Parents, students, and community members at Pershing Middle School are protesting recent leadership changes and new policies. The protests follow the reassignment of three principals, four assistant principals, and a rise in teacher departures, leading to concerns about staff stability, according to a report by Click2Houston.

Parents at Pershing Middle School protested on Wednesday morning, frustrated by a lack of transparency and constant changes. Sophy Ashworth, a parent, mentioned, "There are strange faces and adults in the school all the time because the district's having to spend so much support." This reflects a wider concern in the HISD community for more emotional support and less focus on test scores. Teacher turnover has also caused issues, with Christine Pham saying, "That's really unfortunate. He's not even motivated anymore," about her son losing three favorite teachers. The school has relied more on substitutes, as per Houston Chronicle.

HISD's Central Division Superintendent Luz Martinez said the changes are "in the absolute best interest of all staff and students." Some parents, like Anita Wadhwa, don't blame the school administration but instead criticize HISD leadership and their approach to reforms. This issue is part of a wider conversation about social-emotional learning and community involvement in school policies, as stated by Click2Houston and Houston Chronicle.