Parent urges board to address high teacher turnover, cites vacancies and leadership concerns

Amy Garcia, a Crowley ISD parent, told the school board at the district’s regular meeting that her freshman has had no geometry teacher this semester and urged trustees to address what she called high staff turnover.

"Crowley ISD teacher turnover rate is approximately 19 to 20%. When total staff is included, it's 27%," Garcia said during the public comment period, adding that the district’s high superintendent base salary does not mitigate what she described as leadership failures. "I am here to tell you that you are failing. Not only are you failing our students and teachers, but you are failing the community."

Garcia said multiple teachers have told her they were instructed not to report poor behavior and expected to handle discipline themselves. She asked whether the district plans to allow schools to suspend disruptive students when necessary, arguing that short-term losses in attendance-driven funding would be preferable to continued teacher departures.

Trustees did not take immediate action during the meeting; the public comment was followed by routine recognitions and partner presentations. The board’s consent agenda later passed without recorded debate. The board has previously discussed staffing and retention in departmental reports; Garcia asked the trustees for a clear plan to reduce turnover and to better support campus leaders and teachers.