HOUSTON – Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles appeared before the city council on Tuesday for the first time to discuss the district’s STAAR test results and to answer council members’ questions about recent changes and layoffs.
For the first 15 minutes, the state-appointed superintendent reviewed his Destination 2035 plan with the council members, outlining the changes he plans to implement during his tenure. Miles then presented the test results, stating that students and teachers “did great” by raising the level of expectations.
“The non-NES schools did well. The 85 NES schools outperformed the non-NES schools at the district and state levels,” Miles said, adding that it’s not just about the numbers. “Behind every number, kids are working hard, teachers helping the kids, believing in them, and principals guiding those teachers.”
Miles highlighted that Wainwright Elementary School, which was rated an F school last year with only 17% of 3rd-grade students reading at grade level or above, increased to 46% this year. In math, 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 outcome.”
For a closer look at the district test results, click here.
After Miles’ 15-minute presentation, council members had the opportunity to ask questions. Councilmember Edward Pollard began by asking the superintendent to explain the extensive teacher and principal layoffs despite the district’s growth.
“If the district is going in the right direction, why make these changes?” Pollard asked.
“Every decision this spring regarding staff removals or cutbacks has been tough,” Miles answered. “There were a couple of months at the central office where supervisors had to speak with close to 1,500 employees.”
Miles said there have been nearly 1,500 staff layoffs, mostly from the central office. He attributed this to previous years of incorrect money allocation. He also introduced a new annual evaluation system for the district.
“For the last 20 years, we haven’t had a rigorous evaluation system for teachers and principals, leading to persistent achievement gaps and ongoing problems,” Miles said.
The new system evaluates principals using three main criteria: achievement data, progress/growth, quality of instruction, leadership, climate surveys, special education growth, and compliance.
Miles also mentioned the increase in teacher and principal salaries. The average teacher salary during the 2022-2023 school year was $68,250. For the 2024-2025 school year, the average salary for teachers at NES schools is $84,400, while for non-NES schools, it is $70,600.
“We have to do what districts talk about but rarely do. Let’s give teachers a professional wage, not just a living wage,” Miles said. “Nobody comes close.”
Council Member Julian Ramirez then asked the superintendent when the district would return to an elected board.
“There are three big criteria for my exit: no schools with a D or F status, compliance for 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 had this year, and if we have three years of good growth, the commissioner will probably start transitioning to an elected board.”
Since the appointment of Miles, there has been a lot of controversy about the changes he has made in the district to the NES model, layoffs, pay and more.
Councilmember Carolyn Evans Shabazz questioned Miles about his plan for the district moving forward, asking if he was trying to “destroy” public education.
“I’ve been in public education a long time, and my goal has always been to serve the underserved kids, close the achievement gap, help them with their needs, hire good teachers and train them, coach the principals so that we have a strong public education,” Miles answered. “With regard to school choice, I think every school should be a good school, and with regard to vouchers or anything like that, I have one mission here... I was not asked to do vouchers or charters, but I was asked to get us out of intervention by taking the D and F schools and making them strong. That’s all you can see from me. That’s the mission.”