Internships Give Students a Taste of Possible Careers

Sterling High School students in the automotive internship program pose with their mentors from the Transportation Services department.

Sterling High School students in the automotive internship program pose with their mentors from the Transportation Services department.

Darrien Coleman plans to own his own auto repair shop one day, and although still in high school, he is already taking meaningful steps to achieve that dream.

The Sterling High School senior has been participating in an automotive internship program since last November that allows HISD students to work with members of the district’s own Transportation Department to learn the ins and outs of school bus maintenance.

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HISD seeks construction management services on selected 2012 bond projects

HISD is soliciting qualifications from construction companies interested in supplying Construction Manager at Risk services on four schools being renovated or built under the 2012 bond program.

The projects include Waltrip High School, Worthing High School, North Early College and South Early College high schools.

“This is great opportunity for companies that want to work with the district and the architects as we plan and design these schools,” said Robert Sands, Officer of Construction & Facility Services.

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HISD Teacher Named Houston Bilingual Educator of the Year

Scroggins Elementary's Maria Elena Galan, the 2013 HAABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year

Scroggins Elementary's Maria Elena Galan, the 2013 HAABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year

When Maria Elena Galan first came to the United States in 1993, she immediately enrolled herself in ESL classes at Houston Community College. “I had very limited English skills so I had to study and practice, practice, practice,” said Galan. Twenty years later the Scroggins Elementary School teacher draws from her own personal experience learning the English language to motivate and help her fourth grade students and their parents.

On Friday, April 27, Galan was honored as the 2013 Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE). Galan was nominated for the honor by her principal San Juana Elizando.

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Energy Institute High School Open House on May 2

Parents and students interested in attending The Energy Institute High School are invited to attend an open house on Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street). The new HISD magnet school is currently recruiting ninth grade students for the 2013-2014 school year. Subsequent grades will be added each year so that the campus will eventually serve students in grades 9-12.

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Academic Signing Day Celebrates Senior Scholarships

Approximately 200 students listened to inspirational words about completing college from HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.

Approximately 200 students listened to inspirational words about completing college from HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.

Hundreds of seniors made their intent to pursue higher education official at HISD’s first ever Academic Signing Day held at the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on April 26, 2013. Much like athletes are celebrated for committing to a college, HISD seniors who were awarded scholarships to attend a two or four-year university were honored at the district’s inaugural event.

“I think it’s wonderful that HISD is formally recognizing our students who have worked hard throughout high school and are now seeing the rewards of their academic efforts,” said Austin High School Principal Jorge Arredondo.

“Normally it’s only athletes that have a signing day,” said Jones High School senior Kiara St. John. “It’s pretty cool that we are getting recognized for our talents and accomplishments.”

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Sharpstown International students send their condolences to China following deadly earthquake

When students at Sharpstown International learned of the April 20 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, they were sparked to action. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake and its effects have claimed approximately 200 lives and injured thousands more, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

“As soon as we heard the news about the earthquake, the students were very thoughtful in thinking, ‘We need to do something for the victims,’ said Thuy Le-Thai, principal of Sharpstown International School. “So the art teachers, the Chinese teachers and the homeroom teachers have been working hard with them to express our thoughts and our love, and to express our condolences.”

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Rice University Study Shows Performance-Based Awards Improve Teacher Attendance, Retention, Students’ Test Scores

Programs such as HISD’s ASPIRE program improve teacher attendance, retention and increased students’ test scores, according to a study released by Rice University.

The study evaluated award-eligible teachers from HISD’s 279 schools to determine if receiving a monetary reward during the 2009-2010 school year positively influenced teacher outcomes in 2010-2011, according to a news release.

The complete report is available on the website for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

The ASPIRE program (Accelerating Student Progress: Increasing Results and Expectations) began during the 2006-07 school year.

Barbara Jordan HS students show off NASA project build

Multiple Houston ISD schools are partnering with NASA to allow students the opportunity to produce equipment and apparatus for the space agency.

The HUNCH program, or High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware, is in its tenth year and has expanded to 13 states. In the program, based out of the Johnson Space Center, students to use their skills in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics to build various devices.

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HISD Hosting Community Meetings to Answer Budget Questions

Nine meetings scheduled across Houston in April and May

April 25, 2013 – In an effort to provide taxpayers a guide to understanding the district’s budget, the Houston Independent School District is hosting a series of community meetings across the city that will outline the budgeting process from planning, to adoption and implementation.

“We want our constituents to understand how HISD’s budget process works, how much money does each school get and even how they can get involved,” said HISD Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Huewitt.  “Our goal is to ensure HISD’s budget and financial information is readily available and user friendly so that taxpayers know exactly how their tax dollars are allocated and spent.”

The meetings will cover key aspects of HISD’s budgeting process such as where the money comes from, how much is designated to each of the 276 campuses, who decides how the money is spent at each campus and who monitors the budget, among other topics.

HISD’s General Manager of Budget and Financial Planning Sharon Eaves will be leading the budget presentations at the community meetings.

Upcoming Community Budget Meetings:

  • May 13 – 6 p.m. at Lamar High School (3325 Westheimer)
  • May 14 – 6 p.m. at Revere Middle School (10502 Briar Forest)
  • May 15 – 6 p.m. at Reagan High School (413 East 13th)
  • May 16 – 6 p.m. at Milby High School (1601 Broadway)