Texas state closes probe of Judson ISD president after finding no rule violations

The Texas Education Agency has closed its investigation into Judson Independent School District board president Monica Ryan. Officials determined that she did not break any state education laws.

The state opened two probes into the district in June. One focused specifically on Ryan. The other examined the conduct of former superintendent Robert Milton Fields. The agency cleared Ryan on Tuesday.

Richard Segovia, the division director of special investigations at the agency, wrote to the district regarding the findings. He stated that the available evidence did not show district-level or board wrongdoing. The investigation also did not identify systematic violations of the Texas Education Code or the Texas Government Code.

Three board members and at least one community member originally accused Ryan of abusing her power. Trustees Jose Macias Jr., Suzanne Kenoyer, and Laura Stanford alleged that Ryan pressured other trustees to vote in specific ways. They also claimed she undermined the superintendent and held private conversations with a quorum present off-site.

The second investigation into Judson remains active. The agency is reviewing allegations that Fields hired school staff who were on the state’s Do Not Hire registry. Fields was fired earlier this year after a months-long dispute involving public infighting and internal reviews.

Following the clearance, Ryan posted on social media asking Macias, Kenoyer, and Stanford to resign immediately. She accused them of making false accusations and wasting taxpayer and student money. Macias responded by calling her request laughable.

Macias said he has an obligation to seek accountability when he feels misconduct is present. He stated that he still believes misconduct occurred despite the state’s findings. The trustees often spar publicly during board meetings and on social media.

The board is split between senior trustees and more recently elected members. Recent disputes have involved budget decisions, hiring, and governance procedures. During a Monday meeting, Ryan proposed a rule change that would give the board president more power to set agendas. The proposal would have allowed her to deny requests from other members more easily. It also would have removed language requiring that member requests be scheduled for the near future.

Macias argued that the original policy has worked for decades. He said the change was an attempt to silence agenda items the president did not like. The board voted 3-3 on the proposal, so the policy did not change. Ryan said she might revisit the suggestion later.

Macias has been censured four times in the past six months by the board. The sanctions included actions related to pressuring members and sharing confidential information on social media. He recently faced sanctions for sharing comments with reporters after a stabbing at a local middle school. Macias filed a lawsuit in federal court to drop the sanctions and is seeking one million dollars in restitution. The case is awaiting a hearing date.

The district is currently led by a temporary superintendent. This is the fourth interim leader since Fields was placed on leave in January. The district has not started a search for a permanent replacement. Enrollment is declining, and one school received a fourth failing rating from the state in a row. At least one person has filed to run against Ryan, whose term ends in May 2027. She holds an at-large seat, meaning all registered voters in the district will vote on her replacement if she does not seek reelection. Ryan has not said whether she is running again.