The Brownsville Independent School District (ISD) is working on finalizing its budget for the upcoming school year. Under the American Rescue Plan Act, the district is receiving $185 million in federal ESER III funds over the next three years, of which 20% must be allocated toward addressing learning loss caused by the pandemic. view article

MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — The Manor Independent School District board has voted not to renew the contract of the district’s police chief, according to the school district board meeting Monday. Chief Shane Sexton was placed on leave in May, accused of falsifying employees time sheets. The school district is also investigating whether he improperly donated used cell phones to a local domestic violence shelter. KXAN followed up with the district for details on when Sexton’s contract will expire. view article

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Tyler ISD appointed an acting principal for Tyler Legacy after the resignation of their former principal, Dr. Daniel Crawford. Gary Brown is the acting principal until an interim or permanent replacement is selected. He was the principal of Tyler Legacy from 2012-2016 before moving to his job as Executive Director of College and Career at TISD, which he has held five years. The position of principal was opened after Crawford resigned amid an investigation into a “powdery white substance” found in his home last week. view article

College Station ISD has announced a new principal at Wellborn Middle School. CSISD superintendent Mike Martindale will recommend the hiring of WMS assistant principal Jeremy Stewart during the school board’s June 15th meeting. Stewart will take over for Julia Mishler, who left CSISD. Stewart has been the assistant principal since WMS opened in 2018 and before that was an assistant principal at College View and Timber Academy High Schools. view article

The Spring ISD board of trustees at its June 3 meeting unanimously approved a one-time supplemental payment to all full-time and half-time benefit eligible employees who are returning to work for the district next year.  According to Spring ISD Chief Financial Officer Ann Westbrooks, payments of $1,000 will be given to full-time staff members, and payments of $500 will be given to half-time staff members. view article

The former principal at Robinson High School and his wife allege in a lawsuit that they were forced out of their jobs in 2019 because of “bigotry, racism and discrimination.” Lamar Collins and his wife, Rose Collins, a former substitute teacher, are seeking from $250,000 to $1 million in damages in their lawsuit against the Robinson Independent School District. view article

Last month, Superintendent Angelica Ramsey unveiled plans to turn Midland ISD’s Central Administration building into a service center for campuses. This week, she took a first step to find someone who will help run it. Midland ISD is looking for a “deputy superintendent of Learning, Leading and Innovation” – a person expected to provide leadership in the development of the overall instructional program of the district. This position will be the lone deputy superintendent in the organizational structure, a No. 2 person that will oversee academics (curriculum, instruction and professional learning), according to the job description on the district’s website. Ramsey hopes to have a candidate for the position to take to the board by the end of June. This is one of a few positions that the district is currently advertising. Midland ISD also is looking for a “director of Learning, Leading and Innovation,” an “executive director of Learning, Leading and Innovation” and an “associate superintendent, Education Services.” view article

Jeremy Stewart was named Wellborn Middle School's new principal on Monday. His hire will be recommended by College Station school district Superintendent Mike Martindale at next Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting. Jeremy Stewart Jeremy Stewart Photo provided by College Station ISD Stewart had served as Wellborn Middle School's assistant principal since the school opened in 2018 and will begin his new role immediately. He is replacing Julia Mishler, who left the district. "Jeremy has proven himself as a respected leader at Wellborn Middle School," Martindale said in a release. "He has been at the school since it opened and understands the culture. He is primed to lead Wellborn Middle School to new heights, while continuing the practices that led to the school’s early success." view article

After a long and successful career serving students at both Paris and North Lamar High Schools, beloved local educator Judy Weatherford retired Friday to spend her golden years with family — the ones she’s related to anyways.  In a time when burnout rates are among the highest in the teaching profession, Weatherford said: “The one thing that kept me thriving in the field all those years was my work family. Yes, absolutely what helped me find my footing in the beginning was the support system I found right away at Paris High School in the 1970s. I made about five friends right away, as we were all pretty close-knit back then, and soon they became like family. I think teachers nowadays just need that sense of family and community to not lose heart. I’m a bit sad about seeing less of my work family now, but I guess that is just the natural process of things.” view article

The Marble Falls Independent School District is turning to the city of Marble Falls to fund a full-time truancy officer position for the next two years. However, several councilors pushed back against the request during the City Council meeting June 1. Truancy officers play a necessary role in school districts, overseeing the daily attendance of enrolled students and pursuing legal action when requirements are not met. The previous officer worked on a mostly volunteer basis and was compensated $12,000 a year by the district, MFISD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeff Gasaway explained during the meeting. view article

An Ohio high school coach and six assistant coaches were fired Thursday over an incident in which they allegedly tried to force a football player to eat a pepperoni pizza despite his religious dietary restrictions forbidding pork.   The Canton City School District Board of Education made the decision during a special meeting following an investigation, FOX 8 of Cleveland reported.  view article

Greenville High School and the Katherine G. Johnson STEM Academy at Crockett Elementary School will both host open houses on the campuses next Tuesday, in which members of the community will have an opportunity to meet new principals Dr. Brant Perry and Cheryle Dennis, respectively. Last week, it was announced that Perry would be taking the helm at GHS, and Dennis at KGJ STEM @ Crockett, and that GHS’ principal for the last 12 years, Heath Jarvis, was being reassigned to the position of chief human resources officer for Greenville ISD. Perry comes to GISD from Plano ISD, where he worked for a total of 23 years and as a middle school principal for the past nine. He’s also an adjunct professor for both the University of North Texas and Concordia University. view article

Corpus Christi ISD on Thursday announced new campus and district leadership for the 2021-2022 school year. Six positions were filled with one returning to CCISD. Sandra Clement is the new chief officer of school improvement and innovation. She previously served as the executive director of school leadership. Superintendent Roland Hernandez said Clement's breadth and depth of experience will be essential assets in her new role. view article

VERNON (KFDX/KJTL) — Family, friends, and colleagues are celebrating the retirement of a longtime Vernon resident, pastor, and educator. Reverend Irl Holt has served as the pastor of Fargo United Methodist Church in Vernon since 1970. Rev. Holt was also a middle school guidance counselor, an elementary and middle school principal and the director of federal programs for Vernon ISD between 1963 and 1997. Rev. Holt’s retirement celebration will begin Sunday, June 6, 2021 with a church service at 11 a.m. at Fargo United Methodist Church. view article

Burleson ISD announced Tommy Neal as the Frazier Elementary School principal at the May 10 board meeting. Neal has 16 years of education experience, most recently serving as assistant principal at Burleson High School. “As a former coach, Mr. Neal understands how to develop a strong team of educators who motivate students to achieve their ultimate potential,” said BISD Superintendent Bret Jimerson. “We are confident Mr. Neal will continue to be successful as principal of Frazier Elementary.” Neal began his career teaching and brings success as a coach and middle school administrator to his new role. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of North Texas and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Lamar University. view article

Farmersville ISD Police Chief Brian Alford resigned last week after serving as head of the department since May 2018. The school district’s direc­tor of communications, Corey Krick, released a statement last week. It read, “On Wednesday, May 26 the district became aware of a video that allegedly depicts the district’s chief of police at a party where under­age students were present and consuming alcohol. On Thurs­day, May 27, the chief of police voluntarily submitted his resig­nation letter and the district has accepted it.” view article

Hutto ISD announced the appointment of two new principals, one for Hutto High School and one for the HISD Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, or DAEP, May 28. The board of trustees approved Jonathan Smith as the Hutto High School principal during its May 27 meeting with his start date set for July 1. view article

The Frenship Independent School District has announced that Scott Sims is the new principal of the Reese Education Center. Sims began his career at Lubbock ISD back in 1996 and eventually joined Frenship ISD 2008.   Since joining Frenship, Sims has served various teaching positions at Frenship High School. He served 8 years as an FHS assistant principal and was named an Assistant Principal of the Year finalist in 2018 by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals.  Sims earned his Master of Education Administration from Lubbock Christian University and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Texas Tech University.  Sims now takes the place of former Reese principal Stephanie Spear who retired at the end of the 2020-2021 school year with 36 years of education service. view article

Ingalls holds nearly 27 years of experience in public education, having served the previous 19 years as an elementary school principal in the Great Falls Public School District in Montana. Ingalls is currently the principal of Chief Joseph Elementary School in Great Falls Montana, a position he has served in for the previous 12 years. view article

BRENHAM, Texas (KBTX) - The Brenham ISD Board of Trustees has approved the hiring of Christine Johnson as the new Director of Special Education Services. The Brenham Independent School District Special Education Department provides a wide variety of Special Education services to approximately 780 students throughout the district. The department comprises nearly 118 teachers, including instructional paraprofessionals and speech-language pathologists. “The committee liked her [Christine Johnson’s] knowledge of special ed law, experience in developing policy and procedures, her experience in the ARD process, and her desire to grow others within the district to join the special education world,” said Dr. Tylor Chaplin, Superintendent of Brenham ISD. view article

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Canutillo ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve a two percent general pay increase for all CISD employees for the 2021-2022 school year. The board approved the compensation plan on May 25 at its regular board meeting. CISD says the plan will keep the district competitive and one of the highest-paying school districts in the region. “Our faculty and staff are the backbone of our District,” said Dr. Pedro Galaviz, Superintendent of CISD, “Their work in educating and supporting our students is recognized as one of the most important factors in determining a student`s success in life.” The district said the starting teaching pay will now be $54,150 a year. view article

An Angelina County grand jury indicted a former Hudson High School math teacher accused of having an improper relationship with a student in February 2020 during the May 2021 session. James Dillon English is accused of engaging in multiple sexual relations with a student in late 2019, his second year at the school. He was indicted for indecency with a child/sexual contact and improper relations with a student, both second-degree felonies. view article

It’s hard enough in a typical year to fill all the necessary positions in a school district, it has been even more difficult during a global pandemic. In June, Conroe ISD will be hosting several job fairs to fill key positions in the transportation and child nutrition departments.  On June 3, the CISD transportation department will be hosting a job fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at two locations, the Conroe Transportation Center at 108 Gladstell Street in Conroe and the Oak Ridge Transportation Center at 27110 Geffert Wright Road in Spring. view article

Comal ISD is holding three job fairs this week in an effort to fill a variety of positions. The district is looking for new teachers, paraprofessionals and educational support staff, office staff, bus drivers, mechanics, electricians, HVAC technicians, custodians and after school (SACC) aides, according to its website. view article

Dallas ISD has named Ruby Ramirez, principal at the School for the Talented and Gifted at Pleasant Grove, as one of its three principals of the year. Ramirez formerly worked as an assistant principal in Oak Cliff. The honor is awarded at three levels: elementary, secondary and choice/magnet nominees. Of this year’s 21 nominees, eight oversee schools in Oak Cliff. Winnetka Elementary’s Lourdes Garduño was one of seven finalists. view article

The issue is an amendment to House Bill 1525. The state senator from Lakeway -- Dawn Buckingham -- attached an amendment that would require school districts to accept money from PTAs to fund staff positions. “It's unfortunate that a privileged white representative from Lakeway would have to chime in with an amendment about AISD,” responded Education Austin President Ken Zarifis. view article

In a special meeting, the North Lamar ISD School Board voted to name Brenton Whitaker as the new head football coach. Whitaker comes from Pittsburg High School where he was the Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach.  North Lamar ISD welcomes Coach Whitaker and his family into the Panther family and is excited for the student athletes who will grow and benefit under his leadership.  view article

HARLINGEN, Texas (KVEO)—The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Thursday Donna ISD, along with three other public school systems, has been approved for a Local Designation System as part of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). Approximately $43 million will be generated and paid out to more than 4,600 deserving designated teachers. Donna ISD, San Antonio ISD, School of Science and Technology (San Antonio), and School of Science and Technology Discovery (Leon Valley) join 26 school systems that were approved to become Local Designation Systems last year. view article

An El Paso Independent School District teacher was arrested for allegedly being in possession of THC. The teacher worked at Terrance Hills Middle School. view article

PHARR — The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District announced increased hourly rates for summer school employees and stipends for front-line workers last week. A release from the district stated its board approved hourly rates of $55 for all teachers, librarians counselors and nurses during a meeting on May 26 along with a $15 an hour rate for paraprofessionals and security guards. “This is our way of thanking our employees for being on the frontlines to help and support our students, staff, and community,” School Board President Jorge Zambrano wrote in the release. “On behalf of our School Board of Trustees, we thank you for your selfless dedication and relentless efforts.” view article

During a UISD special call meeting on Wednesday, the district’s board of trustees decided not to go through with a hiring freeze that was planned to be discussed. This plan had included a freeze on hiring for leadership and non-instructional positions. The decision to reject both agenda items was reached with a 6-1 vote. The only one in favor was trustee Ricardo Molina. view article

FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth ISD is offering teachers a bonus to help get students back on track this summer. Like other districts, Fort Worth ISD students are facing historic learning loss because of the COVID-19 pandemic. view article

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas- The Comal Independent School District is looking for teachers, bus drivers, mechanics and more.  Next week, the district will host a series of job fairs to fill in vacant positions.  Starting Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., future applicants can attend to learn more about the positions and apply.  The district has opportunities for part-time and full-time roles, most positions offering paid holidays and flexible schedules. view article

During last week’s Coppell ISD Board Meeting, CISD trustees approved Joseph Smith, current assistant principal at CMS West, as the new principal of New Tech High @ Coppell. Smith has been an assistant principal in CISD since 2016, serving both Coppell High School and CMS West. Prior to becoming an assistant principal, he taught English at CHS and in Irving ISD. He also has a background in student ministry. “I’m excited to see Mr. Smith in his new role as principal of New Tech,” CISD Superintendent Brad Hunt said. “His administrative experience both at CHS and Coppell Middle School West has prepared him well for this position. He leads with his heart, is excellent with students, parents and staff, and will be a terrific leader for this wonderful school.” view article

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Thursday Donna ISD, along with three other public school systems, has been approved for a Local Designation System as part of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). Approximately $43 million will be generated and paid out to more than 4,600 deserving designated teachers. view article