Morath Dismisses Complaint Against Independent Hearing Examiner

Ruling: An independent hearing examiner did nothing wrong by holding a scheduled due process hearing after neither the special-ed administrator targeted for nonrenewal nor her noncommunicative attorney attended the hearing.

• In Re. Arthur J. White III, 031-R8-12-2024 ($), May 7, 2025, by Education Commissioner Mike Morath.

Background

Former Houston ISD special-ed DAEP campus administrator Sherry Jones complained to the commissioner that her due process rights were violated because the assigned certified independent hearing examiner (IHE) — Arthur J. White III — went ahead and held the hearing on HISD’s proposal to nonrenew her term contract without either her or her attorney being present.

• Note: White ultimately issued a proposal for decision supporting nonrenewal based solely on evidence presented by HISD.