Hundreds of angry HISD parents, students protest at schools impacted by job cuts (2024)

HOUSTON — Hundreds of Houston ISD parents are fighting back after job cuts at their children's schools that apparently include two2023 Principals of the Year.

Hundreds of people protested at two schools Monday morning.

"It’s ridiculous. This is stupid. Mike Miles is dumb," Brynn Cabe, a student, said at the protest.

"It’s a B+ performing school. There’s nothing really wrong with it. It’s a whole magnet school," Cabe told us. "It’s about teaching kids to express creativity and freedom. Mike Miles is the exact opposite of that."

They aren't happy with the direction the district is headed and want leadership to hear their message loud and clear.

"They’re claiming budget cuts, but this isn’t about budget. They still have to have a principal," Meyerland mom Kristi Pewthers said.

"We’re tired of his destruction. We're standing together. Go away Mike Miles, we’re done with you," Meyerland mom Karla Davis said.

The parents said they're not backing down and they'll protest again on Saturday.

“We don't have anybody except us representing our interests and not only that, parents need to do it because teachers and principals and staff, they are terrified of retaliation,” Stacy Anderson said.

According to his bio on the HISD website, Sarabia began his career with HISD in 1999. He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Spanish/Education and went on to earn a master's degree at the University of Houston. Sarabia also completed the Entrepreneurship Program at Rice University.

"When you disrupt the educational process by simply firing teachers and principals, before the end of the school year, you're demoralizing them, which in turn demoralizes our children," State Rep. Jarvis Johnson said at the Crockett Elementary protest.

"The irony is not lost on me as I was at the banquet to be honored for being Principal of the Year almost exactly a year ago," Wingard said.

Last week, hundreds of Houston ISD employees learned that they’re losing their jobs in just a few weeks. They include custodians, maintenance workers, mechanics and teachers. In a statement, the district blamed a budget shortfall on the state.

The district said that's not the case with principals. In a new statement to KHOU 11 News on Monday, the district indicated those jobs were based on school performance.

All contract non-renewal for principals are made "with the goal of ensuring every student receives high-quality instruction, every day," HISD said in the statement. "When a school is rated C or lower, it often means the school is not serving students well on a consistent basis. And where campuses are not meeting the needs of all kids, HISD must examine what is happening at the school. That starts with the school’s leadership."

HISD didn't address specific cases, including Sarabia's or Wingard's.

Full HISD statement on May 13

"To become a district that serves all students well, HISD must use data and on-the-job observation to staff every school with a leader who will ensure consistent, high-quality instruction at their campus.

"When making decisions about school leaders, the first – and in some ways, most critical – piece of data HISD evaluates is the quality of a school. In most cases, if a school has an A or B rating, that is a strong indication that the principal is creating the kind of learning environment students need. When a school is rated C or lower, it often means the school is not serving students well on a consistent basis. And where campuses are not meeting the needs of all kids, HISD must examine what is happening at the school. That starts with the school’s leadership.

"HISD, like all other districts, is making decisions about staffing for the 2024-2025 school year. All contract non-renewals for principals are unrelated to HISD’s overall budget challenges. Instead, these contract decisions are being made – again – with the goal of ensuring every student receives high-quality instruction, every day. In some cases, we hope principals who do not retain their current position for next school year will apply for assistant principal or other roles within HISD that will help the educator grow their instructional leadership.

"The district understands that leadership transitions are disruptive for the impacted school communities, and that the principal is often the most visible and accessible person on a campus. Division leaders will work with every impacted campus to identify each community’s priorities for their next school leader. That process will involve surveys, community meetings, and opportunities over the summer to meet with incoming principals.

"In all cases, we are asking our principals to finish the school year strong. HISD students need and deserve a full year of high-quality instruction in supportive, productive school environments.

"With regard to teachers, the District did not cut teaching positions as part of its work to right-size the HISD budget. In our non-NES schools, most decisions to retain or release a teacher are made by the principal and are based on data and classroom evaluation. Campuses that saw enrollment declines may have had to adjust their staffing for next school year, but – again – teaching positions were not cut in the HISD budget.

"At the District’s 85 NES and NES-aligned campuses, principals used data to determine which teachers are eligible to continue working in the NES and will be retained in their current positions based on the school’s projected enrollment. Employees who are not eligible to continue working in the NES but meet the requirements for non-NES positions in HISD are encouraged to apply for those available roles."