The Fort Worth school district will report up to 14 additional teachers to the Texas Education Agency for contract abandonment, the Board of Managers voted on Tuesday.
In August, the board voted to report nine teachers to the state. During that meeting, Rosa Maria Berdeja was the only one to vote against reporting the teachers. On Tuesday, Tennessee Walker joined her, and Laurie George abstained from voting.
Under state law, educators who abandon their contracts after a deadline of 45 calendar days before the start of school could be subject to penalties, including potentially having their teaching certification revoked for one year.
Some exceptions to the law do apply, including health conditions, relocation for a spouse’s job change or providing care for a sick family member.
The 14 employees had until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to submit additional documentation to avoid being reported.
Former district employee Samantha Garcia, who left the district 2024, urged the board to vote against reporting teachers to the state. During her first year, she said instability made her job difficult, and that her experience was not unique.
“This policy will not improve retention, strengthen instruction, nor support students. It simply adds fear to a profession already stretched thin,” Garcia said. “Civility, support, and respect for educators’ expertise will keep your teachers in the classroom. Sanctions will not.”
Because of the changing conditions due to the state takeover, about a dozen parents argued that the district should have empathy during unknown times — a sentiment that Berdeja shared in August.
Vahista Ussery, who has two elementary-aged children in the district, said their teachers have changed their lives, and that she feels they are being treated as “less than.”
“If the purpose is also to deter other teachers from leaving, I think we need to ask what message that sends to the educators we are trying to retain,” Ussery said. “We need teachers to want to stay in Fort Worth ISD, not because they are afraid of what will happen if they leave, but because they believe this is a district where they are valued, supported, and respected.”
Superintendent Peter Licata iterated that every teacher who the district plans to report, has been contacted multiple times to be given the opportunity to provide reasoning, and has not responded.
Editor’s note: Fort Worth ISD Board of Managers chair Pete Geren is the president and chief executive officer of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, which is a funder of the Star-Telegram’s Crossroads Lab. The Star-Telegram retains independence in all coverage decisions.