EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso Independent School Board voted 4-3 Tuesday, May 21 to keep Lundy Elementary School teacher Nicole Shuster to the end of the year but she will still be leaving the district then.
Schuster was under investigation after being accused of helping students during the STAAR test back in April.
Many parents and teachers went to bat for Schuster. They spoke highly of her and were unanimous in agreement that she did not do what she has been accused of.
“What that did was that showed us that she was a beloved teacher and that she was well respected in the classroom and really had a great impact on our students,“ Israel Irrobali, EPISD school board president, said.
Irrobali said the district unanimously approved the termination of the probationary contract for Schuster but she will get to stay on until the end of school and then they will part ways. The last day of classes for EPISD is June 7, according the district academic calendar.
“I think we we made a decision that it’s better to part ways now and move forward for the district and our students,” Irrobali said.
Schuster said after hearing the decision and hearing all the positive things said about her, she broke into tears.
Overall she expressed that she’s thankful.
“I cant wait to be back in the classroom with my students and to be back at school. I’m thankful for the board that objectively viewed everything that was presented and made the right decision,” Schuster said.
Irrobali said all the people speaking out for Schuster showed that they were part of the process too and that the board respects their viewpoints.
“That’s one of the most important things. If we’re going to do this right and we’re going to be successful for all our students. We need parents back in the classroom, parents back partnering with our school district for us all to succeed,” Irrobali said.
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