The Texas Education Agency announced the nine-member board of managers for the Houston Independent School District and chose a new superintendent on the first day of the state takeover.
Mike Morath, the commissioner of the TEA, named Mike Miles the new superintendent. Thursday marks the start of Miles’ 21-day interim contract, which will last until the board of managers formally approves him.
“I am honored and humbled to be here in Houston. It is my great privilege to lead Houston ISD in this work to make it one of the best school districts in the country,” Miles said Thursday in a tweet.
I am honored and humbled to be here in Houston. It is my great privilege to lead @HoustonISD in this work to make it one of the best school districts in the country. pic.twitter.com/WizgUBrRGp
— Mike Miles (@HISDSupe) June 1, 2023
He also promises to work to improve the “system” failing HISD students, and he mentions enhancing special education for students with special needs.
The Dallas Independent School District, the second-largest district in the state (behind HISD), was Miles’ previous employer for three years as superintendent.
In addition, he founded Third Future Schools, served as its CEO for six years, and served as superintendent for the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs.
Miles worked for the state department while serving as an Army officer. At the end of the Cold War, he held various positions, including that of a diplomat to Poland and Russia. He has degrees from Columbia, UC Berkeley, and West Point.
“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.”
The following nine individuals were chosen to serve on the new management team. The TEA gave us their biographies:
- Audrey Momanaee: Momanaee, a parent in the Houston Independent School District and a lifelong Houstonian was raised by teachers in her family and has a strong sense of duty to the community. Momanaee is a skilled litigator who supports pro bono legal work and has handled numerous cases to assist families throughout Houston.
- Ric Campo: Campo has used his passion, knowledge, and advocacy to create a better Houston for over 40 years. He has held positions on many public and private boards supporting children, families, and efforts to end homelessness and promote Houston as a city. Campo, a successful entrepreneur in Houston who is the grandson of immigrant farmworkers, was the first member of his family to earn a college degree.
- Angela Lemond Flowers: Experienced in education, Lemond Flowers started her career as a teacher at Houston ISD’s Jesse H—Jones High School, where her mother had previously worked. The improvement of children’s education has been the focus of Lemond Flowers’ professional life. She has worked in administrative leadership positions and as a high school English teacher in Houston-area schools for over twenty years. She is the proud mother of four children, two attending Houston ISD.
- Michelle Cruz Arnold, Ph.D.: Dr. Cruz Arnold, a mother of a Houston ISD student with a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Planning, has spent over 20 years advocating for education policy and helping open up opportunities for students to pursue higher education and careers. Dr. Cruz Arnold, a proud Houstonian, is currently in charge of advocacy and government relations for a large non-profit group that promotes college access.
- Cassandra Auzenne Bandy: The proud parent of fourth-generation Houston ISD students and a Houston ISD graduate, Bandy resides in Houston. She participates actively in the PTO at her kids’ school. She is a business strategy manager at a large consulting company and was trained as a chemical engineer.
- Janette Garza Lindner: Two of Garza Lindner’s children attend HISD schools, and she is a devoted wife and working mother. She works as a management consultant for the energy sector and supports the arts, education, and creating safer and healthier communities in her area. Garza Lindner, a native Texan who has lived in Houston for over 20 years, was born and raised in Brownsville.
- Rolando Martinez: Martinez was born and raised in Houston, graduated from Houston ISD, and is a parent to three kids attending Houston ISD schools. He is a human resources manager at a sizable healthcare system in the Texas Medical Center and participates in the Houston ISD District Advisory Committee.
- Paula Mendoza: Mendoza is a devoted community leader and businesswoman who has lived in Houston for a long time. She is also the mother of a Houston ISD graduate. She runs a small business and has served on numerous nonprofit and governmental boards, including the University of Houston Board of Regents, the Texas Ethics Commission, and the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, to show her dedication to the Houston community.
- Adam P. Rivon: Rivon is the founder and owner of a small company in the real estate sector and the parent of a student in the Houston ISD. In the United States Army, Rivon proudly served his country and was awarded the Bronze Star for his outstanding performance as an Army Artillery Officer during combat operations in Iraq.
The newly elected board of managers will conduct open meetings subject to the same rules and regulations as the previously elected board of trustees.
All sessions must be available to the public, public comment must be accepted, public hearings must be held, and all necessary budget and tax information must be posted for public review and discussion.
On Thursday, June 8, the new board’s inaugural meeting will take place.
Nearly 190,000 students attend HISD. It’s the most prominent district the TEA has ever taken control of, not just the biggest in the state.
Millard House II’s final day as district superintendent was last week. He thanked the community on social media after serving in the role for under two years.
“We accomplished many of the goals we set together in the last two years,” House said in his essay. “And while I know our time was cut short, I have no doubt that there will be more successes to come.”
What an incredible journey! I’m beyond grateful for this experience. Thank you @HoustonISD for having me. pic.twitter.com/dhHaXh2rtu
— Millard House II (@MillardHouseII) May 31, 2023
According to the TEA, 422 of the 462 applications came from residents of HISD. 52 candidates were interviewed in total. The applicants are broken down as follows:
- 199 male
- 260 female
- 3 other
- 180 African American
- 52 Hispanic
- 154 white
- 21 Asian
- 35 two or more races
- 20 other
- 22 high school diploma
- 118 Bachelors
- 198 Masters
- 124 Doctorate (38 with Doctorate in Education)
- 238 attended the Lone Star Governance training
- 227 completed the training and were eligible to advance in the selection process (some candidates left early or did not return for Day 2 of the activity)
According to the TEA, the board members and superintendent will decide everything related to the district’s day-to-day operations.
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The TEA commissioner will review HISD in two years to determine whether the takeover can be terminated.
At that point, control will be returned to the neighborhood elected school board over a three-year period, selected members at a time. If the commissioner determines that HISD is still not up to par, the state takeover may be prolonged for up to two years.
In recent weeks, many HISD administrators have resigned.
According to our colleagues at the Houston Chronicle, the district’s Chief of Schools, Denise Watts, will relocate for a position in Georgia. She will depart on June 14.
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