Mike Miles took over Houston ISD (170,000 students, the largest district in Texas) in June 2023. The district was broken: 121 D and F schools, 1,900 chronically absent teachers, zero focus on instruction quality, financial chaos, and worst of all, kids failing year after year.
In just three years, HISD transformed.
- 121 D and F schools → nearly 200 A and B rated schools
- 13 of 20 state exams: above state average (previously 0)
- Reading and math proficiency gains three years in a row
- Teacher salaries: highest in Texas ($83K-$101K)
- Chronic absenteeism: from 1,900 absent teachers to near zero
How?? Not gradually. Not with excuses. With systemic, wholesale reform:
- New curriculum + direct instruction
- New evaluation + pay for performance
- Teacher coaching + daily support
- Real accountability + real consequences
- Speed: 85 schools completely overhauled in one summer
Mike’s message to Maine (and every state with failing schools): Kids are never at fault. Adults are the problem. Set high expectations. Move fast. Refuse excuses. Pay teachers well. Hold everyone accountable. The roadmap exists. The question is: are we willing?
Resources:
- Mike’s book: “By Design: How to Transform School Systems”
- Paradigm Leaders Fellowship (training next-gen education leaders)
- Third Future Schools (charter-district partnership network)
- goodreasonhouston.org
