https://www.thebuddyfalcon.com/

Buddy Falcon, Pflugerville, TX (2025)

12/17/2025

🦅 Assistant Principal or Intern? Records Raise Authority Questions at Connally HS

Who is legally authorized to discipline students, evaluate teachers, and make high-stakes decisions at Connally High School?

That question is at the center of a growing records review involving Michael “Mike” Adams, and it matters because Texas law ties administrative authority directly to certification — not job titles or informal designations.

This update builds on earlier Buddy Falcon Media reporting and explains why newly reviewed applications, district listings, and certification records have shifted this from a background credential issue to a matter of district compliance and oversight.

🔍 What hasn’t changed since the original post

Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) records still show:
• Michael Adams’ probationary Principal (EC–12) certificate expired January 4, 2017
• As of today, no new, renewed, probationary, intern, or standard principal certification appears in SBEC records

📄 What has changed — and why this matters now

Newly reviewed district records show a contradiction that did not previously exist in the public discussion — not only in job titles, but in described duties and certification disclosures.

In April 2024, Michael Adams told Pflugerville ISD that he had previously worked as an assistant principal at Manor High School (2016-17) and Comal Canyon High School (2021–2023).

Two months later, in a June 27, 2024 application, Adams identified his position at Connally High School as Assistant Principal (9th Grade) and Campus Athletic Liaison, with a July 8, 2024 start date.

In that same application, Adams listed duties he stated he was performing or would perform at Connally, including:
• Supervising campus personnel
• Overseeing and managing student discipline for 9th-grade students
• Serving in a supervisory and administrative leadership role on campus

At the same time, Pflugerville ISD’s own website lists Michael Adams’ title as “Intern Admin HS” at John B. Connally High School, which directly conflicts with Adams’ applications identifying his role as Assistant Principal (9th Grade) and Campus Athletic Liaison.

Those descriptions are not the same — and under Texas law, that distinction matters because duties, not titles, determine certification requirements.

📜 Certification status disclosed — and unchanged

In his application materials, Adams acknowledged that his probationary Principal (EC–12) certificate expired in January 2017. He further stated that he was enrolled in a Principal Certification Only Program, with an anticipated completion date of July 2025.

That date has now passed, and SBEC records still do not reflect any new or renewed principal certification for Adams.

🚨 Duties Adams listed — and why certification matters

Several of the duties Adams identified in his application are regulated administrative functions that require valid administrator certification under Texas law. Without an active administrator certificate, an individual is not permitted to:

• Conduct or sign formal teacher evaluations
• Issue or approve student discipline decisions
• Make DAEP or expulsion-related determinations
• Lead ARD or Section 504 meetings as an administrator
• Act as campus administrator of record or exercise final due-process authority

If the duties Adams listed in his application accurately reflect his day-to-day role at Connally, the discrepancy between his described responsibilities, the district’s “Intern Admin HS” designation, and his certification status raises legitimate compliance and oversight questions.

🧭 Why this matters

Certification and assignment rules exist to protect students, staff, and districts by ensuring proper training, lawful authority, and accountability. When applications, contracts, website listings, and certification records do not align, responsibility shifts to district oversight and verification processes.

This is not about one individual alone.
It is about whether systems intended to ensure compliance are functioning as required.

🗣️ Buddy Falcon Media will continue reviewing records and seeking clarification as additional information comes in. If you have documentation related to assigned duties, hiring classifications, or certification verification, tips are welcomed and reviewed before publication, anonymity guaranteed.

Buddy Falcon Media, LLC
Keeping Watch. Always.🪶

12/15/2025

The $11.99 Safety Solution: Is Superintendent Shepherd’s “Side Hustle” Putting Profits Over Public Service?

By Buddy Falcon Media

In a time when school safety is the number one anxiety keeping parents awake at night, Pflugerville ISD Superintendent Quintin Shepherd, Ph.D. has announced a new solution. But you won’t find it in a board meeting agenda, a policy update, or a free resource for the community he serves.

You’ll find it in his checkout cart.

Recently, Dr. Shepherd took to LinkedIn—where his profile prominently identifies him as Superintendent—to promote his newly released e-book, Beyond Security: The Psychology of Safety in Schools. For $11.99, the Superintendent offers what he describes as a “reframed way of thinking” about keeping children safe, grounded in “compassion and belonging.”

This raises serious questions about the ethics and optics of public leadership.

1. The Monetization of Duty
Dr. Shepherd is a public servant, paid a substantial salary by taxpayers to lead Pflugerville ISD and ensure the safety of its students. If he has identified a “missing link” in school safety—one that moves beyond hardware and into human connection—why is that insight being placed behind a paywall?

Why is a sitting superintendent selling safety strategies back to the very public that already employs him?

2. The “Brand” vs. the Job
While the district faces real-world safety and security challenges, the Superintendent is actively promoting his personal literary brand. Using a profile that prominently features his official title and district affiliation to market a for-profit product blurs the line between public stewardship and private enterprise.

Is this the work of a superintendent singularly focused on Pflugerville ISD—or an author leveraging public authority to build book sales?

3. Theory vs. Reality
In his promotional writing, Dr. Shepherd states, “A campus can be secure without ever feeling safe,” arguing that safety is ultimately built through human connection.

It is a compelling sentiment—one that reads well on a book jacket.

But the question remains whether this philosophy reflects the lived reality inside Pflugerville ISD schools.

We want to hear from the real stakeholders.

To the parents, students, and staff of Pflugerville ISD:
Dr. Shepherd asserts that safety is not about locks or cameras, but about the culture and connection he is cultivating.

• Do you feel that connection?
• Do you feel listened to and valued?
• How safe do you actually feel in his schools?

We are listening.

Tips and concerns related to public corruption, specifically PFISD, are already coming in. As always, we are verifying information carefully before publication. Accuracy matters.

If you have information related to corruption, unreported inappropriate conduct, misuse of authority, misuse of funds, or other serious concerns, you are encouraged to reach out. You may contact us via direct message or on X ( - easier to remain anonymous) . You may also email [email protected].

🦅 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC
Keeping Watch. Always.

12/06/2025

🦅 Buddy Falcon Media Update

📌 Former PfISD Administrator Resigns as Vernon ISD Superintendent

On December 3rd, Buddy Falcon Media reported on Kermit Ward, a former Pflugerville ISD employee who was hired by PfISD while under investigation related to his prior tenure in Waco. Although the district received a tip regarding Ward during his first week at PfISD, PfISD did not publicly document any follow-up or findings. Ward later departed the district amid unverified allegations of misconduct, with no public explanation of how the concerns were reviewed or addressed.

📅 Yesterday, December 5, Vernon ISD formally accepted Ward’s resignation during a called special meeting and announced an interim superintendent.

📨 Today, a current Vernon ISD employee reached out to me directly and shared the same brief letter that was published publicly. That communication confirms only that Ward has departed the district and offers no substantive explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding his resignation.

⚠️ The employee also shared unverified concerns circulating among staff regarding potential misconduct. At this time, those claims remain rumors and have not been substantiated, and Buddy Falcon Media is not presenting them as fact.

When a superintendent resigns abruptly — particularly one formerly hired under scrutiny — and the district provides no transparency beyond a generic departure notice, the situation warrants legitimate public questions.

🔍 If the resignation was routine, clarity would resolve speculation.
🔍 If concerns exist, they deserve independent review.

Buddy Falcon Media will continue to document timelines, confirm records, and seek official responses rather than traffic in rumor.

🪶 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC 🦅 Keeping Watch. Always.
Pflugerville ISD KXAN NewsSpectrum News 1 TexasVernon ISD

"During a called Special Meeting this morning, the Vernon ISD Board of Trustees accepted the retirement of VISD Superintendent Dr. Kermit Ward, and named current Asst. Supt. Dr. Blaise Boswell the Interim Superintendent." - Vernon ISD

12/03/2025

🚨 PfISD Hired Administrator Amid Probe — Ignored Warnings, Promoted Him Anyway

As additional documentation and firsthand accounts continue to surface, questions are growing about Pflugerville ISD’s consistency in evaluating employee conduct and reporting obligations — both for former PfISD employees and for individuals the district advanced into leadership roles despite significant concerns.

According to reporting by the Austin American-Statesman and records obtained through the Texas Public Information Act, Kermit Demetrius Ward, who later served as a principal in PfISD, resigned from Waco ISD in 2009 while under investigation into a possible relationship with a teacher he supervised.

Waco ISD documents show:

* He was suspended with pay during the inquiry.
* On July 16, 2009, he was notified of proposed termination.
* He resigned four days later.
* Waco designated him ineligible for rehire.
* He was prohibited from returning to Waco ISD property or using district equipment.

PfISD hired Ward as an assistant principal on July 15, 2009 — one day before the Waco termination notice was issued. In the weeks that followed, Pflugerville ISD received an anonymous tip referencing concerns about his prior district. Although the tip signaled that an investigation had occurred in Waco, district administrators did not initiate a formal review at that time. Ward remained employed in the district for years, later serving as principal at Westview Middle School and then Connally High School.

⚠️ According to records and district statements, PfISD did not request the full Waco ISD file until 2017, when a separate and unverified boundary-related concern surfaced at Connally. It was during that process that Pflugerville officials obtained the complete 2009 Waco documentation. When asked publicly about the situation in 2017, district officials initially referenced an “ongoing investigation,” later describing it as a “personnel matter.”

Multiple individuals familiar with PfISD operations during Ward’s tenure have since contacted Buddy Falcon Media reporting that concerns about professional boundaries were discussed internally. These accounts are not yet substantiated, and additional records are being sought. Notably, the concerns described by sources resemble issues outlined in the 2009 Waco investigation.

This case also raises questions when viewed alongside a separate PfISD matter in which the district submitted a report to the Texas Education Agency after internally clearing a former employee and allowing him to complete the semester in his teaching role. Administrators and the School Resource Officer found no sustained violations in that instance, yet the district forwarded the matter to TEA — a decision that has delayed the individual’s ability to secure employment while the state review is pending.

🕊️ As emerging reporting highlights, these differing approaches have prompted renewed scrutiny of how PfISD evaluates risk, responds to internal concerns, and determines when to escalate matters to state regulators.

Buddy Falcon Media will continue reviewing records, requesting documentation, and speaking with individuals who have firsthand knowledge. If you have information relevant to this matter, you may contact us confidentially.

— Buddy Falcon Media, LLC 🦅 Keeping Watch. Always.

11/11/2025

🦅 Buddy Falcon Media | Investigative Follow-Up

📰 New Records Tie Mike Adams’s Uncertified Assignment to Earlier HR Decisions

New documentation reviewed by Buddy Falcon Media shows that Mike Adams’s current uncertified role in Pflugerville ISD follows a long-standing pattern of HR leniency dating back to his first years in education—years that were also overseen by Willie Watson Jr., now the district’s Chief Human Resources Officer.

📄 The certification record Pflugerville ISD released earlier this month correctly listed Adams as authorized only for Social Studies (Grades 8–12). What’s new is confirmation that the same HR official who approved his current placement also supervised his early career when he spent three consecutive years on probationary certificates—the longest period the state allows.

---

# # # ⚖️ A Pattern of Extended Exceptions

📚 According to Texas Administrative Code § 230.37, probationary certificates are valid for one year and may be renewed only twice.
Records show Adams required all three years to complete certification while teaching in Manor ISD—where Watson then served as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources (2008–2016).

📊 TEA reports show that between 85% and 90% of Texas educators complete their certification within a single year, meaning Adams was among the small fraction who did not, receiving repeated renewals under district approval.

🕰️ Fifteen years later, Watson’s HR office in Pflugerville again approved Adams—this time for an administrative assignment without a valid principal certificate.

---

🧾 Verification Breakdown

📎 State law requires certification to be verified before employment or promotion.
PfISD’s own record confirms Adams’s credential authorizes teaching, not administration.
That means the district had the correct record on file yet proceeded with the hire.
This was not a documentation error; it was an approval failure inside Human Resources.

---

💡 Why It Matters

📢 Under Texas Education Code § 21.003(a), no person may serve as an administrator without an appropriate certificate.
Districts that disregard certification requirements risk TEA compliance findings, funding corrections, and public trust violations.

🔍 The new connection between Adams’s earliest probationary approvals and his present uncertified post shows a consistent pattern of HR discretion overriding state standards—a pattern that began in Manor ISD and continues today in Pflugerville.

🪶 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC
Keeping Watch. Always.

Pflugerville ISD Chevonne, Pflugerville ISD Trustee, Place 7 KXAN NewsKVUESpectrum News 1 Texas

11/07/2025

🦅 "No Tracking," They Said — But Page 10 Tells a Different Story

PfISD’s district-wide email downplayed the new Z Pass program, insisting it was only about bus safety — “no GPS tracking of individual students,” they wrote.

But when we dug up page 10 of The Pflyer (the very page the email told parents to read), it paints a much bigger picture.

That page doesn’t just describe buses. It says students will use their new RFID “contactless” cards for:

* food service
* library checkout
* entry to school games
* other daily events (vague)

And for elementary students, these cards will be attached to backpacks.

So while the email reassures parents that nothing is being “tracked,” the official district publication quietly confirms that the same RFID cards will be scanned inside the building, across multiple functions tied to each student’s identity.

That means PfISD isn’t just logging when kids board a bus — it’s creating time-stamped records of where and when students use their IDs throughout the school day.

Under Texas Education Code §26.009 and FERPA §99.7, parents must be told when identifiable student data is collected, must have access to it, and must be given an opt-out or consent option.

Yet not one of those rights was mentioned in the email.

So which version should parents believe — the one that minimizes what’s happening, or the one buried on page 10 that spells it out?

🪶 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC 🦅 Keeping Watch. Always.

11/07/2025

📰 PfISD Responds Within Hours of Buddy Falcon Report on Weiss RFID Rollout 🦅

Hours after Buddy Falcon Media raised questions publicly, Pflugerville ISD sent an email to families announcing that Weiss High School is the first campus to launch a new RFID ID tracking system.

In the district’s own words, students were issued their new IDs “earlier this week.”
That means the rollout had already taken place *before* parents were ever informed it existed.

Two additional campuses are expected to follow later this fall, with a districtwide expansion planned for early 2026. Elementary schools will be next, with badges attached to backpacks “for easy use.”

Parents deserve real answers—and real transparency:

• Why Weiss first? Was there any board approval, public discussion, or formal vote?
• Why not start with elementary campuses, where the likelihood of students boarding the wrong bus is higher?
• Why Zonar? Who selected this vendor, and was there a competitive bidding process?
• How much is the total cost—including hardware, software, licensing, and data storage?
• Why wasn’t this announced before rollout in a clear, visible way? (Page ten of a digital newsletter doesn’t qualify as public notice.)
• When were the IDs actually issued, and why did the district wait until after they were in students’ hands to make any announcement?
• Why weren’t parents allowed to opt out or even understand how their child’s data would be used?
• What happens if a student forgets or loses their card? Are they denied bus service or marked absent?
• How long is the data retained, and who has access to it? Does that include third-party vendors or law enforcement?
• If only a fraction of students ride buses, why were all students issued RFID IDs?
• Is there a plan to integrate this system inside the building—to track attendance, monitor movement, or replace bathroom passes?
• And if there’s “no GPS tracking,” as the district claims, why does GPS data appear in the system at all?

District leaders call this transparency.
But real transparency means notifying families before implementing technology that tracks their children—not after it’s exposed.

Parents didn’t learn about this from the district.
They learned about it because someone asked the questions the district didn’t want to answer.

If Buddy Falcon hadn’t reported it, when would they have sent the notice?

🪶 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC 🦅 Keeping Watch. Always.

KXAN News KVUEChevonne, Pflugerville ISD Trustee, Place 7 Pflugerville ISD Weiss High School FOX 7 Austin

11/06/2025

🦅 RFID Tech May Have Evolved — But Consent and Transparency Haven’t

Already today I’ve received multiple messages from parents concerned about the materials embedded in student ID badges, as reported yesterday. After looking into similar cases in other districts, these questions are not new — but the technology has certainly evolved.

In 2013, a Texas district used RFID-chipped badges to track attendance. The program caused backlash over privacy, parental consent, and student rights — and was eventually dropped after it failed to improve attendance.
🔗 [Wired: “Texas Students Rebel Against RFID Tracking” (2013)](https://www.wired.com/2013/08/student-rfid-chip-flap/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

By 2014, several states began backing away from student tracking programs using RFID or biometric data, citing privacy and security risks.
🔗 [Stateline: “States Backtrack on Student Tracking Technology” (2014)](https://stateline.org/2014/10/27/states-backtrack-on-student-tracking-technology/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Since then, RFID and “smart ID” technology have advanced — and while some systems are more secure today, the same questions still apply. Improved technology doesn’t erase the need for transparency or consent.

If new badges include updated features, parents have a right to understand exactly how they function and what data, if any, is being collected or transmitted.

Families deserve clear answers to basic questions:

* What is embedded in the badges?
* Does it transmit or store any personal or location data?
* What safeguards protect students from unauthorized access or tracking?
* Were parents informed and given the chance to consent or opt out?

Even if this technology is safe and harmless, the lack of communication is what creates mistrust. Schools should lead with openness — not silence — especially when it involves our children’s privacy and safety.

🪶 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC 🦅 Keeping Watch. Always.
PFISD Concerns Chevonne, Pflugerville ISD Trustee, Place 7 Weiss High School Pflugerville ISD KXAN News KVUE Spectrum News 1 Texas Texas Education 911 FOX 7 Austin

11/05/2025

🦅 Question for PfISD Parents and Staff

Today alone, I’ve received multiple messages and photos from parents showing damaged student ID badges that appear to have something embedded inside. Parents are confused as to what this could be.

If this is part of a new badge design, security feature, or tracking system, why weren’t families informed? These IDs are required to be worn daily and brought home — parents and students have a right to know exactly what’s in them and what it’s used for.

Even if it’s something harmless, like a standard RFID layer, the lack of communication is concerning. Transparency should never come after discovery.

Parents — have you noticed the same thing on your child’s badge? Have any campuses provided an explanation about what’s inside or why it’s there? Please share what you know below so we can piece this together.

🪶 Buddy Falcon Media, LLC 🦅 Keeping Watch. Always.

11/05/2025

🚨 When Trust Breaks Down at Weiss High School 🚨

You’ve seen the videos.
🎥 Assistant Principal Tran telling a mother of a special-needs student that if she doesn’t trust the school, she should “find other options.”
🎥 Assistant Principal Oduwole and Principal Ameka Hunt turning a parent conference into a personal attack because that same mother dared to post on social media.

Now, after a campus fight involving her child (video shared yesterday), the story continues in email form.

Instead of compassion or concern, Oduwole’s response quotes policy, warns the parent about her “tone,” and copies supervisors to make them “aware.”
The parent’s reply is direct: she does not trust Weiss administration and believes they’ve acted with “ill intentions.”

In the video, behavior teacher Ramon Nazario stands by as the fight unfolds, not intervening until his supervisor steps in. Colleagues have also reported past concerns about his interactions with female students — concerns they say were never investigated.

And while all this unfolds, the parent says her daughter has now been placed on bathroom restriction 🚫 — another move that has left the family feeling targeted instead of supported.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t an attack on teachers 🍎.
Most educators care deeply and show up for kids every day.
This is about leadership accountability — and what happens when a parent who speaks up for her children is treated as a problem to manage instead of a partner to protect.

Trust isn’t optional in education.
When it’s gone, safety goes with it. 💔

Buddy Falcon

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