During the 2023-2024 school year, nearly 50 principals and assistant principals in the Fort Worth Independent School District resigned or retired—the most in any year since 2017.
According to new data, 49 principals and assistant principals across 41 campuses left the district, with 21 retiring and 28 resigning. Those numbers are a significant increase compared to the 2017-2018 school year when only 15 principals resigned and nine retired.
According to Steven Poole, director of the United Educators Association, a principal or assistant principal’s exit can cause a lack of stability within the school and cause discomfort.
“It causes some discomfort at the parent level,” explained Poole. “They want stability in their schools, they want to know that the principals are there, and will be there, in their school.”
“Principals don’t quit their schools, they quit their districts,” Poole continued. “That’s what I’ve heard from a lot of principals who have left Fort Worth ISD. They’re frustrated.”
Fort Worth ISD has faced several problems recently, including the district dropping from a B rating in 2022 to a C rating during the 2023-2024 school year.
Additionally, the board of trustees accepted its former Superintendent Angélica Ramsey’s resignation and appointed Dr. Karen Molinar as interim superintendent, following teacher and parental outrage over Ramsey’s leadership of the district.
Residents and teachers spoke to the board, accusing Ramsey of creating a toxic environment and failing Fort Worth students.
According to The Dallas Express, Molinar released a statement saying she is aware of the problems the district is facing and is working to address the issues.
“We are dedicated to building a district that runs efficiently and effectively, ensuring that every resource is used to benefit our students and their success, while at the same time cultivating and developing our principals and teachers so they are positioned to implement best practice instruction focused on student achievement,” Molinar said.
