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.
Overview
- 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.