[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6330041,"mediaKeyId","2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2","parentId",2315161,"title","Parents, students and teachers press HISD over suspensions, alleged misconduct at Wharton and loss of librarians","audioSeconds",9809,"startMs",3128000,"endMs",12937000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2&start=3128&end=12937","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2/thumbnail_3128000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330041/Texas/Parents-students-and-teachers-press-HISD-over-suspensions-alleged-misconduct-at-Wharton-and-loss-of-librarians","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330041-552de10c7c3f272887e2748005b74fdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884987&Signature=TqEGnZiuyLCczsKseHVRoCsJJkANg~ufqdDhwSxmZrzVM2d0Q~dEA~hT0R~1pkLdTc211JhMico5KYOqW4EPWWZNwvO4wmSaFzGTiUE5uBlrzmZj6wprCglG9W4SsjChgxdRZDDuEnrcTkhPxrx3HPIOXkITE3np9Wp7Wx1qkfTDvb~pG2H2FGbzQ0WNyWtdES9tFi1N3WU~f6G47kHVYF4ETTvf6WrY2kw-1LiDAwP2gbsgATJzXOc47iWFBTMJa5XKJhPZf1ZriE7wY8eYNKgMJhMiOh3r6kmiI5DxC1bQMUznX3pM0t3ymMgQa97BMZWCNxG84ln~OqUtSPPyWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston ISD","date","2025-02-14T04:39:07Z","article","Dozens of parents, students and staff addressed the Houston ISD Board of Managers on Feb. 13 to urge the district to rescind suspensions of student protesters, to prevent immigration enforcement actions on campuses and to investigate or remove principals accused by speakers of creating unsafe or toxic school climates.

Several speakers said 45 Northside High School students were suspended after a Feb. 7 walkout against immigration enforcement and district policy. Petitioners told the board they had delivered a signed petition calling for the suspensions to be dropped and for protections that would keep ICE out of schools. Speakers cited the district’s student code of conduct and the First Amendment while arguing that peaceful protest did not justify suspensions.

Multiple parents and staff singled out the principal of Wharton Dual Language Academy, Veronica Celedon, alleging a pattern of poor leadership, staff departures and declining campus morale. More than one commenter said teachers and administrators had left or were considering leaving Wharton in recent months and asked the board to reassign or remove the principal.

Other speakers focused on library access and staffing. Students and parents described librarians being removed from campuses and said the loss of full books and librarian support has damaged literacy instruction at some schools. A student speaker said his younger sibling had gone 100 school days without access to a librarian.

Several speakers also raised complaints beyond personnel: allegations that some teachers were facilitating student social transitions without parental consent at one high school; concerns over curriculum quality and the use of AI‑generated instructional slides; and wide‑ranging criticism of the district’s approach to NES and scripted materials.

District officials did not announce immediate personnel actions at the meeting. Trustees and staff said they will continue to review personnel and conduct matters through appropriate administrative processes. The board did not vote on suspensions during open session; public petitioners and speakers urged trustees to take administrative steps to remove disciplinary marks from students’ records and to address campus leadership issues promptly.

Public comment included students who spoke in person and by Zoom, community groups including the Houston Education Association and Southeast Texas Brown Berets, and multiple parents who described direct experiences at Wharton and other campuses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HISD Board Meeting 2-13-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of public commenters at the Feb. 13 board meeting demanded reversal of suspensions for student protesters, asked the district to keep ICE off campuses, called for the removal of principals accused of creating toxic work environments, and described lost library access after librarian departures.","taxTitle","HOUSTON ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14108,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6330046,"HISD board approves targeted improvement plans amid protests over NES and student suspensions",225,14345000,14570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2&start=14345&end=14570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2/thumbnail_14345000.jpg","/articles/6330046/Texas/HISD-board-approves-targeted-improvement-plans-amid-protests-over-NES-and-student-suspensions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330046-296fdb1dc99db645e9c28b377acbb407/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884987&Signature=Z44S7ZY3xclBdF0KOr8LXq8F9sace3h9ACW9kdgklI6yzzUDK~2GS3zvwOLH6iKeBhAJLJ3OJE8mKchPJNCso0H4QUaO-l3DQJloQpXKqXE6n~TP5bxWoUirCwlwB6bl7wq4iDYTi~YgXiW59HiysjuX5sYPf8AS~oLmjw6yQLbB6qS5yaU~qxePFBwaIN5mDDLYnZK4NJjZWXby1S41kSvCtA9xbUotDjfYqFRUWbExBlZjbhrNKz-1pxrzjzmDeGCPiDiqe6GmghhgHvSsY4TKnaNyeqLwp301FtRZ-0CTqitVMrk22gKBLzS7udnobH3wMkOLlXLoUbaWEzjK1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Houston Independent School District Board of Managers voted 9‑0 on Feb. 13 to approve the district’s 2024‑25 targeted improvement plans for comprehensive support and intervention campuses, a required set of action plans for schools identified under federal and state accountability rules.

Board materials identified 37 campuses in the targeted‑improvement listing: 34 campuses currently in NES status and three PUA (Performance‑Up‑Action) schools. District staff said 32 of the 34 NES campuses were listed as \"comprehensive progress,\" meaning those campuses already show improvement under state identification rules and are on track to exit identification if progress continues.

The vote followed hours of public comment. More than 60 individuals addressed the board during the evening, including students, parents, teachers, union representatives and community groups. Many speakers urged the board to rescind suspensions handed to 45 Northside High School students who walked out Feb. 7 to protest immigration enforcement and district policies; asked the board to halt or scale back NES conversions; and demanded changes in school leadership at specific campuses, most prominently Wharton Dual Language Academy.

Public commenters described a range of complaints: suspension and discipline policies used against student demonstrators, alleged principal misconduct at Wharton and other campuses, reduced library access and removal of librarians at some schools, and broader concerns about scripted materials, staffing turnover and the district’s outreach to families. Several speakers delivered petitions asking the board to reinstate suspended students and to prohibit ICE access to campuses.

Trustees discussed the technical distinctions between \"comprehensive identified\" and \"comprehensive progress\" campuses and asked staff to continue providing campus‑level updates and to post supporting materials and Q&A online. The board took no additional policy action on NES conversions at the meeting; trustees approved the targeted improvement plans as presented.

Votes at a glance

- Accept Board monitoring update (Goal 3 progress measures 3.2/3.3): approved 9‑0.
- Approve 2024‑25 targeted improvement plans for HISD comprehensive support/intervention campuses: approved 9‑0 (37 campuses listed; 34 NES, 3 PUA; 32 NES listed as \"comprehensive progress\").
- Consent and legal items (including contingent fee legal services agreements considered after closed session): approved (board announced approvals following closed session).

Board members and district staff said they will post more detailed school‑level data and continue outreach to campus shared decision‑making committees, but speakers told the board that procedural improvements will not address their immediate demands for reinstating suspended students and changing campus leaders at troubled schools.","The Board of Managers approved 2024‑25 targeted improvement plans for identified campuses, a vote that drew dozens of public speakers who criticized the district's New Education System (NES), called for reinstatement of suspended students, and demanded leadership changes at multiple schools.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6330051,"HISD unveils Teacher Excellence System after months of teacher‑led review",675,8177000,8852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2&start=8177&end=8852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2/thumbnail_8177000.jpg","/articles/6330051/Texas/HISD-unveils-Teacher-Excellence-System-after-months-of-teacherled-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330051-75872803a47c25ad2a24beb208bd508f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884987&Signature=dFDtE0sA3JAmWllUWA0FypR4B~I5DfMQ1ZG6qYY6~84Un77FWF-gsq8vIt935Yalh7Y3UQUQw-3tWhJDWhSfEF5s-baW8WGPr0ewICyQRE0XQmwvZ3CBAYJnTJV-iLOOVQX03WqBpCJYfxc5W7e4FQeA0h2~7ZK612szcjPosl1SRPzWi2p5UKcIs-UoUFTjdsWQPqF7uz2DL9qoE5~pgMd39hhVRQ~jJpvkOZOnBLe-bpB7eZfZvFiINaCiL2f2YYxgSCcRg7~dx8BtoNO3GKiyB4CFEMjZ5QPAyHa3k4alD9b9C1F4~xjC23ThmgqcJVWEA3dfxPQMqR9FjvWwwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston ISD administrators on Feb. 13 laid out a proposed Teacher Excellence System, a locally designed teacher evaluation framework built with input from teachers, principals and shared‑decision bodies. The board will receive a final draft before a vote scheduled for March.

Alyssa Murray, who led the TES design work, said the system is intended to “define what teaching excellence looks like at HISD” while keeping student growth and quality of instruction at its center. Murray said the district sought broad participation: more than 9,000 teachers and leaders completed a district survey, campus shared decision‑making committees reviewed drafts and a Trailblazer program gave principals and teacher representatives sustained advisory access to drafts.

The draft TES framework would add three features not in the current system: an HISD‑specific planning and professionalism rubric that scores teachers’ out‑of‑class work; a \"distinguished teacher\" review to recognize the top roughly 20 percent of teachers; and a role for campus action plans so teachers receive evaluation credit tied to reaching campus improvement goals.

Murray said the system addresses evaluator calibration and fairness. TES would cap scored “spot” observations at four per teacher each month and require TES evaluators to pass a certification demonstrating calibrated scoring. The district also plans a library of video exemplars and additional resources for teachers and evaluators.

Principals and teachers who participated in the Trailblazer pilot described the process as collaborative and said feedback from campus focus groups and SDMC votes shaped the draft. Principal Ana Gutierrez of Herrera Elementary said the trailblazer work let her campus give input and bring the conversation back to teachers. Teacher representative Valkeith Winters said the program produced tangible changes that reached campus practice.

Murray said the district will release a final draft weeks before the board vote and continue to gather teacher feedback through TES trainers on campus. The Board of Managers deferred action; trustees asked for exemplars and clarity on implementation and resources to ensure consistent evaluator calibration across 273 campuses.","District leaders presented a locally designed Teacher Excellence System (TES) that trustees will vote on in March. TES adds an HISD‑specific planning and professionalism rubric, a path to recognize high‑performing teachers and caps monthly scored observations at four while requiring evaluator certification.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6330055,"HISD board accepts mid‑year academic progress updates; district reports mid‑year NWEA gains",5872,3328000,9200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2&start=3328&end=9200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315161-5a01dc0519d1c50eef53f6381b2fb4e2/thumbnail_3328000.jpg","/articles/6330055/Texas/HISD-board-accepts-midyear-academic-progress-updates-district-reports-midyear-NWEA-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330055-d38ad71cf2de2662ff77a0080bf5d790/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884987&Signature=FQWMYIkWRaP4osbsYwHvr2~P56XMs-zgr1VdZ0AVo5cM9i78GtT7~8lkC9R~8fUVOi9NjYTd0TLd41jaD0x70P11dSKiPvV5j65FyHzZosAV25XvMIgw3nWbYnuAInLXp7ibQHD4vX9ItNGFts-HDXJDQMFEVeaMFC9-XN1O-R2E0M0G-Uft2dlvN1hdHvhVu7yH1NzoKMp4RzlEJdJ3sn-L8wVRru3KIey7QPnaAwCvKm1FM7i0Y1pjpvyDnkGcpgtpszSMg0gG2uNYLdKfBI9Ot3ERwpjwZGcdp7Hmyrg9IbSe0JD7yf6nJRbPNSdnG8VwvR4DOtyT5hTiKCNL4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Houston Independent School District Board of Managers voted 9‑0 on Feb. 13 to accept a mid‑year monitoring update covering Goal 3 progress measures — career and technical education completer status (3.2) and percent of 11th graders who qualify for college credit (3.3).

Superintendent Mike Miles and Chief Kristen Hall presented the update and a separate mid‑year NWEA (MAP) report. Hall told the board that, at mid‑year, 46 percent of students were on track to meet CTE completer status, above the district’s end‑of‑year target of 36 percent. She said the district is focusing on centralized scheduling and counselor training so students can remain in program sequences from grade to grade.

“For CTE, one of the most important things that we are paying attention to this year is the scheduling of students so that they can continue in their existing programs,” Hall said. She described monthly campus reviews, employer partnerships and quarterly assessments in foundational programs of study as part of the work to boost completer rates.

Miles summarized the district’s NWEA midpoint results and cautioned against relying on any single assessment. He noted the board’s target of 55 percent for NWEA “met expected growth” and said districtwide results tracked slightly above that target: “We hit 56 in math and 58 in English language arts,” he said. Miles also highlighted strong science results and said the district had moved median achievement percentiles to the right in several grades.

District staff said dual enrollment and dual credit enrollment rose sharply year‑over‑year, producing a mid‑year jump in the percent of 11th graders projected to qualify for college credit (from 26 percent at the beginning of the year to 32 percent at mid‑year). Hall credited an opt‑in auto‑enrollment policy for students demonstrating readiness, and said February–March scheduling is critical to meeting the district’s 35 percent end‑of‑year target for college credit.

Board members pressed for additional cohort tracking, clarity on mid‑to‑end‑of‑year attrition in completer status and a breakdown of results for NES (targeted assistance) and PUA schools. Staff said they will provide further disaggregated data and school‑level reports to trustees.

The presentation followed public comment during which students and community members raised classroom‑level concerns including curricular materials, library access and the district’s discipline policy for student walkouts.

The board’s acceptance of the monitoring update was procedural and drew no dissent. Members were told fuller subgroup and school‑level NWEA data will be shared with trustees and posted online.

The board will hear further academic and scheduling updates as campuses conclude student scheduling in February and monitor whether mid‑year gains hold through the end of the school year.","The Houston ISD Board of Managers voted 9‑0 to accept mid‑year monitoring updates on career and college credit goals. District officials reported mid‑year gains on NWEA (MAP) growth metrics and said scheduling and centralized monitoring are key to meeting end‑of‑year targets.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, students and teachers press HISD over suspensions, alleged misconduct at Wharton and loss of librarians

HISD board approves targeted improvement plans amid protests over NES and student suspensions

HISD unveils Teacher Excellence System after months of teacher‑led review

HISD board accepts mid‑year academic progress updates; district reports mid‑year NWEA gains