Returning teachers show they have Principal Rodney Louis’ back as they engage in a trust exercise on their first day back at Reynolds Elementary.
HOUSTON – Aug. 10, 2017 – Approximately 2,500 teachers returned to Spring ISD this week to get classrooms ready, meet with new and returning faculty and administrators, and make final preparations for the start of the new school year on Aug. 17.
“It’s always exciting to welcome our teachers back because it means that the halls and classrooms of our schools will soon be alive with students beginning a new year of learning,” said Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, Spring ISD’s chief of school leadership and student support services.
Nearly 37,000 students will be heading to the district’s 38 elementary, middle and high school campuses to kick off the 2017-18 school year.
“Our district’s first guiding principle is that high-quality teaching drives student learning,” said Hinojosa. “Our teachers are so important – as the primary day-to-day points of contact between our schools and our students, their work is crucial to our mission.”
Some new district teachers come straight from college and traditional teacher training programs, while others are joining Spring ISD from a variety of backgrounds and professions. Some have come to the district this year as a result of Spring ISD’s new District of Innovation status, which allows campuses to find the most highly qualified teachers for the job, including industry professionals from business and the sciences to teach specialized subjects.
“We are working hard to keep our salaries competitive, offer excellent professional development opportunities throughout the school year and create systems that support a culture of excellence,” said Deeone McKeithan, chief of human resources.
District schools expect to have 100 percent of their staff in place by the start of school, ready to help students get a good start on their new school year.