Houston Independent School District (HISD) Superintendent Mike Miles faced a critical audience at a recent city council meeting. Following concerns about the direction of the state’s largest school district, Miles took center stage to defend his efforts and outline his vision for the future.
The hour-long presentation focused on Miles’ “Destination 2035” plan, a comprehensive strategy to revitalize HISD. He addressed the council members and Mayor John Whitmire, detailing the achievements of his first year at the helm. A key area of focus was the revamped New Education System Program, alongside advancements in instructional quality. Miles emphasized the recent gains in standardized testing (STAAR) as a crucial step towards removing state intervention.
“Our students are reading at a higher rate than they were a year ago,” Miles declared to the council during the economic development meeting. “They’re making progress, and they’re thriving.”
Miles’ appointment as Superintendent came amidst a challenging period for HISD. A series of failing academic ratings at Wheatley High School prompted the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to assume control of the district, replacing the nine elected trustees with a board of managers.
Lauren Simmons, an HISD parent and a strong opponent of the takeover who recently defeated State Representative Shawn Thierry in a Democratic primary runoff race, said she was shocked to see Miles’ be held accountable in any capacity. It was like “a breath of fresh air” to see several council members ask key questions of concern to their constituents, and it was a step in the right direction for her.
Simmons recalled a time when HISD parents, teachers, and community advocates went to the capitol to protest the state takeover but were snubbed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who left the meeting before the group could speak.
“I’ll hold him to his word. I fully expect a proper transition to the elected board in two years. I don’t wish him to fail. That means our children fail, and our city fails,” she said. “I have faith in our educators. We aren’t a perfect district, but we were a C-rated district. The takeover wasn’t needed to close the achievement gap. We need more resources and support.”
Simmons believes that it’s the community’s right to hold Miles accountable and that he will continue to do so well after these meetings. He also hopes that he is honest about his long-term goals for the district’s success.
“I know he’s talking about having an elected board in two years, but he wants Houston taxpayers to vote to support a bond. It sounds hypercritical,” she said. “If you plan to be gone in two years, then why do you want billions of dollars in taxpayers’ money to start a project that you won’t be here to see in it totality?”
Kathy Blueford-Daniels, a former HISD Trustee for District 2 who attended the meeting, said that the city council meeting was just another “box checked off of Mike Miles’ list.”
“Miles is just giving information without any real supportive data. What methodology is he using to determine the school and district’s status? That process should be open to the public,” she said. “If you create a simple timeline between 2019 and now, anything achieved before he arrived was through an elected board and superintendent. He’s making claims of any achievement that occurred because he came last June. He needs to make that very clear to the people.”
Miles’ address to the council encompassed three main areas: New Education System reforms, student performance on the STAAR assessments, and the proposed 2024-25 budget. Following his presentation, council members peppered him with questions.
A recurring theme centered on recent personnel decisions. Council members sought clarification regarding the termination of certain teachers and principals deemed to be underperforming. Additionally, inquiries were raised about the timeline for reinstating an elected school board and the district’s strategy for improving communication with the community.
Council members desired continued dialogue with concerned residents regarding HISD’s management.
Miles acknowledged the challenges ahead. “We have a long way to go,” he said. “This is just the first year, but we’re focused on achieving the outcomes necessary to return the district to local control. That’s the ultimate goal. I’m here to invest in Houston’s future, but ultimately, I’m working towards the day when my job is no longer needed.”
