A Houston ISD teacher says he became emotional in the classroom after several Wheatley High School seniors struggled to complete a short reading and writing exercise just two days into the new school year!
Darius Williams, an NES Career and Technical Education teacher at Wheatley, said the students, who are reportedly 17 and 18 years old, were asked to fill in four words but had difficulty completing the assignment. Williams said some students could verbally explain their reasoning but struggled to translate those thoughts into written work.
“I literally broke down in the middle of class,” Williams said in a social media video. He also expressed concern that students approaching graduation may soon be expected to enter college or the workforce without the literacy skills they need.
HISD responded by acknowledging that some students enter high school significantly below grade level and said identifying academic needs and helping students close those gaps remains a priority. The district also pointed to academic gains at Wheatley while emphasizing that some students still require additional support.
“Houston ISD has a sense of urgency about ensuring every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life. We know some students enter high school significantly below grade level, and helping those students accelerate their learning is among our most important responsibilities.
“The first days of the school year are an important time for teachers to get to know their students’ academic abilities, assess their individual needs, and determine the support each student may require.”
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