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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) appointed a new superintendent on Thursday for the newly state-controlled Houston Independent School District (HISD), Houston-based media outlets reported.
Members of the new HISD Board of Managers were named as well on what’s the first official day of the TEA’s takeover of the largest public school district in the state.
Houston CW affiliate KIAH reported that TEA Commissioner Mike Morath tabbed former Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Superintendent Mike Miles as HISD’s new leader, replacing the ousted Millard House II.
Per KIAH, Miles is on a temporary three-week agreement until he’s formally approved to the position.
"It is my great privilege to be here in HISD in this work to make it one of the best school districts in this country," Miles said in the report.
With a student enrollment of close to 200,000, HISD earned the unwanted distinction in March as the first large, public urban school district to fall under state control, Houston Daily reported.
The takeover of HISD was years in the making, with the district alleged to have yielded low academic performance.
A TEA official told an audience at a pre-takeover meeting last month that the actions taken by the state are a “temporary intervention.”
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the board of managers consists of six women and three men who were chosen from a field of over 400 applicants.
According to KHOU, the board members are attorney Audrey Momanaee, businessman Ric Campo, veteran educator Angela Lemond Jones, nonprofit official Dr. Michelle Cruz Arnold, business strategy manager Cassandra Auzenne Bandy, management consultant Janette Garza Lindner, healthcare human resources manager Rolando Martinez, entrepreneur Paula Mendoza and proprietor Adam P. Rivon.
Citing the TEA, the station reported that the board of managers are held to the same legal standards and expectations as the duly elected HISD Board of Education.