9486 in the collection
Southlake elementary principal resigns amid TAKS testing investigation
Andra Barton
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University; master’s degree from Texas Christian University; doctoral degree from Baylor University. Career: Started teaching sixth grade in 1992 in Odessa, earned Sally Mae Award for First Year Teacher of the Year. Later taught at Blue Hazel Elementary School in White Settlement and West Hurst Elementary School in H-E-B. She joined Carroll in 1996 as an assistant principal at Carroll Elementary School and became Old Union Elementary School’s first principal when it opened in 2001.
By Laurie Fox
SOUTHLAKE – The prinicipal at the center of an investigation into standardized testing irregularities at her elementary school has resigned.
Carroll school district officials and her attorney confirmed that Dr. Andra Barton, principal at Old Union Elementary School, submitted her resignation Thursday morning.
Last week, Texas Education Agency officials confirmed that the investigation into testing practices at the highly rated elementary school was related to the March administration of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test.
It remains unknown how or whether the problems would affect Old Union Elementary's TAKS results this year.
Attorneys for the Carroll Independent School District investigated records management, testing procedures and the environment at the school related to the TAKS test, district officials said.
Neither the school district nor TEA have provided specifics about the possible testing problems at the school, which is one of the district's 11 campuses considered "exemplary."
The matter was reported to the TEA on March 14.
Kevin Lungwitz, the Austin-based attorney representing Dr. Barton, has said his client has not been at the school since the district went on spring break in mid-March.
Julie Thannum, Carroll's communications director, said Thursday that the investigation "identified actions that violated state testing procedues and federal special education laws."
She said Dr. Barton and her attorney were informed Wednesday of the preliminary findings of the investigation conducted by the school district's attorneys.
"She indicated then that she would resign," Ms. Thannum said. "We received a resignation letter dated April 10. The superintendent accepted her resgination this morning."
The resignation is effective today, she said.
Ms. Thannum said the district was preparing for Ms. Barton's termination, a decision that likely would have been taken up by the school board at its Monday meeting.
The district expects to file a report with TEA sometime next week after first informing trustees about the investigation.
She said she did not know what portions of the investigation would be made public.
Ms. Thannum said the district expects to craft a preliminary action plan that will address some of the findings of the investigation.
"We want to correct some of the things that were found," she said.
Mr. Lungwitz said that when he and his client met with the school district's attorneys on Wednesday, he felt that they didn't make a solid case for her dismissal.
"I thought their case was shaky at best," he said. "A vigorous defense could have been mounted. She could have absolutely fought these charges."
"But the upper administration made it very clear that they didn't want her there. There was no salvaging this relationship."
He said Dr. Barton steadfastly maintains her innocence.
"There was no proof that she did any students harm or was there any proof of ill motive," he said.
Mr. Lungwitz said that while Dr. Barton is shaken by the eight-week investigation and her resignation, she hopes to teach again.
"This is a very dynamic and successful educator," he said.
— Laurie Fox
Dallas Morning News
2008-04-10
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