May Teacher of the Month
Superintendent Millard House II and HISD community partner Group 1 Automotive selected Diveanne Martinez from Edison Middle School as May’s Teacher of the Month.
Continue readingTag Archives: Jones Futures Academy
Jones Futures Academy names Orozco new principal
Janet Orozco has been selected as the new principal of Jones Futures Academy. Orozco began her educational career 15 years ago in Sheldon ISD where she was recognized as Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009 and Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Continue readingOutstanding high school seniors surprised with Superintendent Scholars Awards
It was a whirlwind tour of several high school campuses, as Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan surprised seniors with the Superintendent Scholars Awards.
This was the third year of the awards, which were underwritten by Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and the Houston ISD Foundation. Handpicked by Lathan, the 11 students were selected from HISD seniors nominated by their principals or leadership teams.
Continue readingNirmol Lim named new principal of Jones Futures Academy
Nirmol Lim has been selected as principal of Jones Futures Academy. Most recently, Lim served as the principal of Park Place Elementary School for three years. Prior to her principalship, she served as dean of instruction at Hartman Middle School and as a math teacher development specialist, collaborating with K-5 teachers throughout the district to strengthen their math practices. She began her teaching career in 2003 at Seguin Elementary School as a fifth-grade teacher and was identified as an ASPIRE Highly Effective Teacher for the district. Lim earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Houston and her Master of Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University. She is currently completing her Doctor of Education in Public School Administration from Texas A&M University.
Tailgate parties entice HISD students to enjoy lunch outside
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It’s fall in Houston, and with the season comes football and tailgate parties. HISD’s Nutrition Services department is hosting lunch-time tailgate parties every Thursday at several HISD high schools. Jones Futures Academy and Scarborough High School were the first two schools to win an all-out tailgate party where students can enjoy a meal and socialize outside the cafeteria.
Notable African-American communications professionals got their start in HISD
Editor’s Note: Black History Month runs from Monday, Feb. 1, through Monday, Feb. 29, this year, and HISD is celebrating with a series of weekly stories recognizing distinguished African Americans who graduated from HISD high schools. This article focuses on alumni who went on to have successful careers in radio, television, and film. Previous articles highlight athletes, artists, and politicians.
HISD has produced a number of notable African-American graduates who have established successful careers in radio, television, and film. Before making their names in the industry, though, they got their start in district communications programs.
Kim Gagné
Television producer and Yates High School graduate Kim Gagné (1982) is a two-time Daytime Emmy award winner who won for her work as a supervising producer for the Steve Harvey show. She also won a regional Emmy for her time with Houston’s KHOU-TV. Gagné got her start as a student in the Yates School of Communications. In her “I Am HISD” profile, she discusses the skills she learned while at Yates.
“While I was in the Yates magnet program, I realized that what I wanted to do with my life was possible,” said Gagné. “I thought, ‘This is not crazy. I can achieve this.’ The magnet school was in its infancy, and the teachers were so dedicated. We learned about TV, radio, film, and photography. It was pretty amazing. I had the best experience and made lifelong friends.”
Roland Martin, who also graduated from Yates (1987), is best known as a nationally syndicated columnist, a TV One cable-network commentator, and host of “News One Now,” a one-hour weekday news show. He is also a former CNN analyst and was named by Ebony magazine as one of the 150 most influential African Americans in the U.S. in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
During a visit with Yates students, Martin remembers that it all began in high school. “The foundation of what I do, everything related to communications, actually began at HISD and Yates,” he said. “That has been my passion since I was 14 years old, and I certainly want the school to continue with its strong and vibrant communications program.”
Other distinguished African Americans in radio, television, and film who graduated from HISD schools include Ralph Cooper (Worthing HS, 1966, radio), Rosalind Jordan (Jones HS, 1984, journalist), and Sherri Williams (Lamar HS, 1990, journalist).
Join the conversation! Do you know other distinguished alumni who graduated from HISD schools? If so, tell us about them on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #HISDBlackHistory.
Jones Futures Academy freshmen tour Prairie View A&M for insight into nursing, architecture
A group of 70 freshman students from the Jones Futures Academy traveled to the campus of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) on June 25 to learn first-hand what it takes to become future construction, architecture and nursing students.
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Summer Bridge program preparing Futures Academy students for success
Rising sophomores get tips from former Futures Academy students and EMERGE fellows
The journey from high school to college to a career can be challenging, but HISD’s Futures Academy is helping students develop the skills they’ll need to get there.
The Summer Bridge Program is arming rising high school sophomores with critical knowledge in the areas of time management, team building, communication, and money management. Four sessions are scheduled for June and feature classes taught by Futures Academy and EMERGE alumni.
“One way we thought this message would resonate with students is by having former HISD Futures Academy and EMERGE students returning from their first year in college lead the sessions,” said Michael Love, assistant superintendent of the Futures Academy. “This allows the students to learn directly from peers who recently walked the same hallways as them.”
HISD, Prairie View A & M partnership to allow students to earn nursing degree faster
The Houston Independent School District and Prairie View A&M University partnered Wednesday to announce a new registered nursing pathway for the students of Jones Futures Academy.
The partnership will allow students in the existing Allied Health program at Jones to take college level anatomy and physiology and medical terminology courses that directly align with Prairie View A&M’s nursing degree plan. Continue reading
Reagan students excited to receive laptops for school and home use
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All 2,234 students at Reagan High School received laptops on Monday, Jan. 12, as part of the district’s one-to-one plan to give all high school students a digital device to use for learning at school and at home. The one-to-one laptop program is a key component of HISD’s PowerUp initiative, which aims to digitally transform teaching and learning throughout the district.
Reagan is one of 14 HISD high schools distributing laptops to students during the month of January and early February. Others high schools include Davis, Lamar, Milby, Scarborough, South Early College, Waltrip, Westbury, Westside, Wheatley and Yates, as well as the Futures Academies at Jones, Jane Long Academy, and the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Continue reading