EDUCATION RRISD superintendent reinstated despite investigation results
BY BRIAN RASH
have been led against Azaiez. RRISD board President
An investigation into personal misconduct by Round Rock ISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez con- cluded that he would not be e ective if allowed to continue his position with the district. Community Impact Newspaper obtained the report June 9 through an open records request. After a rec- ommendation from Texas Education Agency district monitor David Faltys, the RRISD board of trustees hired third-party investigator Ann Dixon, who presented her report to the board March 8. The report is based on three weeks of interviews with 22 people and reviewing documents, including emails, text messages, police reports and legal documents. In the report’s executive summary, Dixon stated that in addition to her investigation, Azaiez had two active investigations into his conduct by the Travis County Sheri ’s O ce that were related to the scope of Dixon’s ndings. Dixon stated a third accusation investigated by the sheri ’s depart- ment could not be substantiated. Dix- on’s report also stated the TEA had an active investigation into Azaiez as of the release of the report. Information
Amber Feller said when the
The RRISD Board of trustees voted March 24 to reinstate Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez. (Brooke Sjoberg/Community Impact Newspaper)
Hafedh Azaiez
board voted to reinstate Azaiez as superintendent after a nearly three-month paid suspension from Jan. 6-March 24, she had concluded there is no active investi- gation into criminal wrongdoing by Azaiez. “As I said in March, the report con- ducted by the external investigator, along with the information provided by the Travis County Sheri ’s O ce that the investigation into Dr. Azaiez is inactive and no charges are forthcoming, provided the board with the facts necessary to make the important decision to reinstate Dr. Azaiez as superintendent of schools,” Feller said in a June 9 email. Citing further pushback against Azaiez as “misinformation” and “rumors and innuendo,” Feller said she believes the board made the right decision to reinstate Azaiez, and his continued role as superintendent is in the district’s best interest. “It is time to focus on the stu-
A third-party investigator of Round Rock ISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez outlined several ndings. Among the results, the report notes: REPORT FINDINGS
Azaiez had a two-year relationship with the accuser prior to his employment with Round Rock ISD.
Azaiez had a temporary protective order against him from Aug. 2-Nov. 24, 2021, when mediation resulted in a settlement agreement between the two parties.
Azaiez has a permanent restraining order against him, which he voluntarily entered into Dec. 13, 2021.
Azaiez has given up all rights to an unborn child through an agreement which he voluntarily entered into Dec. 13, 2021.
Azaiez agreed to pay two payments to the accuser: one at con rmation of pregnancy and the second when the birth certi cate of the child was produced.
“BASED ON MY COLLECTIVE FACT FINDINGS AND
Azaiez has not shared information with the board about investigations and settlement agreements.
from the TCSO con rms that two investiga- tions involving Azaiez have been suspended. TCSO Senior Public Infor- mation O cer Kristen Dark said June 13 that technically, the investigations are suspended, but they would
UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAWS AND RULES OF AN EDUCATOR IN TEXAS, I DID STATE DR. AZAIEZ, IN MY OPINION, COULD NOT COME BACK INTO HIS POSITION AND BE EFFECTIVE.” ANN DIXON, THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR HIRED BY ROUND ROCK ISD
Dixon concluded the report by stating Azaiez should not be reinstated as RRISD superintendent.
dents and sta of Round Rock ISD and allow this experienced educator to do his job,” Feller said in the June 9 statement. The report
SOURCE: ANN DIXON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
issue, Azaiez and the non-employee who made the accusations regarding the current superintendent.” Community Impact Newspaper is not naming the accuser. Among several ndings, the third- party investigation report concluded that Azaiez had a two-year relation- ship with the accuser that resulted in a settlement agreement between the two parties. The report also found Azaiez did not disclose information with the RRISD board regarding the settlements or the investigations.
“Based on my collective fact nd- ings and understanding of the laws and rules of an educator in Texas, I did state Dr. Azaiez, in my opinion, could not come back into his position and be e ective,” Dixon stated in the report. Despite Dixon’s recommenda- tion and after several months of investigation, the RRISD board of trustees voted to reinstate Azaeiz in a 5-2 vote March 24 with Trustees Danielle Weston and Mary Bone voting no. Azaiez’s reinstatement was e ective March 25.
from March 8 states Dixon had interviews with “RRISD board members, law enforcement personnel, [TEA] administrators, State Board of Educa- tion investigators, a superintendent search rm consultant, community members, RRISD administrative sta , employees of another district, attor- neys representing the parties in this
only be reopened if new information or accusations were brought forth to the sheri ’s o ce. Community Impact Newspaper is still waiting for responses from the TEA and Donna ISD, Azaiez’s former employer, regarding alleged investi- gations into his conduct. No charges
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ROUND ROCK EDITION • JULY 2022
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