HOUSTON — A Houston Independent School District teacher said her role remains in limbo after the district tried to terminate her but wasn't able to do it.
Michelle Williams said she's not backing down. She's a longtime educator who was also recently the president of the Houston Education Association, a local teachers union.
On Monday, Williams' attorney reached out to HISD asking what the status is within the district after they said they've received basically no communication since a hearing in June determined she should be back in the classroom.
But, Williams is still at home. She's still getting paid through the first three weeks of school but she's not sure what her future future holds.
"It's just one day at a time," Williams said during an interview with KHOU 11 reporter Maria Aguilera on Monday. "I'm still on administrative leave."
She said HISD took her out of her third-grade classroom in March and started the process of terminating her during what they called an "inappropriate conduct investigation."
Williams was accused of using social media in her class during school hours, but she said she actually used a studio at her house and scheduled the posts ahead of time. Her attorney said the evidence was presented during a virtual hearing in June.
"The independent hearing examiner found that the district did not meet its burden to not renew her contract and recommended that she be placed back," attorney Giana Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the hearing examiner said the district used incomplete, contradictory and retaliatory information.
"That's all I wanted to do, is be vindicated, because I knew that it was retaliation," Williams said.
Williams has openly criticized HISD Superintendent Mike Miles' policies and after winning her hearing, she took another step against the district this month.
"I've filed a formal complaint against TEA to investigate the West Division leadership (within HISD)," Williams said.
In the code of ethics violation letter sent to the TEA, Williams said false statements were made against her and the allegations were not investigated thoroughly.
"She continues to be employed by the district and yet they do not put her talents to work," Ortiz said.
Williams said she won't stop fighting for herself and other teachers.
"I just wanted to clear my name because they were making some accusations against me, which were totally false, which was proven," she said.
HISD didn't respond to a request for comment and Williams said she's still waiting for instructions on what she should do.