Houston Federation of Teachers comments on death of HISD student

HOUSTON – Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said the topic of leadership came to mind when she learned of the death of 14-year-old Landon Payton, a student at HISD's Marshall Middle School.

“This is a testament to the incompetent leadership we have in HISD,” Anderson said. “My deepest sympathies go out to the parents.”

There is still no clear answer as to how Landon died during gym class.

“I want closure. That's all I want. I want to see the story from beginning to end, not just the end. I was there at the end when I saw my son die. I was there at the end and I'm trying to figure out what led to that,” Landon's father, Alexis Payton, told KHOU 11 News Friday afternoon.

Payton spoke with HISD officials on Friday and viewed police body camera video. He said it did not show what led to his son's death, but said he heard someone admit they did not know how to perform CPR.

“You have a nurse in school who didn't know how to do CPR. She didn't know how to do CPR, she didn't know how to use a defibrillator,” Payton said.

Anderson said she was skeptical about this.

“From what I understand, this nurse had 30 years of experience before she came here,” Anderson said. “I just don't believe she said that. He may have heard that, but personally, deep down in my heart, I don't believe she said that.”

But Anderson said HISD nurses lack the resources they need.

“Where are your priorities? If you say you are there for the children, then your actions should match what you say,” Anderson said.

“Nurses come to us and say that they don't have any bandages in their clinic. They also lack the other materials they need for their daily work.”

On Friday, Superintendent Mike Miles issued a statement about Landon's death but declined to answer questions.

“We have focused this week on gathering information for the family and have put that above everything else,” he said.

A small memorial for Landon has been erected in front of Marshall Middle School and a vigil for him is planned for Monday.

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