Dozens of Houston ISD Teachers Call in Sick: Putting jobs on the line to defend Houston schoolchildren’s right to learn

On Thursday, April 4th, 2024, more than 100 teachers from at least 35 Houston ISD campuses scheduled doctors’ appointments and called in sick, despite being under threat of being punished for using their allotted sick leave.

“We are all so sick and tired of Mike Miles,”  said a teacher who asked to remain anonymous. 

Today’s actions by teachers highlight the ongoing concerns about hostile learning and teaching environments created by Houston ISD’s takeover superintendent, Mike Miles, and his reform policies.  Teachers and students alike have experienced a culture of fear regarding punishment and reprisal throughout the district's campuses.

“The superintendent has created a toxic environment for students, teachers and parents.”  says HISD NES school parent and  former English teacher Melissa Yarborough who resigned in January. 

She continued, “HISD Mike Miles’ administration has intimidated teachers to stay silent about what's really happening in schools. Teachers have been left with no other choice but to speak out quietly and anonymously, which is what they are doing today.”

“I'm joining the sickout because I'm deeply troubled by how the takeover policies are directly harming our students,” said a teacher at a campus forced to become NES next year, who asked to remain anonymous. “Students and teachers are being treated like robots-- no stories, no questions, no hoodies, no heat, no bathroom, no celebrations, no community, and the list goes on.”

Nico Abazajian stated, “Miles has been terminating teachers so recklessly that our students’ needs are left unmet and unheard.” He continued, “In December, I was recommended for termination for playing chess with my students after they finished their final exams and for playing soft music during instruction.” Several substitutes have rotated through his class since. 

Other teachers  have been recommended for termination for dimming the lights, for speaking out about the harmful learning conditions, and for using their available sick time. Many more teachers have had FMLA denied and then have been terminated for taking time to care for terminally ill relatives. 

“We’re being forced to do things we know are bad for kids,” says a teacher resigning at the end of the year, who asked to remain anonymous. “We ask Houstonians to support the following demands to save our Houston schools from being dismantled by Mike Miles and the governor.”

1. Fire Mike Miles and restore the elected Houston ISD Board of Trustees.

2. Students should be supported with wraparound, counselors, nurses, and librarians/library specialists on every campus. 

3. Teachers should be certified and have college degrees. Teachers should be respected with their input valued.

4. Stop targeting black and brown schools with harmful, unproven interventions.

5. Learning should be meaningful and engaging. Curriculum, teacher evaluation and leadership decisions should be based on peer-reviewed and research-based best practices.

The Leader is working on speaking with Heights-area teachers participating in the sickout. For feedback, email editor@theleadernews.com.