TEXAS — More than 1,000 teachers at Fort Worth Independent School District left the district by the end of last school year, giving district leaders an uphill battle to fill those vacancies as the new school year begins. It’s a significant increase compared to past school years.

As the state weighs whether to take over more struggling districts, it could shadow future faculty retention problems for school districts under the hand of the state.

Of the 1,000 teachers who resigned, 963 of them put in their notice between March and June toward the end of last school year, around the same time the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced who was on the new state-appointed board.

“Everyone was worried about that,” said Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata.

Spectrum News sat down with Licata just before the start of his first full school year leading Fort Worth ISD.

“I don’t think I’ve ever opened up a school year in any of my roles worrying about teacher vacancies,” said Licata. “It’s hard to find great teachers.”

The district, now overseen by the TEA, experienced a 72% increase in teachers leaving between this March and June compared to the same time frame as the year prior.

“Teachers separated for various reasons: resignations, had to reapply, retirements, maybe they relocated,” said Licata.

Spectrum News wanted to know if other districts under state control were experiencing the same teacher exodus.

We reached out to the eight other districts in the same shoes. Six of the districts got back to us, and all of them saw an increase in teachers leaving.

As the largest district under state intervention, Houston ISD had some of the highest resignation numbers. It saw a 168% increase in resignations during the first full school year of the takeover compared to the year prior.

Resignations are dropping from their high of 2,810, but they are still not at what they were before state intervention at 1,050. This past school year, 1,622 teachers resigned.

In Beaumont, after the TEA announced a new state-appointed superintendent this past April, 219 teachers put their notices in between April and June. That’s an 86% increase compared to those months the year prior.

In South San Antonio ISD, 73 teachers resigned following the February 2025 announcement of a new board. The numbers didn’t retreat the next school year, with 139 more teachers leaving.

“That is a loss of creativity, skills and valuable years of experience, and now there are over 300 uncertified teachers,” said Patricia Everett, a Fort Worth ISD parent.

Back in Fort Worth, the district has filled most of those positions. On the first day of school, it even boasted about having zero teacher vacancies.

“Everyone that has come back or left other districts to be here understands that’s where we’re going, and it was very clear about our message and what we expect of our teachers,” said Licata.

One week after the first day of school, there are openings again on the district’s website, including 32 speech-language pathologists (SLP). Some of the posted jobs were ones the board cut months ago.

“My own child lost an SLP in this re-design,” said Laura Obuchowski, another Fort Worth ISD parent.

Two board members apologized during a recent meeting.

“The two of us feel like we owe you an apology,” said Laurie George, a Fort Worth ISD board member.

“I was under the impression we’d have a fully staffed SLP to start the school year. That didn’t happen. We failed on that front,” said Tenessee Walker, a Fort Worth ISD board member.

Licata promised concerned parents a report on the matter.

“I commit to this board that you will have a full report on everything, including some strategies to retain or attract,” said Licata. “You are being heard loud and clear.”

He added that the new report could come in the next two weeks.