Behind-the-scenes staff is crucial to HISD

When the search firm Houston ISD hired during its last superintendent search conducted focus groups of employees, parents and the community to assess the district’s strengths and weaknesses, one quality consistently came up as one of our greatest strengths — our people.

This is why the news in the past couple of weeks that the Houston Independent School District will be losing four of its top administrators concerns so many people who have worked closely with HISD for years. As the school year comes to a close amid turmoil and uncertainty, and without the benefit of a permanent superintendent, the steady hands of seasoned administrators guiding us as we face our new and old challenges has been a luxury most of us don’t think about. However, these roles are critical to making sure that every detail and issue in this large and complex district is attended to, and their departure leaves even more concern and uneasiness about our future.

Most advocates who have worked with HISD for any length of time have gotten to know one or more of these administrators: Chief of Staff Cynthia Wilson, Deputy Superintendent Samuel Sarabia, Chief Student Support Officer Mark Smith and Officer of Advanced Academics Adam Stephens. Among them they have more than 75 years of experience with the district — Sam Sarabia and Mark Smith accounting for about 30 years each, Adam Stephens about 15 years and Cynthia Wilson’s latest tenure with HISD lasted a little over a year, but she had been with HISD previously.

Each of these administrators brought something special to HISD leadership.

Sam Sarabia was a strong mentor to many in leadership in HISD. He had his detractors, but his devotion to our vulnerable populations was evident in the work he did.

Mark Smith worked on and developed many of the more recent endeavors to bring more equity to the district. While he is best known for his work on magnet schools, his work on discipline reform and restructuring resources to better fund the greater needs in schools with higher percentages of impoverished students has provided far reaching benefits to our minority and low-income communities.

Adam Stephens brought vision and strong leadership to Advanced Academics, and always looked for ways to ensure that our Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement programs benefitted all parts of the diverse community we have in HISD.

And while her tenure with us was short, Cynthia Wilson had an impeccable reputation for being a collaborative and responsive chief.

Our central office administrators in HISD don’t get a special day of appreciation. They are often the subject of anger and frustration from members of our community who sometimes target them as punching bags for the complex problems in our district. But for years, no matter how strong the criticism, these administrators came to work every day and focused on ways to do more and be better for all kids in the district, and we are stronger because of their devotion.

It will take staffers with talent and dedication to fill these positions in this time of transformation, and I ask HISD to take a long look both at its internal ranks and outside of the district to find the best candidates to replace these strong leaders. To search for candidates able to navigate jobs that are often politically fraught with competing interests and goals. To look for experienced candidates with proven results in managing complex systems with not only skill, but the internal moral drive to put our kids first, always. And to find the brightest leaders with a commitment to helping HISD realize its full potential.

Flores Richart is a Houston attorney and HISD parent.