Former Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Angelica Ramsey will receive nearly $550,000 and will be paid her full salary and benefits through August 2025 as part of her resignation agreement with the district, according to paperwork obtained by NBC 5.
Ramsey’s total compensation is expected to be just above $942,000.
The document also said neither side is allowed to boast about winning in this deal, but several people who have read it pointed out Ramsey is walking away with significantly more money than the district would have paid her if she was still superintendent.
Camille Rodriguez was the only school board member who didn't vote in favor of the agreement. She spoke to NBC 5 in her first interview since the vote.
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"We definitely didn't have grounds to dismiss her," said Rodriguez, who said this whole decision was done for personal differences that had nothing to do with educating children. "I, as an individual board member, was not looking for a politician. I was looking for an educator to correct the academic progress of our students and get us in the right direction. That's what Dr. Ramsey was and is."
Ramsey stepped down as superintendent effective Sept. 30. The agreement states she will now serve as "ambassador of public relations" for the district until Aug. 30, 2025, but will be on leave until she exits the district next year. During that time, she'll be paid her normal annual salary of $335,000 plus stipends, which totals about $400,000.
The agreement said that in addition to her salary, Ramsey was to be paid nearly $50,000 for unused vacation, personal leave, and sick days before Oct. 1. She was also to be paid one-half of one year's salary and benefits, which was another $247,961.
She'll receive another bulk payment of half her annual salary between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 15, 2025. It brings the total compensation to nearly $950,000
"Did she bring all these people from out of town who didn't know Fort Worth? Yes, she did," said Alex Jimenez, a community leader who signed on to a letter drafted by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker calling for change in the district.
Jimenez said board members worked for several months, trying to drum up support around the community to oust Ramsey, which he said he never supported. "I really think she was trying her best to help improve the lot of these kids we have in Fort Worth."
Jimenez said he signed the letter because he is angry with the board, not the superintendent, and none of them are admitting their role in the district's struggles.
"That amount of money may look like a win for her, but she was trying to make change and wasn't allowed to do it," he said. "I would suggest to the folks that sign that letter. Don't take a victory lap. There's no reason to take a victory lap because we're, I mean, we haven't even started to fix the problems."
The district has not yet named an interim superintendent to replace Ramsey. Sources close to the leadership cabinet said Tuesday that board members hadn't even spoken with any of the deputy superintendents about how the district should be run. After we reported that Tuesday, we were told board president Roxanne Martinez called and scheduled a meeting with Deputy Superintendent Karen Molinar.
A special meeting will be held in the district on Oct. 8 to discuss appointing an interim leader.
