A split Fort Worth ISD board gave Superintendent Ang茅lica Ramsey a raise in her retirement account after listening to public criticism of her and then discussing her performance for almost five hours behind closed doors July 16.
After going behind closed doors for a scheduled evaluation of the superintendent, board members emerged to announce their decision 鈥� although they declined to disclose details of the vote Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, Fort Worth ISD trustees said in a joint statement that they modified Ramsey鈥檚 contract to deposit $15,000 into her retirement account because she met performance goals as outlined in the original contract. Ramsey is eligible for $15,000 to $25,000 in additional retirement funds each year, according to the original contract.
鈥淭his decision underscores our commitment to supporting Dr. Ramsey鈥檚 leadership and her ongoing efforts to guide the district towards achieving its goals,鈥� the statement reads.
However, trustees were divided over the move, voting 5-4 to approve the deposit. Trustees Anael Luebanos, Kevin Lynch, Quinton Phillips, Roxanne Martinez and Tobi Jackson voted to approve the deposit, while Anne Darr, Camille Rodriguez, Michael Ryan and Wallace Bridges dissented. Following the vote, Bridges told the Report he misunderstood the initial motion and meant to vote the opposite way, though he didn鈥檛 go into detail about what was unclear.
The specifics of Ramsey鈥檚 performance goals also remain unclear, as the district for the district since she took over in 2022. The district has also delayed release of a new strategic plan that was
After the meeting, Rodriguez, the board president, declined to comment on the modified contract. District officials also declined to provide specific performance measures, asking the Report to make a public records request. A copy of Ramsey鈥檚 contract before the modifications made Tuesday does not outline specific performance goals.
The Report has requested the newest version of Ramsey鈥檚 contract and the specific key performance indicators she has met. Ramsey鈥檚 contract, which includes a salary of $335,000, in 2026.
The decision to modify Ramsey鈥檚 contract highlighted the board鈥檚 continued support for the superintendent despite vocal opposition from parts of the Fort Worth ISD community, said Amanda Inay, who formerly taught in the district.
Inay, who won the district鈥檚 teacher of the year award in 2023, resigned in May, citing a 鈥渢oxic work environment鈥� that remains 鈥減ersistently negative,鈥� according to a copy of her resignation letter. Inay, who resigned May 24, publicly supported the termination of Ramsey鈥檚 contract during the July 16 meeting.
鈥淐learly, we are taking our talents to environments where we are valued, supported and where children are the center,鈥� Inay told Ramsey and the board. 鈥淵ou hold a high responsibility and honor of educating thousands of precious children under Ramsey鈥檚 leadership. It has been proven that children are not the center and retaining educators are not priorities.鈥�
Timeline of superintendent Ang茅lica Ramsey鈥檚 contract with Fort Worth ISD
September 2022 鈥�
July 2023 鈥�
January 2024 鈥� to include additional benefits; no extension to the contract length
July 2024 鈥� Awarded a $15,000 retirement deposit, but no further extension of the contract discussed
Of the six residents who spoke on Ramsey鈥檚 contract, five urged the board to terminate it. Michael Bell, a Fort Worth activist and pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Church, echoed Inay鈥檚 sentiments, criticizing the lack of a new strategic plan and slow academic progress made under Ramsey鈥檚 tenure.
鈥淭wo years later, there鈥檚 no district education improvement plan to date. There鈥檚 no strategic plan that was promised by Ramsey in April 2024 and fewer and fewer of our students are meeting grade level standards,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淭his board continues to reward Dr. Ramsey for incompetence and gross ineffectiveness.鈥�
In an interview, Bridges said he understands the community鈥檚 frustration. Academic performance throughout the district hasn鈥檛 improved since he was elected to the board in 2022, he said, and it鈥檚 about time for that to change.
鈥淧romises were made that it鈥檚 going to be different,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e cannot afford to wait any longer.鈥�
The district鈥檚 excuses for why improvement on the STAAR test has plateaued include disruptions from , the in 2023 and the
Like Inay, Bridges had noticed staff leaving the district at a high rate.
鈥淲e鈥檙e losing some of the really good people to other areas. We have to look at ourselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople who ate, slept and breathed Fort Worth ISD are out of here. They鈥檙e frustrated.鈥�
The district sent the wrong message, he said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think they鈥檙e feeling valued 鈥� something鈥檚 wrong with that,鈥� Bridges said. 鈥淚 apologize to my community for where we are.鈥�
Fort Worth resident Janie Ginn offered a different perspective than the rest of the night鈥檚 speakers. Ginn, who has been involved with the district as a parent for 20 years, urged trustees and residents to give Ramsey some leniency.
鈥淟ast year was Ramsey鈥檚 first full school year with us,鈥� Ginn said. 鈥淭his district was a large ship, it was run aground, and Ramsey has come in and she鈥檚 trying to turn this ship around and get it sailing back.鈥�
State show that across all subjects, 1 in 4 students in Fort Worth ISD met grade level. About 1 in 3 students met grade level in reading, while 1 in 4 met grade level in math 鈥� numbers that are consistent with 2023 results.
Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy .
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