Amid the Texas Education Agency taking over Houston Independent School District, the agency has chosen former Dallas schools superintendent Mike Miles to be HISD’s new superintendent.
In 2019, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath ordered that TEA take over HISD after Phillis Wheatley High School received a failing grade on the state’s evaluation of schools for seven consecutive years. It was also uncovered through state investigations that there was evidence of malfeasance among the board of trustees and other district staff.
The board and a number of teachers sued the TEA to stop the takeover, but in January of this year, the Texas Supreme Court dismissed the injunction, allowing a board of managers to assume control of the district.
Before Miles was chosen, he was previously listed as the CEO of an education company called Third Future Schools, whose main mission is to improve failing schools. Third Future Schools has worked with many school districts in Texas, including Ector ISD, Midland ISD, and Austin ISD.
Miles also worked for Dallas ISD as the superintendent from 2012 to 2015, when he resigned.
However, WFAA reported in 2015 that Miles’ time as superintendent had been riddled with controversy, as critics accused DISD of “playing a financial-shell game with tax dollars.”
Almost four years later, Morath has chosen to make Miles HISD’s temporary superintendent until a board of managers is appointed and approves him to lead the district. Miles’ current contract is for 21 days, and Morath will decide how long the organization’s state-appointed board and superintendent will be in place.
In a statement released Thursday, Morath expressed how excited he is about the new governing board.
“Over the past few months, we have been heartened to see so many Houstonians eagerly step up to serve their community and the students of Houston ISD,” Morath said. “We were looking for people from a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives who believe all children can learn and achieve at high levels when properly supported and who can work together. I believe the governing team I am naming today will work as a unified team, dedicated to improving student outcomes and supporting educators.”
Morath also appointed nine people to the board of managers, including:
- Audrey Momanaee
- Ric Campo
- Angela Lemond Flowers
- Michelle Cruz Arnold, Ph.D.
- Cassandra Auzenne Bandy
- Janette Garza Lindner
- Rolando Martinez
- Paula Mendoza
- Adam P. Rivon
Miles’ first day on the job is Thursday, when he will be overseeing about 190,000 students in the Houston area.
