Houston ISD could return to elected board sooner than expected if district continues to make progress, says Mike Miles

HOUSTON – Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles appeared before the City Council for the first time Tuesday to discuss the district’s STAAR testing results and to answer questions from council members about recent changes and layoffs.

For the first 15 minutes, the state-appointed superintendent reviewed his Destination 2035 plan with board members, outlining changes he plans to implement during his tenure. Miles then presented the results of the test, saying that students and teachers “did very well” in raising the level of expectations.

“Non-NES schools have done well. All 85 NES schools outperformed non-NES schools at the district and state level,” Miles said, adding that it’s not just about the numbers. “Behind every number, the children work hard, the teachers help them, believe in them and the principals guide those teachers.”

Miles pointed out that Wainwright Elementary School, which was rated F last year with only 17 percent of 3rd graders reading at grade level or above, increased to 46 percent this year. In mathematics, 3rd grade students went from 5% meeting expectations last year to 34% this year.

“A higher percentage of kids can read at grade level, and a higher percentage of kids can do math,” Miles said. “That’s the goal, that’s the result.”

For a closer look at district test results, click here.

After Miles’ 15-minute presentation, board members had the opportunity to ask questions. Board member Edward Pollard began by asking the superintendent to explain the numerous layoffs of teachers and principals despite the district’s growth.

“If the neighborhood is going in the right direction, why make these changes? asked Pollard.

“Every decision made this spring regarding layoffs or staff reductions has been difficult,” Miles responded. “There were a few months in the central office where supervisors had to speak with almost 1,500 employees.”

Miles said there have been nearly 1,500 layoffs, mostly in the central office. He attributed this to previous years, where money was poorly allocated. He also introduced a new annual evaluation system for the district.

“For the past 20 years, we have not had a rigorous evaluation system for teachers and principals, which has led to persistent achievement gaps and ongoing problems,” Miles said.

The new system evaluates principals using three main criteria: achievement data, progress/growth, teaching quality, leadership, climate surveys, special education growth and compliance.

Miles also mentioned increasing salaries for teachers and principals. The average teacher salary in the 2022-2023 school year was $68,250. For the 2024-2025 school year, the average salary for teachers in NES schools is $84,400, while for non-NES schools it is $70,600.

“We need to do what districts talk about but rarely do. Let’s give teachers a professional salary, not just a living wage,” Miles said. “No one goes near it.”

Board member Julian Ramirez then asked the superintendent when the district would return to an elected board.

“There are three broad criteria for my exit: no schools with D or F status, compliance with special education and improved special needs services, and more effective governance,” Miles said. “We have a long way to go, but if we continue to see the growth we’ve seen this year, and if we have three years of good growth, the commissioner will likely begin the transition to an elected board.”

Since Miles’ appointment, there has been a lot of controversy over the changes he made in the district to the NES model, layoffs, salaries and more.

Board member Carolyn Evans Shabazz questioned Miles about his plan for the district’s future, asking if he was trying to “destroy” public education.

“I have worked in public education for a long time and my goal has always been to serve underserved children, close achievement gaps, help them meet their needs, hire good teachers and train them, to mentor principals so that we have a strong public education,” Miles responded. “As far as school choice goes, I think every school should be a good school, and as far as vouchers or anything like that, I have a mission here… I don’t I wasn’t asked to write checks or charters, but I was asked to take us out of intervention by taking schools D and F and strengthening them. That’s all you can see of me. That’s the mission.