A suspect has been arrested after an Austin ISD Police Department officer was shot and injured near Northeast Early College High School on Tuesday morning. Police are also investigating a connection with the incident and multiple other shootings that happened later on Tuesday. The shooting occurred around 10:40 a.m. near the school, located at 7105 Berkman Dr., near US 290. Officials told KVUE the officer was shot in "an unprovoked way," where there had been no interaction between the officer and the suspect. view article

An Austin Independent School District police officer was expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday after getting shot in the leg, AISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed said. Law enforcement sources told KXAN on Tuesday night that a suspect was arrested in connection with a homicide and two separate shootings, which involved the AISD officer and an Austin police officer. view article

An Austin Independent School District police officer was shot on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The school district said the suspect was later arrested. Two law enforcement sources told FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski that the AISD officer was attacked and shot in the leg near Nelson Field across the street from Northeast Early College High School. According to FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis, the lockdown has been lifted. view article

A Texas school district is standing by its decision to fire an elementary school teacher after one of her TikTok videos went viral earlier this year. Back in March, Austin ISD placed Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy, a former third grade teacher at Becker Elementary School, on administrative leave after she posted a clip on the video app describing her meeting with a former administrator. view article

A high school teacher in Rowlett was caught on video yelling at students and throwing a chair. That video has now gone viral on social media and is sparking a conversation about challenges educators face every day. Recorded on a student's cell phone, the 30 second video shows a Rowlett High School teacher losing his cool. It's not clear what led up to the outburst or how it ended but it appeared to involve the presence of another student's phone. view article

A Texas school district is explaining how a convicted prostitute actively advertising as an escort was able to become a committee member and volunteer in the school district, pinning some of the blame on "not always perfect" background checks from the state Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Godley Independent School District (ISD) issued a statement after reports that Ashley Ketcherside, a district parent convicted of prostitution in 2012 and 2016, had been removed from all committee and volunteer positions within the district. view article

Troi Moore, 47, was a teacher at Tamarron Elementary when he was arrested and charged with indecency with a child. The boy testified against him at the trial.  A former elementary school teacher in Lamar CISD is going to prison for sexually abusing a 6-year-old student.   Jurors in Fort Bend County convicted Troi Moore, 47, of indecency with a child by sexual contact and indecency with a child by exposure. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each charge.  view article

Earlier this year, Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy went viral on TikTok after posting a video about her meeting with her former administrator. Austin ISD put DeLoretto-Chudy on administrative leave back in March. In April, the district sent her a letter notifying they're terminating her employment. view article

The district says Davian Isaiah Hunter has not been a part-time employee since the investigation began. view article

Houston ISD, Texas’ largest school district, is expected to vote next month on becoming a District of Innovation or DOI, which would permit the hiring of non-certified teachers. The Houston Federation of Teachers union opposes the move saying it means “quantity not quality." view article

An East Texas substitute teacher, accused of having an improper relationship with a minor, is behind bars. The Smith County Sheriff's Office confirmed Davian Isaiah Hunter, 29, has been arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between an educator and a student. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $500,000. view article

LAREDO, Tx. (KGNS) - In May of 2023, the Texas Legislature passed a bill that would allow unlicensed religious chaplains to work or volunteer at Texas public schools. While some districts have voted in favor of it, others have not. One school district in Laredo briefly spoke about the item; and some parents are sharing their thoughts on the matter. The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting that almost every county in the state is having problems hiring mental health staff. view article

Lufkin ISD has received a $2.8 million dollar grant to spend on additional safety and security measures across the school district. In a press release issued by the district on Tuesday morning, the multi-million dollar grant from Safety and Facilities Enhancements (SAFE), which is funded through SB30, is slated to begin on the first of December of 2023 through July 31, 2025. The grant will benefit all Lufkin ISD campuses and cover the costs of safety mandates to remain in compliance with safety and security guidelines. view article

Celina ISD says Assistant Superintendent Russell McDaniel is no longer employed with the district. An administrator in Celina Independent School District is accused of soliciting a prostitute online. Assistant Superintendent Russell McDaniel was charged with solicitation of prostitution, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in jail. McDaniel was arrested by Dallas Police on November 2. District officials notified families two weeks later—only after local media learned about the solicitation charges. In a message to parents on November 16, Celina ISD Superintendent Todd Maglisceau called McDaniel’s arrest an “unfortunate” situation and said McDaniel is “no longer employed with our district.” view article

A federal judge has ruled that the state of Texas violated a new provision of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act in refusing to recognize an Air Force wife's out-of-state school counselor credentials -- a rejection that prevented her from getting a permanent job in the state. As the first-ever decision on a law that required states to recognize occupational licenses issued elsewhere, the case has widespread implications for the estimated 255,000 active-duty military spouses who require professional credentials to work in education, medicine, real estate, the beauty industry and more. view article

As they waited in the pickup line outside Thomas Middle School, 13 Investigates showed parents and grandparents job applications for some of the Houston Independent School District's hundreds of uncertified teachers. There's a former fast food crew member teaching reading, a barista teaching science, a sales associate teaching science and a paralegal teaching fourth grade math, according to the applications we reviewed. view article

As they waited in the pickup line outside Thomas Middle School, 13 Investigates showed parents and grandparents job applications for some of the Houston Independent School District's hundreds of uncertified teachers. There's a former fast food crew member teaching reading, a barista teaching science, a sales associate teaching science and a paralegal teaching fourth grade math, according to the applications we reviewed. view article

The move comes the day after Texas A&M steam-rolled Mississippi State, 51-10. An interim coach has already been chosen, according to ESPN. view article

As the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents considers naming the former dean and four-star general as the sole finalist for president, many believe Welsh is the right person to move the university forward after a pair of controversies bruised the school’s morale. view article

CAMERON, Texas — Margory Ortiz takes her daughter to work every day. She's a second grade teacher at Ben Milam Elementary School. But before she heads to her classroom, she takes her daughter down the hall to daycare for free. "It's a huge relief of stress, being in a small town and not really having daycares available," Ortiz said. Her daughter is enrolled in Cameron ISD's employee childcare program. It's been operating for since 2022. view article

A 74 analysis shows Minnesota could fill its vacancies 3X over if it lured back special ed teachers from less-grueling regular ed classrooms.  At the start of the current school year, Minnesota education officials estimated there were almost 500 open special education teaching jobs throughout the state, or about half of all unfilled positions reported by districts in a voluntary survey.   At the same time, an analysis by The 74 of Minnesota’s teacher licensing records found that during the 2022-23 academic year, more than 1,500 licensed special educators — comprising 16% of teachers credentialed to work with students with disabilities — chose to work in regular classrooms.   And more than a fourth of teachers working with students with disabilities — 27%, or nearly 3,000 — lacked any special education credential. Licensed to teach language arts, social studies, music, health and other general education subjects, in many cases their schools have a state waiver to place them with students with disabilities. view article

In session on Monday evening, November 13, 2023 the Coleman School Board acted on the following agenda items. The board approved the hiring of Michael Heath as Coleman High School Principal for the 23-24 and 24-25 school year. He will replace Diana Dobbins, who is retiring, at the Christmas break. The board approved the hiring of Blair Phillips as a 2nd grade math teacher for the remainder of the 23-24 school year beginning January 2, 2024. view article

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) Executive Committee has suspended the head coach of Grapeland ISD’s girls basketball team. Lance Green will no longer coach the Grapeland High School girls basketball team for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, in addition to being placed on probation for three years. The decision comes after it was reported that Green was coaching the team “out of season,” meaning he previously conducted full practice sessions outside of the normal basketball season. view article

It’s a challenge for much of Texas: recruiting and retaining public school teachers. The Lufkin school board is considering a Teacher’s Incentive Allotment program, funded by state grant money. Lufkin ISD Assistant Superintendent for Education Services Shelly Slaton said 26 names of their top-ranked teachers were turned in for recommendation to the state. view article

The teacher, a 45-year-old woman, tried to intervene and "was intentionally and knowingly assaulted by both female students," the release said. CORINTH, Texas — A teacher at a Corinth middle school was assaulted last week while trying to break up a fight between two students, police said. The incident happened in a stairwell at Bettye Myers Middle School around 12:40 p.m. on Nov. 8, according to a police news release. Two teen girls, a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, got into a fight between classes. The teacher, a 45-year-old woman, tried to intervene and "was intentionally and knowingly assaulted by both female students," the release said. view article

Stephen Berry, co-owner of Berry & Clay Construction, reported to Lufkin ISD trustees on Tuesday that his company has turned over more areas of Lufkin Middle School to the district. With the addition of these recently completed sections, sixth graders no longer have to venture outside into potentially inclement weather to reach any classrooms, the dining hall or any of the band, cheer, choir or art facilities. “Teachers are really happy to be moving into their new classrooms,” Berry said. Concrete has been poured near the Tulane Drive entrance, and another area near the competition gym still needs to be done, Berry said. view article

SAN ANTONIO - It’s a story we’ve been following for months and now finally has a final vote. The San Antonio Independent School District board made its decision Monday night to close 15 schools< >, a smaller number than originally projected, but still not a welcome number for many in the community. (SBG San Antonio) Monday night the final decision was a 5-2 vote to close 15 San Antonio Independent School District schools and repurpose some. Emotions have been flying from the moment people walked through the doors. Several speakers are pleading for answers from San Antonio ISD about why this was a school board vote and not a public one. view article

A Pilot Point, Texas school district employee has been arrested and charged for allegedly grooming a teenage student, and has since been terminated from his position, according to police. The Pilot Point Independent School District Police Department said in a press release that 35-year-old Javier Errisuriz was an athletic trainer in the school district and has been charged with child grooming, a third-degree felony in Texas. Police said they were alerted to allegations of criminal conduct between Errisuriz and a 17-year-old student on Oct. 30, 2023 view article

Teacher shortages are nothing new, but David Jeck, superintendent of Fauquier County Public Schools in Virginia, is having an especially hard time hiring them this year. Jeck, of course, is hardly alone: In state after state, district after district, school officials are struggling to hire teachers as the coronavirus pandemic affects a third school year. For example, in Fort Worth Independent School District in Texas, the school year began with 314 vacant teacher jobs, the Star-Telegram reported. In South Dakota, Rapid City Area Schools has 120 teacher vacancies, according to KELO. California has a severe shortage of teachers and substitute teachers. view article

TEXAS — According to a Texas teachers poll, 75% of public school educators have considered leaving the profession. The number has skyrocketed since 2020. Principal Scarlett Garcia has been an educator for 15 years in San Antonio. “I originally started at Stonewall-Flanders in 2008 as a teacher,” Garcia said. “I made like a full circle and came back around.” She says running a campus in economically disadvantaged Harlandale ISD wouldn’t be possible without dedicated teachers. “Ultimately, they’re the backbone on this campus,” Garcia said. “So, when they’re putting in the hard work, I need to make sure I’m advocating for them.” Garcia believes being the support teachers need is why she could keep most of her staff. This school year, only three teachers didn’t return. view article

Pope Francis has removed the bishop of Tyler, Joseph Strickland, who had been openly critical of the pope’s efforts to reform the Catholic Church to be more inclusive of women in governance and LGBTQ+ people. The removal Saturday comes after the Pope dispatched two U.S. bishops last year to investigate Strickland’s governance of the Diocese of Tyler. The two bishops, who lead dioceses in New Jersey and Arizona, found it was “not feasible” for Strickland to remain in office, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston said Saturday.  Strickland, who was born in ​​Fredericksburg and raised in Atlanta, Texas, has not released a statement on his removal from office. In a September public letter responding to the investigation, Strickland said he “cannot resign” because he would be abandoning the congregation the late Pope Benedict XVI charged him with leading. view article

Texas A&M University fired head football coach Jimbo Fisher on Sunday, committing itself to spend more than $75 million to buy out his contract and announcing a national search for his replacement. “In my analysis ... our program is stuck in neutral,” Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork told reporters hours after he had met with Fisher to notify him of the school’s decision. “Something was not working” Although the decision was announced on Sunday, one day after the Aggies trounced Mississippi State, 51-10, Bjork said he came to the conclusion a leadership change was needed earlier last week. It was then he notified the school’s interim president, Mark Welsh III and A&M System Chancellor John Sharp of his recommendation and the matter was then discussed in executive session with the Texas A&M Board of Regents. Bjork would only say that it was a “robust conversation.” view article

Another heated Houston Independent School District meeting took place Thursday night. Dozens of angry parents and students showed up demanding answers after teachers, a librarian, a counselor, and the principal were fired at Eastwood Academy High School and Pugh Elementary. view article

Dozens of angry parents and students showed up demanding answers after several staff members were fired at Eastwood Academy High School and Pugh Elementary.  HOUSTON — Another heated Houston Independent School District meeting took place Thursday night.  Dozens of angry parents and students showed up demanding answers after teachers, a librarian, a counselor, and the principal were fired at Eastwood Academy High School and Pugh Elementary.  For the first time publicly HISD Superintendent Mike Miles addressed why certain staff were let go at two of their schools. However, a timeline wasn't shared on when they would fill those spots. view article

"I felt a huge sense of relief because I know that our employees deserve this, and I think that it's important to know that we are on their side,” Brownsville ISD School Board Vice President Daniella Lopez Valdez said. The pay raise is being provided by Proposition A, which received 60% of the votes. Even with the approval for the tax ratification, taxpayers will see a decrease in their tax rate after Texas lawmakers adopted a lower tax rate. “Thirty percent will be paid by our taxpayers, the other 70% will be coming from additional state aid. So again what we promote is that this [Tax Ratification Election] was the perfect opportunity for us to take advantage of our additional state aid,” Brownsville ISD CFO Alejandro Cespedes, CFO, Brownsville ISD said. "Even with this TRE that passed, our taxpayers are going to see a decrease in their tax rate, hence they're going to see a decrease in the amount of taxes they pay for BISD." School district employees will begin seeing bigger paychecks in December. view article