Christopher Walker has been named principal of Tinsley Elementary School. Walker has been an educator for 12 years, serving in various roles from teacher to teacher interventionist to assistant principal. He began his career with HISD as a special education teacher and since 2012 has served as assistant principal at Askew and Ashford elementary schools. Walker earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and child and family development from Texas Southern University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from University of Texas at Tyler.
Wilfredo Montanez named new principal of Franklin Elementary
Wilfredo Montanez is a product of HISD schools and began his educational career as a teaching assistant and associate teacher. He served as Spanish teacher at the Ninth Grade College Preparatory Academy and he taught math at Sam Houston MSTC. Montanez served as a curriculum and content specialist, instructional specialist, and most recently dean of Students at both Sam Houston and Hamilton Middle. Montanez earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in mathematics from University of Houston-Downtown and a master’s degree in supervision and counseling from Sam Houston State University.
Stephanie Torrez Square named new principal of East Early College High School
Stephanie Torrez Square is product of HISD schools and a graduate of Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. Torrez Square taught Algebra I at Yates High School and also served as a lead teacher, varsity soccer coach, and math department chairperson. In 2011, she won Teacher of the Year. She served as a Teacher Specialist at Wheatley High School and assistant principal at North Forest High School. Most recently, she has been an assistant principal at Austin High School, where she led the mathematics department, oversaw dual credit programming, and executed a plan to increase linkage and usage of Khan Academy and College Board resources. Torrez Square graduated manga cum laude with distinguished honor roll from Texas Southern University.
Edward Cuevas Jr. named new principal of Deady Middle School
Edward Cuevas Jr. is the new principal of Deady Middle School. Cuevas is a graduate of HISD schools and has also dedicated 20 years of service to the district. He began his career with HISD in the Multi-Lingual Department and transitioned into teaching in 2001 at Carrillo Elementary School. Cuevas served as a first through fourth grade teacher at Seguin Elementary. In 2012, he became assistant principal at Hartman Middle School. In 2014, Cuevas became principal of Almeda Elementary, where he has served as instructional leader for three years. He holds a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies from University of Houston-Downtown and a master of science in educational management from University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Daniel Hernandez named new principal of Briscoe Elementary
Daniel Hernandez is the new principal of Briscoe Elementary School. Hernandez has been an educator for 16 years and a middle school science and English teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He began his career at Stevenson Middle School as a multi-grade science teacher before joining Jane Long Academy as an assistant principal. Since 2013, he has been principal of C. Martinez Elementary School. Hernandez earned his bachelor’s degree in inter-disciplinary studies and his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from University of Houston.
Workshop Wednesday: Protecting your business from loss
Workshop Wednesday this month featured Dane Bubela, vice president at Frost Insurance, who discussed how carrying the proper insurance can protect your business from unexpected loss.
Bubela told the group of about 25 attendees that obtaining appropriate coverage can give business owners peace of mind from knowing that their assets, from the building and its contents to employees and inventory, are protected. Continue reading
Wilson Montessori construction passes the halfway mark
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The Wilson Montessori K-8 campus is beginning to take a new form as crews continue building a three-story addition and gymnasium, both of which are now more than halfway complete.
The Montrose-area school is receiving $18.9 million under the voter-approved 2012 Bond program. The project includes construction of a new three-story addition, as well as renovations to the existing facility, which was built in 1924.
The renovation work, which includes updates to the library, reception area, and other rooms, could be completed as early as this summer. Work on the new addition will continue into the next school year.
Teach Forward Houston fellows meet at UH Summer Bridge
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A new cohort of Teach Forward Houston students just wrapped up Summer Bridge 2017 at University of Houston, where they lived in the dorms and attended orientation and classes for four days.
The week began with an opening ceremony with last year’s fellows, who will be sophomores this fall. Summer Bridge exposed the new UH students to Cougar Culture, best practices for studying, advice regarding health and wellness, and financial planning to ensure they survive college life. Summer Bridge 2017 ended with a celebratory lunch with family, HISD officials, and UH College of Education (UHCOE) representatives. Continue reading
New teachers join Houston Food Bank to help feed local kids
A group of teachers new to HISD for 2017-2018 school year kicked off their introduction to the district on a very positive note Monday by volunteering at the Houston Food Bank.
The new teachers, a few from as far away as Spain, joined an assembly line process to sort and pack food supplies for the HISD families and many surrounding counties.
“The children deserve all of our efforts and all of our hours together to put together the food they need to have the nutrition that they need to learn,” said Idrisa Abdul-Hamid, HISD senior manager for Onboarding.
For more information on volunteering with the Houston Food Bank, go to HoustonFoodBank.org/Volunteer
HISD Board names auditorium after late District III Trustee Manuel Rodríguez Jr.
The HISD Board of Education honored the late District III Trustee Manuel Rodríguez Jr. by naming the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center auditorium The Manuel Rodríguez Jr. Board Auditorium during their monthly agenda review meeting on Monday.
Rodríguez, who passed away this month, served as a board member for 14 years. He was elected to the board in 2003 and held every office, including assistant secretary, second vice president, first vice president, and president of the Board of Education. Continue reading