More than 4,000 employees left Houston ISD in June, bringing the total departures since the state took over the district last year to over 10,000. This high staff turnover rate has raised concerns and garnered attention from education reporters like Nusaiba Mizan from the Houston Chronicle.
Mizan’s analysis revealed that this June’s 4,000-person exodus is three times higher than the June turnover average for the past five years. What is even more alarming is that over half of the June departures were teachers, totaling more than 2,400 educators leaving the district. Additionally, 48 principals and 65 assistant principals departed in June, along with an additional 1,500-plus employees.
One concerning trend that Mizan highlighted was the increase in principal departures compared to previous years. She noted that 76 principals left their positions, with the majority being voluntary departures. Some principals were reassigned or promoted within the district, while others were asked to resign or face board termination.
Teachers and principals who chose to leave the district cited a change in culture since the state-appointed leadership took over in June 2023. They described feelings of ‘fear’ and ‘micromanaging,’ which made the work environment undesirable. Despite these challenges, the departing educators emphasized that they were dedicated to following reforms and doing their best for students. One special education teacher expressed frustration with the superintendent’s portrayal of teachers and called for a change in top leadership.
The departures were not isolated to a few schools but were spread out across the district. However, some campuses, including Bellaire High School, Westside High School, Wisdom High School, and Paul Revere Middle School, experienced particularly high exit numbers.
In response to the turnover numbers, the district highlighted the low number of current vacancies, with only 43 teaching vacancies across 274 schools. They also emphasized that all but one principal vacancy had been filled. Despite this, teacher groups and the Houston Federation of Teachers have stressed the importance of hiring qualified and certified educators to fill the roles left vacant by those who departed.
The high staff turnover in Houston ISD underscores the need for addressing the underlying issues that are driving educators away. As the district works to fill vacancies and stabilize its workforce, the focus should be on creating a supportive and conducive work environment for teachers and principals. By addressing concerns about culture, leadership, and support, Houston ISD can strive to retain and attract qualified educators who are dedicated to serving the students and communities within the district.
