National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program applications available online now

Parents are urged to complete the forms now to avoid back-to-school rush

Although the start of school is weeks away, Houston Independent School District Nutrition Services is urging all parents and guardians to complete the student applications for free and reduced-price meals online as soon as possible to ensure their child’s school gets the proper state and federal funding.

The National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program applications and surveys are now available at https://mealapps.houstonisd.org. They can also be accessed by visiting the HISD Nutrition Services website and clicking on the “One Form Means So Much” button on the right side of the page.

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Tracy Clemons named HISD press secretary

Tracy ClemonsTracy Clemons has been appointed press secretary for the Houston Independent School District.

Clemons is a passionate storyteller with a journalism career that’s taken him across the country. He came to Houston as a reporter/multi-media journalist for ABC13, most recently focusing on the 10 p.m. news. He covered Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Mo., the Charleston Church massacre, and the police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La. Locally, he’s covered his share of breaking news, but he’s most proud of his record of telling community-oriented stories that make viewers smarter and more engaged.

Clemons is originally from Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland-College Park. Prior to ABC13, he worked in Charlottesville, Va., as a reporter, in Shreveport, La., as a reporter/anchor, and in St. Louis, Mo., as a reporter/multi-media journalist.

“Being a reporter was my dream since I was 10. I can say I lived that dream,” says Clemons. “Walking away is bittersweet, but the chance to tell HISD’s story every day is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It’s been a joy being part of one of the best news teams in America at ABC13, but I look forward to this new chapter.”

Clemons began in his new role Monday, July 24.

HISD mourns loss of Board of Education Trustee Manuel Rodríguez Jr.


The HISD family is mourning the passing of Board of Education District III Trustee Manuel Rodríguez Jr., a dedicated servant to the children of Houston for 14 years and himself a product of HISD schools.

Rodríguez, who passed away on Wednesday, was elected to the board in 2003 and held every office, including assistant secretary, second vice president, first vice president, and in 2016, president of the Board of Education.

“We are heartbroken by the passing of Trustee Rodríguez, who was a pillar in the HISD community,” said Superintendent Richard Carranza. “He was a true advocate for educating all children and a champion for change. He was a wise man, a mentor, and a friend to us all. We will forever be indebted to him by his service to public education. His legacy will live on.” Continue reading →

Stephen Gittens named new principal of Woodson K-8 Academy

Stephen Gittens poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Stephen Gittens has been appointed principal of Woodson K-8 Academy. He has served HISD for 18 years in various capacities, including as a teacher at Wesley and Cornelius elementary schools, assistant principal at Brookline and Whidby elementaries, and for the past five years, principal of Hobby Elementary. Under Gittens leadership, Hobby moved from Improvement Required to Met Standard after his first year. A Madison High School graduate, he earned a bachelor of arts in child psychology from Colorado University and holds two masters, one in leadership and management from Prairie View A&M and a second in business from Rice University. Gittens is an Olympian in track and field.  

Special Education conference focuses on meeting unique needs of every student 


HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza addressed more than 300 teachers and support staff members at the district’s fourth-annual Special Ed Conference on Tuesday at Pin Oak Middle School, encouraging them to create an environment where all children can succeed.

“We are at a critical juncture,” Carranza said later, when asked what he hoped the conference would achieve. “Too often, students with disabilities have been marginalized. We say NO, that is not what we are going to do here in HISD. I want all these educators to leave here on fire, to go back to their schools with great strategies and support so they can create incredible learning environments.”  Continue reading →

New Washington HS taking shape as construction progresses


Construction is more than halfway complete at Washington High School, where crews have completed installation of the building’s west side structural steel, exterior concrete walls, and exterior brick.

Crews are making steady progress. Installation of the exterior glass on the $51.7 million facility is underway, and the west side of the building is ready for both paint and flooring.

“It’s exciting to see what’s taking place,” Washington Principal Carlos Phillips said. “This will be the face of our school.”

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Tips on effective communication presented at Workshop Wednesday

(Hernandez, Mariauna L)Is communication an art or a science? That was the question posed to attendees at this month’s Workshop Wednesday, which focused on the importance of communicating effectively during sales pitches.

Professional Presentation Coach & Workforce Development Expert Ellis Hubbard spoke to an eclectic crowd of attendees during his Listen2WIN workshop about the importance of listening to and noting the body language of the subject of their sales pitch. Those two things can help a salesman identify the type of person with whom they are dealing.

“You have to get to know folks in order to sell,” said Hubbard, who reiterated that listening is the key to communication. “The more you know about someone, the easier it is to sell to them.”

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Diana Fernandez-Chavez named new principal of Grissom Elementary

Diana Fernandez-Chavez (Houston Independent School District)Diana Fernandez-Chavez has been appointed principal of Grissom Elementary School. Fernandez-Chavez has been an educator for 15 years, serving in various roles from teacher to assistant principal. She began her career as a first-grade teacher at Faulk Early Childhood School in Aransas Pass ISD. Fernandez-Chavez comes to HISD from Corpus Christi ISD, where she served as a pre-K teacher, instructional technology specialist, coach for Advanced Academics and AVID, and assistant principal. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degrees from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.

Apply now for HISD teacher job fair on July 26  

The HISD Human Resources team is hosting a teacher selection event on Wednesday, July 26, for prospective teachers interested in joining Team HISD.

In order to attend the invitation-only event, candidates must be pool-approved. Begin the application process by clicking here. Applicants who meet certification standards will receive an invitation with location and other event details. Applicants must then register for the event.

Applicants should fall into one of the following categories:  Continue reading →

HISD students see gains in state math, science, writing test scores

Seventy-six percent of Houston Independent School District fifth-graders passed the 2017 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness math test — a six-point boost over the previous year and a slightly higher gain than the state average.

Third-graders also saw a four-point bump on the state math test, bringing their average up to 71 percent, which is a four-point boost over last year and also a higher gain than the state.

The math passing rate for all students together in grades three through eight jumped by three percentage points, with almost every grade level seeing a boost. Only sixth grade remained flat. Continue reading →