Board authorizes complaint to State Board for Educator Certification over two late resignations
Summary
The Northwest ISD board found 'no good cause' for two teachers27 late resignations for 2025-26 and voted to authorize the superintendent to file a complaint with the State Board for Educator Certification seeking sanctions for abandonment of contract.
The Northwest ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday formally found that two teachers had no legal ‘‘good cause’’ to resign late from their 2025-26 contracts and authorized the superintendent to file a complaint with the State Board for Educator Certification seeking sanctions for abandonment. The motion passed 7-0.
The board27s action came after trustees discussed two resignations the district said it had not accepted. Trustee Mrs. Hatfield made the motion, saying the board should "finds that good cause did not exist under section 21.21(c) of the Texas Education Code for Kristen Gonzalez and Jared Burns to resign their contract for the 2025-26 school year," and that the board "authorizes the superintendent to file a complaint with the State Board of Educators certification to seek sanctions for their abandonment." Trustee Mrs. Kopp seconded the motion. The board then voted 7-0 in favor.
Why it matters: A complaint to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) can lead to state-level sanctions on a certificate holder, and a finding of abandonment can affect the teachers27 future eligibility to hold educator certification in Texas. The board27s motion specifically cited section 21.21(c) of the Texas Education Code as the basis for its finding.
Details: The board recorded the vote as unanimous, 7 in favor, 0 opposed. The motion directs the superintendent to submit the complaint to SBEC; the transcript shows the board27s action but does not record any subsequent procedural steps, timelines for filing, or any responses from the named teachers. The transcript also does not include statements from the teachers themselves.
Discussion vs. decision: The transcript indicates the board considered the matter and then took formal action via a motion and vote. The motion text and the vote are recorded verbatim in the meeting minutes excerpt.
What remains unresolved: The transcript does not include the superintendent27s statement about whether the complaint has been filed, the date of filing, or any SBEC response timeline. The transcript also does not include any statements from Kristen Gonzalez or Jared Burns.
Trustees and staff quoted or on record: Trustee Mrs. Hatfield and Trustee Mrs. Kopp were the movers and seconder; the board as a whole voted 7-0. The superintendent was authorized to act but did not speak on the record about the filing during the excerpt.
For follow-up: Watch for the district or SBEC public docket for confirmation of a complaint filing and any subsequent proceedings.
