Former principals Samantha Woods, Jessica Berry, Gretchen Kasper-Hoffman, Sean McClish, Lea Mishlan, Auden Sarabia, and Amanda Wingard shared their experiences at a recent community event.
These principals were part of the leadership exodus from HISD, which saw more than 150 principals leaving since the Texas Education Agency took over the district. At the event, they revealed the challenges they faced and the reasons behind their sudden departures.
The evaluations that led to a principal exodus
One of the major issues highlighted by the former principals was the sudden change in evaluation criteria announced by Superintendent Mike Miles. This change led to confusion among principals and ultimately resulted in many of them being asked to resign.
The evaluation process, which included data points on instruction, achievement, action plan, and leadership, underwent multiple revisions, leaving principals uncertain about their performance reviews. Principal Jessica Berry highlighted the lack of transparency in the appraisal system and the abrupt nature of the termination notices.
Resign or be terminated: an ultimatum
The ultimatum given to principals to resign or face termination created shockwaves within the HISD community. Principals like Samantha Woods and Jessica Berry stood their ground and were ultimately terminated from their positions. The lack of communication and the arbitrary nature of the decisions left many feeling disillusioned.
These abrupt terminations not only affected individual principals but also sent shockwaves through the entire HISD community. Auden Sarabia, the former principal of Meyerland Middle School, faced the same ultimatum and was supported by parents and students who protested his removal.
The lack of clarity and justification for these decisions has raised concerns among educators and community members about the future of HISD and the impact on its schools.