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Superintendent Vacancies
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| Vacant | Timpson ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Burton ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Dr. Danny LovettINFO | Vacant | Union Hill ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Grape Creek ISD; Search by: Grape Creek ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Santa Maria ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Vysehrad ISD; Search by: Region 3 ESC, Exec. Dir. Morris LyonINFO | Vacant |
Pettus ISD - Jesus Hernandez III, Chief of Staff,Southwest ISD; Search by: JCA Law, PLLC and DBU Educational Leadership Consulting Corporation.INFO |
Vacant | University of Texas High School Special Purpose District; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Scurry-Rosser ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Huntington ISD; Search by: Kelli Karczewski, Fisher FirmINFO | Vacant | Granger ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO | Vacant | Bremond ISD; Search by: Bremond ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Santa Rosa ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | San Isidro ISD (Short Timeline); Search by: Region One ESC, Exec. Dir. Dr. Daniel P. KingINFO | Vacant | Queen City ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO | Vacant | Commerce ISD - Search by: Commerce ISD Board of Trustees; INFO | Vacant | Gonzales ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Charlotte Baker,INFO | Vacant | Decatur ISD; Search by: Decatur ISD Board of Trustees INFO | Vacant | Bells ISD; Search by: Bells ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Gustine ISD - Coy Barker, Principal,McCamey ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO | Vacant | Comstock ISD; Comstock ISD Board of Trustees and O.K. Wolfenbarger IIIINFO | Vacant |
Frank Liu Jr. Academy of Music and Art (Houston) ; Thompson & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike MosesINFO |
Vacant | Webb CISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Moulton ISD; <p>Search by: Region 3 ESC, <a href="mailto:mlyon@esc3.net">Exec. Dir. Morris Lyon</a></p>INFO | Vacant | Hidalgo ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Dawson ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Danny LovettINFO | Vacant | Banquete ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Rick AlvaradoINFO | Vacant | Priddy ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESCINFO | Vacant | Sweeny ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO | Vacant | Ramirez CSD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Mart ISD; Search by: Mart ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Abernathy ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO | Vacant | Kingsville ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Groom ISD; Region 16 ESC, Dr. Tanya Larkin, Exec. Dir.INFO | Vacant | Clarendon ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Spring ISD; Search by: Spring ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Centerpoint ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO | Vacant | Huffman ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Jim Hogg County ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Hart ISD; Search by: Juan Dominguez and Hart ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Hitchcock ISD (Interim Search); Search by: Hitchcock ISD Board of Trustees & Region V ESC - Dr. Rolando “Rudy” TrevinoINFO | Vacant | Laredo ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Premont ISD; Search by: Doug Arnold & Arte AlmendarezINFO | Vacant |
Executive Director Region 11 ESC; Thompson & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike MosesINFO |
Vacant | Lago Vista ISD; Search by: Leon|Alcala PLLCINFO | Vacant | Goose Creek CISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses, David Thompson & Dr. Curtis CulwellINFO | Vacant | Howe ISD; Search by: Howe ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Cushing ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO | Vacant | El Paso ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Bynum ISD; Search by: Bynum ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Canutillo ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Ingram ISD; Search by: Shaun Barnett Powell Law GroupINFO | Vacant | Lamesa ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO | Vacant | West Rusk CCISD; Search by: Lawrence Coleman & West Rusk CCISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Era ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO | Vacant | Prairie Lea ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Clarksville ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO | Vacant | Stafford MSD; Search by: Stafford ISD Board of Trustees & Region V ESC - Dr. Rolando “Rudy” TrevinoINFO | Vacant | LaPoynor ISD; Search by: LaPoynor ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Newcastle ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO | Vacant | Fort Davis ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Mr. Jim McClellanINFO | Vacant | Pleasanton ISD; INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Valley View ISD - James Womack, Superintendent,Richland Springs ISD; Education Solutions and Services Mike Smith & Letha HopkinsINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Waco ISD - Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Superintendent,Buna ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Onalaska ISD - Dr. Kenneth Fraga, Assistant Superintendent,Onalaska ISD; Search by: Onalaska ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Lueders-Avoca ISD - Dr. Joe Alcorta, Superintendent,Dalhart ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Calvert ISD - Latisha Crockett-Tennell, Interim Superintendent,Calvert ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Albany ISD - Daryl Stuard, Superintendent,Bremond ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Victoria ISD - Shelia Collazo, Deputy Superintendent,Somerset ISD; Search by: JCA Law, PLLC and Saul HinojosaINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Hawkins ISD - Jeff Hutchins, Director of Operations,Van ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Monte Alto ISD - Rashad Javed Rana, Assistant Superintendent,Donna ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Utopia ISD - Joshua Ham, Principal,San Saba ISD; Search by: Utopia ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Buna ISD - Dr. Julie Motomura, Superintendent,Schulenburg ISD; Search By: Buna ISD Board of Trustees INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Splendora ISD - Dustin Bromley, Deputy Superintendent,La Porte ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Mount Calm ISD - Jay Underwood, Deputy Superintendent,Anna ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun BarnettINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Deer Park ISD - Dr. Tiffany Reagan, Assistant Superintendent,Deer Park ISD; Search by: Deer Park ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Seminole ISD - Glen Teal, Superintendent,Jim Ned ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Needville ISD - Dr. Paul Drake, Superintendent,Chester ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist |
Compass Academy Charter School (Odessa) - Mark Dominguez, Principal,Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD; Search by: Kathy Killingsworth, Interim Superintent assisted by Larry Lee, Leadership Consultant with Region 18INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Bonham ISD - Lance Hamlin, Assistant Superintendent,Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Waxahachie ISD - Rebecca “Becky” McCutchen, Superintendent,Levelland ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Ennis ISD - Greg Bradley, Deputy Superintendent,Prosper ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Forsan ISD - Michael Valencia, Superintendent,McCamey ISD; Search by: Region 18 ESC, Dr. Dewitt SmithINFO |
| Lone Finalist |
Edgewood ISD (Region 7) - Scott Tyner, Superintendent,Martins Mill iSD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Jim Ned CISD - Will Brewer, Superintendent,Paradise ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Palmer ISD ; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Hallsburg ISD - Dr. Staci Coleman-Kirk, Principal,Hubbard ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun BarnettINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Slidell ISD - Dr. Christopher M. Heskett, Superintendent,Covington ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, Shaun BarnettINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Seguin ISD - Dr. Jack Lee, Superintendent,Bullard ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Royal ISD - Dr. Megan Pape, Superintendent,Snook ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Socorro ISD - James Vasquez, Interim Superintendent,Socorro ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Gunter ISD - Dr. Brandon Enos, Superintendent,Cushing ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Rotan ISD - Trevor Edgemon, Superintendent,Happy ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Millsap ISD - Harper Stewart, Superintendent,Hamilton ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey, Staci Robertson, & Rod TownsendINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Conroe ISD - Dr. David Vinson, Superintendent,Wylie ISD; Search by: Texans for Excellence in Education, President, John Petree, 432-557-6581INFO |
| Lone Finalist | La Pryor ISD - Cody Miller, Director,Northside ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Deweyville ISD - Grady Welborn, Principal,Bridge City ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | West Hardin Co. CISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Marlin ISD - Alphonso Bates, Assistant Superintendent ,Lamar CISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Rusk ISD - Mid Johnson, Superintendent,Timpson ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Martin's Mill ISD - Derek Driver, Principal,Harts Bliff ISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Snook ISD - Kimberly Giesenschlag, Assistant Superintendent,Snook ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Killeen ISD - Dr. King Davis, Interim,Killeen ISD; Search by: Thompson & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses, David Thompson & Dr. Curtis CulwellINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Nederland ISD - Dr. Steven Beagle, Assistant Superintendent,Nederland ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Munday CISD - Andrew Eudy, Director,Forsan ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| New Super | Plains ISD - Scott Mills, Principal,Quannah ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| New Super | Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| New Super | San Benito CISD - Alfredo Perez, Interim Superintendent,San Benito ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Industrial ISD - Michael B. Colvin, Director,Comfort ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Kyle, Robinson & Roalson P.C.& Education Consultant Charlotte BakeINFO |
| New Super | Dilley ISD - Kelli Dubose, Interim Superintendent,Dilley ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO |
| New Super | Bowie ISD - Dr. Donna Hale, Assistant Superintendent,Perryton ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| New Super | Frost ISD - Leroy Joffre, Principal,Cedar HIll ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| New Super | Waskom ISD - Chris Guastella, Principal,Ferris ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| New Super | Cedar HIll ISD - Dr. Maria Gammel, Chief HR Officer,Cedar Hill ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?Facing $37M budget deficit, Judson ISD hasn’t had a chief financial officer in more than a month
Despite being in financial straits, the school board for Judson Independent School District voted not to hire a candidate for chief financial officer. The role has been vacant for more than a month. District staff had recommended the board approve a candidate for the CFO position, but Judson trustees voted 4-3 against the hire after spending nearly four hours in closed session during a board meeting on Nov. 6. Board President Monica Ryan, who voted against filling the position, said the world of school district CFOs is very small, but she wants to wait on a new hire because the job is “very challenging even under normal circumstances.”
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President Trump signs government funding bill, ending shutdown after a record 43-day disruption
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks. The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions -- including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers -- to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands. The Republican president blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn't reward the party during next year's midterm elections.
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- Northwest - 2025 Operations Funding Election (Proposition A)
2025 Operations Funding Election (Proposition A) Northwest ISD has called an operations funding election to provide voters with the opportunity to decrease class sizes in exchange for a 3-cent increase to the tax rate. Because of continued tax rate compression, voter approval of the measure would still result in a tax rate decrease from 2024. Combined with a $40,000 increase to the homestead exemption, most homeowners are expected to pay less in property taxes in 2025.
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Texans set to approve $3 billion dementia research fund
The Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas fund, a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, will provide $3 billion in grants to researchers. Texas voters on Tuesday are on track to approve Proposition 14, the constitutional amendment that both establishes a Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) and authorizes the spending of $3 billion to set up the fund. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick led the effort this past legislative session to create DPRIT, modeling the center on the state’s cancer research fund. Senate Bill 5, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, was passed earlier this year and effectively created the institute. Now that the constitutional amendment has passed, the institute is to be funded with $3 billion in surplus state revenue. After this first year, the institute will see up to $300 million appropriated each year.
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Preventive Law: The False Claims Act and Civil Rights – What You Don’t Know Could Cost You
In case you are running low on things to worry about this semester, never fear. This article is dedicated to the False Claims Act (FCA), another tool the federal government appears happy to point in the direction of public schools.
Texas Education Agency takes over Fort Worth ISD, replacing its elected school board
The North Texas district is the 11th since 2000 to be taken over by the state and the second largest after Houston ISD.
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Greg Abbott Proposes Property Tax Changes For Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has proposed a series of property tax changes for people living in the state. Speaking during an event launching his reelection campaign on Sunday, Abbott, a Republican, announced his intention to give voters more power to set tax rates including via referendums and other votes.
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Property tax reform a key part of Gov. Abbott’s platform in his campaign for a fourth term
Texas Governor Greg Abbott formally launched his campaign last week to be elected to a record fourth term. In a campaign swing that began in Houston and continued in Tyler and Temple, Abbott has focused on property tax reform. While the state legislature has cut school property taxes for homeowners over the years, and for businesses starting next year, many Texans still believe their property taxes are too high.
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Texas’ Top Voucher Vendor Taps Abbott Allies in Contract Bid, Program Rollout
Even before the Texas Legislature finally passed its private school voucher bill earlier this year, the race was on among the handful of firms in the burgeoning voucher vendor sector to win the lucrative contract to launch and administer what will be the largest program of its kind in the nation. That race is now over as the Texas Comptroller last month awarded the job to a New York firm called Odyssey. In winning the bid, and in its plans to ramp up the program, Odyssey cultivated close ties to the political world of Governor Greg Abbott.
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Killeen ISD to name Dr. King Davis as new Superintendent today
Dr. King Davis signs contract as Killeen ISD superintendent today at 5 p.m. He's served as interim since August and was named lone finalist in October.
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Cuts could be coming to Manor ISD after A $385 million bond proposal fails
After a $385 million bond proposal failed to pass this month, Manor ISD is now going back to the drawing board. The funds would have been used for upgrades and renovations across the district. The money from that multi-million dollar bond proposal would have gone to fund projects across Manor ISD for the next 6–8 years, but without that funding, the district will now have to look to other sources of revenue, including making cuts to fix the issues they're facing.
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Parents protest as Southwest ISD proposes closure of Sky Harbour Elementary School
Families of Sky Harbour Elementary School said they’re feeling frustrated. “What is your biggest concern about the possibility of Sky Harbour closing?” KSAT Reporter Avery Everett asked parents in the pickup line.
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Austin ISD releases final school consolidation plan
The Austin Independent School District released its final version of a school consolidation plan Friday. Ten schools are still slated to close before next year, but the district did make changes to programming and student reassignments.
The campuses on the list include eight elementary schools — Barrington, Becker, Dawson, Oak Springs, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley, Widén and Winn Montessori — as well as Bedichek and Martin middle schools.
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State of Texas: Abbott promises to abolish school taxes as part of property tax reform plan
Gov. Greg Abbott announced he wants to give voters the chance to completely abolish school property taxes for homeowners. It's part of his five-point plan to address property tax reform that he will be campaigning on as he runs for reelection.
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Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.
Austin ISD releases final draft of school consolidation plan ahead
The Austin Independent School District has released the final draft of its school consolidation plan Friday afternoon, ahead of a vote by the Board of Trustees next week. For months, district leaders have been fine-tuning their plan to close schools in a bid to reduce a $19.7 million deficit in AISD’s general fund, which is used to pay teacher salaries and cover daily operational expenses. Board members are set to discuss the recommendations and take a final vote at their Nov. 20 meeting.
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Houston ISD mourns ‘unexpected’ death of Sherman Elementary principal
The district remembered Racquel Torres Rosenbalm as a dedicated leader whose impact reached beyond her campus.
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Parents oppose plan to close several schools in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Parents oppose plan to close several schools in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. The district's board of trustees will hear a presentation on the plan tonight.
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Fort Bend ISD to discuss new boundaries for some schools Monday night
Some Fort Bend ISD parents signed up to speak out Monday about potential school boundary changes for the 2026–2027 school year during the district’s board meeting. Even though rezoning was not on the meeting’s agenda, the district’s Deputy Superintendent and Chief of Staff spoke to KHOU 11 exclusively about the plans and why they’re being considered.
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Fort Bend ISD parents push for answers on possible rezoning that could impact 2026–2027 school year
Some Fort Bend ISD parents signed up to speak out Monday about potential school boundary changes for the 2026–2027 school year during the district’s board meeting. Even though rezoning is not on the meeting agenda, Deputy Superintendent and Chief of Staff Beth Martinez spoke to KHOU 11 exclusively about the plans and why they’re being considered.
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See which low-performing Corpus Christi ISD schools are targeted for improvement
Several low-performing Corpus Christi ISD schools have adopted turnaround and targeted improvement plans.
These plans are required for campuses that are rated poorly in the Texas school accountability system. But because school improvement is a multi-year process, some of the Corpus Christi Independent School District campuses included are doing better than the designation might imply.
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Ex-Celina ISD coach indicted on federal charges of sexual exploitation of children, records show
The former Celina ISD teacher and coach faces eight federal charges of sexual exploitation of children, records show.
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Texas Finally Has an Involuntary Commitment Law!
Breaking news! A groundbreaking Texas bill authorizes police to take people to psychiatric hospitals against their will. tate lawmakers pledge to create “new,” expansive commitment laws in Washington that the state already has. Witnessing the manifestation of its own vision for mass commitments, the New York Times blames it all on Trump. AI can now predict, more reliably than humans can, the existence of mental illnesses that don’t exist yet. ProPublica reports on the tragedies caused by anyone questioning psychiatric diagnoses. The Marshall Project blames too many people being forcibly detained on not enough people being forcibly detained. No, it’s not April Fools on PsychForce Report. In this third and concluding installment of the September-October 2025 news roundup, I review a selection of prominent news reports that aptly illustrate how and why public discussions of civil commitment end up so far from reality. And I highlight some of the key questions that we should all be asking journalists and legislators to ask.
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Why Kamala Harris congratulated a Cy-Fair ISD school board winner for breaking a conservative majority
When Lesley Guilmart's cellphone rang Wednesday afternoon, she almost didn't answer the unknown number. "I’ve been getting interesting calls from folks since last week’s win," said Guilmart, who on Nov. 4 was elected to the Cy-Fair ISD Board of Trustees. "And so I was like, ‘Oh, why not? Let me answer this.' " None of the calls were as interesting as Wednesday's. On the other line was former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Texans could receive full SNAP benefits in days after government shutdown ends
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday ordered states to send full SNAP benefits “promptly.” Texans could receive full November SNAP benefits within days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday told states to send enrollees their complete payments for the month. “State agencies must take immediate steps to ensure households receive their full November allotments promptly,” says the notice from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “The reduction in maximum allotments for November is no longer in effect.” The Texas Health and Human Services Commission previously said it would take about three days for food benefits to reach Texans after the USDA issued guidance to states for distributing funds. When the federal agency ordered states last weekend to deliver partial SNAP benefits, the state got them to Texans in two days.
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Texas A&M system approves policy to restrict faculty from advocating “race and gender ideology
Faculty are also prohibited from teaching material inconsistent with approved syllabi. The changes come in response to a recent controversy over gender identity classroom discussions. Texas A&M University System regents unanimously voted Thursday to approve a new policy that will require each campus president to sign off on any course that could be seen as advocating for “race and gender ideology or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.” The policy defines race ideology as “attempts to shame a particular race or ethnicity” or anything that “promotes activism on issues related to race or ethnicity rather than academic instruction. Gender ideology is defined as “a concept of self-assessed gender identity replacing, and disconnected from, the biological category of sex.”
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore doubles down on his state’s redistricting response to Texas
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who is pushing his state to pursue mid-decade redistricting, said Thursday that President Donald Trump should not get to unilaterally decide which states redraw their maps this cycle. “Donald Trump decided to start picking and choosing which states should go through this process mid-decade,” Moore said during a Texas Tribune Festival panel. “He didn’t call all of us. He called some of us.” Moore, a Democrat, created a redistricting advisory commission in the wake of a national redistricting arms race that Texas kicked off in August, when state legislators took the rare step of changing the map mid-decade to create more seats for Republicans.
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State closes book on Harlandale ISD conservatorship, giving back full local control
After five years of being under direct state oversight, the Texas Education Agency decided to end Harlandale Independent School District’s conservatorship on Tuesday. The announcement comes three months after the state loosened the reins on the conservatorship, “elevating” Harlandale ISD to observing status, a less intrusive form of oversight. Now, the district has full local control over its own governance. “This is a tremendous moment for Harlandale ISD,” said Superintendent Gerardo Soto. “It represents years of collaboration and dedication from our Board of Trustees, staff and community.” TEA began investigating Harlandale ISD in 2017 after complaints of alleged nepotism, issues with the district’s procurement process, financial mismanagement and dysfunctional governance. Then-superintendent Rey Madrigal “separated” from the district after the board moved to fire him.
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Texas State Board of Education advisers signal push to the right in social studies overhaul
The Texas State Board of Education is reshaping how public schools will teach social studies for years to come, but its recent selection of the panelists who will advise members during the process is causing concern among educators, historians and both Democrats and Republicans, who say the panel’s composition is further indication that the state wants to prioritize hard-right conservative viewpoints. The Republican-dominated education board earlier this year officially launched the process of redesigning Texas’ social studies standards, which outline in detail what students should know by the time of graduation. The group, which will meet again in mid-November, is aiming to finalize the standards by next summer, with classroom implementation expected in 2030.
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Fresh off defeating state THC ban, Texas hemp industry faces wipeout under federal deal to end shutdown
The issue roiled Texas politics earlier this year when Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a ban on THC products spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. As part of the spending deal to end the government shutdown, federal lawmakers approved a provision cracking down on hemp products containing THC, restoring a ban Texas Republicans sought to impose earlier this year The funding package, passed by the U.S. House and signed into law by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, includes language banning the sale of hemp-derived products with more than 0.4 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive element in marijuana. The measure would criminalize almost all consumable hemp products nationwide.
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Teacher’s Aide Admits ‘Intimate Relationship’ With Student
Andrea Rodriguez worked for Runge ISD in South Texas. Andrea Melba Rodriguez worked as an educational aide for the Runge Independent School District in Karnes County. The Karnes County Sheriff’s Office learned on Friday of an alleged “improper relationship” between a Runge ISD employee and a “middle school aged student,” according to a statement released Monday by Sheriff Steven Bailey. Middle school students are typically 11 to 13 years old.
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Local dementia researchers celebrate Texas investing billions into brain health
Steven Weisberg is interested in how unique one person’s experience physically navigating the world is from others. While working in Florida, he began exploring how day-to-day life is affected by the decline in cognitive function associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. “Now that you’ve lost certain ways of representing the world, now what is it that you do? How do you navigate? How does this affect your daily life?” Weisberg said. “These are the sorts of themes that I’m planning to build on here at UTA.”
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Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Galveston ISD for not displaying Ten Commandments in classrooms
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Galveston Independent School District on Friday for not following a new state law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms while the legislation is challenged in federal court.
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Grieving Families Sue Camp Mystic after July 4 Flood Tragedy
Three lawsuits were filed on Monday related to the catastrophic flood. Families of flood victims filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic and its owners. The petition features charges including gross negligence and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The Eastland family has long owned the camp, which experienced catastrophic floods on July 4, resulting in the deaths of 20 girls and two teenage counselors. Camp Mystic sits on 725 acres in the Texas Hill Country on the Guadalupe River. It was founded in 1926 and purchased by the grandparents of Richard Eastland in 1939. The estate of Richard Eastland—who died while attempting to save campers—is named in the lawsuit.
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Houston Illegal Alien Arrested After Stealing the Identity of a Texas Minor
Antonio De Jesus Moreno Escobar secured seven jobs in three years with the falsified documents. An illegal alien has been arrested after stealing a Texas minor’s identity, causing the minor to lose healthcare benefits. Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest on Wednesday, saying the theft was first discovered after the victim’s mother received notification that her son’s Medicaid benefits were being discontinued due to fraudulent income being reported in his name.
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