Students painted a vivid picture of releasing butterflies into the world, a well-stocked classroom library and time capsules in defense of their removed Houston ISD teacher Jamie Russo on Thursday.
The Mandarin Immersion Magnet School students and parents went to bat for the 38-year teaching veteran at her hearing before three appointed board members.
But their testimony did not move the needle for the outspoken teacher accused of poor performance and criticism of the superintendent by HISD, which sent more than 700 teachers to contract nonrenewal in 2024-25. The appointed board members — Ric Campo, Lauren Gore and Michelle Cruz Arnold — approved Russo’s proposed nonrenewal…