Over a six-month period in 2010, HISD has worked to develop a plan for transforming the district to align with the board’s Declaration of Beliefs and Visions and to meet the needs of HISD’s students and parents and the broader community.
Its purpose is not to list all of the district’s current activities or past accomplishments. Rather, it is to describe as clearly as possible the major areas of focus for HISD over the next several years. Thousands of people—parents, students, employees, and community members—have participated in the process, recognizing the stake that we all have in the success of the district. With their help, we have identified five core initiatives that will together enable us to transform HISD:
- Effective Teacher in Every Classroom
- Effective Principal in Every School
- Rigorous Instructional Standards and Supports
- Data-Driven Accountability
- Culture of Trust through Action
The bottom line for the success or failure of this plan will be student achievement. More specifically, our goal is to ensure that all HISD students graduate from high school ready to succeed in the college and career of their choice. If we do that, we will become the best school district in America.
Transforming HISD is a multiyear effort, and it will require our patience and collective vigilance to stay focused on the issues that have the greatest potential to improve the academic performance of our students.