The newly hired principal at Houston ISD’s Harvard Elementary School has stepped down before officially starting the job.
On Tuesday afternoon, HISD Central Division Superintendent Dr. Luz Martinez announced that Sharon Pe Benito would no longer be taking the position in a letter sent to the parents of Harvard students.
The letter was obtained by KPRC 2’s Bill Spencer from a parent.
“Even though [Pe Bonito] accepted the Harvard Elementary Principal position last week, after extensive bullying on social media, she determined this job was no longer in her personal or professional best interest,” Dr. Martinez wrote.
Pe Benito was set to replace Dr. Shelby Calabrese, who was placed on leave in early October. The decision received criticism on social media, and multiple parents of Harvard students spoke out in support of Dr. Calabrese after the move. Just last week, in the same announcement naming Pe Benito principal, administrators let parents know Dr. Calabrese was recommended for termination.
Last week, two more administrators at the school, Assistant Principal Dr. Alejandra Perez and Magnet Coordinator Daisha Huntley, were escorted from the campus with their belongings after reportedly being assigned to other campuses.
In the announcement reporting Pe Benito’s departure, Martinez announced that Dr. Stefanie Spencer would serve as interim principal at Harvard Elementary for the remainder of the academic year.
Dr. Spencer has 18 total years of experience in Goose Creek CISD and Spring Branch ISD, and she was named Principal of the Year for SBISD at the elementary level in 2022.
Molly Lashway, who was hired as an assistant principal at Harvard alongside Pe Benito, will remain at the school and start the role as planned.