Update, June 13:
Information from the Travis County Sheriff's Office confirms that two investigations involving Round Rock ISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez have been suspended.
TCSO Senior Public Information Officer Kristen Dark said June 13 that technically, the investigations are suspended, but they would only be reopened if new information or accusations were brought forth to the sheriff's office.
Dark said she could not comment further on the nature of the investigations or when they were suspended.
Community Impact Newspaper is still waiting for responses from the Texas Education Agency and Donna ISD, Azaiez's former employer, regarding alleged investigations into his conduct and will update this story as more information becomes available.
Original story from June 10:
An investigation into personal misconduct by Round Rock ISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez concluded that he would not be effective if allowed to continue his position with the district.
Community Impact Newspaper obtained the report June 9 through an open records request. After a recommendation from district monitor David Faltys, the RRISD board of trustees hired third-party Investigator Ann Dixon, who presented her report to the board March 8. The report is based on three weeks of interviews with 22 people and reviewing documents, including emails, text messages, police reports and legal documents.
In the report’s executive summary, Dixon stated that in addition to her investigation, Azaiez had two active investigations into his conduct by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office that were related to the scope of Dixon’s findings.
Dixon stated a third accusation investigated by the sheriff’s department could not be substantiated. Dixon’s report also stated the Texas Education Agency had an active investigation into Azaiez as of the release of the report.
No charges have been filed against Azaiez.
RRISD board President Amber Feller said when the board voted to reinstate Azaiez as superintendent after a nearly three-month paid suspension from Jan. 6-March 24, she had concluded there is no active investigation into criminal wrongdoing by Azaiez.
“As I said in March, the report conducted by the external investigator, along with the information provided by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office that the investigation into Dr. Azaiez is inactive and no charges are forthcoming, provided the board with the facts necessary to make the important decision to reinstate Dr. Azaiez as superintendent of schools,” Feller said in a June 9 emailed statement.
Community Impact Newspaper has reached out to the TCSO, the TEA and Donna ISD—his former employer—regarding any investigations or grievances into Azaiez that may still be open. No entity has responded yet.
Citing further pushback against Azaiez as “misinformation” and “rumors and innuendo,” Feller said she believes the RRISD board made the right decision to reinstate Azaiez, and his continued role as superintendent is in the best interest of the district.
“It is time to focus on the students and staff of Round Rock ISD and allow this experienced educator to do his job,” Feller said in the June 9 statement.
The report from March 8 states Dixon had interviews with “RRISD board members, law enforcement personnel, Texas Education Agency administrators, State Board of Education investigators, superintendent search firm consultant, community members, Round Rock ISD administrative staff, employee of another district, attorneys representing the parties in this issue, the current superintendent (Hafedh Azaiez) and the non-employee” who made the accusations regarding the current superintendent.
Community Impact Newspaper is not naming the accuser.
Among Dixon’s findings outlined in the report, they note that:
- Azaiez had a two-year relationship with the accuser prior to his employment with Round Rock ISD.
- Azaiez did have a temporary protective order against him from Aug. 2-Nov. 24, 2021, when mediation resulted in a settlement agreement between the two parties.
- Azaiez has a permanent restraining order against him, which he voluntarily entered into Dec. 13, 2021.
- Azaiez has given up all rights to an unborn child, which he voluntarily entered into on Dec. 13, 2021.
- Azaiez agreed to pay two payments to the accuser: one at confirmation of pregnancy and the second when the birth certificate of the child is produced.
- Azaiez has not shared information with the board about investigations and settlement agreements.
"Based on my collective fact findings and understanding of the laws and rules of an educator in Texas, I did state Dr. Azaiez, in my opinion, could not come back into his position and be effective," Dixon stated in the report. "My response was I could not come to conclusions regarding the Travis County Sheriff’s Office investigations or the State Board of Educator Certification actions, but the divisiveness created in the community by Dr. Azaiez’s behavior and the lack of Dr. Azaiez to be forthcoming with information has created a failure to establish a positive working relationship with the board of trustees."
Despite Dixon's recommendation and after several months of investigation, the RRISD board of trustees voted to reinstate Azaeiz in a 5-2 vote March 24 with Trustees Danielle Weston and Mary Bone voting no. His reinstatement was effective March 25, according to a motion put forth by Feller.
This is a developing story, and Community Impact Newspaper will update it as further details emerge.
