Harris Branch

I enrolled my children in 8th and 4th grade at Texas Empowerment Academy. Before school started, I submitted both of their IEP paperwork. Four weeks into the school year, not only have no services begun, but their teachers were unaware that IEPs even existed. That was my first concern — but unfortunately not the only one.The teachers here focus more on authority and control than actual teaching. They frequently scream and yell at students. They use the “clap for attention” method, which many schools do, but instead of simply ensuring the class gets quiet, they single out kids who don’t clap — even if the child is already quiet. Those students are reprimanded or even forced to stand in the corner with their nose against the wall. Since starting here, my 9-year-old has developed anxiety and now cries at drop-off. When I raised this, staff told me it was about “setting the tone of obedience, respect, and being on one accord.” To me, it feels more like unnecessary power struggles — because if a child is quiet, why not let them be? Forcing them to clap causes a bigger disruption than the silence ever did.It also seems that students who are staff members’ children or close to them get very different treatment. Some parents have apparently agreed to allow rulers to be used for discipline, which is troubling.The breaking point came at dismissal. The bus driver, whose child is also a student, stopped to reprimand him for misbehavior. Other students began recording, and my child was accused of recording too. When he refused to let staff check his phone, he was thrown off the bus. He then called me for a ride. Staff demanded he hang up on me and even tried to physically take the phone from his hand. When he refused, they expelled him — for his first disciplinary incident — claiming he was “disrespectful and defiant.”This school is on a power trip. It is more about control and forced obedience than teaching, and it has caused real harm to my children. Parents, beware.

You will be under resourced with chalkboards, 30+:1 classes. You won't be supported by "admin", you are the scapegoat for all failures of the child, even if the school year just started. Baum will say "this kid was calm in my office..." No **** Sherlock, it's you and a kid. Not you and 30+ kids. Rodriguez is a control freak and did the same at Hutto Middle School and made veterans hate going to work. The parent and student are always right, your experience, education, and dedication mean nothing at his campus. You have two principals who taught four years a piece with smaller classrooms 15 years ago so they can't relate to what you're going through. They won't model how to teach, just come give you a laundry list and come in sipping whataburger. Best of luck to any body who steps foot into this vicinity.