Harris County schools highlight recruitment efforts and mark sixth consecutive year with no special-education disproportionality findings

District human-resources and support-services leaders updated the Harris County Board of Education Feb. 6 on staffing, recruitment and special-education outcomes.

Miss Carlisle, who presented the human-resources update, said the district posted position pools for the 2025–26 school year and has run targeted recruitment events — described to the board as informal hiring events in collaboration with school nutrition and transportation — that have produced hires and ongoing interviews. Carlisle said the district is emphasizing local recruitment, early engagement with principals on staffing for next year, and a “teacher-cadet” pipeline that has moved paraprofessionals into teacher-education programs; she described a group of paraprofessionals completing teacher-certification programs as a “secret weapon.” Carlisle also told the board that the HR team conducted 90‑day check-ins with 56 new employees last fall and found the orientation, mentoring and early outreach improve retention.

Support-services director Miss Baker reported on special-education monitoring and student supports. Baker told the board the district had, for the sixth consecutive year, no significant findings for significant disproportionality, disproportionate representation or significant discrepancies related to identification, placement or discipline for students with disabilities. She also said the district’s FY25 LEA determination (using 2023–24 data) met 100% of Part B of IDEA requirements.

Baker noted ongoing needs: the district expects to hire approximately four to five special-education teachers across levels because of retirements, resignations and increased caseloads. She described Hope Center “shopping days” (next scheduled on Feb. 12) that provide clothing, food and hygiene items to district families and staff; Baker said the December shopping day served more than 60 students and that families and employees can arrange appointments at the Hope Center.

Board members recognized National School Counseling Week and Baker named the district’s counseling staff roster publicly in appreciation. Carlisle and Baker said staff will bring more-detailed HR and professional-development materials to the board retreat and asked for continued board support for recruitment and retention initiatives.

No formal actions or votes were taken on staffing or special-education items during the Feb. 6 meeting.