Secondary teachers gear up for new school year at Transformation Institute

More than 2,000 teachers attend professional development focused on transforming instruction

Nearly 1,000 middle and high school teachers spent the last week of July gearing up for the start of the school year at the district’s Summer Transformation Institute—one of five professional development sessions held this summer by the Office of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction. The fifth and final Institute at Chávez High School featured sessions on the use of technology for content development and classroom instruction, as well as sessions on project-based learning, classroom management, and reading and writing workshops.

“Teachers are loving the opportunity for choice,” said Chief Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Officer Annie Wolfe. “We designed the Institute so that teachers could start off the morning with their peers in core-content areas, but then have the opportunity to choose late morning and afternoon sessions based on their skill level and needs.” Continue reading →

HISD Transportation sets stage for a successful year with recruitment efforts

With the new school year just ahead, the HISD Transportation Department is taking every measure to ensure safe, reliable, and punctual transportation for students.

To reach this goal, HISD Transportation remained busy all summer searching for the best candidates to join its nationally recognized team. The department supports the student’s educational day by providing safe, professional, and efficient transportation to and from school, educational field trips, athletic competitions, and events. Continue reading →

Teachers aim to instill love of reading in students

About 1,000 new and veteran teachers attended HISD’s ongoing teacher professional development recently, which included a heavy dose of Literacy By 3 training.

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The sessions were designed to help teachers learn effective methods and classroom management techniques that lead to students reading on level by the third grade.

Charity Smith, a manager for elementary literacy training development, said the training ultimately benefits students by creating teachers who can implement hands-on learning in the classroom and provide critical-thinking exercises, all of which help build Global Graduates. Continue reading →

Askew ES community hears about plans for new school

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Askew Elementary stakeholders turned out for the school’s first of three bond community meetings on Wednesday, where they heard from the architect and other project team members about initial design plans for a new campus.

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Bond Oversight Committee hears program update at quarterly meeting

Members of HISD’s Bond Oversight Committee met this week to review second quarter progress for the district’s $1.89 billion bond program.

Despite record rainfall over the past several months and a challenging construction market, the bond project team is making significant headway in the planning, design, and construction of new schools. Continue reading →

Business Assistance team recognized as ‘Top 25 Supplier Diversity Champion’

D-marsHouston’s monthly African-American magazine, Subcontractors USA, recognized HISD’s Business Assistance team Wednesday with the 2015 Top 25 Supplier Diversity Champions award during the 2015 Top 25 Prime Contractors, Engineers, Architects, Construction, Transportation and IT for Diversity Awards at the HESS Club in the Galleria area.

“Subcontractors USA is proud to be a minority business journal that inspires, informs and educates,” said Subcontractors USA magazine president Keith “D-MARS” Davis. “Recognizing and celebrating the community is one of the things we are known for. We are especially proud to celebrate agencies and companies that put forth effort and resources to provide minority and women-owned companies with opportunities.”

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Road construction impacts area around HISD’s central office

Beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, the West 18th Street exit ramp from I-610 West Loop northbound will be closed. The exit will reopen at 5 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.

During the closure, motorists will be detoured to the T.C. Jester exit, directed to U-turn and continue on U.S. 290 westbound frontage road to Dacoma, and then turn left to the 290 eastbound frontage to W. 18th. Continue reading →

Mandarin Chinese school community gets update on construction progress

On Tuesday, parents and community members met for the third time to discuss updates for the new Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School being built under the district’s 2012 bond program – with a particular focus on the construction portion of the project and upcoming vertical steel.

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Registration is open for Pre-K students

Give your child a head start by enrolling them in prekindergarten now.

Pre-K is just as necessary for academic success as kindergarten or first grade, according to numerous research studies. Not only will your child be more successful in school, but later on, they are more likely to graduate high school and attend college, which leads, in turn, to a well-paying job and increased earning potential.

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