Texas Teacher Faces New Sex Crime Charge After Arrest for Child Porn, Bestiality

Hillary Williams was a Wells ISD math teacher until her first arrest in February. An East Texas teacher arrested earlier this year for bestiality and possessing child pornography is facing a new charge of sexually touching a child. Hillary Danielle Williams, 34, was arrested Tuesday and charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. Williams is accused of touching a young child inappropriately on February 19. The child made an outcry about the contact in April and also told police Williams was practicing witchcraft. Williams was teaching in Wells Independent School District at the time of the alleged incident but had been allowed to resign on February 24 following her earlier arrest.
New STAAR Results Reveal Students ‘Not Where They Need To Be Academically’

The Texas Education Agency released high school End-of-Course assessments for Spring 2025. Newly released results of Texas high school students’ End-of-Course assessments for 2025 show “too many students are still not where they need to be academically,” according to the state agency that oversees public education. The Texas Education Agency released Spring 2025 STAAR End-of-Course assessment results on Tuesday. Newly released results of Texas high school students’ End-of-Course assessments for 2025 show “too many students are still not where they need to be academically,” according to the state agency that oversees public education. The Texas Education Agency released Spring 2025 STAAR End-of-Course assessment results on Tuesday. STAAR is short for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, standardized testing “designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to apply the defined knowledge and skills in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills at each tested grade, subject, and course.” STAAR is short for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, standardized testing “designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to applye defined knowledge and skills in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills at each tested grade, subject, and course.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s push to ban THC in Texas draws rare backlash from the right

It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward. It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward.
School discipline, property taxes, water funding: Texas lawmakers wrap up regular legislative session

Texas lawmakers gaveled out of their 140-day regular legislative session on June 2. Legislators in the 31-member Senate and 150-member House filed nearly 9,000 bills and sent about 1,200 of them to the governor, according to data from Texas Legislature Online. All seven of Gov. Greg Abbott’s top priorities passed, and he said in a June 3 statement that those bills would “make Texas stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever.”
Texas Ends In-State Tuition for Illegals Hours After Trump DOJ Files Lawsuit

Just two days after the Texas Legislature adjourned without passing legislation to end in-state tuition for illegal aliens, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Texas. Now, the state has settled, ending the discounted tuition for illegals for now. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the lawsuit challenges longstanding provisions of the Texas Education Code that allow certain illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities—rates that are significantly lower than those charged to U.S. citizens from other states. “Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from getting in-state tuition benefits that are denied to out-of-state U.S. citizens,” the DOJ complaint reads. “There are no exceptions. Yet the State of Texas has ignored this law for years.”
Texas Education Agency extends Houston school district takeover through 2027

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath applauded the district for its improvements while citing the need for more time to “achieve lasting success for students.” The state takeover of the Houston Independent School District will continue for two more years, the Texas Education Agency announced Monday. Education Commissioner Mike Morath had until June 1 to decide next steps for the state’s largest school district, whose former superintendent and elected school board members were ousted and replaced in 2023 due to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus and allegations of leadership misconduct.

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Ysleta ISD schools face enrollment challenges amid budget deficit

June 1008:25 AM

New data from the Ysleta Independent School District reveals significant disparities in school enrollment versus capacity, highlighting a pressing issue as the district grapples with a $35.2 million budget deficit. Ysleta ISD Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre echoed these concerns, noting a consistent decline in enrollment for over two decades. view article

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Consolidates to Leander HS

June 1008:25 AM

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing equitable, rigorous and sustainable academic programming across Leander ISD, we are moving forward with a consolidation of the district’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme to a single high school campus: Leander High School. This decision follows an extensive review of enrollment trends, student access, staffing capacity and the program’s long-term financial sustainability and viability. view article

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s push to ban THC in Texas draws rare backlash from the right

June 1005:35 AM

It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward. It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward. view article

Central Texas Teacher, Coach Sentenced to 4 Years for Sex With Student

June 1005:21 AM

A former Central Texas teacher and coach was sentenced to four years in state prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 17-year-old female student and engaging in sexual conversations with underage school girls via social media. Tye Britton Rexrode, 39, was an assistant baseball coach and social studies teacher for two years at the high school in Comfort Independent School District. He was allowed to resign in February 2024 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Rexrode was arrested in March 2024 and charged with three counts of improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. view article

Humble ISD Trustee-Elect Deemed Ineligible Over Residency Requirement

June 1005:00 AM

District chief counsel Jeremy Binkley stated the board would either appoint a replacement or call a special election. Brittnai Brown, elected to Position 4 on the Humble Independent School District Board of Trustees on May 3, has been declared ineligible to serve due to violations of Texas residency requirements. Brown’s opponent, Tracy Shannon, first raised the issue during the district’s May 13 school board meeting. Shannon presented election records showing that Brown voted in the October 2024 general election using an address within Houston ISD and signed an affidavit of residency there. view article

Soros-Backed Group Relaunches Effort To Turn Texas Blue With Multimillion-Dollar Push

June 1005:00 AM

Past efforts like Battleground Texas—formed over a decade ago with similar ambitions—have largely failed. A Democrat-aligned political group backed by billionaire George Soros is once again setting its sights on Texas, aiming to flip the reliably red state with a new multimillion-dollar campaign. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Texas Majority PAC—bankrolled heavily by Soros—has launched a new initiative dubbed “Blue Texas,” partnering with the Texas Democratic Party and several county parties to organize volunteers, recruit candidates, and boost voter turnout ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Campaign finance records show Soros gave $2.1 million to Texas Majority PAC in 2024 and another $1 million in April. view article

See which Houston-area school districts have the highest property tax rates

June 1005:00 AM

School districts across Texas are in the process of setting their budgets for 2025-26, and those budgets are largely funded by property tax revenue. The taxes combine two elements: a maintenance and operations tax (M&O) and an interest and sinking tax (I&S). The funds go toward supporting daily operations and paying debt service on bonds that voters approve for building facilities, respectively. Based on data provided by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, here’s the rates and levies for school districts in the Houston area for 2024-25. view article

Trustees approve compensation plan for 2025–26 school year

June 0909:20 AM

Round Rock ISD trustees on Tuesday night approved a compensation plan for the 2025–26 school year. With the Texas Legislature in session this year, school districts had to wait to finalize compensation plans and annual budgets as lawmakers worked on a public school funding bill. view article

Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Costs Millions as Texas House Failed to Act

June 0908:53 AM

Texas lawmakers once again failed to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying, despite state taxpayers footing a $94.5 million bill for 2025. view article

Keller ISD announces lone superintendent finalist

June 0908:29 AM

Keller ISD announced their lone finalist to fill the position of superintendent on Thursday night. Keller ISD has announced Dr. Cory Wilson as the finalist on Thursday. Wilson currently serves as the interim superintendent, which he was appointed to in January 2025. view article

‘A colossal mistake’: Abilene ISD superintendent criticizes Texas’ new education voucher law

June 0908:27 AM

Four days after Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 into law, allocating billions in public education funding and creating a new voucher-style program, Abilene ISD Superintendent Dr. John Kuhn is voicing serious concerns. Calling the move a “colossal mistake,” Kuhn claims the new education savings account program threatens to weaken the state’s public school system by diverting funds to private institutions and undermining decades of public education policy. view article

Boerne ISD principal makes bond in DWI case

June 0908:23 AM

A Boerne Independent School District principal accused early Friday of driving drunk has bonded out of the Kendall County Detention Center, according to reports. Boerne Middle School North Principal Daniel Owen, 48, is charged with driving-while-intoxicated-second offense and unlawful carrying of a weapon, officials said. view article

School vouchers, THC ban, property tax cuts: Here’s what Texas lawmakers did in the 2025 regular session

June 0908:21 AM

Texas lawmakers gaveled out of their 140-day legislative session on Monday after passing a raft of conservative policies, from private school vouchers to tighter bail laws, that furthered the state’s march to the right. The Legislature wrapped up without the same drama that defined the end of the last two sessions, when Democratic walkouts, a last-minute impeachment and unfinished priorities prompted overtime rounds of lawmaking. view article

School choice forum to help Houston families understand Texas’ new voucher program

June 0908:21 AM

A non-profit will host a school choice forum Monday evening to help parents learn more about the state’s new voucher program. view article

Fort Worth ISD’s Helbing Elementary will close. Teachers there ‘gave it our all’

June 0908:20 AM

As the Fort Worth Independent School District bids farewell to 18 of its campuses over the next four years, educators and residents are reflecting on how the parting schools have left their mark on the community. view article

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Meeting to be held on Monday regarding Fort Bend ISD trustee’s resignation that hangs in balance

June 0908:20 AM

Answers could soon be coming regarding a Fort Bend Independent School District trustee who announced more than a month ago was resigning. A Fort Bend ISD trustee board meeting item on Monday's agenda has parents, including Adeel Akhtar, who spoke with ABC13, anxiously awaiting. "I wish there were a little bit more communication by the school district," Akhtar said. "Perhaps they have their reasons, but I think we're going to find out really soon what's going to happen." view article

Winnsboro ISD teacher, coach arrested for sexual relationship with student

June 0908:18 AM

Wood County investigators say that a former teacher and coach of Winnsboro ISD has been arrested for having an improper relationship with a student. Nicholas Gabriele was employed as an assistant football coach and economics teacher at Winnsboro High School during the 2024-25 school year. Sometime during the school year, he began a relationship with a high school student. Investigators got information and evidence that Gabriele had been having sex with the student, including information and concerns from members of the community. view article

School closures expected as Austin ISD launches plan to address $100M deficit

June 0908:16 AM

Austin ISD is beginning early planning for a school consolidation process that could result in campus closures starting in the 2026–27 school year. District officials say the move is driven by long-term budget pressures, declining enrollment, and the need to ensure schools are better staffed and resourced. view article

Enriquez named interim athletic director at Karnes City ISD

June 0908:16 AM

Karnes City ISD has announced Coach Michael Enriquez as the district’s interim athletic director. According to the district, Enriquez brings a strong commitment to students, staff, and the community. Officials expressed confidence in his ability to lead with integrity and enthusiasm during the transition. The appointment is interim while the search for a permanent athletic director continues. view article

Empowering Girls: Dallas ISD Launches Flag Football League

June 0908:15 AM

Dallas ISD launched its first girls’ flag football league this spring, partnering with the Dallas Cowboys. All 22 district high schools fielded teams in the inaugural season. The program marks a significant expansion of opportunities for female athletes in Texas. Two players have already secured college scholarships, signaling the sport’s growing legitimacy. view article

Texas will begin a summer lunch program in 2027, but only if feds don’t raise costs

June 0905:39 AM

The program would give low income families an extra $120 per child for summer lunches, but federal debate about food benefits could endanger the program. view article

Ousted HISD school board member says people ‘can make their own assumptions’ about sudden removal

June 0905:30 AM

Adam Rivon, one of the four recently ousted members of the Houston ISD Board of Managers, won’t speculate on why he was suddenly removed from his role this week, though he said “people are intelligent and they can make their own assumptions.” Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath unexpectedly removed Rivon, along with three other appointees, from their roles on the Board of Managers this week, and replaced them with four new board members. Morath also announced the extension of the state intervention of the district through June 1, 2027. In an interview with the Chronicle, Rivon said the TEA told him they “wanted to bring in a new team,” but he wasn’t given any specific reasons why they decided to remove him from the appointed board after serving in the role since the state takeover of Texas’ largest school district in June 2023. view article

School discipline, property taxes, water funding: Texas lawmakers wrap up regular legislative session

June 0905:05 AM

Texas lawmakers gaveled out of their 140-day regular legislative session on June 2. Legislators in the 31-member Senate and 150-member House filed nearly 9,000 bills and sent about 1,200 of them to the governor, according to data from Texas Legislature Online. All seven of Gov. Greg Abbott’s top priorities passed, and he said in a June 3 statement that those bills would “make Texas stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever.” view article

‘A critical opportunity’: Tax rate hike on the table as Judson ISD grapples with budget deficit

June 0905:00 AM

The move comes after trustees voted to close a school, relocate its STEM program, reduce pay for uncertified teachers, modify its library services program and close vacancies to cut costs. Now, they're looking to raise revenue. view article

Texas’ swift surrender to DOJ on undocumented student tuition raises questions about state-federal collusion

June 0905:00 AM

Experts say Wednesday’s action to eliminate the long-standing policy could be a “collusive lawsuit,” where the state and feds worked the courts to get a desired outcome. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Texas over its long-standing state law allowing undocumented students to get in-state tuition. The lawsuit was barely on the books before Texas surrendered without a fight, asking a judge to strike down the law — which he did. view article

Keller school board approves lone finalist for superintendent job

June 0905:00 AM

The Keller school board named Cory Wilson as the finalist for the district’s open superintendent position during a special meeting June 5. Wilson has served as interim superintendent since Jan. 31, following the resignation of Tracy Johnson, who parted ways with Keller schools over a proposal put forth by board members to split the district in half — using U.S. 377 as the dividing line view article

Texas Lawmakers Approve Record-High State Budget

June 0904:10 AM

The legislature has finally passed a $338 billion biennial budget. view article

UT-Austin Picks Reagan Scholar as Provost Finalist

June 0608:47 AM

University of Texas at Austin named William Inboden as the sole finalist for its open provost position. The provost is the Chief Academic Officer of UT-Austin and second in command to the president. The office supervises several aspects of university operations. According to The Daily Texan, interim university president Jim Davis informed the faculty via a campus-wide e-mail on May 28. Inboden will permanently fill the position after a series of interim hires. view article

Texas Lawmakers Pull Funding for Child Identification Kits Again After Newsrooms Report They Don’t Work

June 0608:42 AM

Why Didn’t Lawmakers Abolish the Texas Lottery? It’s a Lucrative Business

June 0608:41 AM

The Texas Lottery remains a key source of revenue for its primary vendor. Although Texas lawmakers sent a measure abolishing the Texas Lottery Commission to Gov. Greg Abbott, they stopped short of ending the gambling enterprise entirely. A potential reason? The Texas Lottery is a very lucrative business for its vendors. In fiscal year 2024, the lottery generated roughly $8.39 billion in total sales. As of March 31 of this year, the state has received $949 million from the lottery. Roughly $887.5 million of the $949 million was dedicated to the Foundation School Fund, which supports the state’s school system. view article

Houston ISD Teacher Accused of Locking Special Needs Students in Cabinet

June 0608:40 AM

A Houston Independent School District special education teacher has been recommended for termination after allegedly locking several special needs students in a cabinet. The incident, which took place at Moreno Elementary School and came to light in late May, has sparked outrage among parents and renewed scrutiny of the district’s troubled special education system. According to FOX 26 Houston, the incident involved an autistic first-grade student whose mother, Mrs. Mejia, expressed shock and anger upon learning about the situation. view article

Republicans Urge Abbott to Veto ‘Biden-Style’ Loan Repayments for School Counselors

June 0608:40 AM

The bill drew fierce opposition from conservatives when it reached the House floor, especially in light of social transitioning in public schools.The bill drew fierce opposition from conservatives when it reached the House floor, especially in light of social transitioning in public schools. view article

Texas Lawmakers Pull Funding for Child Identification Kits Again After Newsrooms Report They Don’t Work

June 0608:40 AM

For the second legislative session, lawmakers have withdrawn funding for a company selling kits that promise to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reported there’s no evidence to support that claim. Texas state legislators dropped efforts to spend millions of dollars to buy what experts call ineffective child identification kits weeks after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reported that lawmakers were again trying to fund the program. This is the second consecutive budget cycle in which the Legislature considered purchasing the products, which promise to help find missing children, only to reverse course after the news organizations documented the lack of evidence that the kits work. ProPublica and the Tribune originally published their findings in a 2023 investigation that revealed the state had spent millions of dollars on child identification kits made by a Waco-based company called the National Child Identification Program, run by former NFL player Kenny Hansmire. He had a history of legal and business troubles, according to public records, and although less expensive alternatives were available to lawmakers, Hansmire used outdated and exaggerated statistics about missing children to help boost sales. view article

Speaker Dustin Burrows, once tagged as “liberal,” kept skeptics at bay by leaning into a conservative agenda

June 0608:40 AM

At the same time, some Democrats acknowledged the Lubbock Republican let them leave their mark on some of the GOP bills they disagreed with. view article

Texas bill creating more weekend early voting could boost turnout, but delay election results

June 0605:00 AM

A bill headed for Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk may not go into effect until 2027. Election administrators say the changes could create staffing challenges. Texans will have a new schedule for early voting in coming years under new legislation that starts the voting period later but slides it right up to Election Day, eliminating the three-day break in between. Experts say Senate Bill 2753, which lawmakers approved this week, will likely boost turnout, as it includes more time for voting on weekends. The author of the bill, Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, told Votebeat that the change also “simplifies the process” and would reduce the cost of election operations and equipment. But local election officials said they aren’t so sure of that, and are still determining how it will work and what it could cost counties. The bill doesn’t allocate any funding for counties to implement the changes. view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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