Texas agency exonerates Judson ISD board president after detailed review

Monica Ryan, the president of the Judson Independent School District board of trustees, was cleared of wrongdoing by the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday. The state agency sent a letter to the district’s interim superintendent, Ann Dixon, and Ryan, stating that the investigation into her conduct is now closed. This decision resolves one of two parallel inquiries opened by the state in June.

The agency launched the initial probe after three board members and at least one community member alleged that Ryan abused her power. Those allegations included claims that she pressured other trustees to vote in specific ways, undermined the superintendent, and held private conversations with a quorum present outside of official meetings. The second investigation remains open and focuses on former Superintendent Robert Milton Fields.

In the letter, Richard Segovia, the division director of special investigations at the Texas Education Agency, noted that the evidence did not show systematic violations of the Texas Education Code or the Texas Government Code. The agency stated it did not find district-level or board wrongdoing related to Ryan’s actions. This clears Ryan of the specific legal breaches alleged by her colleagues.

The dispute over Fields, who was fired earlier this year, stems from allegations that he hired staff listed on the state’s Do Not Hire registry. The months-long process leading to his departure involved public infighting, an internal investigation, and several extended board meetings. With Fields gone, the district is currently led by a temporary superintendent and has not yet begun a search for a permanent replacement. This is the fourth leadership change since Fields was placed on leave in January.

Following the state’s clearance, Ryan called on trustees Jose Macias Jr., Suzanne Kenoyer, and Laura Stanford to resign immediately. She argued that their actions wasted taxpayer and student money based on false accusations. Macias rejected the call, describing it as laughable. He stated that he has an obligation to his community to seek accountability when he believes misconduct has occurred.

The board has split into two factions, with senior trustees and more recently elected members frequently at odds. Their most recent disagreement involved board procedure and the preparation of meeting agendas. On Monday, Ryan proposed a rule change that would give the board president more authority to accept or deny agenda requests from other members. The proposal would have removed language requiring that member requests be scheduled for an appropriate time in the near future.

Macias argued that the existing policy has worked for decades and allows trustees to suggest items in consultation with the superintendent and president. He said the change was an attempt to silence items that the president believes should not be on the agenda. The board voted 3-3, keeping the original policy in place. Ryan said she might revisit the suggestion later.

Beyond agenda rules, the board has clashed over budget decisions and hiring. Macias has been censured four times in the past six months for actions including sharing confidential board information on social media and communicating with reporters after a stabbing incident at a middle school. He filed a lawsuit in federal court to drop the sanctions and seeks $1 million in restitution, currently awaiting a hearing date.

Judson faces declining student enrollment and academic challenges, with one school receiving a fourth consecutive failing rating from the state. The district’s internal conflicts have already prompted at least one candidate to file to run against Ryan. Her term ends in May 2027, and she holds one of two at-large seats. Ryan has not said whether she will seek reelection.