More than 160 teachers from some of Houston ISD’s lowest-performing middle and high schools weren’t offered jobs at those campuses next year, the district announced late Friday.
The decision affects nine campuses targeted in Superintendent Terry Grier’s “Apollo 20” reform plan to boost student achievement.
Of the 600 teachers at those schools last year, 358 — or 60 percent — were asked to stay on the job. But the district is forcing out 162 teachers, or 27 percent of the staff.
Grier’s administration made the staffing changes based on “an exhaustive data-driven evaluation” of the teachers, the district said.
An additional 80 teachers at the targeted schools previously had decided to retire, resign or transfer to other campuses, HISD said.
The affected high schools are Jones, Kashmere, Lee and Sharpstown. The middle schools are Attucks, Dowling, Fondren, Key and Ryan. Most of the campuses also will be getting new principals.
The teachers forced out can apply for other teaching jobs in the district, and HISD will hold a job fair for them on June 23.
The Apollo 20 reform plan — which also will include 11 elementary schools in 2011-12 —includes a longer school day and year, payments to struggling students who attend Saturday tutoring, double doses of math and reading classes, a professional dress code for teachers and an intense focus on student achievement data.
Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said she supported many parts of the plan but questioned the late notice HISD gave to the teachers. Because they are under contract, they are guaranteed a paycheck.
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Via: Chron.com
