2014 graduating EMERGE seniors share their success stories during night of celebration

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/92357672/ w=320&h=205]

Goosebumps appeared and tears were flowing during a celebration of the 64 graduating EMERGE seniors held at Carnegie Vanguard High School on Tuesday evening, April 22. More than 500 students, parents and special guests gathered for a celebration that included statements from graduating seniors and special speakers.

“Through EMERGE, I had opportunities I never thought possible, including traveling to the Northeast on an exciting college tour last summer,” said Furr High School senior and EMERGE scholar Karen Banda. “This fall, I’ll be headed back to Massachusetts to study economics at Smith College on a full scholarship as a Gates Millennium Scholar.”

Continue reading →

HISD chief operating officer wins national service award

The Council of Great City Schools has presented its 2014 Distinguished Service Awleoard to HISD Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla for his dedication to urban education. He received the honor at an awards banquet Wednesday during the council’s four-day Chief Operating Officers Conference in New Orleans.

The council, which brings together the nation’s largest urban public school systems in an effort to improve the education of urban schoolchildren, awards this honor to school chiefs who demonstrate a personal commitment to leadership, innovation, and professionalism in urban education. This is the eleventh year the award was presented to a school district chief operations officer.

Continue reading →

HISD Schools Earn Spots on U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings

HISD Schools Earn Spots on U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings

Several HISD high schools are  featured in the 2014 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, with one breaking the into the top 25. The list ranks 4,707 highest-scoring schools across the country and includes an overall national list as well as rankings by state. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the Best Magnet Schools and Best STEM Schools. Continue reading →

Worthing HS construction firm overcomes obstacles to land school building projects

Editor’s note: This profile is part of an occasional series on minority or women-owned companies that do business with HISD. The district’s minimum M/WBE goal levels are 20 percent for all levels of purchasing and construction, and 25 percent for professional services. In the 2007 bond program, that commitment reached nearly 34 percent. In the 2012 program, the contracts awarded to date reflect a nearly 51 percent M/WBE commitment. Continue reading →

Training the future trainers

(Houston Independent School District)Friday Night Football is king in Texas, and while Houston ISD is turning out top players heading to college, it’s also preparing students to keep athletes in top condition and to provide medical assistance during games.

The student athletic trainer program began this year. Eight students from Milby, Jones, Austin, Reagan, and Waltrip high schools meet with two of the district’s trainers almost daily.

“We started the program because we had students approaching us asking what it is that we do and how they can do it,” athletic trainer Evelyn Martinez said. “Many of them are under the impression that being a student trainer is the same as being a manager, and we wanted to show them that there is a difference.”

Continue reading →

Renovations, construction underway at HISD high schools

A recent swimming pool renovation at Waltrip High School features lane ropes, starting blocks and a new timer system, making the pool competition ready.

The work is the latest visible milestone for the Oak Forest high school, which is moving forward on commitments made in both the 2007 and 2012 bond programs. In the southern part of the city, work is also getting underway on a new building addition at Worthing High School.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000lUvjttHNt90″ g_name=”Construction-Bond” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Continue reading →

No meetings required: Eighth-grade parents can learn about HS changes through Tele-Town Hall

Parents of current eighth-graders will be receiving a phone call from HISD at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 that will allow them to participate in a live “Tele-Town Hall” meeting to learn about changes coming next school year to high school courses, graduation requirements, and college and career pathways.

A surprise caller will invite parents to click in to a live “meeting,” conducted by ABC-13’s Cynthia Cisneros in English and a separate meeting in Spanish, to learn more about how the state legislation known as House Bill 5 will affect their students’ planning for high school, higher education, and careers.

HISD principals will be on hand to discuss HISD’s 26-credit Distinguished Level of Achievement graduation plan that requires Algebra II and the choice of an “endorsement” – the equivalent of a college major.

Continue reading →

2,000 HISD students to compete in Special Olympics field days

Nearly 2,000 Houston ISD students will gather at Barnett Stadium, 6800 Fairway Dr., next week to participate in field days hosted by the district and Special Olympics Texas.

The events are for students who have intellectual disabilities. This is the second year the field days have been held. More than 1,300 students participated last year.

Continue reading →

Ceremony will honor top JROTC senior cadets

The top six Houston Independent School District JROTC cadets will be honored at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, during the 2014 Final Review and Awards ceremony at the University of Houston Athletics/Alumni Center, 3100 Cullen Blvd.

HISD JROTC Cadet Corps Commander Cadet Colonel Ana Perez of High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice will be recognized as the top graduate.

The seniors were chosen from the ranks of all the graduating cadets in HISD’s 26 JROTC programs and will be honored for their leadership skills. The cadets will be featured leading their respective command groups.