On January 6, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) coerced the Round Rock ISD (RRISD) school board into placing its superintendent on leave, overriding self governance and representation of our community by our democratically elected, local school board.  

How did we get here?

• On August 10th, 2021, in spite of Governor Abbott’s failed ban on mask mandates in public schools, RRISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez implemented a district-wide mask recommendation based on local needs, public health expert recommendations, majority community expectations, and sound legal advice.

• The very next day, on August 11th, the TEA announced that it would install a Monitor in RRISD because of an alleged ethical breach by a former school-board member that took place years earlier, in 2019.

• The Monitor arrived in December, and on December 15, prior to attending a single Board meeting, he issued a directive that the school board place the superintendent on leave.

• The outcome of the RRISD Board vote was a direct result of TEA’s promise of escalating interference in Board decision making, up to and including removal of our school board altogether and permanent replacement of our superintendent.

Round Rock ISD, its school board, and superintendent are being targeted for oversight despite faithfully representing and responding to the needs of our diverse metropolitan and suburban community.

TEA's disruptive actions–made unilaterally without consulting parents, community members, and District leaders–divert attention away from important, student-focused goals and further hinder the District's efforts to support families, student health, and learning in already challenging pandemic conditions.

Show the TEA and Governor Abbott that we see their overreach and the harm it is doing, and we will not stand for interference in our school board’s self governance, not in RRISD and not in any school district in Texas.  

Act Now – Take 30 seconds to sign and send this letter to Governor Abbott, the TEA, and Round Rock ISD leaders, so they know that we support bringing Dr. Azaiez back to work for RRISD students.

Do you want to see the TEA directive to RRISD’s school board and the statements by RRISD Trustees for yourself? TEA Memo & RRISD Trustee Statements Are Linked Here

Please consider personalizing your letter by stating your relationship to RRISD (parent/student/teacher/community member/other).

*If you're uncomfortable using Action Network to send your letter, you can copy, paste, and personalize the letter here.