Houston ISD Faces Backlash Over Principal Reassignment at Lantrip Elementary

Parents and students protest the removal of Principal Valiza Castro, demanding transparency and criticizing state-appointed district leadership.

Lantrip Elementary parents and students staged a protest after Principal Valiza Castro was placed on administrative leave without explanation from Houston ISD leadership.
Janet Benavides, formerly of Laurenzo Early Childhood Center, has been named interim principal and will begin full-time on December 2.
Protesters voiced dissatisfaction with state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles and the unelected board of managers, citing a lack of communication and increasing leadership turnover across the district.
Lantrip, an A-rated school, has experienced significant teacher turnover and cultural shifts since the state takeover, with parents expressing concerns about a 'culture of fear' and reduced teacher autonomy.
HISD has promised to engage families in creating a principal profile for a permanent hire in the spring but has not addressed calls for Castro’s reinstatement or provided details on her removal.