Time and again, Team HISD has shown its willingness to step up and help those in need. Right now, our colleagues in Bastrop ISD need help as wildfires continue to burn in their community. Beginning Monday, HISD will be collecting donations to help Bastrop ISD employees displaced by the fires. This email, sent today to all HISD Central Office employees, explains our relief fundraising campaign.
The Houston Independent School District family is deeply saddened by the terrific loss and displacement of thousands of people in Central Texas as a result of the most destructive wildfires on record in our state. In an effort to reach out to our counterparts in the Bastrop Independent School District, HISD is organizing a central administration building relief fundraising campaign. The campaign will run from Monday, September 12, 2011, through Wednesday, September 14, 2011. Participation is voluntary.
In Bastrop ISD, more than 200 employees have lost homes or possessions. The losses in that community are truly staggering — almost 1,400 homes in Bastrop have been lost to fires. Schools have been closed all week. Our hearts go out to Superintendent Steve Murray and his staff as they work tirelessly to connect with students who have been displaced. Many are doing so while suffering their own personal losses.
The HISD Offering Support Campaign for Bastrop ISD is accepting contributions of cash, (currency or coins), or checks. All checks should be made payable to HISD or HISD c/o Bastrop ISD. Proceeds will be forwarded to the Bastrop Independent School District and will benefit Bastrop ISD employees displaced by the recent wildfires.
Individuals needing a receipt should make their contribution in the form of a check, and their cashed check will serve as their receipt. Donations can be turned in to the Strategic Partnerships staff (1SE), between the hours of 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
If you have any questions regarding the collection process, please contact Strategic Partnerships at 713-556-7200.
Yesterday, we had our monthly meeting with HISD principals. We spent some time discussing our strategy to ensure that principals, teachers, and students clearly understand the objectives outlined in the state’s standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. This is some of our most important work, and you can read my recent eNews message for more of my thoughts on preparing students to meet these standards.
As we always do during these meetings, we also took some time to recognize a couple of our outstanding principals. Gabrielle Coleman and her team at the MLK Early Childhood Center are doing a marvelous job. I was proud to present Gabrielle with a Team HISD baseball cap as a token of our appreciation for all her hard work.
When I walk into the MLK Early Childhood Center, I can immediately tell that the children are not only having fun, they’re also developing the skills they need to be successful in future years. The teachers there say that the kids “play with a purpose” and the students are eager to learn. Here is one of our WOW (Within Our Walls) videos showcasing the great things happening within the walls of the MLK Early Childhood Center.
During the meeting, we also recognized Isabel Palacios, the principal of Oates Elementary School. Her school has one of the highest attendance rates in the district and has been recognized by local and statewide advocacy groups.
It’s always great to be able to spend time with our outstanding principals. It is, in large part, because of their leadership, that I have great confidence that HISD will become the best school district in America.
HISD’s Twilight High Schools Help Students Earn Their Diplomas
Take a look at this picture of Gary Banks in his cap and gown. He sure is a proud HISD graduate! You can see on his face a real sense of accomplishment, and with good reason. Gary graduated last spring after making the decision to return to school.
This past Friday, HISD’s Twilight High Schools held a reception to honor Gary and other recent graduates of the program. We created Twilight High Schools in November of last year to help students who find it difficult to attend class during the regular school day. The program offers non-traditional hours at seven locations throughout the city where students can do online coursework at their own pace. Twilight High Schools have graduation coaches to help students, and Gary says his coach, Elizabeth Carswell, played a big role in his decision to finish school.
Gary’s parents were at the celebration on Friday. One of our staff members talked to his mom, Kim.
His parents aren’t the only ones who are proud. Gary, congratulations! You worked hard and you’re a role model for all those who are thinking about going back to school to earn a diploma.
If you know someone who is looking to return to school, encourage them to call our Dropout Prevention Office at 713-556-7017.
HISD Receives $2.1 million grant from Texas Railroad Commission for Propane Buses and Fueling Station
Today, HISD was awarded a $2.1 million grant from the Texas Railroad Commission to pay for 25 propane school buses and an 18,000-gallon fueling station that will allow us to expand the propane fleet. Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter joined us here in Houston for a news conference to announce the grant. I want to, again, thank the commissioner for this generous gift.
The propane buses are part of HISD’s districtwide effort to be good stewards of environmental resources and taxpayer dollars. The buses are more environmentally friendly, generating fewer toxins and other smog-producing emissions than gas and diesel engines. In addition, each bus will save the district approximately $3,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs. Mark Swackhamer is our senior manager of fleet operations. He and his team in our transportation department have taken significant steps to help preserve the environment. In this video clip, Mark explains that all HISD buses and diesel light-fleet vehicles already run on biodiesel, which is derived from renewable resources such as soybeans.
This morning, we had two of the new propane buses parked out front to show the media. We expect to have all 25 buses on the road by the end of ember.
HISD’s Central Office Staff is Working Hard to Support Our Schools
I told you about the schools I visited last week, but I also want to tell you about the meetings I held with Central Office staff. We gathered to talk about the new school year and there were not as many people at this year’s Central Office staff meetings. We eliminated 277 positions due to state budget cuts this past spring. The move was a continuation of the district’s effort over the past decade to streamline Central Office operations. While there are fewer people, the work hasn’t gone away. I sometimes arrive here at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center as early as 6:30 a.m. and there are always cars in the parking lot. The same is true on nights when I sometimes leave at 8 p.m., and when I stop in to do work on the weekends. Our team works hard to support our schools, and I was proud to recognize some of our Central Office employees during the recent staff meetings.
Larry Nabors and Ernesto Palomo (pictured on my left) from our Construction and Facilities Services Department received Team HISD baseball caps as a token of appreciation for all they did to get campuses ready for the start of school. The principals had great things to say about the maintenance department and grounds crews, and I wanted to thank Larry and Ernesto for a job well done.
HISD General Manager of Transportation Nathan Graf and Senior Fleet Manager Mark Swackhamer (both pictured on my right) also received Team HISD baseball caps for their efforts to ensure that our transportation department runs efficiently and effectively. HISD operates and maintains 1,002 school buses, and covers more than 13 million miles a year. Government Fleet, a leading transportation industry magazine, recently named HISD one of the top 100 fleets for 2011, and HISD was the only school district to make the list.
During the meeting, I also gave Team HISD baseball caps to employees from two other Central Office departments. Later in the week, I will tell you more about them and will post videos highlighting the work that they are doing to support HISD students.
New Appraisal and Development System for Teachers
Every week, I share some of my thoughts in HISD’s electronic newsletter, Friday eNews. If you would like to receive Friday eNews, sign up at www.houstonisd.org/subscribe. I am posting today’s message on the blog, as well.
We had a great first week of school! I spent time at several of our campuses, and let me tell you: the buildings look great, the students are focused on learning, and principals and teachers are excited to be back at school. Those adults are difference-makers in children’s lives. They have the greatest impact on student learning. Principals serve as instructional leaders to help teachers do their best work in the classroom, and this year, HISD is providing teachers with more feedback and support. The new teacher appraisal and development system approved by the Board of Education takes multiple measures into account, instead of the results of a single classroom visit. Teachers will get an accurate picture of their strengths and weaknesses, and clearly defined pathways for even greater success.
Hundreds of teachers and principals attended training seminars over the summer to learn more about the new system. I’ve been hearing great things about the sessions. Teachers are excited to work with our new team of Teacher Development Specialists. These individuals are experts in specific content areas. They will partner with teachers and provide campus-based, on-the-job support.
Robin Licato, a chemistry teacher at Lamar High School, says what motivates her is knowing that she is having an impact on students’ lives. I invite you to watch a video in which she shares her passion for teaching and her thoughts about the new appraisal and development system.
I have said before, and I truly believe, that HISD has some of the best teachers you will find anywhere. Visiting with some of them this week, I could see how much they care about their students. I am proud to be a part of a district that is committed to recognizing teachers for their results and giving them opportunities to reach even greater success. It is exactly what our teachers deserve.
“School is Even Better than Summer Vacation!”
Here’s a little something to get your day started off on the right note. Check out the Lovett Elementary School Band!
Virginia Croft, the school’s band director, told me the group is as good as any high school band, and I can promise you, they sound great! The band performed when a group of us visited Lovett’s new building on the first day of school. In the next few months, students will be holding concerts at Lovett’s new pavilion. The glass doors along the stage in the band room collapse and open to the outdoors. People will be able to sit outside and enjoy a great performance.
Lovett has bright and talented students. It has a great principal, Amy Simson, and a wonderful group of teachers, including HISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, Heather Gaines. I had a great time visiting Heather’s classroom, and she was kind enough to let me read to her students!
Lovett is one of six new school buildings that we opened on the first day of school. The others include, Almeda, Frost, DeChaumes, Berry, and Horn. These are “green” schools, and we are seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for these campuses. They were built as part of the $805 million bond proposal approved by the voters in 2007. We are committed to delivering on the promises made during that construction campaign, and I want the people of Houston to know that the projects are being completed on budget and on time. I know the students in these buildings love their new schools. Just listen to what Samuel Morgan, a third-grade student at Lovett Elementary, had to say during our visit.
Samuel told us that being in school is even better than summer vacation. It is wonderful to see students so excited about learning!
HISD’s New Single-Gender Academies
This week, I spent some time at two of HISD’s newest schools, the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy and Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. These single-gender schools offer a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum with Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement courses.
When you walk through the halls of these schools, you will notice how quiet they are. Yet, when you go into the classrooms, you will see students sharing ideas and excited about what they are learning. One of our staff members shot this clip of Delesa O’Dell-Thomas, the principal of the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, talking about the first few days of school. I want to share it with you to give you an even better idea of what it’s like in that building.
One of the other things that you will notice when you visit the single-gender schools is the way students are dressed. The girls wear plaid jumpers and cardigans, with jackets for special occasions, and the boys have on khaki pants, blue blazers, and Kelly green ties. The kids look great! Dameion Crook, the principal of the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy, told us on the first day of school that the uniforms have a lot of symbolism.
Those uniforms are a statement about a student’s commitment to coming to school on a regular basis, studying hard, and preparing for college. I am proud of the students and teachers at those schools, and I couldn’t be more proud to have Dameion and Delesa in HISD. They are outstanding leaders and I’m looking forward to spending more time at their schools.
New School Year is off to a Great Start
We are off to a great start in the new school year! Teachers jumped right into their lesson plans and students are excited about what they’re learning. I visited four of our campuses on the first day of school and you would think that classes had been in session for six weeks. Everybody is working hard and I know we are on the right track.
My first stop yesterday was Davis High School. Principal Jaime Castaneda and his team are doing great things at that school. Students there are now performing well enough on AP exams to get credit for more than 100 college courses a year. It’s wonderful to see students challenging themselves in higher-level classes. Two years ago, many HISD high schools offered few, if any, AP classes. We have been working to change that, and this year, we will have at least 15 AP courses in all of our high schools. Davis is an example of the kind of school that exists when you combine an exemplary principal, highly effective teachers, and an intense focus on academic rigor.
I want to thank everyone at Davis for inviting me to spend some time with them yesterday. Jaime really captured the excitement of the new school year and I want you to have a chance to hear from him.
I love visiting our schools. It’s the best part of my job. Later this week, I want to show you around to Lovett Elementary, the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy, and the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, all of which I also visited yesterday.
Every year, at the start of a new school year, we set goals and high expectations for our schools. This year, one of our primary goals is to help students improve their reading skills, and we are launching a districtwide literacy curriculum across all grade levels.
Reading is the foundation for learning and research shows that people who can’t read well will have a very difficult time succeeding in our world today. In HISD, we have roughly 70,000 students who aren’t reading on grade level. It has been a challenge to find ways to address this issue, since the way we teach reading varies from school to school, and HISD students often transfer from one campus to another. By creating a districtwide approach, we will be able to gauge each student’s strengths and weaknesses, and we will be able to use data to develop targeted strategies to reach individual students. At the same time, we will still encourage schools that are getting great results to keep doing what they are doing.
Today, the HISD Foundation received a generous donation from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in support of our new literacy initiative. The $500,000 gift will help us train teachers and principals, and conduct research to determine which literacy programs are most effective.
I want to say a special thank you to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and its President and CEO Skip Wagner (pictured above). With the group’s support, we will be able to help all of our students, regardless of what schools they attend, to read on grade level.
