Austin High School alumnus now gives back as a teacher

In this week’s I am HISD, which features district students, graduates, employees, and other team members, José Saenz explains why he just can’t stop coming back to his high school. Saenz attended Austin High School and participated in the school’s teaching program. He graduated in 2003, and is now a teacher there. Given the fact that he also met his wife there in the ninth grade, it is clear that for Saenz, all roads lead to Austin.

Jose Saenz

Jose Saenz

You graduated from Austin HS in 2003, and you have returned as a teacher. What did you do after graduating, and what brought you back?

I had made up my mind to become a teacher towards the end of my senior year. I began attending the University of Houston in the fall of 2003 and majored in history. I went through the education program at UH as well. Students were required to do a set number of observation hours and a semester of student teaching. I requested Austin as the location for both. Since graduating, I was very interested in coming back to Austin to teach and having the opportunity to student-teach there helped me make that decision. I felt that I could connect with the students coming from the same neighborhood and having many of the same life experiences. I began working at Austin in 2008 and even returned to UH while working in 2010 to obtain my master’s in curriculum and instruction in social studies education. Continue reading →

Pumps & Pipes externship shows teachers how to link learning with careers

Mentors for Mentors gives educators direct access to medical, energy, and space professionals

Whether you’re a cardiologist trying to clear a blocked artery or an engineer trying to drill for oil more efficiently, the mechanics and physics at play are the same.

That’s why 15 educators from seven different HISD campuses attended a “Pumps & Pipes” externship recently to learn how to apply concepts from engineering to medicine and vice-versa.

Pumps & Pipes was founded in 2007 to allow medical, energy, and aerospace professionals to learn from on another by comparing notes on common systems and processes. At the “Mentors for Mentors” symposium, they shared insights they had gained with HISD teachers, so that they, in turn, could get students excited about studying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Continue reading →

Museum features nine students’ artwork in teen exhibition

Artwork created by students from Carnegie Vanguard High School and the High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) is on display at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston through July 19.

The museum’s Teen Council organized the exhibition, titled Perspectives 189: From the Margins, which focuses on marginalization and its personal, political, and social manifestations.

Nine HISD students created pieces that were selected for the exhibition. The following students are participating: Continue reading →

HISD Transportation to host on-site interviews at job fair Saturday

HISD will host a transportation job fair from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, July 18, 2015, at Scarborough High School (4141 Costa Rica, 77092).

HISD will be conducting in-person interviews for the following positions:

  • School bus drivers ($15.70/hourly)
  • School bus mechanics
  • Mechanic helpers
  • Transportation attendants

Continue reading →

Alicia Craig named new principal of Fondren Elementary School

Alicia Craig poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Alicia Craig has been named the new principal of Fondren Elementary School. She started her career as an educator in Alief ISD, where she served as a teacher, program coordinator, mentor teacher, magnet instructor, math specialist, and most recently, assistant principal in an elementary school.

Craig earned a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in educational management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Marlen Peña named new principal of Lewis Elementary School

Marlen Peña has been named the new principal of Lewis Elementary School. Peña began her career as a second-grade teacher at Herrera Elementary School, worked as a health teacher at Eastwood Academy, and served as the magnet coordinator at Burbank Elementary School.  Her most recent assignment was assistant principal at Benavidez Elementary.

Peña earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and a master’s degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

 

April Williams named new principal of Oak Forest Elementary School

April Williams has been named the new principal of Oak Forest Elementary School. She previously served as an assistant principal at Lanier Middle School. Williams began her 12-year career with HISD as a fifth-grade teacher at Law Elementary School, and has served as a classroom teacher at both Peck Elementary and Ryan Middle School. She also held the role of high school graduation coach. While at both Peck and Ryan, she received the Classroom Teacher of the Year and the English as a Second Language Teacher of the Year awards.

Williams received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University. She received her doctorate of education in professional leadership from the University of Houston.

Amy Poerschke named new principal of Durham Elementary School

Amy Poerschke poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Amy Poerschke has been named the new principal of Durham Elementary School. She previously served as the assistant principal of Garcia Elementary School.  Prior to that, she taught reading language arts at Dodson Elementary and Garcia. In 2012, she was awarded the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.

Poerschke holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in executive leadership from the University of Houston.

Trealla Epps named new principal of Roberts Elementary School

Trealla Epps poses for a photograph, January 13, 2016. (Dave Einsel/Houston ISD)Trealla Epps has been named the new principal of Roberts Elementary School. She began her career in HISD as a first-grade teacher at Longfellow Elementary School. After teaching both first and second grades at Longfellow and taking on a variety of leadership roles, Epps served as the school’s instructional coordinator and assistant principal.  In 2006, she became the principal of Gordon Elementary (now the Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School). She became the principal at Bruce Elementary School in 2011.

Epps holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Houston (Central Campus) and a master’s degree in educational mid-management and supervision from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.  She also holds certification in English as a Second Language and early childhood education.

Linda Bellard named new principal of Garcia Elementary School

Linda Bellard poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Linda Bellard has been named the new principal of Garcia Elementary School. She began her education career in Aldine ISD as an elementary school teacher, where she was voted campus Teacher of the Year.  She went on to serve as a reading specialist and an assistant principal at the elementary and intermediate levels. In 2007, she joined HISD as the principal of Blackshear Elementary, and later served at Elrod Elementary in the same capacity.

Bellard holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in reading and a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas Southern University.