Houston-based @nytimes reporter. Formerly @Hou_Landing, @The74. Reach me: asher.lehrer-small@nytimes.com
Joined June 2020
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After Uvalde, Texas undertook an ambitious effort to station a police officer at every school.
Since then, students have been tackled, pepper sprayed and Tasered. Many episodes began over minor infractions like breaking dress code or vaping.
Our report: nytimes.com/interactive/2026…
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Enjoyed discussing our investigation into Texas school policing this morning with @CohenCraig on @HoustonPubMedia's @HoustonMatters program. The interview is now available on YouTube: youtu.be/bDfP89AdVnU?si=z6Yo…
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Jun 2
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…
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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…
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
May 28
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. 🧵
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For context, this is what a hogtie looks like. In one of the cases, the boy was left face down in the backseat of the police car for roughly 20 minutes in this position
One of the most severe cases in our investigation: A 10-year-old with disabilities who was hogtied three separate times by an officer. Twice when he left campus and once when he kicked the principal.
@eliz_sander and I covered in-depth: houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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One of the most severe cases in our investigation: A 10-year-old with disabilities who was hogtied three separate times by an officer. Twice when he left campus and once when he kicked the principal.
@eliz_sander and I covered in-depth: houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
After Uvalde, Texas undertook an ambitious effort to station a police officer at every school.
Since then, students have been tackled, pepper sprayed and Tasered. Many episodes began over minor infractions like breaking dress code or vaping.
Our report: nytimes.com/interactive/2026…
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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.”
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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…
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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
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After Uvalde, Texas undertook an ambitious effort to station a police officer at every school.
Since then, students have been tackled, pepper sprayed and Tasered. Many episodes began over minor infractions like breaking dress code or vaping.
Our report: nytimes.com/interactive/2026…
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Proud to publish this story with my incredible co-reporters @Amari_Clare, @kristianreports and editor @kmcgrory. @ExpressNews were great partners, @EmilyJDonaldson, @melissm8 and @LizTeitz.
This story is a year in the making. Hope you'll give it a read
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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…
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
Breaking: @HoustonISD to move forward with closing 12 schools starting in 2026-27 year.
houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
5 Dec 2025
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…
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2 Sep 2025
Excited to share that I’m joining @nytimes.
I’m on staff for a six-month assignment examining police and security in Texas schools. I’ve been freelancing on the project for the past few months and thrilled to join in a more official capacity.
✉️: asher.lehrer-small@nytimes.com
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2 Sep 2025
Lucky to work with badass co-reporters @Amari_Clare and @kristianreports on this, as well as our fearless leader @kmcgrory
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
8 Aug 2025
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…
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
7 Aug 2025
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
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
24 Jul 2025
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.
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Asher Lehrer-Small retweeted
24 Jun 2025
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…
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