The RISE Strong Initiative is HISD’s plan to improve three of its most challenged schools. We will be implementing the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) Initiative at each RISE Strong campus: Patrick Henry Middle School, Highland Heights Elementary School, and Wheatley High School. 

ACE is one of the most effective school improvement strategies in the country and it was developed right here in Texas. It has a track record of improving student outcomes in Dallas and Aldine ISDs and we believe it is the quickest way to help these campuses do better for students.

ACE is designed to transform the entire school experience. It doesn’t just add new or different positions, it fully redesigns that staffing at a school to match the best educators with the kids who need them most. Unlike previous initiatives, it then goes one step further and provides new curriculum materials, extended learning time, and real time teacher coaching and progress monitoring to make sure teachers are reaching every student. 

• We chose the schools by utilizing various data points including: records of state student achievement and growth, state ratings, and other contextual data including but not limited to: attendance rates, discipline, and mobility rates. 
• We know that all schools in the District deserve intensive supports. We hope to learn from best practices in this small-scale implementation and expand the program in the coming school years. 

Schools will participate in the RISE Strong Initiative for a minimum of three years and will remain in the Transformation Schools Cohort for a minimum of five years. 

More information can be found on the HISD RISE Website and https://bestinclass.org/toolkits/ace.

All RISE Strong schools will adopt the ACE Strategic Staffing model. Each school will be led and staffed by the highest performing and most effective teachers and school leaders in HISD. Additional staff - assistant principals, counselors, and other caring adults - will be added to support students’ readiness to learn. 

Both internal and external applicants will be eligible to apply and work on a RISE Strong campus. 

If you are currently working on a RISE Strong campus, you will be given the opportunity to indicate interest in reapplying for a position on campus. The Transformation Office will be hosting a webinar for current staff on RISE Strong campuses to learn more about the next steps in the reapplication process on Monday, April 11. If you indicate interest in reapplying, you will be screened based on classroom observation, a review of your student growth data, and a recent positive teacher evaluation. 

We value your contribution to HISD and will work to support you to find a position that meets your professional aspirations. Any employee at a current RISE Strong campus can participate in the open district transfer process. The Human Resources team will actively support staff to find a comparable position elsewhere in the district.

All faculty and staff will be screened for their ability to reach kids and commitment to school improvement. This will be measured as follows: 

Teachers:  

Teachers will apply and be selected as RISE Strong campus teachers based on their track record of improving student outcomes. Selections will be based on  

• Classroom observation / rigorous interview process 
• Effective or highly effective rating on more recent teacher evaluation, and 
• Evidence of positive student growth based on the past three years of STAAR and/or internal district assessments

Staff: 

Staff including counselors, teaching assistants, and student support services will apply and be selected based on: 

• Principal interview 
• Positive performance evaluation 

School Leaders: 

School leaders, including assistant principals, must apply and be evaluated based on: 

• Supervisor interview  
• Positive performance evaluations 
• Proven ability supported by data to improve school performance

We expect staff at RISE Strong campuses to do whatever it takes to support school transformation on their campus. RISE Strong staff are expected to participate in additional intensive professional development during the summer as well as after-school and/or weekend professional development throughout the school year.