On Saturday September 25, 2010, Houston ISD hosted its first ever TEDx event - TEDxHISD "Primary Colors". TEDxHISD was held in the main auditorium of Cesar High School in Houston, TX. It was definitely filled with ideas worth spreading! We were able to reach over 22,000 + viewers (combining live attendees and uStream viewers).

The theme for our TEDxHISD is Primary Colors. Primary Colors are the fundamental colors that are necessary to create other colors. By mixing and blending the primary colors you create new colors (intentionally and unintentionally). Consider Education as the primary colors. By mixing and blending Education, we create new ideas, solutions and extraordinary innovations.

Houston
United States

HSPVA

High School for Performing And Visual Arts (HSPVA): Since its inception in 1971, Houston’s HSPVA has received international acclaim as the proto-type for subsequent “magnet schools” throughout the United States and Canada. The HSPVA Department of Dance consists of approximately 100 dance majors and a dance faculty of twelve prominent professional artists. A broad dance curriculum designed to prepare dancers for a professional career in dance or for entrance into leading university/conservatory dance programs is the goal of the HSPVA dance department. The dance course offerings include: ballet, modern dance, jazz, musical theatre, dance composition, tap dance, choreography, dance repertory, dance production and dance photography. The curriculum is enhanced with frequent master classes and lecture-demonstrations in all the above dance forms plus various ethnic dance forms. Dancers: Rachel Clark, Darby Kelley, Alexis Tamez, Dana Thomsen, Grace Wilson

Dr. Timothy Daponte

Dr. Timothy C. Daponte has taught science in the Houston (Texas) Independent School District since 1982. He holds a doctorate in science education from The University of Houston where he studied schema theory and its relationship to physics education. He has been recognized for his teaching having been awarded the Crystal Apple Award from the Houston Chronicle for excellence in classroom education as well as the HEB Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award, both in 2010. He is also a Fulbright Scholar, having taught physics in New Delhi, India. He is currently teaching physics at John H. Reagan High School in Houston.

Marina Finley

Marina Finley is a student at Lanier Middle School in Houston, Texas, a member of the school's Debate Team, and enjoys public speaking. She supports the mission of "ideas worth spreading" and believes in the power of words.

Franz Hill

Franz Hill is the current debate teacher at Lanier Middle School. He has taught theatre arts and speech in HISD at the elementary and middle school level for ten years. He is a native Houstonian. His wife, Sarah, works for Writers In The Schools and their three children attend Travis Elementary. He has been the debate coach at Lanier since 2007. Franz attended Lutheran High North and received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and his Masters of Education at the University of Saint Thomas.

Jason Darnell

Jason Darnell currently teaches 7th grade Texas History at Lanier Middle School in Houston, Texas, and serves as the social studies department chair as well. This will be his twelfth year of teaching at the middle school level. A native-Houstonian, Mr. Darnell attended Stratford High School in Spring Branch and graduated from the University of Houston in 1999. His wife, Ashly, serves as a student-support administrator in KatyISD and his oldest of two children attends Roberts Elementary. Mr. Darnell is dedicated to being an extraordinary teacher, speaker and thinker, and attempts to introduce his students to new ways of thinking about history, about education, as well as dissecting and analyzing the information they receive from many sources. Together with good friend and fellow Lanier teacher, Rick Brennan, Mr. Darnell is co-owner of Histrionix LLC, a company dedicated to creating innovative interactive textbooks for social studies classrooms that allow students to participate in the forces that shape our history.

Inertia Dance Company

The Westside Dance Program is entering its 9th year, under the direction of Sharon Roberts and Rodrigo Leal. Students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to study dance as part of their academic program fulfilling fine art, physical education or elective credit. Courses are structured from NDEO and TEA dance curriculum guidelines. INERTIA Dance Company The elite performing ensemble representing the Westside Dance Program. This group is nationally recognized with 16 national titles from competition, performances in New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, features in People Magazine, Dance Teacher and Southern Living as well as appearances on CBS Early Show, The Tony Danza Show, and local affiliates for Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC. INERTIA have been featured half-time performers for the NBA San Antonio Spurs and WNBA Houston Comets.

Jade Simmons

Jade Simmons - Known for her musical creativity and electrifying stage presence, pianist Jade Simmons is committed to expanding the boundaries of classical music. Chosen as Concert Artist Guild’s New Music/New Places Fellow, Jade offers a diverse mix of repertoire from the classics to the cutting edge, all presented with her unique communicative powers. The Washington Post branded her “A clear, powerful pianist with a magnetic personality…worth seeing any time.” Ms. Simmons is passionate advocate for the arts in education and created Mozart on the Move, a program used with great success in the Houston public schools. In spring 2007, she continued her educational activities under the auspices of the Van Cliburn Foundation’s “Musical Awakenings” series, visiting twenty schools throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area in a program entitled Virtuosity. An artist with a social conscience that moves her to action, she serves as an advocate for America’s youth, addressing groups across the country on sensitive issues such as suicide prevention and youth violence. She is the founder of the national school program Where Do You Stand?! – a series of interactive presentations on topics from culture to the political climate which has led to numerous appearances on radio and television.

Dr. Brad Hoge

Dr. Brad Hoge is the Director of HUNSTEM and an Assistant Professor of natural science and science education in the Department of Natural Sciences at The University of Houston - Downtown. Dr. Hoge teaches science content courses for pre-service teachers at the University of Houston – Downtown (UHD). These courses incorporate project-based learning (PBL) into instruction, and utilize web-based learning community tools from HUNSTEM (Houston Urban Network for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into classroom projects. He has a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction and post-baccalaureate teacher certification in both Texas and Louisiana. Dr. Hoge’s PhD is in biogeochemistry. He conducts research with undergraduate students focusing on the ecological succession of mitigated wetlands. He also courses for science majors and non-majors courses, and he incorporates project-based learning (PBL) into all instruction. Dr. Hoge has middle school and high school classroom teaching experience, was a full-time parent for nine years and was Science Curator at the Children’s Museum of Houston.

Thomas Greenlee

Tommy Greenlee has been involved in the consulting business since 1992, and the I/T industry since 1985. As a technical consultant Tommy has always strived to exceed his clients’ expectations. Tommy has a strong reputation as an I/T infrastructure consultant and possesses excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. As a consultant created IT plans based on business metrics including tactical implementation projects based on the plans. Also, as a consultant designed, implemented and led teams to implement many large complex computing infrastructure environments. Areas of expertise include high-end UNIX and Microsoft based operating environments, storage, and virtualization. Consultant excels in client/vendor relations, enjoys solving challenging scenarios, and has the experience to bring the project the operational excellence needed. Tommy specializes in determining business requirements related to I/T and translating those to I/T infrastructure requirements while designing and implementing the infrastructure to meet those requirements.

Dr. Bertie Simmons

Dr. Simmons has served as an educator for 48 years29 of those years in educational administration. She is an advocate for high school reform. Dr. Simmons is dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities to underrepresented youth. Dr. Simmons is a recipient of numerous awardsand honors for teaching and leadership. Notably, she was named Texas State HEB Secondary Principal of the year in 2009. Dr. Simmons is a visionary, creative problem solver, and an agent of change.