HOUSTON — Many Houston ISD parents are continuing to protest outside schools over the district reportedly forcing principals to resign.
Wednesday morning, parents planned to gather outside Herod Elementary School in the Meyerland area, saying HISD leaders are getting rid of beloved principals at schools that are performing well. Parents say the principal and at least 12 teachers and staff members at the school received termination letters during Teacher Appreciation Week.
They said this has created an environment of fear and instability at Herod. Some parents say they've lost sleep and their kids are having panic attacks over the changes.
"They want a high-quality school day where the teachers and principals care," one parent said. "And right now, that's just not there."
There have been demonstrations like this one at several HISD schools in recent weeks. Superintendent Mike Miles commented on the situation last week, saying the decision not to renew teachers or principals at the end of a year is nothing new. He said it was based solely on data gathered throughout the school year.
Parents at Wednesday morning's protest disagreed with Miles, saying the number of principals being forced out is not normal.
"It's not normal to have 47 people or principals notified at once," one parent said. "I thought it was pretty heartless that it happened during Teacher Appreciation Week."