Stephanie Lugo, proud principal of McGowen Elementary School, was one of the first principals to acclimate a campus into HISD’s New Education System (NES). The undeniable progress of her students and staff is what makes her this week’s HISD Star Educator.
Continue readingTag Archives: McGowen ES
Learn about HISD’s African American namesake schools this Black History Month
HISD is celebrating Black History Month by exploring the many schools named for distinguished African Americans in the community. The district has more than 30 schools that recognize the contributions of African American leaders, ranging from renowned educators to legislators and community leaders.
The first week focused on HISD’s namesake high schools, alternative schools, and the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. The second week focused on HISD’s middle and combination schools. This week, learn more about HISD’s namesake early childhood centers and elementary schools.
Continue readingJeffrey Whitaker named new principal of McGowen Elementary
Jeffrey Whitaker has been appointed new principal of McGowen Elementary School. Most recently, he served as assistant principal at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School for three years. Before that, Whitaker taught at Sutton and Burbank elementary schools, where he was lead teacher, department chair, and three–time winner of Teacher of the Year. Last spring, he successfully completed HISD’s Principal Candidate Development Opportunity program for aspiring leaders. Whitaker has a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Houston and a M.Ed. in educational administration from the University of St. Thomas. He grew up in the area surrounding McGowen and is excited to have the opportunity to serve as principal.
Google Expeditions takes McGowen students on virtual world tour
What if your child could take a guided tour of Machu Picchu, look out over the streets of Barcelona, or dive deep into the ocean to explore a coral reef, and then head home after school all on the same day?
That’s the idea behind the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program, which was presented to educators and second-graders at McGowen Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 8, by representatives from the technology megacompany.
Summer STEM Institute helps teachers infuse learning with fun
More than five dozen HISD science, technology, engineering, and math teachers took part in a summer institute recently that was designed to help boost students’ math and science scores by incorporating more fun into their lessons.
The educators came from 23 HISD elementary and middle schools that received part of a TIF4 STEM grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant also provides resources such as equipment and technology, and participating teachers will receive additional training opportunities throughout the school year and share what they have learned with other faculty members at their campuses.
Substitute teacher leads fledgling choir to greatness
When Starlic Williams initially came to McGowen Elementary School, he was only supposed to be serving as a substitute teacher for a few days, filling in for a band instructor who was out sick.
“[But] I saw a piano in the corner that wasn’t being used, so I pulled it out and started teaching the kids to sing,” explained Williams. “The principal saw us and asked me to come back for the remainder of the school year and start a choir. I was excited and accepted the challenge.”
Health program to help students focus, stay calm expands to 26 schools
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Breathing exercises and yoga poses are just a few of the things HISD students learn in the Sonima Health and Wellness program. Fourteen additional HISD schools now offer the curriculum, which is offered by the Sonima Foundation and teaches students multiple skills for a healthier lifestyle.
Elementary students are already thinking about college
While seniors are applying for colleges, elementary school students are already thinking about which universities they may want to attend one day. Continue reading
Parents Learn More About Proposed Changes to Attendance Zones for North Forest Transition
HISD Board of Education Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones and various administrators addressed dozens of parents at a public meeting at Kashmere High School Tuesday on the proposed changes to school attendance zones to prepare for the North Forest transition. The school zone changes would impact Kashmere High School as well as Key Middle School and Cook, Kashmere Gardens, McGowen and Paige elementary schools.