Incident at Woodrow Wilson High School

In a letter Monday to parents and teachers at Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas ISD officials named an interim principal and said they are investigating a “recent incident” at the campus.

The letter comes after Principal Chandra Hooper-Barnett held a meeting with the school’s Black students about their academic performance, two parents told The Dallas Morning News.

Hooper-Barnett acknowledged she held a meeting during an advisory period last week that “caused concern within our school community,” according to a letter she sent to families Monday.

“The decision to hold that meeting and subsequent discussion that transpired was not appropriate. I take full ownership and responsibility for what occurred, and I want to assure you that it was never my intent to single out or cause harm to any group of students,” Hooper-Barnett wrote.

Background Information

In the letter, she said she is “committed to learning from this and rebuilding the trust that has been shaken.”

Woodrow Wilson, located in East Dallas, served nearly 2,000 students last school year, per state data. Black students made up 6% of the campus population in the 2023-24 school year. The school received a B in this year’s academic accountability ratings.

Neither letter addressed the status of Hooper-Barnett, who has led the school for three years. Danielle Petters — who served as principal of J.L. Long Middle School for seven years and H. Grady Spruce High School for four — will serve as interim principal of the campus, according to a letter from Aaron Aguirre-Castillo, executive director of Dallas ISD’s Woodrow Wilson vertical team.

Parental Concerns

Jennifer Bush learned about the meeting from her son, a sophomore at Woodrow Wilson, when the pair were debriefing their weeks Sunday night. He told her he was pulled out of class to attend an assembly, where all of the students were Black, for a discussion about their academic performance.

“He said that Principal Barnett stated that those students, the Black students, were the reason why the school had a B rating,” she said.

When Bush heard that, she was “livid,” she said. Her son has a 3.5 GPA and is in advanced placement and college classes.

“These kids need to know that they’re enough. I don’t even know how you resolve this and take it back, because the damage has been done,” she said, adding she hopes Hooper-Barnett is not reinstated. “There is a trust that is broken between parents and students.”

Next Steps

Bush said she hopes district leaders hold a town hall meeting for parents to address their concerns.

“We can have a conversation and try to see how to move forward. We’ve got to put our heads together and get this taken care of,” she said. “Because if you guys do want to come up to an A rating, you have to put in the work as an administration, as a community. If we’re all striving for a goal, let’s do that together, and let’s not single out children.”

Before coming to Woodrow Wilson, Hooper-Barnett was the principal at J.L. Long. She has been an educator for 22 years and is a multiyear Teacher of the Year recipient for her work teaching reading to special education students, according to the school’s website.

Petters, the interim principal, was previously the executive director of Woodrow Wilson’s vertical team. She worked in Dallas ISD for over three decades and is a longtime coach for school leaders, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Investigation and Review

Officials will “continue to review the details of the incident,” the letter from Aguirre-Castillo read, though it did not provide further information about what occurred.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.

Conclusion

The incident at Woodrow Wilson High School has raised concerns among parents and students, and the investigation is ongoing. The school district has named an interim principal, and the former principal has acknowledged that her actions were not appropriate. The community is waiting for further information and action from the school district.

FAQs

Q: What happened at Woodrow Wilson High School?

A: The principal, Chandra Hooper-Barnett, held a meeting with Black students to discuss their academic performance, which caused concern among parents and students.

Q: Who is the interim principal of Woodrow Wilson High School?

A: Danielle Petters, who previously served as principal of J.L. Long Middle School and H. Grady Spruce High School, has been named interim principal.

Q: What is the status of Principal Hooper-Barnett?

A: The status of Principal Hooper-Barnett is unclear, but she has acknowledged that her actions were not appropriate and has expressed commitment to learning from the incident and rebuilding trust.

Q: How can parents and students get involved in the conversation about the incident?

A: Parents and students can attend town hall meetings and community forums to discuss their concerns and work together to find solutions.