The saga surrounding former Humble ISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen's termination continues to unfold. After the school district's trustees voted 6-1 in favor of terminating her contract, Fagen has made it clear she plans to fight the decision, expressing faith in the concept that justice will eventually prevail. In a recent interview with the Houston Chronicle, Fagen stated, "I've always been a person who just believes the sort of Martin Luther King Jr., the law of the universe 'bends towards justice.'" She claimed that it's best for the district and all involved to allow her to exit peacefully, questioning, "Why destroy my professional career and reputation when I was asking to do what was best for everyone?"
According to an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Fagen pointed out that she had "no proof" against her in the recommendation by the hearing officer that led to her firing, maintaining that her side of the story wasn't given due consideration. The situation began to unravel after Fagen removed herself from a Title IX case involving her spouse, the first of a series of events that eventually led to her being placed on leave and later fired. Fagen’s recusal from the case was never documented, and the use of an outside law firm to handle the investigation came at a cost of more than $1.5 million at a time when many Texas school districts face financial strain. Throughout the ordeal, Fagen has repeatedly stated her innocence and misunderstanding of the board's motives to fire her.
The turmoil sprung from a Title IX complaint against her husband, which was substantiated, resulting in his resignation from the district in April. Fagen herself faced accusations concerning her relationship with Kite, which she disclosed to the board in March 2022. Additionally, she faced allegations for supposedly failing to maintain a relationship with the board, leading to her termination in a split vote. Despite her termination, Fagen plans to appeal, as noted by a report on ABC 13, aiming to rectify her reputation and seek financial compensation.
As Fagen gears up to appeal to the Texas Education Agency commissioner, she reflected critically on her time with the district, asserting that she had always maintained "a perfect evaluation" throughout her career. She alluded to her accomplishments in the district, including improvements in safety and innovation, also highlighting challenges such as managing a rise in economically disadvantaged students and navigating through the pandemic. Despite these efforts, she now sees her reputation tarnished and is unsure of her future as a superintendent due to the circumstances. Even as she contemplates her next move, Fagen told the Houston Chronicle that she fears for the district's trajectory without her leadership.
Meanwhile, Humble ISD aims to move forward. After Fagen's firing, Roger Brown was appointed as interim superintendent, and board members began the process of searching for a permanent replacement, as mentioned by ABC 13. While the community has requested waiting until after the May 2025 elections for the new appointment, the board has yet to signal how it intends to proceed with the hiring process. Board president Chris Parker, in a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle, assured that the board intends to "move forward in a positive direction," prioritizing the district's, students', and community's best interests.
