Parents invited to take survey on Autism Services meetings

The Office of Special Education Services invites parents to take part in a survey on its Autism Services meetings for the upcoming school year.

The brief survey helps determine what topics will be covered in next year’s parent meetings. The meetings are an opportunity for parents of children with autism to engage with other parents, learn what’s happening in the classroom, and hear about new research developments.

The survey can be found at bit.ly/auparentsurvey. Please complete the survey by August 16, 2021.

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HISD educator named Texas Poet Laureate

 A Houston Independent School District educator has been named Texas Poet Laureate.

 Lupe Mendez is an HISD teacher development specialist with more than ten years of experience with the district. The former classroom teacher has also received fellowships from CantoMundo, Macondo, and the Crescendo Literary/Poetry Foundation.

Mendez is an internationally published writer. His work is featured in The Kenyon Review, Gulf Coast Journal, the Texas Review, Poetry Magazine, and Poem-A-Day from the Academy of American Poets. 

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Jose Cordova named new principal of Memorial Elementary School

Jose Hilario Cordova has been selected as the new principal of Memorial Elementary School. He is a proud product of Houston ISD graduating from Carnegie Vanguard High School.  He has served as an Assistant Principal at Lanier Middle School for the past two years. He began his career with HISD in 2014 as a social studies teacher at Welch Middle School. He was named “Beginning Teacher of the Year” for the District in 2015. He then transitioned to being a teacher and administrator at Lanier Middle School.

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Alexander Gonzalez named new principal of Helms Elementary School

Alexander Gonzalez has been selected as the new principal of Helms Elementary. Gonzalez first began his career in education as a middle school reading teacher at Killough Middle School in Alief ISD. In 2014, he served as a teacher, department chair, and site coordinator for Houston ISD’s Advanced Virtual Academy. In 2017, he became a Teacher Specialist at Hines-Caldwell Elementary overseeing IAT, LEP, and 504. For the last three years he has served as an Assistant Principal at Scarborough High School. 

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Holley Mays named new principal of Neff Early Childhood Center

Holley Mays

Holley Mays is the new principal for Neff Early Learning Center. Over the past 8 years she has served as a teacher, Teacher Specialist and recently Assistant Principal of Neff Elementary, grades 2-5.  She has been a participant in various leadership training opportunities within the district, including the Assistant Principal Candidate Development Opportunity, West Area Emergent Leader Cohort, and Principal Candidate Development Opportunity. She was named “Assistant Principal of the Year” for West Area Elementary Schools for the 2020-2021 school year. 

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Literacy Bus loads up at Martinez ES

Parked under the summer sun in front of R. Martinez Elementary School, the bus could be mistaken for the typical mode of transportation seen across the district.

But after a second look, you will spot the bright colors, logos, and artwork that give it away: this isn’t your typical bus. Step inside, and the differences are even more obvious; gone are the seats and center aisle, replaced by Astroturf and hundreds of books for the taking.

This is the Literacy Bus, a partnership between HISD, the Astros Foundation, the Houston Public Library Foundation, and Occidental Petroleum. It’s a mobile interactive unit that encourages reading with the entire family, going to some of the most in-need neighborhoods throughout Houston.

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Business Operations hosting job fair June 26

The Houston Independent School District is hosting a job fair this weekend to find candidates to fill several key operational support positions, including bus drivers, custodians, mechanics, HVAC technicians and grounds crews.

Interested individuals should attend the Business Operations Job Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 West 18th St.

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Lamar senior teaches students about bees at HISD farm

Amongst the blooming plants and swarming insects that lay claim to a sprawling green space in Southwest Houston, stood the youngest of instructors who was developing a buzz all her own.

In her final weeks as a senior at Lamar High School, Lisa Rollinson was tapped to lead educational workshops for nearly two dozen students at the Food and Agriculture Literacy Center at Mykawa Farm.

As one of just five experts selected for the job, Rollinson received the honor after being designated by the Texas Department of Agriculture as one of 12 Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas. The designation recognizes teens who advocate for healthy lifestyles.

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Project Explore kicks off summer with 4-day camp

Project Explore kicked off the summer with a 4-day camp, “Exploring & Conquering New Horizons: Maintaining Resiliency in Times of Uncertainty.” The purpose of the camp was to celebrate students and their families who have remained resilient through this difficult school year.

Project Explore connects HISD middle school students to high-impact college and career opportunities through a series of workshops and programming. For students like Brenden Hall from Thomas Middle School, it’s a path forward to success.

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HISD calls for feedback on grant funds

As a result of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, funds have been provided to school districts across the country to mitigate the impact COVID-19 has had – and continues to have – on elementary and secondary schools.

Now, additional funds in the amount of $54.3 billion are available for K-12 schools through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) funds.

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