More than 600 HISD teachers gather for Pre-K summit 

New resources and training part of $9 million state grant

pre-k-1HISD Pre-K teachers recently gathered to learn new strategies, share best practices, and discover a new districtwide resource they can use to support the home-school connection.

Over 600 teachers from across the district attended HISD’s Prekindergarten Saturday Summit on Oct. 8. The half day of training and professional development was kicked off by HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza, who told the crowd that he prefers to address them as “early educators.”

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October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, which was created 10 years ago by Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Since 2006, the event has grown to an entire month of education and awareness activities, and is being recognized by schools and communities throughout the world.

At Oak Forest Elementary School, author Trudy Ludwig recently spoke to students and parents about empowering themselves to combat bullying, including conversational prompts to halt or deflect bullying behavior. The PTA also invited parents from other surrounding schools to participate in the session.

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High School for Law and Justice celebrates groundbreaking for new campus

High School for Law and  Justice Principal Carol Mosteit expressed her excitement Thursday as she spoke to a crowd of students, alumni, and school supporters gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of their new school.

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“It’s been a long time coming, and it seems like forever since we did the design for the new school with the architects,” said Mosteit. “Now it has come to fruition, and we’re ready to see this new building get going.”

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Up Close: First impressions of HISD with new Superintendent Richard Carranza 

HISD Board President Manuel Rodriguez Jr. sat down recently with new Superintendent Richard Carranza to hear his reflections after his initial days on the job and to ask him about his goals for HISD. He noted that Carranza hit the ground running, losing no time in getting out to HISD schools and meeting with community members.

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Hispanic Heritage Month continues with four more HISD school namesakes 

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The Houston Independent School District is observing Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15, by honoring the Hispanics for whom many of the district’s schools are named.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions made to this country by people of Hispanic descent, including those whose ancestors immigrated from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

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Kroger, Dynamo team up to recognize HISD educators

Elsa Tiangco (Benbrook ES), from left, Jesse Espinoza (Waltrip HS), and Karen Galindo (Sherman ES) were honored as Classroom Champs by the Houston Dynamo and Kroger. Espinoza won the top honor, including a shopping spree at Kroger.

Elsa Tiangco (Benbrook ES), from left, Jesse Espinoza (Waltrip HS), and Karol Galindo (Sherman ES) were honored as Classroom Champs by the Houston Dynamo and Kroger. Espinoza won the top honor, including a shopping spree at Kroger.

As a rowdy crowd cheered on, Waltrip High School Band Director Jesse Espinoza darted through the aisles of a local Kroger supermarket with a Houston Dynamo player close by. His goal: grab as many groceries and products as he wanted in four minutes with midfielder Andrew Wenger as his partner.

Espinoza was named the top Classroom Champ by the Dynamo Charities and Kroger on Wednesday, Oct. 5, during a special celebration at the store. He, along with Karol Galindo from Sherman Elementary and Elsa Tiangco from Benbrook Elementary, were honored as Classroom Champs for being teachers who make a profound impact in the lives of their students. Continue reading →

Navarro Middle School of Excellence celebrates renaming, honors namesake

Nearly 200 students, staff, and community members gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the renaming of Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School of Excellence and pay tribute to the well-respected community leader who now serves as its namesake.

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On hand for the ceremony were family and friends of the late Yolanda Black Navarro, including HISD Board of Education Trustee Diana Dávila, HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza, U.S. Reps. Gene Green and Sheila Jackson Lee, State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, and son Christian Navarro, as well as many other Navarro family members and supporters.

“The name Yolanda Black Navarro represents the community today that it serves,” Navarro Principal Kelly Vaughn Pichon said, adding that the work of women such as Navarro rarely makes history books, but is “engraved in the hearts and minds of those positively affected.”

“Thank you, Yolanda Black Navarro, for your service not to only the Latino community, but for all people.”

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Up Close: A look at Proposition 1 and Recapture on the November ballot

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HISD Board President Manuel Rodriguez Jr. sat down recently with Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Ken Huewitt to discuss why HISD is subject to sending $162 million in local property taxes to the state this year – and how local voters are being given the option of whether to authorize the payment under Proposition I on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Huewitt explains that the recapture payment is based on a formula – the value of property within the school district divided by the district’s weighted average daily attendance, or WADA. That results in a district’s equalized wealth level. When that number exceeds a level set by state, a district goes into recapture.

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Eastwood Academy High School breaks ground on new building addition 

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Eastwood Academy High School stakeholders gathered at the campus on Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new addition being built as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond program.

    U.S. Congressman Gene Green, HISD Board of Education Trustee Diana Dávila, and HISD Chief School Officer Esther Omogbehin joined Eastwood Academy Principal Brandi Lira and nearly 100 students, parents, staff, and community members who turned out to celebrate the milestone.

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HISD schools win NFL Play 60 grants from Houston Texans, Texas Children’s Hospital

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Four HISD schools earned a big victory from the Houston Texans and the Texas Children’s Hospital by winning an NFL PLAY 60 grant that will fund new equipment for P.E., sports, and after-school programs to help get kids moving.

Mitchell Elementary School, Attucks Middle School, and Westbury High School each won a $10,000 grant while Blackshear Elementary School received a $5,000 grant. Representatives from the schools were recognized during the halftime presentation of the Houston Texans game Oct. 2 at NRG Stadium.

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