Chandra Hooper-Barnett has officially returned to a leadership role within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). According to Atlanta Black Star, the district appointed her as the new principal of Lincoln High School months after her high-profile removal from Woodrow Wilson High School earlier in 2025. The transition highlights a complex situation involving administrative decisions and community feedback.
The controversy surrounding Hooper-Barnett started last semester at Woodrow Wilson High School. She allegedly held an advisory meeting that was exclusive to Black students. Multiple students reported to their parents that she told them they were the primary reason the school held a B rating instead of an A rating. This incident triggered significant backlash from parents within the school community.
WFAA reports that Jennifer Bush, a parent of a sophomore at the school, expressed her surprise when she learned about the meeting. She stated, “I was like, ‘that’s what they said to you?’ I’m calling the school tomorrow,” after hearing the details from her son. Bush and other concerned parents filed formal complaints with the district. They characterized the meeting as both discriminatory and inappropriate.
In response to the complaints, the district took swift action
Executive Director Aaron Aguirre-Castillo sent a letter to families at the time. He stated that the district was “taking the necessary steps to address this matter thoughtfully and thoroughly.” He also emphasized that maintaining “a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all students remains unwavering.”
Hooper-Barnett, a Black woman, addressed the situation directly through her own letter to students and families. She admitted that the meeting was not handled correctly. She wrote, “The decision to hold that meeting and subsequent discussion that transpired was not appropriate.” She continued, “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.”…