Houston Independent School District Faces Leadership Crisis

News Summary

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) reports significant leadership turnover as 21 principals will not return for the 2025-26 school year. This alarming trend follows the state’s recent takeover and raises concerns among parents and educators about the stability of school leadership. The district’s retention rate for principals has notably fallen to 59%, much lower than the national average. Amid these changes, HISD is pushing to promote new leaders from within, yet the departure of so many principals has sparked fears of a diminishing quality of education.

Houston – The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has announced that at least 21 principals will not return for the 2025-26 school year, raising alarms over the district’s alarming leadership turnover. This decision comes amid ongoing challenges the district faces following its recent state takeover.

Among the 21 departing principals, five are leaving for personal reasons. Notably, four of these individuals were recognized at a recent Board of Managers meeting for their contributions. Another five principals have been reported to leave due to performance-related issues. Data from the district indicates that 25% of HISD principals departed at the end of the 2023-24 school year for similar performance reasons, highlighting a significant leadership crisis within the district.

In addition to those leaving, eleven principals will transition to new roles within HISD, which may affect the stability of various campuses across the district. However, the district has not disclosed which specific schools will be affected by these principal departures.

Chief of Schools Sandi Massey discussed several principal transitions at a recent meeting. Notable resignations include Wheatley High School’s principal, Sabrina Cuby-King, and Burbank Middle School’s principal, David Knittle, both of whom will retire. Field Elementary’s principal, Trevor Karr, will relocate back to Michigan after spending nine years with HISD, during which the school maintained its A-rating under state accountability measures.

Fleming Middle School’s principal, Devin Adams, who has served for three years, will pursue a doctorate at Harvard University. Under his leadership, Fleming’s accountability rating improved significantly, rising from an F in 2023 to a B in 2024. Knittle has been associated with HISD since 1996 and has held various roles, including teacher aide and assistant principal before his seven-year tenure as Burbank’s principal. Cuby-King played a critical role in transforming Wheatley High School from a D-rated to a B-rated campus in 2024, following persistent state interventions due to poor performance over seven years.

These leadership shifts come amid growing concerns from parents and advocacy groups about the impacts of principal turnover on school communities. Recent instability included Dr. Shelby Calabrese being placed on leave as principal of Harvard Elementary. The subsequent appointee, Sharon Pe Benito, withdrew from the role, reportedly due to social media bullying. Following her withdrawal, Dr. Stefanie Spencer was appointed as the interim principal.

HISD has experienced a high turnover rate, affecting nearly half of its campuses within the first year under Superintendent Mike Miles. The district’s retention rate for principals has dropped to 59%, markedly lower than the national average of 80%. This situation has faced significant criticism from parents and educators who express concerns regarding HISD’s leadership approach and the prevailing culture of fear among school leaders.

To address its leadership challenges, HISD has actively promoted new leaders from within, initiating a broader strategy to reshape the district’s leadership dynamics. However, the recent exodus of principals raises questions about the effectiveness of these efforts.

With these significant changes, HISD is navigating a complex landscape of principal turnover which could ultimately impact the quality of education for students across the district.

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Additional Resources

• Houston Chronicle: HISD Principal Departures Announced
• Wikipedia: Houston Independent School District
• FOX 26 Houston: Parents Question Stability at Harvard Elementary
• Google Search: HISD leadership turnover
• Houston Chronicle: State Takeover HISD Numbers
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Houston
• Click2Houston: New Principal at Harvard Elementary Quits
• Google News: HISD