Mike Miles, the state-installed superintendent of HISD who is now entering his second year, does not get bogged down in the heaps of criticism levied at him by educators and parents.
“I am trying to do what I was asked to do, which is improve student achievement to the point where we can return this district back to an elected board. And that’s what we’re trying to do,” Miles said at the beginning of an in-person interview with KPRC 2′s Joel Eisenbaum.
How long will Mike Miles be HISD superintendent?
Miles will not put a date on when he will leave his appointed role and reminds people that the decision rests with TEA Commissioner Mike Morath.
“Well, in my head, if we can do as well as we did this year on improving student achievement, eliminating D and F campuses, we will be in the single digits of D and F campuses at the end of this school year. And so if that’s the case, I think the commissioner then could say, hey, we can start a transition back to an elected board,” Miles said.
Miles said the board shift to at least some elected members could happen as soon as next school year.
Why is Miles hiring uncertified teachers?
We asked Mike Miles why he has shifted to filling teaching jobs with people who have not been certified by the State of Texas to practice the profession.
If Miles is here to make sure HISD meets state standards, why is he hiring teachers who don’t?
“Well, you know, one third of all new teachers in the State of Texas a year ago were not certified, one third. Your question is the same answer the state would give, the nation would give, and that is: there’s a shortage of certified teachers, or at least effective certified teachers in the state, in the nation. And so, we can do with the district like it was two years ago, which is start the school year off with 644 vacancies, nobody in the position, or you can, hire teachers with a bachelor’s degree who may not be certified and get that certification waived like most districts are in the state,” Miles said.
Did Texas tax dollars fund charter schools Miles was affiliated with in Colorado?
“Can we talk a little bit about Colorado, the investigation, where it stands, what your position is on it? I’ve never clearly heard your position,” Eisenbaum said during his interview with Miles.
“Yeah, it’s been debunked anyways. But know this: This is not a time to talk about that. We’re talking about accountability, that the started the school year. That’s what this was set up for,” Miles said.
“Can I ask you one question? Have you been contacted by any agency regarding an investigation?” Eisenbaum asked.
“Yeah, yeah, we’re going to move on past that,” Miles said.