The Humble Independent School District finds itself at the heart of an escalating legal drama as Troy Kite, former athletic director and husband of the district's Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen, is alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination in a lawsuit filed against the district and several of its board members. Kite, who retired in April, claimed that he was subjected to "unwelcome sexual advances" by the Board President, Robert Scarfo, and described a culture of intimidation under Scarfo's leadership.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the lawsuit asserts that Kite was forced out after the district's leadership created intolerable work conditions. It further details allegations against board members Mike Grabowski, Ken Kirchhofer, and Chris Parker, who supposedly conspired with Scarfo to decide Kite's employment fate in closed sessions. Kite objected to the findings of a 231-page report, released right before his departure, which accused him of contributing to a hostile work atmosphere and engaging in inappropriate sexual banter.
In a separate report by the Houston Landing, further details emerged about Kite's claims, including several instances of alleged inappropriate touching and comments by Scarfo that date back to 2019. Apparently, these instances had become a running joke among colleagues, reaching a level where employees jokingly referred to Scarfo as Kite’s "boyfriend." The lawsuit also accuses the board president of creating a fear-based environment, where staff were wary of landing on his "bad side."
Amidst these troubling allegations, Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen was placed on administrative leave last month by the district's board, further thickening the plot. This move divided the board, with a group of four members, including Scarfo, pushing against three trustees who questioned the transparency of the board’s actions. Trustee Robert Sitton, voting against releasing the investigative report on Kite, has expressed concerns about the implications of drawing premature conclusions in ongoing Title IX cases.
The implications of these legal proceedings could potentially ripple through the governance of Humble ISD. According to documents obtained by the Houston Landing, the Texas Education Agency is already reviewing complaints that include allegations of misuse of public funds and conflicts of interest among district officials. Should the TEA decide to follow through with a formal investigation, the outcome could lead to the state imposing sanctions, such as appointing a monitor or even replacing the board.
