In response to complaints received by the school and concern on social media pages, Goodrich ISD has released a statement, furthering detail on the non-renewal of athletic director Lester King.
In the statement, the district refutes rumors, lists reasons for the decision, and thanks the coach who served in Goodrich for 38 years:
“Goodrich ISD would like to respond to media reports that the recent decision to non-renew Lester King’s contract was based on his use of the word “damn,” or that the decision was somehow personal and unjust.
“Such reports do not accurately reflect the reasons for the decision to non-renew Mr. King’s contract. On March 21, 2025, the Goodrich ISD Board of Trustees notified Mr. King of the reasons for the proposed non-renewal of his contract for cause, including for the following reasons:
(1) deficiencies pointed out in observation reports, appraisals or evaluations, supplemental memoranda, or other communications; (2) inability to maintain discipline in any situation in which the employee is responsible for oversight and supervision of students; (3) insubordination or failure to comply with official directives; (4) failure to meet the District’s standards of professional conduct; (5) behavior that presents a danger of physical harm to a student or other individual, and (6) use of profanity in the course of performing any duties of employment, whether on or off school premises, in the presence of students, staff, or members of the public, if reasonably characterized as unprofessional.
“During the non-renewal process, Mr. King was represented by his lawyer who was provided with all of the information and documentation the Board considered when it proposed non-renewal of Mr. King’s contract including, four (4) video recordings showing Mr. King threatening physical violence against primary and middle school students without provocation, berating students on a bus while driving, and using disparaging language towards students and administrative staff, twelve (12) prior counseling notices to Mr. King for unprofessional communications with students, and over one hundred (100) pages of documentation that showed a pattern of unprofessional communications by Mr. King with students and with district staff, including towards previous administrators.
“Despite efforts from both the current administration and past administration to work with Mr. King to address these issues, the issues continued to occur, including during this school year, as recently as February 2025. On April 14, 2025, the Board held a hearing to evaluate the merits of the proposed non-renewal, and Mr. King and his lawyer were allowed to examine and cross-examine witnesses and to offer evidence. After the hearing, the Board found that the District met its burden for non-renewal of Mr. King’s contract as stated in the notice of proposed non-renewal.
“The District acknowledges Mr. King’s dedication and contributions to the District but must ensure that all employees are held to the same District high expectations for professional conduct, especially with regard to expectations for communications with students.
“This District thanks Mr. King for his years of service to the District and wishes to thank its Board of Trustees for its service. The Board of Trustees is elected by the community who charges them with performing the duty to govern and oversee the District by carefully and diligently making decisions, even in situations like this, when doing so is not easy. Based on the evidence and testimony that was presented on April 14, 2025, the Board made a decision based upon District policy, Texas Education Code, and is in the best interest for all students in the District.”
Also outlined among term contracts were several reasons given for non-renewal were a failure to comply with board policies or administrative regulations, as well as failure to maintain an effective working relationship or maintain good rapport with parents, the community or colleagues.
Under ethical conduct, practices and performance, the school district quotes that the educator shall not make threats of violence against school district employees, school board members, students or parents of students.
Under ethical conduct towards students, highlighted are two standards. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly or recklessly treat a student or minor in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning, physical health, mental health or safety of the student or minor. Also, the educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard.
An athletic director performance appraisal given Feb. 10 showed that the district felt King needed improvement in three areas:
-Support and comply with board policy, administrative regulations, and directives.
-Approved players to be scheduled in the district athletic periods and consult with the superintendent, principal, coach, player and parents prior to dismissal of a player from the athletic program.
-Plan consistent, continuous efforts to maintain working relationships with parents, boosters, athletes, teachers and staff.
Specific incidents were cited in the report for reasons of non-renewal. On Jan. 26, 2024, the school refers to King using disparaging language directed toward students and administrative staff. On May 13, 2024, the district notes that King threatened a student. On November 16, 2021, the district quotes King verbally harassing students while driving a bus.
Compiled in a 250-page report by Goodrich ISD, a list of complaints from students, parents, coaches, teachers, administration and staff are detailed.
In response to the school district’s non-renewal, King released a statement on Saturday:
“I have been serving as the Boys’ Coach and Athletic Director at Goodrich ISD since 1987. During that time, I have had the privilege of making positive contributions, both to the lives of our student athletes and to the program.
“I have celebrated over 800 Goodrich ISD victories in basketball over the years. Our team has made it to state 7 times and were state champions in 2001. Our cross country team has been to state 7 times and been named regional champions five times. We have been the recipient of the THSCA award for wins in cross country and track.
“My work with our students has brought recognition both to me and to Goodrich ISD’s athletic program. Over the years, I have been inducted into the Prairie View UIL Coaches Association in 2012 and received the UIL Excellence Award in 2017. I have been a proud member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches for 15 years and have been the recipient of their merit award. I have served as the District Cross Country Meet director for over 15 years and have been named the District Coach of the Year in basketball more than 20 times.
“Over the years, I have been offered a number of positions at other school districts. And I have consistently refused to accept those positions, because out of all of the accomplishments and achievements I have enjoyed over the years, the most gratifying one has been to see how well the kids who have come through the athletic program have done in life. By remaining in this community, I have had the opportunity to see generations of student athletes go on to apply the skills, discipline and teamwork that they learned at Goodrich ISD in a positive way throughout their life. That will always be my proudest achievement.
“I deny the allegations that the district has made. When I learned that the Board of Trustees had voted to propose the nonrenewal of my contract, I knew that I could not let their allegations go unanswered. I have worked for too many years in Goodrich ISD to simply leave under a cloud of unfounded accusations. At the hearing, the district made allegations against me, most of which dated as far back as 2015.
“The attorney for the district read from statements that were written ten years ago by disgruntled former employees and irate parents. None of these people appeared to speak directly to the board. Instead, the attorney simply read their old, unverified complaints word for word and accepted them as true without giving my attorney the opportunity to speak to the people who wrote them.
“The only live witness that they called in support of their position was the superintendent, who spoke for five minutes. Five minutes to disparage my 38 years of service. In contrast, multiple community members, parents and former board members appeared before the board to speak on my behalf. Colleagues who have worked with me for more than 20 years spoke in support of my professionalism. A current parent at Goodrich ISD spoke about the positive impact that I have had on her children and a former athlete at Goodrich ISD testified before the Board that I continue to inspire him in his choice to become a teacher.
“The board ignored the statements of these witnesses who have personally worked with me when they told the board that my conduct has consistently been professional and appropriate. I am proud of my service to students. I am proud of Goodrich ISD and its staff and am honored to have been a part of it for the past 38 years. Mostly I am proud of the kids, the ones who worked hard, the ones who learned about teamwork and dedication, and the ones who have gone on to be fine adults.
“I will always carry that pride with me and know that I accomplished a lot. I want to thank everyone who appeared at the board meeting to speak on my behalf and thank all the members of the community who continue to support me. You all know my character and the kind of person that I am and that is what matters most.”
Past administrations are said to have proposed non-renewal of the longtime athletic director, documenting King’s conduct deemed unprofessional. However, previous boards have voted in favor of renewing the contract each time.
On Feb. 18, Goodrich superintendent Daniel Barton included King’s contract on a list for renewal. The board raised concerns over issues consistent with behaviors present and past administrations had documented, according to Barton. The board voted to reject the recommendation to renew King’s contract.
On March 4, Barton presented the board with documentation involving King’s conduct, including documentation from the current school year, as well as prior years involving similar conduct. The board evaluated the documentation and, as required by the education code, the superintendent made the alternate recommendation to non-renew King’s contract, which the board accepted.
