Ann Richards School Principal’s Exit Followed District Misconduct Findings, Report Shows

An internal Austin ISD investigation recommended firing a principal and a supervisor for mishandling a student crisis before the principal resigned.

According to an internal report obtained through an open records request, Austin Independent School District officials recommended that Nicole Griffith, the principal of Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, be terminated just days before she submitted her resignation in late March.

While managing a student crisis, the Office of Professional Standards determined that Griffith and Dr. Stacie Holiday, the executive director of secondary schools, had violated numerous district policies. Griffith, acting under Holiday's guidance, withdrew a student without appropriate parental notification or involving a truancy officer and failed to initiate a special education evaluation despite what the district referred to as "clear indicators," according to the report.

The report further alleges that the student's reenrollment was postponed without legal justification as a result of disability-related symptoms. Griffith's attorney has stated that she has since rescinded her resignation, which was officially documented on March 26.

Griffith's attorney, Tiger Hanner, characterized the heavily redacted report as "inaccurate" and "flawed." Hanner asserted that Griffith was guided by her supervisors, district legal counsel, medical professionals, and external agencies. "The safety and security of her students are of the utmost importance to Nicole Griffith," he stated.

During a fraught school board meeting on Thursday, Cynthia Soliz, a former district employee mentioned in the report, criticized the investigation, stating that it captured "roughly 20 percent" of the events that transpired. She asked, "What does it say about our capacity to retain exceptional leaders if an incomplete investigation can terminate the careers of marginalized women who led the district?"

Students and parents passionately supported Griffith at the meeting, imploring the district to employ restorative justice instead of termination.

AISD officials expressed their assurance in their investigative process and intend to continue evaluating the subsequent measures. The school board has not released a public statement; however, they have convened in executive session to deliberate on pertinent matters.

As of the time of publication, Holiday has not given her comment.

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