HOUSTON — Families in Sharpstown are uniting behind the principal of Neff Elementary after she was asked to resign.
Amanda Wingard confirmed to KHOU 11 News last week that Houston ISD asked her to resign after this school year. Parents and students are stunned at the decision and what it may mean for the future of the district.
Principal Wingard won HISD Elementary School Principal of the Year in 2022-2023. Now, the district wants her gone and parents are outraged and fighting to save her job.
For parents and students, principal Wingard has been a fixture at Neff Elementary
"It doesn't make any sense at all," said parent Marlin Reyes. "We're trying to understand why. How are you going to make the school better if you have someone so good leave."
Wingard isn't commenting publicly about losing her position. Last year, this was her reaction after winning Principal of the Year:
"I love this school. I've given my heart and soul to it, but it's not about me. It's about these people here who are amazing to work with. I am blessed to be here and come here every day," she said.
Winguard was a student at Neff Elementary, then a teacher, then eventually became principal. But when the school year ends, she'll be without a job.
"After serving more than half her life to this community and school she's just being thrown out the door," said parent Jennifer. "It's just not fair."
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Jennifer first met principal Wingard a long time ago.
"She was my teacher back in 2003 over 20 years ago," said Jennifer.
All these years later, Jennifer's son is now a student at Neff under principal Wingard's leadership.
"She's our voice," said Jennifer. "She's very familiar with the community, our demographics and our history, and where we can grow as a community as well."
Neff scored an overall B-rating in the TEA's 2022 school report card. Parents said the school was only continuing to improve. This decision we're told blindsided parents and left them questioning how and why the district took this action.
"She teaches the kids not to be scared, to stand up, to try to do their best, she pushes them a lot," said Reyes. "This school is not going to be worth it anymore."
Families tell KHOU 11 News they plan to protest outside Neff Elementary again on Friday afternoon. The district did not provide many specifics about these mass layoffs but said principal decisions are not being made due to budget concerns.
Read HISD's full statement is below:
To become a district that serves all students well, HISD must use data and on-the-job observation to staff every school with a leader who will ensure consistent, high-quality instruction at their campus.
When making decisions about school leaders, the first – and in some ways, most critical – piece of data HISD evaluates is the quality of a school. In most cases, if a school has an A or B rating, that is a strong indication that the principal is creating the kind of learning environment students need. When a school is rated C or lower, it often means the school is not serving students well on a consistent basis. And where campuses are not meeting the needs of all kids, HISD must examine what is happening at the school. That starts with the school’s leadership.
HISD, like all other districts, is making decisions about staffing for the 2024-2025 school year. All contract non-renewals for principals are unrelated to HISD’s overall budget challenges. Instead, these contract decisions are being made – again – with the goal of ensuring every student receives high-quality instruction, every day. In some cases, we hope principals who do not retain their current position for next school year will apply for assistant principal or other roles within HISD that will help the educator grow their instructional leadership.
The district understands that leadership transitions are disruptive for the impacted school communities, and that the principal is often the most visible and accessible person on a campus. Division leaders will work with every impacted campus to identify each community’s priorities for their next school leader. That process will involve surveys, community meetings, and opportunities over the summer to meet with incoming principals.
In all cases, we are asking our principals to finish the school year strong. HISD students need and deserve a full year of high-quality instruction in supportive, productive school environments.
With regard to teachers, the District did not cut teaching positions as part of its work to right-size the HISD budget. In our non-NES schools, most decisions to retain or release a teacher are made by the principal and are based on data and classroom evaluation. Campuses that saw enrollment declines may have had to adjust their staffing for next school year, but – again – teaching positions were not cut in the HISD budget.
At the District’s 85 NES and NES-aligned campuses, principals used data to determine which teachers are eligible to continue working in the NES and will be retained in their current positions based on the school’s projected enrollment. Employees who are not eligible to continue working in the NES but meet the requirements for non-NES positions in HISD are encouraged to apply for those available roles.