On August 25,  Houston ISD Family and Community Engagement (FACE) coordinator attended a Durham Elementary PTA board meeting to encourage community involvement.

Less than 24 hours later, teachers who attended that PTA meeting and were heavily involved in the community were “reassigned to home duty” after a visit from Superintendent Mike Miles. This decision has sparked concern among Durham Elementary parents who believe the staffing decisions were made in direct retaliation for the teachers' recent criticisms regarding changes to the school's curriculum. 

Rather than providing the support promised, the district removed two of the best teachers at Durham Elementary from classrooms, and replaced them with substitute teachers.. These teachers both have a history of producing high test scores and have received high Instructional Responsiveness Tool (IRT) ratings, leading the PTA to conclude that the teachers were punished for speaking out against the district. We will not allow these fear tactics to dissuade us from advocating for what is best for our children and our school.

The district has repeatedly said they are there to provide a high quality education to all students at Durham. In action, they have removed teachers that were proven in providing high quality instruction and replaced them with a substitute and iPads. 

 

Houston ISD consistently states that the district promotes and encourages family and community involvement. However, there is a significant contrast between the district's stated policy and the lived experiences of parents and educators who have expressed a feeling of being unheard or marginalized by the new administration. 

 

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