Houston ISD's state-appointed Board of Managers voted this week to terminate Alaster Gaines, a 25-year veteran eighth grade math teacher at Patrick Henry Middle School, following an independent hearing examiner's recommendation that she be dismissed over how she recorded and documented special education accommodations. Before the firing, Gaines had filed a special education complaint with the Texas Education Agency and was placed on paid "home duty" while the dispute moved through the hearings process. The vote caps a months-long clash between a long-serving classroom teacher and district administrators over paperwork and support for students with disabilities.
Board docket and hearing
The case appeared on the Houston ISD agenda for the April 23 board meeting as "Consideration of Independent Hearing Examiner’s Recommendation," listed under TEA Docket No. 029-LH-10-2025. The district's public meeting packet shows the item was scheduled as a closed session personnel hearing, then returned to open session for a vote, according to Houston ISD.
Hearing officer's recommendation
The state-appointed board opted to terminate Gaines after an independent hearing examiner concluded she had failed to implement and document required accommodations for students in her classroom. "Ms. Gaines testified that she understood the directives issued by the District but believed that her alternative documentation system was sufficient," the examiner wrote. The board later voted to end her contract, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
State complaint and what TEA said
Earlier in the school year, Gaines had filed a special education complaint with the Texas Education Agency. The agency's investigative report was later sent to her and was described in coverage of the case as "partly substantiated." Gaines told reporters that being away from her students had been difficult, saying it was "rough" to be without them, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Why this matters for HISD
The decision comes while the district remains under state intervention, which the Texas Education Agency extended in 2025 as it continues overseeing Houston ISD governance and special education improvements, per TEA. Independent reporting and documents obtained by local outlets have also pointed to deep problems in the district's special education operations, including audits that identified widespread policy and procedural failures, according to Houston Landing.
Appeals and next steps
Under Texas rules, an educator who receives a board decision to terminate employment "may file an appeal in writing to the Commissioner of Education" or request the assignment of an independent hearing examiner, with the process and deadlines outlined in the state's Hearings and Appeals guidance. If Gaines chooses to pursue a commissioner appeal, she would be asking the state to review whether the board's action complied with state law and contractual procedures, per TEA.
The vote is the latest flashpoint in long-simmering tensions over how Houston ISD handles special education paperwork and how the district treats staff who raise compliance concerns. As Gaines' case moves toward any potential appeal or additional administrative review, it is likely to be closely watched by teachers, families, and advocates who have pressed for stronger safeguards for students with disabilities and tighter oversight of district practices, as reflected in local reporting and audits.
