A former Houston ISD special-education teacher has filed a lawsuit against the state’s top education official, claiming that a flawed process led to the loss of her position. Susan Tittle, a former teacher at Fonville Middle School, filed a lawsuit Thursday in Harris County. Her suit names Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and the HISD Board of Managers, asking the court to overturn a state-level decision that upheld the nonrenewal of her contract. She is seeking back pay, benefits, and the restoration of her eligibility to work for the district.
Susan Tittle’s court filing states that an independent hearing examiner concluded in September 2025 that HISD did not have enough evidence to justify nonrenewing her contract. She alleges that the state-appointed board denied the renewal anyway, adopting legal conclusions prepared by the district’s attorney. The complaint also claims the board acted without a lawful quorum and considered information outside the formal administrative record. The lawsuit asks the court to reverse or vacate Commissioner Morath’s decision and grant back pay and other relief.
How the State Appeals Process Works
Under Texas law, educators facing contract nonrenewal or termination can appeal to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The agency assigns independent hearing examiners, and the commissioner issues written decisions after reviewing their recommendations. If an educator disagrees with the commissioner’s ruling, they can seek judicial review in district court, according to the TEA. The agency also maintains a public record of commissioner decisions and hearing examiners’ recommendations, making the documentation accessible for those who wish to review it.
District Counsel and the Board Process
Court documents identify the school-law firm that represented HISD during Tittle’s nonrenewal proceedings as Rogers, Morris & Grover, with attorney Myra S. Chickering listed as of counsel. The firm notes that Chickering has decades of experience advising school boards on administrative hearings and employment disputes, a background relevant to the HISD board’s consideration of the hearing examiner’s findings.
Teacher's Defense and the Testing Question
Tittle’s lawsuit states that she was assigned to a self-contained class despite lacking certification in some of the subjects she was required to teach. The filing says she filed a grievance regarding the assignment, received a series of memos in response, and was dismissed less than a month after the grievance decision.
Legal Stakes
The lawsuit challenges both the process and the outcome of Tittle’s nonrenewal. She alleges that the board’s vote violated the Texas Open Meetings Act and that it improperly rejected or modified the independent hearing examiner’s legal analysis. The Texas Attorney General’s Open Meetings Handbook notes that a meeting generally requires a quorum and warns that attempts to bypass public deliberation can create legal issues for governmental bodies. The Texas Education Agency provides guidance on appeals procedures for educators, outlining how disputes are meant to progress from the campus level to the state office.
The case is currently pending in Harris County civil court.
