Dear Teachers,
As the end of the school year approaches, I know that many you are counting down to a well-deserved summer vacation and/or gearing up to teach summer school. Professional Support and Development (PSD) would like to thank each and every one of you for your commitment during the 2012-2013 school year. Our team of Teacher Development Specialists and I acknowledge and applaud all of your hard work and dedication given throughout this year. We know that the success of our students would not be possible without you and the support of your campus.
This summer HISD is providing over 200 professional learning opportunities for our PK-12 teachers from the months of May—August 2013. You will have opportunities ranging from Literacy, Mathematics, Advanced Placement, Gifted and Talented, everyday excELLence Literacy Routines, and Differentiated Instruction, to Science training from the Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University, and so many other options in between. You can view more detailed information on each training and the compensation that is being offered by visiting the PSD website training calendar at www.houstonisdpsd.org, select “Training Opportunities,” or by clicking here: HISD Summer Training Calendar.
Please note that trainings require registration through eTRAIN or department registration links communicated on the HISD Summer Training Calendar . You can access eTRAIN by logging into the HISD employee portal and following the link under HISD Application Links. We encourage you to review the detailed summer training calendar linked above to register for courses via eTRAIN as soon as possible. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly!
Also, we look forward to reconnecting with you when you return in August as a part of Pre-Service Training. PSD and the HISD Curriculum Department look forward to working with you as a part of the August Rigorous Instruction Pre-Service Institute and/or August Pre-Service Job-Alike Training.
You have heard us say it before – We are thrilled to work in a district where teachers are so committed to the success of our students, even when that means dedicating some of your summer vacation time to continued Professional Support and Development. We look forward to working with you this summer and encourage you to take advantage of our menu of high-quality professional learning experiences.
Thank you for everything you do!
Sincerely,
Lance Menster, Assistant Superintendent of Professional Support & Development
UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Effective Teachers Initiative Survey:
· HISD is conducting surveys of teachers and appraisers to gather feedback on the Effective Teachers Initiative—specifically the appraisal and development system, teacher recognition, and career pathways.
· Teachers who complete the survey before June 7th will be automatically entered in a raffle for Kindle Fire. Additionally, the campus with the highest response rate will win an ice cream social at a back-to-school event in August.
· Each teacher and appraiser has received an email from the Effective Teachers Initiative with a link to the survey. If you have not received this email with a survey link (email subject: Please Share your Feedback- End-of-Year Appraisal and Development System Survey), please email to let them know.
· Keep in mind that your responses are completely confidential, and TNTP, the organization conducting this survey, will not share any information that identifies you as an individual to HISD. If you have any questions, please contact .
ABOUT THE EFFECTIVE TEACHERS INITIATIVE
Great teachers are the foundation for student success. That’s why our goal is to ensure an effective teacher in every HISD classroom. Through the Effective Teachers Initiative, HISD has been recruiting the best teachers, raising the standard for effective teaching, giving teachers the support they need to be successful, and recognizing and rewarding great teachers. That’s how we’ll make HISD the best school district in the nation—a place where teachers and school leaders thrive and all of our students get the education they deserve.