Humble ISD formally terminates Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen From the cover
The overview
notice of a complaint filed with the Texas Health and Human Services Civil Rights Office alleging retaliation against a district employee for their participation in the Title IX investigation. Per Egbuna’s report, Fagen waited over a month to inform the board about the complaint despite being previously directed to forward all matters related to the Title IX complaint to the district’s legal team within 24 hours of receipt.
the TEA complaint had anything to do with Kite’s Title IX investigation. However, Egbuna said she didn’t find Fagen’s testimony credible. “Dr. Fagen’s misrepresentation to Ms. Parker was deliberate and against the best interests of the district,” Egbuna wrote in the Nov. 25 recommendation. Egbuna detailed an additional incident in which Fagen received
argued she was a nonfactor in the proceedings because she recused herself from all matters related to the Title IX complaint in May 2023. During the hearing, board President Chris Parker testified she believed Fagen acted inappropriately when she responded to a records request stemming from a TEA complaint that included a request for Kite’s employment records. Fagen testified she was unaware
Among the chief arguments presented by the district’s attorneys was the notion that Fagen’s relationship with her husband—former HISD Athletic Director Troy Kite—adversely affected the district’s ability to fairly respond to a Title IX complaint filed against Kite in 2023. The complaint alleged the common use of sexually explicit comments within the department. However, Fagen’s attorneys
Some context
March: Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen informs the board about her relationship with former Athletic Director Troy Kite.
August-November: An investigation into the Title IX complaint is conducted by The Ortiz Law Firm.
May 14: Trustees appoint Deputy Superintendent Roger Brown to serve as acting superintendent and place Fagen on paid leave.
Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 6: Fagen’s appeal is conducted by Karen Egbuna, a TEA- appointed independent hearing examiner. Nov. 26: Trustees vote to formally terminate Fagen’s contract in accordance with Egbuna’s recommendation following the appeal.
Dec. 1: HISD officials post the position for superintendent of schools for prospective applicants. Dec. 16: Final day for Fagen to appeal the board’s decision directly to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath (after press time).
May: An athletic department staff
April 9: Trustees vote to release findings of Title IX investigation and accept Kite’s retirement
July 23: Trustees vote to propose the termination of Fagen’s contract
member files a Title IX complaint against Kite; Fagen recuses herself from the investigation.
2022
2023
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2025
SOURCES: HUMBLE ISD; TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY; O’HANLON, DEMERATH & CASTILLO/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
The impact
in her report, noting a potential conflict of interest because any employee tasked with investigating the matter still fell under Fagen’s supervision. In her report, Egbuna ultimately determined Fagen had lost the trust of a majority of the board, which she said constituted a good cause for her termination. “Fagen’s conduct has destroyed the trust the board of trustees had for her as Superintendent,” Egbuna said in the report.
from all matters related to the inves- tigation. Fagen also testified she believed Terry Perkins, the district’s in-house Title IX coordinator, would have been able to complete the investigation without bias. However, Parker disagreed, testifying she believed Perkins’ longstanding personal relationship with Kite would have prevented him from fairly investigating the com- plaint. Fagen countered, testifying Perkins and Kite never formed a relationship outside of work. Egbuna sided with the district
The district’s legal team also argued Fagen’s relationship with Kite led to at least $1.3 mil- lion in legal fees related to the investigation. During the hearing, multiple trustees testified Fagen’s relation- ship with Kite necessitated the hiring of an outside law firm to investigate the Title IX complaint to avoid the appearance of any real or perceived conflicts of interest. Fagen testified she had nothing to do with the decision to acquire outside counsel because she recused herself
Continued compensation Former HISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen: Received a $349,000 annual salary for the 2024-25 school year Received a $42,000 living stipend for the 2024-25 school year Was paid while placed on administrative leave for 6 months
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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