Furr High Stories – Houston Public Media

Anita Wadhwa speaks at Houston Public Media's Story Slam in Houston, Wednesday Nov. 8, 2017. (Photo by Michael Stravato)

Building Houston's Super School

Teacher Story Slam: Educators Share Their Take On Innovation, Challenges

Posted on November 16, 2017 · Teachers from across Houston share what they have found as challenges -- and solutions -- to innovate and move education forward

Maritza, a senior at Furr High School in Houston, works in her college prep class, where students research and apply to colleges. Maritza, whose home was flooded during Harvey and the start of school was delayed causing her to miss a DACA application deadline.

Building Houston's Super School

This Houston Student Had A College Plan, Then Harvey Came, And Trump Rescinded DACA

Posted on October 30, 2017 · In the Houston Independent School District alone, Superintendent Richard Carranza estimates about one in ten students are Dreamers -- about 20,000 students

Building Houston's Super School

Dozens Of Students At Furr High School Walk Out To Protest Principal’s Suspension

Posted on October 17, 2017 · The initial complaints over a joke about a bat and strict dress code have been closed, but new ones have surfaced, according to HISD

Principal Bertie Simmons listened to a freshman read his first essay.

Building Houston's Super School

Without Its Storied Principal, What’s The Future Of Furr High?

Posted on October 12, 2017 · The suspension is an unexpected detour in Bertie Simmons’ 17 years leading Furr, since she famously came out of retirement in 2000 to turn the school around

Building Houston's Super School

UPDATE: Memo Details Allegations Against Longtime HISD’s Furr Principal

Posted on October 5, 2017 · HISD also alleges that Simmons verbally threatened students with a baseball bat -- a threat her attorney says defies "credulity" since she is 83 years old.

Ninth grade teachers Seema Dwivedi and Superna Arya joined their fellow instructors this spring to prepare for a new kind of ninth grade. It will involve new kinds of tests, more hands-on projects and students taking more charge of their own learning.

Building Houston's Super School

Teachers Gear Up For A New Kind Of Ninth Grade

Posted on July 24, 2017 · Think of the instructor stepping away from the lecture podium and being more hands-on.

Furr High School is experimenting with a new model for high school, including how they hire teachers. Here, administrators watched applicants on a live video feed as they tried to solve clues and "escape the room" during the interview process.

Building Houston's Super School

At Furr High School, Educators ‘Escape the Interview’

Posted on May 25, 2017 · News 88.7 is following how Furr High School is trying to rethink high school, including how teachers are hired.

Building Houston's Super School

How One Houston Principal Leads A School Turnaround

Posted on March 8, 2017 · Research shows that it’s hard to keep principals at schools with high poverty, with over a quarter of them losing their principals each year.

Students Grecia Yraheta and Treveyona Kennedy learn how to take care of 3-month old pitbulls in an elective at Furr High School.

Building Houston's Super School

Furr High School Experiments With ‘Genius Time,’ Letting Students Choose More Courses

Posted on January 31, 2017 · Some people question if letting kids learn what they want is the best way to improve education.

Houston Matters

Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (Nov. 28, 2023)

Posted on November 28, 2023 · On Tuesday's show: We get the latest on an oil spill off the Louisiana coast and how it might affect Texas. And we talk with improver extraordinaire Ben Schwartz, who’s also known for being the movie voice of Sonic the Hedgehog.

HISD

Houston ISD sets new student achievement goals as board struggles to gain public trust

Posted on November 16, 2023 · When the appointed board of managers held community engagement meetings throughout the month of September, attendees had a lot to say about their priorities for the district, with concerns including budgetary and safety matters, curriculum and equitable distribution of resources.

HISD

Houston ISD one step closer to starting school year earlier, hiring uncertified teachers through “innovation” status

Posted on November 15, 2023 · The district will likely have the ability to start classes earlier in August. Administrators will also be able to hire uncertified teachers in high schools. Those policy changes are expected to proceed after the DAC signed off on a so-called “District of Innovation” plan Tuesday night.

HISD

Stacked Houston ISD committee considers requests for uncertified teachers and longer school year through “innovation” status

Posted on November 14, 2023 · The state-appointed leaders of Houston’s public school system want Houston ISD to become a so-called “District of Innovation,” which allows exemptions from a long list of state laws. They argue the exemptions will increase flexibility; critics say the changes will hurt, not help.

Category: Furr High Stories

Building Houston's Super School

Teacher Story Slam: Educators Share Their Take On Innovation, Challenges

Building Houston's Super School

This Houston Student Had A College Plan, Then Harvey Came, And Trump Rescinded DACA

Building Houston's Super School

Dozens Of Students At Furr High School Walk Out To Protest Principal’s Suspension

Building Houston's Super School

Without Its Storied Principal, What’s The Future Of Furr High?

Building Houston's Super School

UPDATE: Memo Details Allegations Against Longtime HISD’s Furr Principal

Building Houston's Super School

Teachers Gear Up For A New Kind Of Ninth Grade

Building Houston's Super School

At Furr High School, Educators ‘Escape the Interview’

Building Houston's Super School

How One Houston Principal Leads A School Turnaround

Building Houston's Super School

Furr High School Experiments With ‘Genius Time,’ Letting Students Choose More Courses

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