Return to Headlines

Fort Worth ISD Will Appeal TEA Decision on Status of Fired Teacher

The Fort Worth ISD will appeal the recent ruling by the Texas Education Commissioner concerning the future employment of a fired teacher.

Georgia Clark, who gained national attention after going on social media to ask President Donald Trump to “remove the illegals” at her school, was fired on September 17, 2019, by the Board of Education. Trustees voted 8-0 on that date to uphold their earlier decision to terminate Clark’s continuing teacher contract for good cause pursuant to Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code.

Commissioner Mike Morath released a ruling late Monday (November 25) that the former Fort Worth ISD teacher should be reinstated with back pay or, alternatively, receive one year of salary.

However, the Commissioner’s decision was not based on the merits of the case but rather a procedural technicality with which the District does not agree. Mr. Morath said, in his ruling, that the Board did not adopt a finding that good cause exists to terminate Ms. Clark’s contract. Yet, the Board of Trustees did, in fact, do just that in its decision on September 17. Accordingly, the Fort Worth ISD will appeal this decision and will do so in the next 20 days.

Superintendent Kent P. Scribner said: “We stand by our decision because we firmly believe this is in the best interests of all students.”

-FWISD-