An administrative shake-up at Houston ISD’s Harvard Elementary has left the principal, Dr. Shelby Calabrese, on leave. The district has been vague about why.
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Community members have taken to social media, expressing mixed reactions and concerns over the leadership transition. Harvard Elementary parents plan to attend Thursday night’s HISD meeting with posters showing support for Dr. Calabrese.
In an email to KPRC 2, the district said:
“HISD cannot comment on the status of any specific personnel issue or investigation. However, as a District, we are committed to building a high-performance culture focused on student achievement for all our employees. As part of the culture, we expect our employees to show up for their scheduled workday. We expect every employee to respect the directives of their supervisors, and every employee knows they must conduct themselves in a way that advances the work of their school and the District.
When any employee fails to meet these basic expectations, it is standard practice to put them on leave while HR completes an investigation into their behavior. We know any transition in school leadership feels disruptive to the school community, and we can assure the Harvard Elementary School community that there are not going to be changes to program offerings (e.g. IB), and given its track record of solid academic performance, Harvard Elementary School is not a candidate for the New Education System.”
Calabrese is still listed as a principal on the school’s website. The district has not provided a timeline for the investigation or a timeline for deciding on her future with the school.