Parents are welcome to attend a lecture series presented by the HISD Advanced Academics Department

Can We Have Both Creative Students and a Test-Driven Schoolhouse?
Gleeful Giftedness:  An Allegory for Arts and Academics
F. Richard Olenchak, Ph.D., P.C.
University of Houston Professor, Psychologist, and Co-Director Urban Talent Research Institute
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Time: 6:00 pm-7:00 pm 
Place: HISD Board Auditorium
Hattie Mae White Education Support Center
4400 West 18th St. Houston, TX. 77092

Information will be available from 5:30pm-6:00pm for the Gulf Coast Chapter of MENSA, Odyssey of the Mind, and the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented

 



Marlene Rubin
College Access Counselor
Bellaire High School
mrubin@houstonisd.org
713-295-3856

College Board Selects HISD to Kick Off National Five Ways Ed Pays Campaign with Rally and Resource Fair 
November 15, 2011 – The Houston Independent School District has been selected to kick off the College Board’s national Five Ways Ed Pays campaign to increase awareness of the benefits of higher education.  This kick-off event includes a rally and resource fair on Wednesday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Delmar Field House (2020 Mangum).


“We are extremely honored to be selected as the first district to set the stage for this national effort to promote higher education,” said HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier.  “Our goal is to ensure every student in HISD is prepared to pursue a higher education, and this event will further support our efforts.”


The rally features motivational speeches from Grier and Marcus Davis, the co-founder and co-owner of the breakfast klub restaurant and radio host for Majic 102.1, among others.  The resource fair includes college planning advice and resources, as well as representatives from local colleges and Texas universities.  


“Education is an investment with long-term benefits for thousands of students and families,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “I would like to thank the Houston Independent School District for shining light on the importance of a college education.”


The College Board selected Houston ISD as the first district in this national campaign because of its commitment to increasing the number of college-bound students.


“Most people are aware of the financial benefits related to obtaining a higher education, but this campaign highlights many more, and breaks them down into bite sized chunks,” said Nefertari Mundy, HISD manager of counseling services.  “School counselors are always looking for resources and innovative ways to reinforce our district's college-bound culture, so partnering with College Board will allow us to do this on a larger scale.”


Other speakers for the rally include ABC 13 News Anchor Art Rascon, national bestselling author ReShonda Tate-Billingsley, 2011 Miss Bay Area Erin Kay, and Pascal Watty, former University of Texas football player and founder of First Genesis, Inc.  


Representatives from Houston Community College, Sam Houston State University and Texas State University, among other state universities, will be on site to talk with students and parents.  The resource fair will also include free vaccinations provided by the City of Houston and free copies of the personal planning tool Get It Together for College to the first 1,000 families through the doors.


           The event is free for all HISD middle and high school students and parents.  





About the College Board:

The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center <http://www.advocacy.collegeboard.org/> was established to help transform education in America. Guided by the College Board’s principles of excellence and equity in education, the Center works to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed in college and beyond. Critical connections between policy, research and real-world practice are made to develop innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges in education today. Drawing from the experience of the College Board’s active membership consisting of education professionals from more than 5,900 institutions, priorities include: College Preparation & Access, College Affordability & Financial Aid, and College Admission & Completion. For more information, visit the College Board Web site at www.collegeboard.org <http://www.collegeboard.org> .