District engages Haynes Boone’s Ryan Patrick to conduct independent audit of policies and response to complaints
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the version that appeared in the Oct. 2 print edition to include Plano ISD’s Oct. 3 announcement of an independent audit, along with additional data and clarifications provided by the district.
By Sharon Wisch-Ray
Oct. 3, 2025
In an interview with the Texas Jewish Post, Plano ISD Board President Dr. Laura Tyra confirmed that the district will hire an outside firm to assist in responding to allegations of antisemitism and to help shape long-term strategies. On Friday, the district announced it has engaged Ryan Patrick of Haynes Boone to conduct an independent, comprehensive audit of district policies, procedures and systems. The audit will examine complaints, training programs, reporting procedures and response protocols to identify potential systemic issues and strengthen how the district addresses antisemitic incidents.
In its announcement, the district said the independent review reflects its “commitment to transparency and dedication to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all.” Findings are expected in the coming months.
Dr. Tyra told the TJP, “I think first, it’s really important to acknowledge and understand that addressing things like hate, bullying, antisemitism or racism in any form is ongoing work. It has not just been the past year — really, for the last two years we have taken deliberate steps, particularly around antisemitism, to support our Jewish students, staff and families.
“After Oct. 7, we started hearing both general concerns about safety and some specific complaints of antisemitism. Those complaints are always investigated and, when warranted, there are consequences. But we also began taking immediate action to collaborate with faith leaders and credible Jewish organizations to not only address, but prevent antisemitism on our campuses.”
According to district data provided to the TJP, Plano ISD has investigated 23 reported incidents over the past two school years. In 2023–24, with an enrollment of 47,904 students, 16 incidents were reported and two were sustained following investigation. In 2024–25, with 46,551 students enrolled, there have been seven reported incidents, three of which were sustained.
District officials noted that not all reported incidents were determined to be antisemitic, and in some cases insufficient information was provided to fully investigate.
Comparable data were not available before 2020. In 2021–22, the district investigated one middle school report involving name-calling that was deemed antisemitic, and in 2022–23, one middle school report included six allegations — two sustained as antisemitic, the others as general Code of Conduct violations.
Congregation Anshai Torah, adjacent to Plano West Senior High School, has felt the ripple effects directly. “In the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7, we saw an uptick in reports from congregants about antisemitic incidents,” said Rabbi Michael Kushnick. “We met with the superintendent and her top leadership a few times and had pretty positive success. They were open to listening, and we continue to stay in contact.”
District officials also highlighted a series of measures implemented over the past two years, including mandatory training for administrators, counselors, social workers and all staff, as well as specialized Holocaust- and antisemitism-related training for secondary social studies teachers at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum in November 2023. Additional training for all teaching staff on recognizing and responding to antisemitism is in development. Student leaders have also been taken to the museum for programs on combating hate and bullying.
Plano ISD also created a “safe and inclusive school” roundtable with Jewish community leaders in 2024–25, enhanced its Character Education program to emphasize upstander strategies, added a web page with resources on bullying and antisemitism for parents, audited its curriculum for compliance with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and hosted Jewish parent summits in partnership with ADL, AJC, DHHRM and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.
Michelle Golan Friedman, Federation’s director of Community Relations and Public Affairs, said the Federation has acted as convener, bringing the organizations together to work directly with PISD and other districts. “For more than a year now, Federation has convened professionals of Jewish communal organizations to share information and coordinate around how we can all work together, collaboratively and strategically, to address antisemitism in educational spaces K–12 and on college campuses,” she said.
The first of two parent empowerment seminars took place earlier this year, followed by a second session in August. On Sept. 17, PISD held a mandatory seminar for principals and district administrators. Sessions were held on Sept. 25 for assistant principals and another session for counselors and social workers is scheduled in October. By the end of October, more than 500 PISD staff will have received the trainings according to organizers.
“We want to support Plano ISD — that’s our job as ADL. We can provide all the resources and training, but the district still has to do the work, which I believe they are committed to,” said Alex Horn, ADL Texoma director. “Our goal is to help them take this seriously and make antisemitism education part of their overall culture, not just a one-off training that checks a box.”
As part of the training, participants review what antisemitism is, how the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) defines it, and why Texas’ adoption of the IHRA definition matters under Senate Bill 326. They also explore the emotional and generational trauma carried by Jewish communities.
AJC Dallas director Joel Schwitzer emphasized the need for clarity. “I try to break down the IHRA definition and provide concrete, real-life examples of when criticism of Israel crosses the line into antisemitism,” he said.
Plano ISD administrators and student leaders have also participated in programs at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, with museum staff continuing to serve as a resource. All secondary social studies teachers received mandatory training at the museum in 2023.
The district also revised its Student Code of Conduct to explicitly address antisemitism and hate. Principals have been trained to identify antisemitic images, tropes and phrases, and administrators may now determine that clothing or artifacts once permitted could be prohibited if they risk causing disruption, particularly in light of current events.
The Federation has published a resource guide with reporting tools and links to area district handbooks at jewishdallas.org/news/back-to-school-resources-for-jewish-families.
