The truth of the adage “It takes a village to raise a child” is made most obvious when we take time to recognize the hundreds of individuals who volunteer their time to help our public-school systems run. As the largest school district in Texas, HISD is no exception and boasts a cohort of dedicated parent and community volunteers.
Continue readingTag Archives: family and community engagement
HISD to hold inaugural Multicultural Day created by MLK Oratory Competition winner
The HISD Multilingual Programs Department is proud to host the district’s first ever Multicultural Day. This event was conceived of by Law Elementary fifth-grader Kadence Smith, winner of the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Speech Competition.
Continue readingIt’s a Game Changer: Parent Organization Expo gets parents involved and empowered
The 2023 Parent Organization Expo, held on Feb. 4, was met with explosive enthusiasm by HISD PTO and would-be PTO members. Nearly 600 people attended the expo at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center which was the first of its kind to be held in person. PTOs from across the district gathered to network and learn how to be more effectively involved in their child’s education.
HISD connects families to information and resources through Parent Link
Houston Independent School District is improving the way it helps families find information and support for their child’s learning.
The HISD Parent Link is a one-stop resource center with staff prepared to help parents and caregivers navigate processes such as enrollment, school nutrition, academic support, and much more.
HISD opens first Do Good Closet to provide resources for students in need
HISD unveiled the first Do Good Closet at Young Elementary School on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The closets, created in collaboration with Houston-born rapper and philanthropic icon, Trae Tha Truth, are in-school stores of resources that are available to HISD students in need.
Continue readingHISD announces selection of Chief Engagement Officer
Houston ISD announced the selection of its Chief Engagement Officer, Max Moll.
Moll will lead a department that includes communications, board services, family and community engagement, government relations, and community partnerships, along with HISD’s Parent Center.
Continue readingHISD names new director for its Family and Community Engagement Department
Dr. Michelle Burke
Dr. Michelle Burke has been selected as the new director for HISD’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department.
Dr. Burke will report directly to Chief Student Support Officer Mark Smith. She will continue working on assisting schools, families, and community stakeholders with the tools, guidance, and resources needed to support student academic achievement. She will take an active role in empowering families and the community at large to make the best decisions for their child’s academic success.
“I am so honored to have the privilege to lead our family and community engagement efforts,” Dr. Burke said. “I look forward to sharing my passion and service to the community and will continue building solid partnerships with our schools, families, and the community to impact the success of our students.” Continue reading
HIPPY program empowering parents to become their child’s first teacher
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This school year, nearly 600 families across the Houston area began receiving free lessons in their homes to prepare their children to succeed in HISD schools, before they ever set foot in a classroom.
Parents began participating in the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program, which models simple educational activities for parents to practice with their three-, four-, and five-year-old children.
HISD home visiting program to help hundreds of families prepare children for preschool
The Houston Independent School District this week will begin offering in-home lessons to hundreds of new families from across the district in an effort to help parents better prepare their children for preschool.
The lessons are part of the district’s Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters — or HIPPY program. As part of the program, HIPPY home instructors models simple educational activities for parents to practice with their 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds.
The one-hour, weekly lessons span 30 weeks and cover early literacy skills, mathematics, science, fine and gross motor skills, and language development. Research shows that HISD kindergarten students whose parents have participated in the HIPPY program significantly outperform their peers in reading and math. Continue reading
Hispanic Parent Summit connects families with the resources they need most
“My child wants to be the president of the Unites States of America. How can I help her?”
That was just one of the many questions asked this past Saturday at the Hispanic Parent Summit held at Anderson Elementary School. The summit connected parents from schools all over District IX to representatives from HISD’s Literacy, College and Career Readiness, and Multilingual departments, as well as Houston Community College, University of Houston, Catholic Charities, Houston Public Library, and many more.
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