Bertie Simmons to lose principal job at Furr HS, where HISD says it found grade manipulation

Dr. Bertie Simmons, the 82-year-old principal of Furr High School, jokes with Ivan Hernandez, right, before classes begin Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, in Houston. Dr. Bertie Simmons, the 82-year-old principal of Furr High School, jokes with Ivan Hernandez, right, before classes begin Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, in Houston. Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Bertie Simmons to lose principal job at Furr HS, where HISD says it found grade manipulation 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Campus administrators broke state law by changing student grades and engaged in other forms of records manipulation at Houston ISD’s Furr High School, where revered principal Bertie Simmons has been in charge for nearly two decades, district officials said Tuesday.

Although HISD officials did not implicate Simmons on Tuesday, the findings appear to spell an ignominious end to her five-decade career in HISD. Simmons’ lawyer said Tuesday that his client has been notified her employment in HISD will soon end. Simmons has been on administrative leave since last October.

In a 189-word statement, HISD officials outlined broad strokes of the eight-month investigation conducted by outside attorneys employed by the district. HISD leaders said Furr High School administrators changed grades to ensure students passed classes, instructed teachers not to assign grades below 50 percent, improperly altered attendance records, and awarded credit to students who did not meet attendance requirements.

HISD officials refused to name administrators responsible for the alleged misconduct or provide evidence substantiating the findings. District officials also declined to comment on Simmons’ employment status. In its statement, the district said it is “addressing these matters to ensure students receive appropriate instruction and guidance.”

Simmons, who came out of retirement to lead the eastside school in 2000, has vehemently denied allegations of misconduct. The 84-year-old administrator, who is white, is suing HISD for retaliation, age discrimination and racial discrimination.

In an email Tuesday, Simmons’ lawyer, Scott Newar, said his client “very much looks forward to holding HISD accountable for its illegal conduct in a court of law.”

“HISD’s ‘investigation’ always was and remains a farce designed to justify its illegal discrimination and retaliation against Dr. Simmons,” Newar wrote. “It is HISD’s Board of Trustees and HISD administrators who should be investigated: for their illegal conduct and for continuing to place their selfish interests above the students’ and the taxpayers.’”

HER LAWSUIT: Furr High School principal, 83, claims age, race discrimination after temporary removal

The Simmons saga has hovered over the 2017-18 school year in HISD, as investigators dug into one of the district’s most respected leaders.

Simmons, who emerged from retirement in 2000 to run Furr High School, has repeatedly been lauded for turning around a campus once rife with gangs and abysmal academic performance.

High graduation rate

Continue clicking to see what HISD principals make for their annual salary. Continue clicking to see what HISD principals make for their annual salary. Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 66 Caption Close HISD principal salaries for the 2016-2017 school year 1 / 66 Back to Gallery

Her decision in 2002 to take rival gang members to Ground Zero in New York City as part of an effort to reduce conflict has become part of her lore. In recent years, about 95 percent of Furr High School students have graduated — well above the district’s rate of 81 percent — though standardized test scores in reading lagged well below average. Two years ago, Furr High School landed a $10-million grant after being selected as one of 10 “super schools” in a contest sponsored by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

COLUMN FROM 2013: Principal's successes go beyond what tests can measure

Simmons’ personal story — a 5-foot-tall, once-retired woman tangling with gangs in a predominately Hispanic urban school — also made for an irresistible story, prompting coverage from the New York Times and NPR, among other national media outlets.

Then, in September 2017, HISD officials announced they were investigating allegations that Simmons threatened students with a bat and ignored the district’s post-Hurricane Harvey dress code. Amid that investigation, multiple people came forward with more serious allegations against Simmons.

As HISD officials remained tight-lipped about the investigation, Simmons fought the allegations publicly and had many loyal supporters rally to her defense.

Administrative turnover

Through it all, Furr High School has faced significant administrative turnover. All three assistant principals and all three counselors who worked at Furr High School last year no longer are employed there, according to state payroll records and campus directories. HISD officials refused to say whether any of those six employees were implicated in the investigation or removed from the campus due to misconduct allegations.

Jordan Davis, a former Furr High School student and one of Simmons’ most vocal supporters, said Simmons has “left a legacy at Furr, no matter what they throw at her.”

“I haven’t seen any hard-core evidence that says she’s done any of the things that they’re concluding has happened,” said Davis, a high school senior who transferred to a private school in January after feeling targeted for supporting Simmons. “They shouldn’t release this to the public if they can’t prove it.”

Simmons’ employment status is expected to be discussed at an upcoming HISD school board meeting, Newar said. Any conversation about Simmons’ employment likely will be held by trustees in closed executive session.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com

twitter.com/chronjacob