The Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers (CCAFT) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have expressed serious concerns over the academic performance of Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD) students. In light of their recent report, which revealed that students were falling behind state averages, the district now faces increased pressure. As a result, these findings have sparked strong reactions from local unions.
Teachers Speak Out
On Thursday, Nancy Vera, President of CCAFT, took the spotlight at a press conference. During her speech, she sharply criticized CCISD’s approach to education, describing it as “teaching our children like robots.” Earlier this month, district administrators had been informed that student scores had fallen below the state average. As a former educator, Vera expressed her profound disappointment, calling the results “unacceptable.”
The district, in turn, attributed the low scores to campus personnel and the curriculum advice provided by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The foundation’s program offers curriculum guidelines, but Vera argued it wasn’t enough.
Program Fails to Address Student Needs
Vera added that the curriculum left little room for individual student needs or remediation, explaining, “The CCISD top administrators did not take any responsibility… they forced teachers and campus personnel to implement this curriculum without addressing students’ unique needs.”
She painted a concerning picture of the district’s management style. “They would go into the classrooms in groups of three to ten people and look to see where the teachers had their curriculum,” Vera explained. “They would yell at teachers in front of students and have temper tantrums if the teachers weren’t following the prescribed lessons.”
Report Highlights Troubling Gaps
The district report exposed several areas of concern, with high school students’ underperformance being particularly alarming. For students in grades 3-5, scores in Math and Reading were 2% below the state average. The gap widened for middle school students, who lagged behind the state average by 16% in Math. High school students, mainly first—and second-year students, were underperforming, scoring 5% below the state average in English.
CCISD officials reassured the public that they are taking steps to address the issue. CCISD’s Director for Blended Learning Programs and Support, Yvonne Hein, stated, “Although uncertainty remains at the state level regarding future accountability, we are continuing to equip our campuses to meet the diverse needs of all our students.”
Accountability Questioned
The situation raised questions about the district’s handling of the issue. District board member Don Clark asked, “Why did it take so long to identify these challenges, and why weren’t they corrected throughout the year?”
CCISD Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez provided a candid response, admitting the district’s shortcomings. “We don’t know why. A lot of times, we don’t even get to ask why. We just implement and do what we’re told. With that comes unintended consequences, there’s a lack of preparation,” Hernandez stated.
CCISD’s Plan Moving Forward
In response to the report, CCISD has begun implementing new strategies to improve student outcomes. They have partnered with an education consulting company called Education Elements and have extended classroom hours to help students retain the curriculum better. District administrators also emphasized that they will continue to rely on research-based practices and provide additional support to campus leadership teams.
These changes aim to ensure quality instruction and address the academic gaps that have left many students struggling. As the district moves forward, it hopes these efforts will make a significant difference.