I think I speak for everyone at Team HISD when I say what a rewarding year it has been.
Students are heading home for the summer, our high schools are preparing for graduation ceremonies this weekend, and teachers are preparing lessons for summer school. In our rear-view mirror, we can see many achievements.
We embraced a new teacher appraisal and development system that greatly elevates the level of quality interaction between teachers and their principals. We helped the 9,000-plus students who are graduating this weekend earn college scholarship offers that total a record $172 million. And that number continues to grow!
I spoke with several of our highest-performing teachers over the phone today. Teachers like Willie Mae Wolf of Burbank Elementary. Willie Mae is the epitome of a role model for our kids. She is always willing to mentor other teachers, offering effective teaching strategies that work in her classroom. She shared with me that she believes keeping students as the primary focus is the key to our future successes at HISD. I couldn’t agree with her more.
The school year may be coming to a close, but the work isn’t over. Our teachers are leading critical summer school classes that will help countless students get back on track to graduation and college. Many other members of Team HISD will be back at work during the summer as we build on the foundation that will lead our students to even greater achievement in 2012-2013.
I look forward to the great things we can accomplish next year. I am proud to be surrounded by great parents, teachers, principals, and staff who put children first in everything that they do!
A special salute to our many school volunteers
This morning, it was my privilege to present awards to those who contribute countless hours to Houston’s children every day: the volunteers who work to support students, families, teachers and staff.
Members of HISD’s VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) program tirelessly serve as tutors, mentors, teacher partners, security patrols, chaperones, interpreters, and cafeteria monitors, and help in libraries, media centers, clinics, and offices. And that’s just a short summary of their contributions.
These outstanding individuals dedicate their time and energy, without thought of recompense, in every school across our district. I can’t salute them enough.
The highest honor of the morning, the Jean Davis Myers award, was presented to Urban Harvest and Pilar Hernandez, who is an Urban Harvest parent volunteer at Kolter Elementary. The program provides hands-on learning in science and other subjects in a district-wide outdoor learning environment, which aids teachers in creating curriculum for outdoor classrooms. Pilar is helping our students cultivate an understanding about where healthy and nutritious foods come from.
A Special Lifetime Achievement award went to George W. Black for his more than 25 years of service in the VIPs program. George, a retired Marine, oversees the student safety patrol at Barrick Elementary. George is contributing to a consistently safe and secure environment where students can prosper, and students have come to rely on him as a guiding force on their campus.
Once again, I would like to thank our exceptional volunteers, both individually and the organizations that are helping to make our schools some of the best in the country. We couldn’t do it without them.
For a photo gallery of photos from the celebration, go tohttp://hisdnews.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/photo-gallery-volunteers-honored-for-service-to-children-schools/
To see more of the important work our HISD volunteers do, watch these two videos:http://houstonisdtx.swagit.com/play/05292012-570/#1
http://houstonisdtx.swagit.com/play/05292012-571/#1
For more information about how you can become a volunteer, contact Tina Thompson at 713-556-7206 or visit www.houstonisd.org
Every Day, Every Student: Henderson Elementary Exemplifies HISD Rigor
It always gives me great joy to show off the progress we have made at HISD, but it was especially gratifying to showcase one school in particular on Wednesday as the Broad Prize Evaluation Committee visited J.P. Henderson Elementary School. The visit— to the first of six to schools around the district this week—is part of the evaluation process for the 2012 Broad Prize.
The Broad team got an up-close look at the outstanding education Principal Herlinda Garcia and her teachers are providing their students every day at Henderson. This neighborhood school shines a light on the importance of strong leaders and effective teachers.
What committee members saw during the tour was no different than any other day at Henderson. Although Herlinda donned dress shoes instead of her usual footwear (comfortable sneakers), she still o ziped around the school at her usual quick clip, leading the crowd through its data room, technology room, and several classes in progress.
While we could have taken the committee to dozens of schools in HISD, Henderson Elementary truly exemplifies what our goals are as a district. This is an example of a school that has a high concentration of students from disadvantaged backgrounds but has been rated as exemplary for five years in a row. It’s a part of the no-excuses culture we have at HISD—to give every child the chance they deserve to receive a quality education.
The committee is looking at the gains we have made at HISD since the 2007-2008 school year and is talking to hundreds of teachers and administrators. They want to hear about our practices that have narrowed the achievement gap among minority students, increased participation rates for those students on SAT, ACT, and AP exams, and led to gains on math and science state assessments among Hispanic middle and high school students.
It all centers on Team HISD and all of us working together. Innovation is a constant process, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come and confident that we’ll continue to put the student at the center of everything we do.
Ambitious Students and Unique Scholarship Opportunities
This week, we honored the Class of 2012’s valedictorians and salutatorians at our annual Scholars Banquet, and I just could not be more pleased with the level of talent I saw there.
I spoke briefly with salutatorian George Smith Jr., who will graduate with a pilot’s license as well as a high school diploma from Sterling High School next week. And two of our valedictorians—Davion Antwine (Furr HS) and Chiquita Davis (DeVry AA@CLC)—are graduating this spring after completing their course requirements an entire year early.
Now, earning a high school diploma in only three years is a considerable feat in and of itself, but to do so at the top of their respective classes makes it particularly impressive—and my hat is off to them.
Another thing I noticed is the sheer variety of scholarships our students are finding to finance their college ambitions.
For instance, Kalyn Mayer (Waltrip HS) received a scholarship from the Congress of Houston Teachers, something only available to children of members, while Juana Martinez (HAIS) received a scholarship from the Simmons Foundation through a similar program at The Redstone Companies.
Other seniors received scholarships from the Gee Family Association, the Haraldson Foundation, the TPC Group (formerly Texas Petrochemicals), the National Consolidated Licensed Beverage Association, the Pan American Round Table of Houston, and the Chinese Professional Club of Houston—a total of more than $145 million as of Monday.
A lot of people are familiar with the scholarships offered by the Houston Endowment and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, but these students are broadening their horizons to scope out less obvious options—and frankly, I admire their resourcefulness.
The ability to find alternative solutions is a trait that will serve them well throughout their lives, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these industrious students.
As I walk through the halls of our district administration building, I am delighted by the display of vibrant student artwork! From every grade level, our artistically talented students have created some breathtaking pieces. If you haven’t had a chance to roam the students’ gallery, I recommend you stop by this evening for the 2012 Visual Arts Spring Showcase.More than 30 schools participated in the showcase, which was installed on May 4. The presentation starts at 6 p.m. tonight (May 17). Three principals—one from every grade level—will be honored with art from their students as a prize. Board President Mike Lunceford will also be presented with a piece. Music will be played by various school choirs and jazz bands, and snacks will be provided.
I’m excited to see how our students are flourishing in their art classes. The artwork on display makes me proud of our students’ boundless talent and the teachers who are guiding them. Come by and see for yourself!
Click here for a slideshow
Making Sure Our Kids Can ‘See to Succeed’
Yesterday, I dropped by Bonner Elementary School to visit with second-grader Athena Abarca (pictured). Athena is one of hundreds of students benefitting from our partnership with the City of Houston’s Health and Human Services Department.
Since 2011, ‘See to Succeed’ has been providing some of HISD’s neediest children with free eye exams and eyeglasses—and I think it is a fantastic program.
Before last fall, Athena had been wearing the same pair of frames for more than two years. They were too small and didn’t fit her face, but she wore them until, finally, they broke.
In October, she was allowed to pick out whatever style she wanted from among dozens of designer frames—and two weeks later, she received a beautiful new set of glasses—exactly what she needs to see her schoolwork, classmates, and teacher clearly.
I’d like to thank both Principal Josefa Olivares and Athena’s teacher, Karla Martinez, for welcoming me to their campus so graciously today.
But I want to extend my deepest thanks to the City of Houston for recognizing how important corrective lenses can be to academic success, and for ensuring our kids have all the tools they need to do their best work.
Houston ISD: A “look-in-the-mirror” school district
This week, Houston is playing host to the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education over at the George R. Brown Convention Center. I was honored this morning to address my colleagues and tell them about the work the Houston Independent School District is doing to ensure that every child in our city, regardless of where they live, is taught by a highly effective teacher. We know without question that there is nothing we can do to accelerate learning that matters more than placing an effective teacher in every classroom.
Research reveals a proven method for erasing the achievement gap separating our children of color from the performance of white students. When students are assigned for four consecutive years to the classrooms of teachers who have demonstrated an ability to get the most out of their students, those gaps in achievement disappear.
In Houston, our philosophy is that great teachers are the ones who focus on the things we can control instead of using our students’ circumstances as an excuse for failure. There is an elementary school principal in Washington D.C. named Adelaide Flamer, who I think puts this concept best. Ms. Flamer said: “When asked what can be done to solve the achievement problem, some adults just point out the schoolhouse window. But we’re not look-out-the-window educators here. We’re look-in-the-mirror folks.”
Houston is a look-in-the-mirror city. I spent some time telling other school leaders the story of how Houston’s strong Board of Education led the drive toward creating a new teacher appraisal and development system that holds adults accountable for our students’ academic progress. We created this system last year with the help of thousands of teachers, principals, parents, and the community. Working in partnership with The New Teacher Project, HISD’s Effective Teachers Initiative is producing promising results. Teachers are now receiving the regular data-based feedback they need and desire to help them do their best work. Principals, assistant principals, and deans are spending more strategic time than ever working shoulder-to-shoulder with the teachers they supervise.
Our children only get one chance at an education. We have a moral obligation to ensure that the quality of teachers in our city is consistently high in every school, not just inside a few select campuses. With HISD’s Effective Teachers Initiative, I feel certain we are well on our way to doing just that.
Visiting with some of HISD’s top teachers
I had the great pleasure this morning of visiting the classrooms of two of HISD’s top teachers to congratulate them for earning the highest ASPIRE Award for the 2010-2011 school year. In all, 9,162 teachers earned ASPIRE Awards this year totaling $35 million.
Chavis Mitchell (left)
Our first stop was at Osborne Elementary School in the Acres Homes community. I was impressed as fourth-grade writing teacher Chavis Mitchell’s students told me about the “word funerals” they have conducted this year to bury words such as “sad” and “happy.” Instead, their writing is infused with more descriptive words such as “blue” and “ecstatic.” Under the guidance of Principal Jacqueline Parnell, it was clear to see that the students at Osborne are really thriving.
From there, we drove a short distance to another Acres Homes school, Highland Heights Elementary. Teacher Debra Bunton works with students who don’t speak English at home. The academic gains being made by the children in Ms. Bunton’s class are impressive, which is why she received such a high ASPIRE Award. Ms. Bunton told me that she and Principal Kettisha Jones regularly discuss each individual student’s needs, and this helps her come up with teaching approaches that take each child’s unique learning style into account.
Debra Bunton (right)
Two other HISD teachers also won the top ASPIRE Award this year: Marcos Giannotti of Hobby Elementary School, and Stephanie Spurling of Hartsfield Elementary School.
Please join me in congratulating these fine educators, and thanking them on behalf of the children they serve each day. I came away from these visits more convinced than ever that placing a quality teacher in every HISD classroom is our city’s best chance for a bright future.
Celebrating Our National Blue Ribbon Schools – Part 2
This week, we celebrated Lyons Elementary’s designation as a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School. I served cake to the school’s staff and we had a great time sharing stories.
Talking to Principal Cecilia Gonzales gave me a clear understanding of why the school has been successful. At Lyons, teachers, administrators, students, and community members are all working together to make sure our students succeed.
If you stop by Lyons on a Saturday, you find students being tutored. If you stick around after the school day, you see involved parents meeting with teachers and working with our kids. This school does whatever it takes and knows how to work together to get results.
The Blue Ribbon award honors public and private schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress toward closing gaps in achievement between students in various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Challenge Early College and Eastwood Academy high schools are also on the list of HISD’s 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
Excellence lives at Lyons Elementary and at many of our HISD campuses. I’m so proud of the work our educators, parents and students are doing to make sure our students flourish.
Student Speeches Honor Martin Luther King Jr.
I was blown away by the powerful speeches HISD students delivered during last week’s Gardere Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition. Students who compete in the annual contest write their own original three- to five-minute speeches and incorporate ideals from Dr. King’s writings, speeches, and other records.
Fifth-grader Matthias McBride of Pleasantville ES placed first in the annual contest. Fifth-grader Donovan Williams from Cornelius ES earned second place, and fourth-grader Samaya Watson from MacGregor ES came in third.
This year, students answered this question: As a student of Dr. King’s life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today? The students’ answers were thoughtful and moving.
One of the most powerful quotes came at the end of Matthias’ speech. He said: “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor popular, nor political. But one must take that position because it is right.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Congratulations to all of the students who wrote speeches and competed. You gave me and many others a lot to think about as we observed the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Please take the time to watch the winning speeches:
And to see all the finalist speeches go to www.youtube.com/thehisd
