Houston ISD accepts Petrie Whitfield resignation and later votes to terminate teacher after closed-session hearing
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Summary
At a Jan. 29 special meeting, the board accepted Tawara Petrie Whitfield's resignation and dismissed the TEA appeal as moot; after a closed session the board reconvened and voted to terminate the employment of Deontay Ford, a Thomas Middle School teacher.
The Houston Independent School District board on Jan. 29 accepted a resignation and carried out two employee-related actions after hearing advice from counsel and from administration.
On the Petrie Whitfield matter, Bridal Graham, identified in the record as HISD Deputy General Counsel, told the board that Tawara Petrie Whitfield had submitted a resignation on Jan. 28, 2026, with an effective date of Jan. 30, 2026. Because the resignation terminated the employee's contract, Graham said, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) appeal was moot and the administration asked the board to accept the independent hearing examiner's recommendation and dismiss the appeal. An unidentified board member moved to acknowledge the resignation, adopt the hearing officer's findings and nonrenewal recommendation, and dismiss the matter. The board seconded, voted, and the motion passed. The hearing concluded at 5:21 p.m.; staff said a notification letter would be prepared and signed by the executive director of board relations.
Later the board considered a separate hearing concerning Deontay Ford, a teacher at Thomas Middle School. Counsel for Ford, Atil Muhammad, was present and requested closed-session consultation with the board's attorneys. The board entered closed session at 5:51 p.m. After returning to open session the board heard a motion to adopt the independent hearing examiner's findings and terminate Ford's contract and employment with the district. The motion was seconded; voting closed and the motion passed. Board staff said a notification letter would be prepared and the hearing concluded at 5:52 p.m.
Minutes in the meeting record show no roll-call vote tallies or recorded individual votes in the public transcript for either motion; the clerk announced that the motions passed. Both items included board direction to prepare written notices to the parties as soon as possible.
The board took no public vote on the SB 1882-related policy provisions that speakers had urged be delayed; that policy item had been withdrawn from the agenda earlier.