Students showcase digital learning at first-ever districtwide expo

HISD’s efforts to digitally transform teaching and learning in national spotlight during digital learning day

At Burbank Middle School, students are creating videos about their future and life goals using Adobe Voice. At Herrera Elementary, students are using tablets and digital programs such as iMovie, Animoto, Prezi, and Roxio to produce digital book trailers instead of a standard book report. And at Austin High School, teachers are using the HUB, the district’s new online learning platform, to create online discussions and group activities.

Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning inside their classrooms. Recently teachers and students from nearly 50 HISD campuses gathered in the lobby of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center to showcase their efforts at the district’s first ever Digital Learning Expo.

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Demolition in progress near Washington HS

Demolition crews begin clearing condemned houses to make way for the new Washington High School, March 13, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Demolition crews begin clearing condemned houses to make way for the new Washington High School, March 13, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Heavy equipment has arrived on site, and old houses are coming down as the recently acquired property in the Independence Heights neighborhood is cleared to become part of the new Booker T. Washington High School.

After months of preparation, including extensive asbestos abatement, several of the houses were brought down this week, and more are set to follow as part of the demolition phase of construction, which is expected to last four to six more weeks.

As part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program approved by voters in 2012, a new $51.7 million facility will be built for Washington HS. Nearly 16 acres of land adjacent to the school was acquired by the district as part of the plan to nearly double the size of the campus.

The new campus, which will accommodate up to 1,300 students, will showcase the school’s engineering program with 21st century technology and flexible learning spaces to support project-based learning and encourage collaboration.

More information on Booker T. Washington and other 2012 bond schools can be found here.

 

Professional development sessions challenge teachers in STEM subjects

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HISD teachers attended their first “STEM Reboot” session earlier this month at Ryan Professional Development Center, where Teacher Development Specialists from the Innovative Curriculum and Instruction Department guided team through a series of hands-on experiments. As part of the science, technology, engineering, and math training, they were challenged to create a hot air balloon from a variety of materials, including plastic cleaners’ bags and tissue paper, and build boats out of aluminum foil that could float while supporting a penny. In addition, the teachers had a rocket-building session and were trained in an Hour of Code.

eNews Highlight: Preparing to become a ‘Mawrter’

Sharpstown HS senior talks about why she’s obsessed with collecting owls

Meghan Berndt has been justifiably excited about being accepted into Bryn Mawr, her dream university, this fall.

Now, the Sharpstown High School senior is getting ready for the big changes ahead, by getting to know both current and aspiring “Mawrters” and obsessively buying anything with an owl (the school mascot) on it.

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Garden Oaks becomes first public school to participate in Montessori Model UN

GOMont_MMUN_300Almost two dozen seventh- and eighth-graders from Garden Oaks Montessori are in the process of making history for HISD.

The students are participating in the Midwest Regional Middle School Conference of the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) on March 13 and 14 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and according to Principal Lindsey Pollock, this is the very first time a public school has done so.

“This is only our first year to have a Model UN, but the experience is life-changing for students,” said Dr. Pollock. “Our kids will meet people from across the country and they have researched topics that are impacting lives all over the world. It broadens their horizons and helps them recognize our inter-connectedness and our responsibility in making the world a better place.”

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Westside HS educator named finalist for SHAPE’s Health Education Teacher of the Year

Delia Thibodeaux

Delia Thibodeaux

Delia Thibodeaux is one of only three teachers from across the nation to be so honored

A veteran educator with more than a decade of service to HISD students has been named one of three finalists for the national Health Education Teacher of the Year award by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America).

Delia Thibodeaux, who teaches at Westside High School, advanced to the national round of the competition after being named SHAPE’s 2015 Health Education Teacher of the Year for the Southern District, which encompasses 13 states from Virginia to Texas.

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Contractor for Waltrip and Lee high schools holds pre-bid meeting

Satterfield & Pontikes this week held a pre-bid conference for sub-contractors interested in submitting proposals to work on building projects at Waltrip and Lee High Schools. The construction firm is the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the two schools and hosted the standing-room-only meeting to provide an opportunity for contractors to hear an overview of the projects and ask questions before submitting bids.

“We’re really pleased with the turnout,” said David Webb, Satterfield and Pontikes’ chief estimator. “We want to take as many bids as possible back to the district.”

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HISD Board of Education withdraws plans to reduce classroom overcrowding, asks for more comprehensive plan

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday declined to consider proposals to reduce classroom overcrowding throughout the district by making adjustments to a handful of elementary school attendance boundaries.

Trustees had been set to review the proposals during the March board meeting. Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones withdrew the agenda items Thursday afternoon with the support of her fellow board members. As a result, trustees could not discuss or vote on the proposals. Continue reading →

Take part in Digital Learning Day using #DLDay and #HISDdigital

Watch event live from 12 to 1 p.m. on Friday featuring district’s digital transformation

Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning.  On Friday, March 13, HISD teachers and students will share on social media how they are using technology in the classroom using the hashtags #HISDdigital and #DLDay as part of national Digital Learning Day.

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Two HISD teachers named finalists for H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards

Two HISD teachers got a big surprise this week, when they learned that they had been named finalists for H-E-B’s 2015 Excellence in Education Awards.

Michael Clark, who was named HISD’s own Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2011, was selected as a finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category at the secondary level, while Dr. Nghia Le, who was recognized by H-E-B in 2011 with the Rising Star Award, was chosen as a finalist in the Leadership category at the secondary level.

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