Houston-based @nytimes reporter. Formerly @Hou_Landing, @The74. Reach me: [email protected]
Houston, TX
Joined June 2020
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
For years, Texas has been on the leading edge of an effort to ramp up school policing. It has had a profound effect on students ages 10 to 13. My latest, with @kristianreports, @small_asher and @rosiecima: nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/te…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
This story from @RASchuetz and @JustJhair is one everyone should read from start to finish.
"Why Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's killing reverberates through Houston's oldest Mexican American neighborhood" (gift link)
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
The best surprise when I got a chance to hang with my buddy/former @Hou_Landing colleague @small_asher at @HoustonPubMedia this morning.
Read his new @nytimes investigation here:
nytimes.com/interactive/2026… – at Houston, TX
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
In Texas schools, officers get physical with students almost every day but there are no safeguards to prevent overreach or hold those accused of excessive force accountable. Read my latest investigation @nytimes @ExpressNews with @Amari_Clare @small_asher nytimes.com/interactive/2026…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
More than two years ago, I obtained video footage of an arrest at a Texas high school.
It showed an officer confronting a student who had thrown a can at a girl in his special education classroom. The officer dragged the 17-year-old boy to the ground and punched him. 🧵
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Having served as an assistant principal, I valued our SRO. But in hindsight, we relied on him too much for low-level discipline. This article hits hard because I’ve seen how easily the line blurs. Thanks @Amari_Clare, @kristianreports, and @small_asher for your vital reporting.
A new @nytimes investigation shows the extreme end of using police to manage student discipline.
There’s a huge, unexamined leap in logic between “We need to protect children from active shooters” and “We must place an armed law enforcement officer inside every school building.”
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Proud of my friend @small_asher and his colleagues, who worked hard to uncover thousands of cases in which TX school police have used force on students. Some of these incidents just defy belief. Worth a read
nytimes.com/interactive/2026…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Since Uvalde, TX has invested billions in stationing school police officers at public school campuses, often without guardrails to ensure students weren't subjected to strong physical force for minor misbehavior.
expressnews.com/news/educati… #txed #txlege
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
New: @HoustonISD names the schools planned for closure or co-location. More in article below:
Breaking: @HoustonISD to move forward with closing 12 schools starting in 2026-27 year.
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Breaking: @HoustonISD to move forward with closing 12 schools starting in 2026-27 year.
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Wrote about Alief, one of Houston's most special neighborhoods. I've always admired how hard people from Alief ride for it, so I was curious about why it's lost thousands of residents over the last couple years. Hit the gift link below to get into it
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Looking to stay on top of @HoustonISD news?
Make sure you subscribe to @HoustonChron’s weekly HISD newsletter!
I'll be co-writing "The Report Card" with @nusaiblah and @partain_claire.
Sign up (for free!!) so you don't miss our coverage: houstonchronicle.com/newslet…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
The four ousted members of @HoustonISD's Board of Managers submitted the majority of the board's formal information requests to the district over two years, records show. via @HoustonChron
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
As the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina nears, I spent some time reflecting on one of the most catastrophic and costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, with a few of those, some 250,000 New Orleanian evacuees who found refuge in Houston after being displaced.
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
NEW: We obtained records that show Houston police have called ICE nearly 60 times this year, including on a woman who was reporting domestic violence by her ex-husband.
Latest w @DegroodMatt
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Texas DPS asked a migrant if he had tattoos.
He didn't.
They searched his phone and found a pic of him standing next to of a man that did.
That was enough to label him Tren de Aragua, getting him shipped to El Salvador, lawyers say.
via @serrano_alej
texastribune.org/2025/06/18/…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
NEW: Chicago has a growing number of tiny schools in huge, aging buildings.
It’s a complex, radioactive issue in a city that carried out the largest mass school closures.
@propublica's @jsmithrichards & I dug into the cost to students & the district.
chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/0…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
On Dec. 9, 15-year-old Sergio Rodriguez was struck and killed by a train on his way to HISD's Milby High School.
Milby has since lost 4 more of its students. Here's how the community has come together.
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
after two school years covering houston isd, i wanted to take a look back at how many schools i've visited so far.
in total, i've visited nearly 35 across houston. this includes town halls, classroom tours + much more.
... only around 240 more left to go.
Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
The smile this brings to my face. Sitting across from Asher in a newsroom is like getting a front row seat to a magic show -- daily! for two years! So happy to see these roses tossed on his stage.
Award season is wrapped, and I can say my 2024 work earned:
- @EdWriters nat’l education beat reporting award
- @LivingstonAward local news finalist
- Texas Managing Editors 🥇in community service,🥈in investigations
Been a turbulent time but important to celebrate the wins :)
