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Leah Hanany assumed her position on the EPISD Board of Trustees on May 12, 2021 and has been a fierce advocate for social justice ever since.
She has been the loudest voice against closing schools in her district, invoking race and class in order to ignite her progressive base. Yet she proposes no pragmatic solution for closing the $45 million budget shortfall over the next two fiscal years and demonstrates little concern for the consequences of inaction for students, teachers, and staff.
Are the families who removed their children from the eight schools in question racist and/or classist for making that decision? How irresponsible is it for Hanany to blame her board colleagues and EPISD staff for taking the necessary steps to avert a TEA takeover and potential bankruptcy under Chapter 9?
DID HANANY VOTE FOR HER EMPLOYER DURING THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH?
Let’s not forget that in 2021 Leah Hanany was accused of promoting the candidacy of her employer for Superintendent. During the search, someone leaked the names of the four finalists to journalist Aaron Montes, who published a report for KTSM. Among these four was Darryl Henson, Superintendent of Marlin ISD, a school district near Waco with less than 900 students.
Isn’t it interesting that this tiny far-flung school district made the short list?
According to Ross Moore, President of the El Paso Federation of Teachers, Hanany “aggressively and ruthlessly pushed for her longtime friend [Henson] to become the EPISD Superintendent” while serving as district communications coordinator for Marlin ISD and a member of Henson’s executive cabinet.
Cristina Carreon of the El Paso Times published a report confirming her employment at Marlin ISD under her maiden name “Wayne” as well as her non-disclosure of her position, which was omitted from her trustee biography, the EPISD website, and her Linkedin account.
The El Paso Times referred to Hanany’s relationship with Henson as a “potential conflict of interest,” yet Hanany declined to confirm whether she voted for Henson in closed-door deliberations, instead issuing a statement from her attorney.
During the final vote for a new Superintendent, which was held in open session, Hanany abstained and refused to disclose why.
If this were not enough, Hanany is now employed by Nickel Hayden Advisors, an Austin corporation that works with local taxing entities, including Canutillo ISD, assisting with bond issues. The local AFT President told El Paso Matters that her position in Nickel Hayden could be a conflict of interest and suggested in a Facebook post that her firm could earn millions when EPISD issues its next bond.
The AFT had backed Hanany in 2021 but refused to endorse her in the current election.
In our estimation, it would be better to vote for Hanany’s opponent, Monica Benjamin.
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