Houston's education sphere is awash with controversy as Houston ISD pushes for the termination of two outspoken union leaders, sparking debate over free speech and professionalism within the education system. Michelle Williams, the Houston Education Association President, is facing termination from HISD due to alleged violations involving social media use during work hours. According to the Houston Chronicle, Williams was reassigned to a bus depot while the district, spearheaded by Superintendent Mike Miles, mounts a case against her.
Williams, a third-grade teacher at Shadowbriar Elementary School and a 12-year HISD veteran, fell into disfavor after a string of social media posts critical of district leadership, particularly targeting Miles and the administration. She has been accused of live streaming a video from her classroom, a claim she staunchly denies. Williams insists the video was made at home, providing evidence including toll receipts to the Houston Chronicle to bolster her claim.
Meanwhile, Larry McKinzie, an eighth-grade science teacher with nearly three decades at HISD, is in the hot seat after making comments at a board meeting that the district interpreted as threatening. McKinzie reportedly called out board members by revealing their home addresses and discussing protests at their workplaces. However, McKinzie believes his words were twisted, stating, "They said I threatened them, and I didn't. All I did was go online and present some of the information I found," he told KTRK. His appeal will be heard by a TEA officer before the board makes a final decision, possibly as late as September.
These confrontations underscore a broader tussle over expression and oversight in HISD in the wake of a state takeover. Union leaders assert their right to criticize and hold district leaders accountable, while HISD administrators enforce boundaries of employee conduct within the domain of their schools and offices. The Houston Federation of Teachers supports McKinzie, with representative Jackie Anderson declaring, "I didn't hear a threat. I don't think anyone in the room heard a threat. So, she actually accused him of threatening someone, and he had not done that," in an interview with KTRK.
The controversies pose questions about the balance, between policy enforcement and the need for open discourse within educational institutions. As the cases of Williams and McKinzie unfold, HISD finds itself at the intersection of policy and the praxis of free speech – with the eyes of educators, and the public alike keenly watching.
