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.

Continue reading

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

Angela Lundy-Jackson named new school support officer for North Area

Angela Lundy Jackson poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Angela Lundy-Jackson has been promoted to school support officer for the North Area Schools Office. Lundy-Jackson has been an educator for 26 years, serving in various roles, including teacher, education-program manager, high school principal, and lead principal. She was an inaugural member of the Teach for America cohort that began in HISD in 1991. Lundy-Jackson began her teaching career at Hamilton Middle School and later taught at Booker T. Washington High School. After much success in several administrative roles, she became principal of North Houston Early College High School in 2010 and has served there for the last seven years. Under her leadership, North Houston Early College was named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. The same year, she was named HISD secondary principal of the year, Region IV principal of the year, and a finalist for state principal of the year. Lundy-Jackson was recognized by HEB for her outstanding Leadership in 2016. A native of Memphis, Tenn., she has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in public administration from Grambling State University.

Tremeka Collins named new principal of Martin Luther King Jr. Early Childhood Center

Tremeka Collins (Houston Independent School District)Tremeka Collins has been appointed principal of MLK Early Childhood Center. Collins has been an educator for 14 years, serving in various roles from teacher to assistant principal. She began her career with HISD as a math teacher before becoming a certification trainer in Professional Development supporting new teachers with onboarding and certification. Since 2012, Collins has served as assistant principal of Kashmere Gardens Elementary and MLK Early Childhood Center. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Prairie View A & M University and a master’s degree in education from University of St. Thomas.

Rick Nagir named new principal of Brookline Elementary

Rick Nagir (Houston Independent School District)Rick Nagir has been selected as the new principal of Brookline Elementary School. He is a veteran educator who has been with HISD for 17 years, serving in various roles from teacher to assistant principal. Nagir began as a second-grade teacher at Bonner Elementary School before moving to Brookline Elementary, where he served as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, Title I/interventionist, instructional coordinator, teacher specialist, and assistant principal. Nagir holds a bachelor of science in environmental management from University of Houston–Clear Lake and a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.