Employee Training Earns Special Award;
'Secret Is Out,' Superintendent Lewis Says
The Pasadena Independent School District has been named one of the Top 100 workplaces in the Houston area, the only public school district to be selected to the list.
The district was also cited as a Special Award recipient for employee training, judged to be the best of the Top 100 companies. An abundance of teacher workshops and technology training opportunities were cited as reasons for the award.
"We've often lamented that Pasadena ISD is one of the state's best kept secrets," Dr. Kirk Lewis, the district's Superintendent of Schools, said. "That Pasadena ISD is one of the Top 100 workplaces in Houston is evidence that the secret is out. Thanks to all our employees who make this such a great place to serve."
Surveys used to qualify companies for the list were conducted by WorkplaceDynamics and published in a special section of the Houston Chronicle on Sunday, Nov. 7.
The Pasadena ISD was ranked No. 18 among 26 companies named to the Large Companies list. Another 34 firms were named on the Midsize Companies list and 40 more on the Small Companies list.
"I've always believed that the employees of this district are its heart and soul," Dr. Lewis said. "When you love what you do and genuinely care for the people with whom you work, there is no end to what we can accomplish together."
Of all those companies, the Pasadena ISD was fourth in the number of employees with 6,151. Only Memorial Hermann Healthcare System (20,576 employees), Methodist Hospital System (12,355) and St. Luke's Episcopal Health System (6,402) had more.
The Pasadena ISD, established in 1898, is the second-oldest of the Large Companies named. Sam Houston State University, founded in 1874, is the oldest.
Anadarko Petroleum was named No. 1 among Large Companies. Hilcorp Energy emerged as the top company on the Midsize list and Planning Design Research Corp, an architectural firm, topped the Small Company list.
Workplace Dynamics, a Pennsylvania-based research firm, conducted surveys to determine from employees what they considered to be an excellent work environment.
The firm solicited responses from 1,352 companies in the Houston area and 188 companies participated. Those 188 companies were the source for 118,555 employee responses.
The Top 100 list is composed of "great places to work in the Houston area," according to WorkplaceDynamics.
Employees participating in the survey were asked to give their opinion to such issues as the company growth and success, opportunities for advancement, manager relationships, and pay and benefits.
