EMERGE recruiting 10th-graders; application deadline extended to June 13

Tenth-graders in Houston Independent School District are encouraged to apply for EMERGE, a program that empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from top colleges and universities across the nation.

Applications are currently available and are due by June 13. (Please note: this application deadline was extended from May 31 to June 13.)

EMERGE is a nationally recognized program started in Houston ISD that helps first-generation and low-income students. The program is free for all accepted students.

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When I Grow Up career expo goes virtual on Saturday

All HISD students in grades K-12 and their parents are invited this weekend to attend When I Grow Up 2021, a virtual informative day of career exploration.

WIGU 2021 is a virtual experience taking place on Saturday April 17 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Beginnig at 10 a.m., the WIGU landing page will be separated by school grade level and will consist of carefully curated career exploration content to provide K-12 students with information, coding activities, career exploration, videos, job search information, and a video competition that ALL campuses and CTE pathways may compete in.

See this flyer for more information.

HISD hosting virtual teacher hiring event for Achieve 180 schools

The Houston Independent School District is hosting a virtual teacher job fair from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 24. The event is focused on Achieve 180 schools.

Achieve 180 was launched in Houston ISD in 2017, and was created to support, strengthen, and empower underserved and underperforming communities.

Interested candidates can register to attend at forms.gle/kdJHhiL7kshBp6pf8. Once registered, teachers are encouraged to submit an application prior to the job fair. Applications and other instructions can be found at HoustonISD.org/TeachHISD.

For more information, contact TeacherRecruitment@HoustonISD.org or 713-556-7373.

Westbury HS grad to become commander of International Space Station

Students at Westbury High School will soon watch one of their own take command of the International Space Station.

Shannon Walker, a 1983 graduate of Westbury, takes control of the ISS on April 15, and has said the high expectations of her former HISD teachers fueled her space ambitions.

“We are proud to know that Dr. Walker’s HISD education inspired her to become involved in the space program and then become an astronaut,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “On Thursday, we will celebrate her promotion to Commander of the International Space Station. It is an honor that has been years in the making and is well deserved.”

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Scholars Recognition Ceremony honors Class of 2021 valedictorians, salutatorians

The Houston Independent School District celebrated the top students from each high school’s graduating class at a Scholars Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday evening at Delmar Stadium. 

Dozens of attending valedictorians and salutatorians were presented with medallions by their parents in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements, including a history-making nine valedictorians from Bellaire High School.

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Two HISD schools ranked by Challenge Index among the most challenging in nation

The nation’s only index that ranks high schools’ ability to challenge their students will be published next month, and two Houston Independent School District campuses made the list in more than one category.

Carnegie Vanguard High School is ranked number five on the latest Challenge Index list of top 20 high schools, as well as number 2 on the Index’s list of Top 10 Magnet Schools and number 3 on the list of Top 10 Southern Schools. 

Additionally, Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is ranked number 10 on the list of Top 10 Magnet Schools.

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FEMA offering assistance due to February’s winter storms

With much of our HISD families and community still experiencing negative effects and damage to their homes and personal property from the winter storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering assistance to eligible homeowners.

FEMA has designated the Houston area as eligible for individual assistance due to a disaster declaration for Texas’ severe winter storms in February.

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Ten HISD football teams recognized for sportsmanship

From left: Gemale Sheqli of Wisdom High School; Vernon Mosley III of Sterling High School; Matthew Sanchez of Milby High School; Fredy Velasquez of Scarborough High School; and LaRonte Lewis of Westside High School.

Ten Houston Independent School District football teams were recognized for their on-field sportsmanship as the Touchdown Club of Houston held its 16th annual Sportsmanship Luncheon on Wednesday, April 7.

Ten of the 40 Houston-area high school teams nominated were from HISD: Furr, Milby, Northside, Scarborough, Sterling, Waltrip, Washington, Westside, Wisdom, and Yates.

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Teachers of the Month named at Gregory Lincoln Education Center, Seguin ES

After nearly 30 years of teaching—in two different countries—it takes a lot to startle Irene Mirasol, an 8th grade teacher at Gregory Lincoln Education Center.

But as she walked into the school’s gym on a Tuesday morning, the English/Language Arts teacher was not expecting to be recognized as the HISD Teacher of the Month.

“I’m so surprised,” Mirasol said. “Gregory Lincoln is my second home. This honor, this recognition is definitely for my students, the staff, and the leadership team here. I’m even more motivated now to do more for my students, and for the community of Gregory Lincoln.”

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HISD hosting job fairs to recruit new bus drivers

Transportation Services is hosting more than a dozen job fairs over the next four months to recruit new bus drivers in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year.

Though no decisions have been made about next year, the department is ramping up recruiting efforts to prepare for the possibility of transporting more students this fall. Bus service was limited during the 2020-2021 school year due to physical distancing restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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