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Teacher morale, planning time and due‑process concerns raised during public comment
Summary
A public commenter told the Ysleta ISD board that teacher morale is strained by added work and lost planning time; board and superintendent responded with data about overall district morale and supports.
A constituent told the Ysleta ISD Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 that teacher morale is suffering because recent pay increases coincided with added work expectations, loss of planning time, inconsistent expectations across campuses and perceived gaps in due process protections.
During the citizen‑input portion, Rosie Perez addressed the board and said teachers report “minimal improvements” but added that “additional work expectations have grown exponentially,” that conference periods are being used for PLCs, testing meetings and trainings without replacement planning time, and that inconsistent expectations across campuses create “frustration and division.” Perez urged the district to protect teacher planning time, provide clearer and consistent expectations and strengthen due‑process protections so staff can raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
Superintendent Dr. De la Torre and trustees responded during the presentations and Q&A. In remarks about academic results and staff performance, Dr. De la Torre said district morale is high overall and pointed to improved school ratings. He also addressed the comment on morale, saying the number of teachers reporting that they were “under a great deal of pressure” is very small—he cited a figure of fewer than 0.02 percent of about 2,600 teachers—and that the district’s overall morale is “at an all time high.”
Board members acknowledged the public comment. Trustee Chris Hernandez and other trustees said they had heard similar feedback from committee participants and community members about the need for clearer communication and consistent expectations. Trustees said the district should continue to monitor teacher concerns and refine processes so planning time and professional judgment are protected.
What’s next: The board and superintendent did not adopt a specific policy at the meeting; trustees asked administrators to carry forward the concerns, to review schedules and expectations that affect conference time, and to bring back any recommended changes or clarifications to campus and district processes.
(Reporting note: public comment and board responses summarized from the Sept. 10 board meeting transcript.)
