Source: Houston ISD

HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza on Thursday personally welcomed some of the nearly 1,500 new teachers to the district at an exclusive meet-and-greet event.

Attendees at the event included those new to teaching and experienced teachers who are new to the district. The newest members of Team HISD got to network with their colleagues, take selfies with the superintendent, and hear some motivational and encouraging words from HISD’s top leader.

“The most important people to our students are you,” Carranza told the crowd. “If it were not for you, many of our students may not have an adult in their family or an adult in their community who knows their name, who makes sure they are getting fed, makes sure they are safe, and if they don’t come to school, that you are going to follow up and ask where they are.”

All new teachers will be welcomed officially to their campuses on Monday, July 31 and then are invited to take part in a networking and service project at the Houston Food Bank from 1-4 p.m.

Starting Tuesday, Aug. 1, new teachers will attend the 2017-2018 HISD New Teacher Academy at Kingdom Builders Center. During the four-day academy, they will be immersed in district priorities, curriculum, effective practices, and the importance of social and emotional learning for students. Carranza and Board President Wanda Adams will welcome the group on Aug. 1. Dr. Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, will discuss the demographics of Houston and the importance of public education to the future of the city in his keynote address on Friday, Aug. 4.

HISD has searched the state, country, and even traveled internationally to recruit and hire the best teachers available to join Team HISD. Nearly 39 percent are new to teaching, while 61 percent have one or more years of experience.