HISD to launch Parent Super Centers

HOUSTON -- The Houston Independent School District and Microsoft are partnering to launch new Parent Super Centers across the district in an effort to promote parent engagement on campus.

"Research shows that increased parent engagement on campus leads to increased academic performance of students," said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. "HISD is committed to providing resources on campus to help parents become more involved in their children's education."

Each new HISD Parent Super Center will have 12 desktop computers fully loaded with the latest version of Microsoft Office, internet access, laser printers and other software.

"In today's digital world it's essential for parents, students and members of the community to have access to technology, which is why we are delighted to partner with HISD," said Lori Aulds, Microsoft's education sales director. "Microsoft has been and will always be committed to providing people with the training, education and tools needed to improve their digital literacy skills and grow in today's economy."

In addition, parents will receive computer training through Parent Engagement and curriculum provided by Microsoft to help them be computer savvy and master basic computer skills.

These centers will be available for parents to use before and after school, during summer school and on Saturdays during tutorials.

HISD Parent Super Centers will be located in the following schools: Sam Houston MSTC High School, 9400 IrvingtonSutton Elementary, 7402 Albacore DriveKelso Elementary, 5800 SouthmundDeady Middle School, 2500 BroadwayHartman Middle School, 7111 WestoverGet more In the Classroom »

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Parent accused of showing gun clip, threatening teacher during on-campus conference

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The mother of a student at Marshall Middle School is facing charges after allegedly threatening to use a gun to settle a dispute with school administrators.

According to HISD, Lori Cotton-Noel came to the school on Thursday to meet with the assistant principal about what the district calls an alleged incident. HISD says Cotton-Noel apparently grew angry, displayed a gun clip and threatened to use a firearm.

School police were called and now charges have been filed against Cotton-Noel.

Eyewitness News spoke with her husband who says one of his children has been bullied at Marshall consistently, even threatened with being shot by other students, and he says the administration has failed to address it. On Thursday, they were going to another conference to ask for help.

"She just wanted to let it be known, just like they're threatening my daughter with shotguns and pistols and spraying mace in her face, when they made one shotgun, they did not stop making them," he told Eyewitness News.

He claims there was not a direct threat made by his wife against the administrator.

Cotton-Noel, 40, came to school Friday afternoon to pick up her kids. Instead, she learned in a letter sent home to school parents that she'd been charged with a felony.

Students were sent home with letters to parents notifying them of this incident, saying in part, "Ensuring the safety of each of our students is one of our main priorities, and in this case, the safety of the students was never compromised. While we believe this is an isolated incident, we want to remind all of our students and parents about the importance of appropriate behavior at all times, especially while on our campus."

HISD says Cotton-Noel has been banned from all HISD campuses.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on this story.

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