Union president accuses HISD of retaliation after proposed contract termination

Photo byShadowbriar Elementary

HOUSTON, TX – Michelle Williams, president of the Houston Education Association, is speaking out after reportedly being terminated from her teaching position with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) for “inappropriate behavior.” The union president has accused the district of retaliation.

Williams was reassigned to a district bus depot after going live on social media on March 6, 2024. The district accused the educator of filming the video from her classroom at Shadowbriar Elementary School, which is against policy. Williams, however, contests such an allegation. 

“I was not at the campus. I can prove that I wasn't there,” the educator shares. Williams claims surveillance from the school would clear her name. 

The president of the Houston Education Association has been critical of the district’s proposed compensation plan for teachers in the forthcoming year. The district is reportedly planning to add 10 days to the school year without providing adequate compensation. Williams’ social media video on March 6, 2024, was about the payment schedule. 

“I want to tell you all that the compensation manual is a slap in the face to all teachers in HISD, NES and non-NES, because it attempts to pay teachers less,” Williams shared in her eight-minute long video. The district reassigned her to a bus depot the following day. 

In addition to her video allegedly breaking policy, the district also accused Williams of violating its guidelines by sharing other social media posts during the school day. HISD prohibits teachers from engaging in activities not related to work during instruction hours. Williams argues that the social media posts were scheduled and were only problematic after her social media video session about compensation. 

“When you're trying to retaliate against someone, they make it a problem and it has never been a problem,” she says. “I'm not going to allow HISD or anyone else to put falsehoods on paper about me,” the educator adds. 

The district has not officially terminated Williams’ contract, though parents and children are already bracing themselves for her departure. 

“It makes me sad," Williams shares. "I cried when I heard some of the things that the kids were saying.”

HISD refused to make direct comments about Williams’ case. The district did, however, make a statement in which it expressed its expectation that “employees comply with HISD Board policy and the Employee Standards of Conduct.” 

Williams has retained legal counsel for the matter at hand.