The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is in the midst of a significant workforce reduction, leaving many employees at a crossroads. Following a board vote last week to declare financial exigencyover 90 jobs are on the line, with employees given until Friday to decide whether to resign voluntarily.
This unprecedented move has sparked concern among educators and union leaders, who are advising employees to carefully consider their options. The layoffs are expected to impact various roles, including teachers, social workers, and school psychologists, raising questions about the future of education in the district.
Impact on Students and Classrooms
Jesus Carreñoa social studies teacher at Jefferson High School, is one of the employees facing job elimination. His primary concern is the effect these layoffs will have on students. “Ultimately, the ones that are going to suffer are going to be the students,” Carreño said. “Kids are going to be put into classrooms with like 30 or more students. So it’s not just like, ‘Hey, I’m losing my job.’ That’s awful, too, but it’s affecting these kids’ education.”
Despite Carreño’s fears, Superintendent Brian Lusk has assured that the district plans to maintain current class sizes next year. However, the potential increase in class sizes remains a contentious issue among educators and parents.
Union Leaders Advise Against Resignation
Union leaders, including Norma De La Rosa of the El Paso Teachers Association and Kara Cervantes of the El Paso Federation of Teachers, are cautioning employees against resigning. They warn that resigning could disqualify employees from receiving unemployment benefits and from requesting a hearing with the board, which is mandated by Texas law for those affected by layoffs.
“If they resign, they’re no longer eligible for unemployment benefits,” Cervantes told El Paso Matters. “So I’m advising people not to resign.” The notices from EPISD do not explicitly state that resigning could disqualify employees from unemployment benefits, but union leaders are urging employees to seek clarification before making a decision.
Career Disruptions and Uncertainty
The layoffs are particularly devastating for probationary teachers, many of whom are recent graduates from the University of Texas at El Paso. De La Rosa noted that these teachers are just starting their careers and face the added burden of student loan payments. “This is devastating for them simply because these probationary teachers are not that many years outside of having graduated,” she said.
For Carreño, the notice has upended his career plans. He graduated with a psychology degree in 2026 and was working on obtaining an alternative social studies teaching certification, which requires one year of classroom experience. Now, he must find another teaching job to complete his certification, a task that has proven challenging. “Yesterday I stayed up until 2 a.m. and I’ve been updating my resume and filling out applications. Unfortunately, it looks like, in terms of El Paso, there’s not really much positions for social studies,” he said.
Carreño’s situation highlights the broader issue of declining enrollment in El Paso County, which has limited teaching openings outside of specialized roles. “If I don’t find a job that’s in teaching, I guess I’m going to get unemployment, and then either try to find a job I could get with my bachelor’s in psychology, or just find something in the meantime while I try to get lucky,” he added.
The EPISD board is scheduled to meet on Monday, June 15to discuss and vote on the termination of several employee contracts. As the district navigates this financial crisis, the decisions made in the coming days will have lasting impacts on educators and students alike.
