Crockett Elementary parents feel ‘blindsided’ after learning HISD principal was forced to resign

On Monday morning, parents from at least two Houston ISD schools gathered outside their campuses to protest the forced resignation of their principals. While the district cited performance issues as the reason, it came as a surprise to many, especially considering that two of the principals had been honored as HISD’s Elementary and Middle School Principals of the Year in 2023.

Liz Silva, a parent at Crockett Elementary, expressed her frustration after receiving an email last Friday announcing Principal Alexis Clark’s departure without specifying a reason. Silva highlighted Clark’s dedication to the school and magnet programming, emphasizing her passion and commitment to the students.

Similarly, Amanda Wingard, principal of Neff Elementary and a former Principal of the Year honoree, expressed irony in her forced resignation, declining further comment. Auden Sarabia, principal at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School and another past honoree, also faced job loss, sparking protests at their respective campuses.

Parents like Jada Stroud criticized HISD Superintendent Mike Miles, attributing the layoffs to what they perceive as detrimental decisions affecting school communities.

Miles defended the decisions, stating they were based on performance rather than the district’s budget deficit, noting that schools like Crockett and Neff Elementary currently hold a D rating. The district emphasized the correlation between school ratings and principal effectiveness in creating conducive learning environments.

Despite the explanations, parents remain concerned about the impact on their children’s education and emotional well-being. Kim Woods expressed worry about her children’s trust in the school system, highlighting the emotional toll the sudden changes have taken on families.