Tag Archives: Terry Grier

Interview with Gayle Fallon

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’ve been following the news in HISD lately, in particular the political struggle going on between new HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and the Houston Federation of Teachers, over things like the proposal to dump CEP as the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

HISD disciplinary data

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I noted some differences of fact between HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and HFT President Gayle Fallon over the cost and use of alternate school CEP, which Grier wants to dump. Fallon left a comment in that post, and … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Fact check on Aisle 5, please

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has proposed ending HISD’s relationship with Community Education Partners (CEP), which provides alternate schools for kids with discipline problems. Following that, the Chron editorialized in favor of Grier’s stance. Grier contends that CEP … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Grier pushing to dump CEP

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has been pushing to get HISD away from using Community Education Partners (CEP) as a provider of alternate schools for kids with discipline issues. He has now made his recommendation to the Board … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Longer school year for some?

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, for some schools whose students lag behind, as a way to catch up. [HISD] is designing a pilot program to allow a handful of struggling schools to adopt an extended-year calendar starting this fall. The reform effort — estimated … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Longer school year for some?

HISD gives final approval to teacher dismissal plan

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has gotten approval from the HISD Board of Trustees to implement a plan that would allow for the dismissal of teachers whose students don’t make enough progress on standardized tests. Data provided by HISD show that, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

HISD may race to the top

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the earlier decision by Governor Perry to not let Texas compete for “Race to the Top” stimulus funds, school districts like HISD may get the chance to apply for them on their own. President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HISD moves ahead with its teacher dismissal plan

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. The school board on Thursday gave initial approval to a policy that allows the district to dismiss teachers whose students consistently perform below expectations on standardized tests. The change represents a move to make personnel decisions based … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Evaluating teachers

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is sure to be contentious, but I think it’s the right direction. Teachers in Houston ISD could lose their jobs for failing to improve student test scores under a controversial proposal slated for a school board vote Thursday. HISD … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

HISD and CEP

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I think this is a good idea. The wide disparity in principals’ use of schools run by Community Education Partners has caught the attention of HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, who questions whether schools are kicking out too many students on … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Grier starts the fight against dropouts

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

New HISD Superintendent Terry Grier hits the ground running. As his first major initiative as Houston ISD chief, Grier is launching a credit-recovery program similar to ones he headed up in San Diego and Greensboro, N.C. Houston ISD’s new program … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

HISD candidate spending

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

After all I’ve done detailing how city candidates are spending their campaign money, I’d love to be able to tell how how candidates for HISD Trustee are spending theirs. I’d love to, but unfortunately I can’t, because that information isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Alma Lara

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving on to the HISD Trustee races, we start with Alma Lara, who is running for the open HISD Trustee seat in District I. Lara is retired after a 35-year career in HISD in which she was a teacher, principal … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Let the Terry Grier honeymoon watch begin

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Place your bets on when the first major brouhaha of the Terry Grier Era will take place. Closing small schools. Firing teachers whose students consistently fail. Tinkering with popular magnet programs. A pile of these and other political hot potatoes … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

HISD set to hire Grier

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

But not without some drama first. The Houston school board is expected to officially hire Terry Grier as superintendent Thursday and offer him a multiyear contract that is likely to top $400,000 a year in salary and perks over time. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD set to hire Grier

Saavedra’s exit interview

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Now-former HISD Superintendent Abe Saavedra grades his performance. His answers are sadly too short to most of the questions. I’d really have liked to have heard more on this: Q: If you could wave a magic wand and unilaterally change … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Terry and Abe

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another get-to-know-Terry Grier story, focusing on his time in San Diego. The most interesting bit to me is right here: Abelardo Saavedra, the man Grier is in line to replace in Houston, endured more than his share of criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Terry and Abe

No vote from HISD on several school upgrades

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I noted that a parents group and some HISD trustees were complaining about there not being a vote on three school construction projects that were promised as part of the 2007 bond referendum. Even though we now have … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Q&A with Terry Grier

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Learn more about our new HISD Superintendent here and here. One thing to highlight, from the first link: Q: What are your priorities for HISD? A: Houston is a good urban district. It has the potential to be the best … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Q&A with Terry Grier

Meet the new HISD boss

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s more on Terry Grier, the new HISD Superintendent-to-be. Grier, 59, has been at the helm of the 135,000-student San Diego Unified School District since March 2008. He’s won support for his efforts to boost student achievement and curb dropouts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Meet the new HISD boss

Parents call on HISD to keep promises Saavedra made

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With the revelation that HISD may have chosen its new superintendent, this Chron story from yesterday about how parent groups who were promised certain specific actions from outgoing Superintendent Abe Saavedra relating to the bond referendum, and the Board of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Has HISD chosen its new superintendent?

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron says Yes. The man in charge of the San Diego, Calif. public schools has emerged as the frontrunner to take over the Houston Independent School District, the Houston Chronicle has learned. Terry Grier, superintendent of the San Diego … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments