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Superintendent Vacancies
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| Vacant | Anderson-Shiro CISD; Search by: Arrow Educational ServicesINFO | Vacant | Mercedes ISD; Search by: Merceded ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Boyd ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Leslie VannINFO | Vacant | Lefors ISD; Search by: Lefors ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Knippa ISD; Search by: Knippa ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Highland Park ISD; Search by: Hazard, Young, Attea, and Associates: Max McGee, President & Dr. Jim Largent, AssociateINFO | Vacant | Liberty ISD; Search by: Liberty ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Mercedes ISD; Search by: Mercedes ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | Kerrville ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO | Vacant | Callisburg ISD; Education Solutions and Services Mike Smith & Letha HopkinsINFO | Vacant | Corrigan-Camden ISD; Search by: Leon|Alcala PLLCINFO | Vacant | Buffalo ISD - Search by: SPALDING NICHOLS LAMP LANGLOIS; INFO | Vacant | Sheldon ISD - Search by: Sheldon ISD Board of Trustees; INFO | Vacant | Tom Bean ISD; Search by: Tom Bean ISD Board of Trustees & Kelly LuskINFO | Vacant | Maud ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, LLP, Dr. Danny Lovett (Short Timeline!)INFO | Vacant | Irion County ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESCINFO | Vacant | Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (Deadline Updated); Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO | Vacant | Montgomery ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO | Vacant | San Angelo ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - David Thompson & Dr. Mike MosesINFO | Vacant | Ganado ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Mrs. Charlotte BakerINFO | Vacant | Coupland ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Kyle & Robinson P.C.& Education Consultant Dr. Saul HinojosaINFO | Vacant | Goldthwaite ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Ponder ISD; Search by: Impact Education Specialists - Doug Williams, Kevin Worthy, Blake Cooper and Stan SurrattINFO | Vacant | Aransas Pass ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Itasca ISD; Education Solutions and Services Mike Smith & Letha HopkinsINFO | Vacant | Santa Rosa ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | New Diana ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Uvalde CISD; Search By: Region 20 ESCINFO | Vacant | Boerne ISD - Search by: TASB Executive Search Services; INFO | Vacant | Brenham ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Ingleside ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO | Vacant | Miami ISD; Search by: Interim Supt. Steve Post and Miami ISD Board of TrusteesINFO | Vacant | McAllen ISD; Search by: O’Hanlon, Demerath & CastilloINFO | Vacant | Arlington ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Florence ISD - Richard C. Kirkpatrick, Deputy Superintendent,Copperas Cove ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Sherri BaysINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Detroit ISD - Henry Sharp; Search by: Detroit ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Stamford ISD - Robbie Phillips, Superintendent,Highland ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | McKinney ISD - Shawn Pratt, Assistant Superintendent,McKinney ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Paint Creek ISD - Glen Hill, Principal,Albany ISD; Search by: CCR Educational Consultants, Dr. Skip Casey, Staci Robertson, & Rod TownsendINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Bluff Dale ISD - Jason Wells, Principal,Birdville ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Warren ISD - Rusty Minyard, Principal,Woodville ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Wolfe City ISD - Donna Pessel, Asst. Supt. Curriculum & Instruction,Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD; Search by: Region 3 ESC, Exec. Dir. Morris LyonINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Iraan-Sheffield Collegiate ISD - Gary Laramore, Principal,Balmorhea ISD; Search by: Dr. Nelson Coulter assisted by Collegiate Edu-NationINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Henrietta ISD - Jaime Clark, Chief of Schools,Lewisville ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Thorndale ISD - Zach Kleypas, Principal,Pflugerville ISD; Search by: Danny Lovett, Powell Law GroupINFO |
| Lone Finalist | College Station ISD - Dr. Tim Harkrider, Superintendent,Willis ISD; Search by: N2 Learning, Dr. Eddie Coulson & Dr. Brad Lancaster (Updated Deadline)INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Bloomington ISD - Eric Cormier, Principal,Brazos ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | City View ISD - Dr. Jesse Thomas, Interim Superintendent,City View ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Pawnee ISD - Anthony Annis, Assistant Principal,San Antonio ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Argyle ISD - Dr. Courtney Carpenter, Deputy Superintendent,Carroll ISD; Search by: Leasor Crass, P.CINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Windthorst ISD - Jason Nolan, Principal,Burkburnett ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Perryton ISD - Greg Brown, Superintendent,Claude ISD; Search by: Perryton ISD Board of Trustees & Region 16 ESC, Dr. Tanya Larkin, Exec. Dir.INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Evadale ISD - Kevin Shipley, Superintendent,Ranger ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, LLP, Dr. Shaun Barnett, Dickey HazlewoodINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Gold-Burg ISD - Jonathan Lloyd, Principal,Detroit ISD; Search by: Region 9 ESC, Darren Francis and Kenny MillerINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Karnack ISD (Short Timeline) - Angela Fitzpatrick, Principal,Marshall ISD; Search by: Karnack ISD Board of TrusteesINFO |
| Lone Finalist | West Hardin Co. CISD - Donald Heseman, Principal,Clyde ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESCINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Spurger ISD - Jeff Burnthorn, Director,Silsbee ISD; Search by: Dr. Byron Terrier, Exec. Dir. Region 5 ESC (Short Timeline)INFO |
| Lone Finalist | Roby CISD - Kenny Border, Assistant Superintendent,Sweetwater ISD; Search by: Ronnie KincaidINFO |
| Lone Finalist | Cotulla ISD - Dr. Ramiro Nava, Assistant Superintendent,Somerset ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Saul HinojosaINFO |
| New Super | White Oak ISD - William Paul, Superintendent,Windthorst ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Midway ISD - Chris Allen, Superintendent,Marble Falls ISD; Search by: N2 Learning, Dr. Eddie Coulson & Dr. Brad Lancaster INFO |
| New Super | Anton ISD - Freddie Tobias, Principal,Anton ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Kyle Wargo Exec. DirectorINFO |
| New Super | Navarro ISD - Mandy D. Epley, Assistant Superintendent,Comal ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Sherri BaysINFO |
| New Super | Hedley ISD - Tracey Bell, Principal,Vega ISD; Search by: Hedley ISD Board of Trustees & Region 16 ESC, Nathan Maxwell, Associate Exec. Dir.INFO |
| New Super | Venus ISD - Patrick Torres, Superintendent,Denver City ISD; Search by: TASB Executive Search ServicesINFO |
| New Super | Yantis ISD - Robyn Derington Deputy Supt. Banquete ISD, Deputy Superintendent,Banquete ISD; Search by: Powell Law Group, LLP, Dr. Shaun Barnett (Short Timeline!)INFO |
| New Super | Morton ISD - Mario Aguirre, Principal,Slaton ISD; Search by: Region 17 ESC, Dr. Kyle Wargo, Exec. DirectorINFO |
| New Super | Comfort ISD - Dr. Yvonne J. Munoz, Director,San Diego ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
| New Super | Harlingen CISD - J. A. Gonzalez, Superintendent,McAllen ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Saul HinojosaINFO |
| New Super | Sunnyvale ISD - Matt Kimball, Superintendent,Blue Ridge ISD; Search by: Thomposon & Horton LLP - Dr. Mike Moses & David ThompsonINFO |
| New Super | Midlothian ISD - Dr. David Belding, Superintendent,Aubrey ISD; Search by: Walsh, Gallegos, Treviño, Kyle & Robinson P.C., & Education Consultant Dr. Ann DixonINFO |
| New Super | Rocksprings ISD; Search by: Region 15 ESCINFO |
How do I get my SuperSearch on TexasISD.com?La Joya ISD employee accused of forging school bus inspections
The 39-year-old woman and 31-year-old man arrested last week at the La Joya school district are accused of creating false documents indicating school buses were properly inspected when they weren’t, according to a probable cause affidavit. Laura Lizbeth Rodriguez-Cornejo and Jose Pablo Rios, both of Peñitas, are charged with tampering with governmental records. According to a probable cause affidavit, Rodriguez-Cornejo, the La Joya ISD transportation clerk, facilitated 58 school buses vehicle identification numbers at an inspection station called Pablo’s Scrap Metal & Used Auto Parts in Peñitas.
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Katy ISD bans more books as Texas leads nation in ban attempts
Texas saw the most attempts to restrict or ban books of any state in the country in 2022, according to a recent report from the American Library Association.
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Hays CISD launches program fighting opioid epidemic under the Friday night lights
The district is partnering with the Texas High School Coaches Association to launch the "Coaches vs. Overdoses" program, which is designed to raise awareness. BUDA, Texas — The Friday night lights are king at football games across Texas, but Hays CISD educators also want to shed light on another issue: the opioid epidemic. The district is partnering with the Texas High School Coaches Association to launch the "Coaches vs. Overdoses" program, which is designed to raise awareness for parents, team stakeholders and student-athletes.
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Marshall ISD announces death of fifth grade student
Marshall ISD announced on Tuesday afternoon that they are mourning the loss of an elementary student.
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Lufkin: Trustees to hear legislative update, construction report today
Lufkin ISD will hold a board work session at 11:30 a.m. today to hear a construction update on the Lufkin Middle School project and review administrative reports and recent legislative changes, according to an agenda posted Friday.
Deputy superintendent Kurt Stephens will discuss the annual report from the Stubblefield Learning Center, an update to grading guidelines and a data presentation, the agenda shows.
Charlotte Bynum, chief financial officer for LISD, will present financial reports including an interim state of revenue and expenditures.
Daniel Spikes will share information related to human resources and support services.
Trustees will discuss a letter of support regarding an application by Twin Disc Inc. to become an operator within the city of Lufkin’s Foreign Trade Zone.
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‘It’s irresponsible’: Students in Katy ISD speak up against LGBTQ book bans, policies
Around 20 high school students gathered outside of Katy ISD's Educational Support Complex on Friday, Sept. 1. It was the third afternoon in a row they met in the torrid Texas heat, holding signs that read "Protect trans kids," and "Honk if trans lives matter."
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Fort Bend ISD unveils plans for Sugar Land 95 memorial with outdoor learning area, memorial cemetery
Fort Bend Independent School District has unveiled the next phase of the Sugar Land 95 Memorial, which includes an outdoor learning area and a memorial cemetery and is expected to be ready by 2025. More than five years have passed since the remains of the Sugar Land 95, 94 men and one woman, were found at the construction site of the James C. Reese Career and Technical Center. The 95 African American individuals discovered in 2018 died in brutal, state-sanctioned forced labor camps in the late 1800s, during Sugar Land’s era as a network of sugar cane plantations. After originally going to court with the question of where to rebury the remains, Fort Bend ISD in November 2019 returned the remains to the site where they were originally found and launched initiatives to educate the community about the history of the convict-leasing program.
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New Texas School Ratings Could Be Used in Voucher Push
A new method of evaluating public Texas schools has met with intense resistance from the schools themselves. Once concern is that the scores might be used to push a “failing schools” agenda. The new system continues the trend of rating schools on an A-F scale. However, many districts feel that the new grading criteria is too opaque and rush out too fast for the schools to prepare to meet the new standards. That’s why several districts are suing Education Commissioner Mike Morath to block the new system. The largest district in the suit is Dallas ISD. Last year, nearly three-quarters of DISD schools received an A or B grade. That number would plummet if the new measurement system was in place, and the amount of schools with a D or an F would quadruple. Dallas ISD is the latest to join Kingsville, Canutillo and Crowley ISDs in the suit, with more expected on the way.
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An East Texas principal was arrested after paddling a student, renewing debate over corporal punishment
A high school principal in East Texas was arrested last week after paddling a student, causing her bodily injury and sparking national headlines that renewed the debate over whether corporal punishment belongs in schools.
Texas is one of just 17 states that allow corporal punishment — which includes hitting, spanking, paddling or deliberately inflicting pain to discipline students — in its public schools. Texas educators can use physical means of punishment if the school district’s board of trustees adopts a policy allowing it. Parents can opt their child out of receiving corporal punishment by providing written notice to the district.
Texas lawmakers have long discussed a ban on the practice, which dates back to the 19th century. Only a decade ago, lawmakers in Austin added a provision that allows a parent to opt their child out of corporal punishment. State lawmakers debated the controversial practice this year after Rep. Alma Allen, a Houston Democrat and former public school teacher, carried a bill that would prohibit public school employees from using corporal punishment on students.
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Georgetown ISD board unanimously approves resolution to accept chaplains as volunteers
GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The Georgetown Independent School District unanimously approved a resolution to accept chaplains as volunteers, with six trustees voting in favor of the resolution on Monday during a board meeting. Trustee Cody Hirt was absent. In June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 763 into law, which permits school districts to use school safety funding to hire chaplains or allow them to volunteer in public schools. After the vote, GISD board member Anthony Blankenship made a comment, saying when people from the community reach out, their voice and concerns are heard. Citing mental health concerns, Texas to allow chaplains as uncertified school counselors “I just want to reiterate that my vote for this in no way is voting to remove counselors, replace counselors, [or] play any sort of political or religious favoritism within our public schools,” he said. “I understand the importance of keeping these things separate. We already have this system in place. I just want to make sure that those who are in the community who are gracious enough to volunteer their time and their effort and their energy to our precious, loved children, still have the avenue to do so.”
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Southern Border Sees Record Number of Unaccompanied Minors Crossing
A recently released report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed that more than 400 unaccompanied minors crossed Texas’ southern border in one day.
The document shows that 495 unattended children were apprehended and placed into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody on September 12.
However, DHS said, “This number does not include children from Mexico, most of whom will be repatriated and will not remain in CBP custody.”
DHS also reported that while 433 children were transferred out of CBP’s care that day, more than 850 children remained in their custody.
The report stated that 10,649 unaccompanied children were in the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, while only 316 were discharged from the agency’s authority.
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Fort Bend ISD unveils plans for Sugar Land 95 memorial with outdoor learning area, memorial cemetery
Fort Bend Independent School District has unveiled the next phase of the Sugar Land 95 Memorial, which includes an outdoor learning area and a memorial cemetery and is expected to be ready by 2025.
More than five years have passed since the remains of the Sugar Land 95, 94 men and one woman, were found at the construction site of the James C. Reese Career and Technical Center. The 95 African American individuals discovered in 2018 died in brutal, state-sanctioned forced labor camps in the late 1800s, during Sugar Land’s era as a network of sugar cane plantations.
After originally going to court with the question of where to rebury the remains, Fort Bend ISD in November 2019 returned the remains to the site where they were originally found and launched initiatives to educate the community about the history of the convict-leasing program.
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Texas governor announces over $4.1 million in JET grants for career training across Panhandle, Southeast Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (KVII) — Governor Greg Abbott announced 16Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants totaling more than $4.1 million have been awarded to 11 schools across Southeast Texas and the Panhandle by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The JET grants will support career and technical education (CTE) training programs by helping the schools purchase and install equipment to initially train 1,246 students for high-demand occupations as plumbers, transportation workers, nurses, welders, diesel mechanic specialists, and more.
"From the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, Texas continues to invest in career training programs to help our students secure good-paying jobs and meet the needs of our growing state," said Governor Abbott. "Thanks to partnerships with schools across our state by the Texas Workforce Commission, we will help young Texans chart a course toward successful careers in the workforce of tomorrow."
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Texas House OKs bill to increase teacher pension payouts, but it needs voter approval
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Texas House of Representatives gave their final approval for a bill that would increase retired teacher’s pension payouts on Monday, Sept. 11. This would be the first cost-of-living adjustment in 20 years.
Borderland retired teacher Tom Davis, who worked at Franklin High School for 26 years, said that this bill is not just for retirees but for current teachers as well. The bill is looking to give a 6% increase for those who retired before 2004, 4% if it was between 2004 and 2014 and a 2% increase if they retired between 2015-2021.
According to Davis, this is just a small way for Texas to show its appreciation for educators.
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Midland Public Schools board gives superintendent update, passes surveillance contract
Midland Public Schools sent out a request for proposal to search firms as an early step toward hiring a new superintendent, and considered a contract with an AI-based weapon surveillance agency. During a regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, Board Vice President Phil Rausch said the request for proposal was sent out to five search firms: Michigan Association of School Boards; Michigan Leadership Institute; Ray and Associates; Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates; and SchoolExecConnect. It was also posted on the MPS website and on SIGMA, the state of Michigan’s request for proposal site. The deadline for search firms to respond to the school district is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.
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Rice University band trolls Mike Miles with halftime show criticizing actions since Houston ISD takeover
The halftime performance during Saturday’s football game against Texas Southern University put a Houston spin on the “Austin Powers” film series. A college football game between two Houston universities proved to be an opportunity to criticize the city's largest school district post-takeover and its new top administrator. Houston ISD and state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles – whose policies and decisions have been intensely scrutinized by community members and local elected officials since he took over in June – was the subject of a satirical halftime show during Saturday's game between Rice University and visiting Texas Southern University.
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San Antonio ISD proposes closing 19 schools as part of ‘rightsizing’ plan
Seventeen schools would close in the 2024-2025 school year, and the other two would close in the following school year due to renovations scheduled at schools that would receive relocated students.
The staff’s recommendation packages also included details on the school buildings the district proposes to redesign, relocate, co-locate, or merge in the next few school years. It also determined which students and teachers would be relocated as part of the process.
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SFA draws back hundreds of alumni to celebrate 100 years of history
NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) – The final day of a four-day celebration honoring Stephen F. Austin State University’s 100 year anniversary was held on Monday. Throughout that time, the school saw hundreds of its alumni come back and visit the place they used to call home. “We’re just so excited to be a part of this festivity,” said one alumni. Monday morning, university officials unveiled a nine-foot SFA graduation ring statue gifted by the SFA Alumni Association. Craig Turnage who is the Executive Director of the Alumni Association, said the statue symbolizes what being a Lumberjack is all about. “The SFA ring means so much to so many students here on campus,“ said Turnage. “It really serves as their principal moment.”
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Carroll ISD considers sending message with recapture resolution
Carroll ISD might be joining the ranks of Keller ISD after the school board’s robust discussion about making recapture payments Sept. 11. KISD voted Sept. 11 to withhold its 2024-25 recapture payment.
“We don’t know,” Board President Cameron Bryan responded when asked by Place 6 Trustee Alex Sexton where the recapture money goes that the district sends back to the state. “It’s a black hole.”
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Tarrant County’s top appraiser is out. How will the Appraisal District move forward?
When the Tarrant Appraisal District board of directors met on Aug. 11, the board didn’t plan to gather again until mid-November. But within three weeks, the board was faced with a lengthy to-do list, ensuring members will see a lot more of each other than expected before the end of the year. Here’s what happened: The Star-Telegram exposed comments made by Cal Wood, who at the time was TAD’s head of information systems, suggesting TAD lie to the media about ongoing tech issues. The board attorney Matthew Tepper conducted an investigation into the comments. Wood was terminated. Aug. 25. However, taxing entities frustrated with TAD’s lack of transparency wanted to see leadership changes at the top. Three days after the Tarrant County commissioners took a vote of no confidence in Chief Appraiser Jeff Law, he resigned.
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HISD’s Miles says teachers must get approval for any time off, could fire those who go overboard
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles released new directives on Friday requiring teachers to receive approval for any kind of absence, including sick days, and threatening to fire those who use more than the 10 days of leave allocated to them by the district and the state.
Miles updated the district's regulations in an effort to encourage "strong staff attendance" and communication between teachers and principals, he said, noting that similar policies had been used at HISD in the past but rarely enforced. Among other changes coming are a crackdown on "docked days," in which employees request leave without pay after they've used their allocated days off.
'WE ARE NOT GOING BACK': HISD teachers forced to commit to NES model or switch jobs
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Fort Worth ISD to consider joining lawsuit against TEA’s new A-F school ratings system
The Fort Worth Independent School District could be joining the growing list of districts across the state that are suing Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath over the Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings system, which is changing this year. The school board has called for a special meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday to consider joining the lawsuit, according to district spokesperson Cesar Padilla. The lawsuit revolves around a new criteria for grading schools that districts say will harm their performance ratings, even if performance improved, by way of “retroactively changing the rules,” the lawsuit filed on Aug. 23 reads. TEA doesn’t comment on ongoing legal matters, agency spokesperson Melissa Holmes told the Star-Telegram on Friday.
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HISD parents, advocates frustrated by lack of details from Miles on fixing special education program
For more than six years, Shana Halvorsen has been fighting an uphill battle against the special education system in Houston ISD, which she said would not provide adequate services for her daughter and ultimately placed the 15-year-old in a private school away from her neighborhood peers. The mother has watched superintendents and special education directors come and go during those years, each of them making promises to fix a system with well-documented and long-standing problems. Now, following state intervention in the district that was in part prompted by these failures, Superintendent Mike Miles and his team are charged with bringing the system into compliance with state and federal laws. While some families were eager to see the district held accountable through a state takeover, parents and advocates for special education students in HISD say they remain skeptical of the new administration and its ability to turn around the broken system. Some parents said they believe Miles has so far neglected to prioritize the monumental task or articulate in public a clear plan for improvement. Instead, some say, he has implemented a standardized curriculum and instructional practices that lack clear protections for the special education population.
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Former South Texas High School Secretary Arrested on Child Sexual Assault Charges
Samantha Lee Carranza allegedly sexually assaulted a student at Sharyland High School. A former secretary for the assistant principal at a high school in south Texas was arrested Friday for allegedly performing sexual acts on a student. Samantha Lee Carranza, who worked at Sharyland High School in Mission, was arrested on charges of sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between an educator and student. According to a probable cause affidavit reported by KRGV News, a 16-year-old student—identified under the pseudonym “Cris”—reported sexual assault by a school employee to Mission Police Department on September 1. The student told the Mission PD that on August 31, he went to the assistant principal’s office to borrow a cell phone charger. The principal’s secretary, identified as Carranza, allowed him to use the charger but said he had to stay near her desk. Carranza then sparked a conversation about her family and current divorce. Cris claims she showed him a photo of her breasts, making him uncomfortable. When he attempted to leave, he reported that Carranza stopped him.
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TSTC grad trains teachers with creative educational technology at area school district
ARLINGEN — Texas State Technical College alumnus Mark Anthony Pinon is proud of the trajectory that his life has taken, from working in the construction industry to currently working with instructional technology at the Lyford Consolidated Independent School District.
“I collaborate with each campus’s administration about the planning of instructional technology that I design,” the San Benito resident said. “I teach strategies and instructional materials that teachers use in their classrooms, such as MerchCube. With that program, a teacher will choose a lesson with their iPad and place a black cube underneath the device’s camera. Once the object is detected, an interactive lesson will be displayed for a student to do, such as identifying planets in the solar system.”
Years ago Pinon developed an interest in researching computer hardware, and that became the spark that would lead him to an education at TSTC.
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Fort Bend ISD unveils plans for Sugar Land 95 memorial with outdoor learning area, memorial cemetery
Fort Bend Independent School District has unveiled the next phase of the Sugar Land 95 Memorial, which includes an outdoor learning area and a memorial cemetery and is expected to be ready by 2025.
More than five years have passed since the remains of the Sugar Land 95, 94 men and one woman, were found at the construction site of the James C. Reese Career and Technical Center. The 95 African American individuals discovered in 2018 died in brutal, state-sanctioned forced labor camps in the late 1800s, during Sugar Land’s era as a network of sugar cane plantations.
After originally going to court with the question of where to rebury the remains, Fort Bend ISD in November 2019 returned the remains to the site where they were originally found and launched initiatives to educate the community about the history of the convict-leasing program.
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Fort Bend ISD to vote on instructional personnel, budget guardrails
Fort Bend ISD board members will vote on multiple proposals and resolutions related to academic personnel, waiver to Texas Education Agency requirements and the possible addition of budget limits related to bond and debt services in a regular meeting Sept. 18.
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Bullard ISD registers as First Responder Organization
TYLER, Texas — Bullard ISD was recently recognized as a registered First Responder Organization after the district earned a Texas Association of School Boards Risk Management Fund 2023 Excellence Award.
The FRO is a group association of certified medical services personnel that works in partnership with a licensed emergency medical provider to respond to medical emergencies until the ambulances arrive.
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After Houston ISD administrator tells ‘nonbelievers’ to accept reforms or ‘You will not be here,’ students and parents protest
On Friday, an administrator told teachers at Cage Elementary and Project Chrysalis Middle schools to affirm their commitment to the new reform program by the end of the weekend or be reassigned. Monday morning, about thirty protestors gathered in front of the campus to speak out against the directive.
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Medina County GOP Censures House Impeachment Manager Andrew Murr
Republican State Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction has been censured by another county in the house district he represents for “opposing the core principles of the Republican Party.” Murr represents House District 53, an area northwest of San Antonio that includes the counties of Bandera, Crane, Crockett, Edwards, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Medina, Menard, Pecos, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, and Upton. He also chairs the House General Investigating Committee, which brought the impeachment charges against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate this past weekend.
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Round Rock ISD to host public meetings on VATRE, 5-year strategic plan
Round Rock ISD will be holding a series of public meetings on the upcoming Proposition A ballot measure and the District's five-year strategic plan. In late August, the District called for its first-ever VATRE in an effort to increase staff salaries and offset the loss of federal funding, increased recapture payments and inflation.
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HISD teachers forced to commit to NES model or switch jobs: ‘We are not going back’
A top Houston ISD leader last week scolded teachers at two campuses for failing to embrace and fully implement the New Education System and is now moving to terminate at least one teacher who spoke out with concerns about the model. Luz Martinez, the Central Division superintendent in HISD, called a last-minute, after-school meeting Friday with teachers from Cage Elementary and Project Chrysalis Middle School, two NES-aligned schools that share the same facility and administration. Martinez delivered a stern lecture, telling teachers that they must commit to implementing the NES model in their classrooms or they will be reassigned to a non-NES campus, according to a recording of the event shared with the Chronicle. "You're going to have to think this weekend if this is what you want to do. If you're one of the teachers who is refusing to do the model...you will not be here in this campus," Martinez said. "I will reassign you to another place, because we are not going to be fighting this battle all year long."
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Abshier named Anahuac ISD Interim Superintendent
The Anahuac Independent School District announced that Cody Abshier will serve as interim superintendent. Abshier, a former AISD teacher and administrator, will serve until a permanent replacement is found for Dennis Wagner, who resigned last week via a district-wide email. Earlier this month, Wagner sent out an email district wide informing everyone that he was leaving his position as the school district’s top administrator. Abshier has served at AISD in the past as a teacher and administrator. After leaving Anahuac, Abshier was the superintendent at both Devers ISD and then Liberty ISD. He retired from Liberty ISD last December.
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TEA-appointed Houston ISD board allows teachers to be terminated if schools close, seeks exemption from state laws
The state-appointed leaders of Houston’s public school system say they can’t comply with a new law requiring police officers at every campus, and they’re seeking exemptions for that and other state laws. During the Thursday board meeting, they also geared up for expected school closures in the coming years by approving a policy that allows staffers from those schools to be terminated.
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Student makes threats against Petersburg School District
The Petersburg School District says a student made threats against the district on Thursday afternoon. A staff member heard the threats and immediately notified Acting Administrator Jaime Cabral. Most administrative staff were in Anchorage at a safety summit. Cabral followed school protocol and had a conversation with the student. He then contacted Principal Brad King by phone and they decided the threats were credible. Next, Cabral called law enforcement. The School District and the Petersburg Police Department continue to actively investigate the incident. The student was sent home Thursday afternoon and remains under family supervision. They are suspended pending the investigation. Superintendent Kludt-Painter was contacted by phone Sunday.
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