TEA hearing ends, Duran the only former Bowie administrator to present his case

A Texas Education Agency hearing into Three former Bowie High School administrators ended Wednesday afternoon.

The visiting administrative law judges ended the proceedings that had been going on since last week at the El Paso County Courthouse after announcing the hearing’s written closing arguments would be submitted by attorneys at a later date.

Attorneys for the TEA rested their case after finishing testimony Tuesday evening.

During the hearing Wednesday, former Bowie Assistant Principal Juan Manuel Duran testified that as he found out more that things were wrong with the school, he tried to get out of the situation.

“I became very concerned. The talk among the assistant principals was… Possible civil rights violation for holding back the credits, the Mexican credits,” Duran said. He reached out to district officials, including former assistant superintendent James Anderson.

“I wrote an email saying get me out of here,” Duran said.

Duran was granted a transfer to Burgess High School where he still works as an assistant principal. He also spoke to the impact the hearings and ongoing investigation was having on his life.

“Stress, my family’s stressed. No offense to the media, but my name is mentioned every time this comes up… Financial, my savings are gone,” Duran said. “It’s just been upheaval in my life. Trying to do my job, trying to do good in my job”

On cross-examination, TEA attorney Bridget Remish questioned Duran about his actions on attendance and dropping students while at Bowie. In particular, Remish asked about a document some students received bearing Duran’s signature stating “I am ready to drop you immediately from school based on your absences.”

Remish asked Duran about specific Bowie students that had been pressured to drop out, which Duran said he didn’t remember specifically.

“You don’t remember him because he’s just one of many students you coerced to drop out, isn’t that right?” Remish asked.

“That is not correct,” Duran said.

“Is a student struggling to pass…and gain credit is a legitimate reason to drop a student?” Remish asked.

“No, it is not,” Duran responded.

“Is it true that you didn’t want at risk students at Bowie?” Remish said.

“No that is not true,” Duran said.

Duran, along with former Bowie Principal Jesus Chavez and former Assistant Principal Anna Louisa Kell are facing the loss of their teaching licenses and related professional certificates as a result of the hearings.

The TEA is investigating their involvement in the credit and grade level manipulation scandal at Bowie, particularly to avoid state-mandated testing and meet state standards. None are facing criminal charges.

Chavez and Kell rested their cases without calling any witnesses Wednesday.