milby High School has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for its new building, which was constructed as part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification provides independent verification of a building’s green features and is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

Green schools offer improved air quality, lighting, temperature control, and acoustics, as well as reduced operating costs — all of which enhance the overall learning environment and have been shown to boost student health, test scores, and faculty retention. Continue reading →

For Black History Month, a list of African-American scholarship opportunities 

In recognition of Black History Month, here is a list of scholarships available to African-American students. They are arranged by due date and include those that award $4,000 or more. There are many more scholarships listed in Naviance and on PowerUp GO.   Continue reading →

Workshop Wednesday: How to do business with HISD

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Members of HISD’s Supplier Diversity department gathered with local business owners and vendors on Wednesday to provide them with tips for successfully submitting required Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) reports to the district.

HISD established the M/WBE program in 1988 to advocate fair and equitable opportunities for the participation of M/WBE firms or companies. The M/WBE participation report makes it possible for smaller businesses to gain contracts within the district after all requirements have been met. Continue reading →

Schad named finalist for Houston organization’s CIO of the Year award

Houston Independent School District Chief Technology Information Officer Lenny Schad has been named as a finalist for the CIO of the Year Oribe Awards.

The award, presented by HoustonCIO, recognizes chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. Finalists and winners are selected through an independent peer review process.

Schad is a finalist in the nonprofit/public sector category. Other CIO of the Year award categories include super global, global, enterprise, and corporate. Award winners will be announced at the Houston Marriott Marquis on Thursday, March 22.

“It’s a huge honor to be in the running for this award,” Schad said. “It’s an incredible testament to the work we are doing here at HISD to bring the best technological support and infrastructure to our students, schools, and staff.”

HoustonCIO’s mission is to build a strong professional community among Houston technology executives and to inspire CIOs to achieve their leadership potential.