HOUSTON — It's been one year since the state took over the Houston Independent School District to improve failing schools.
While the state-appointed superintendent probably won't win any popularity contests, we sat down with him to talk about encouraging STAAR test scores, how long the takeover could last and who he answers to.
It’s been a year of learning and protests in HISD.
"Teachers and students are protesting -- asking that you be fired,” KHOU 11’s Len Cannon said to Miles. “A congressman wants you investigated. Does any of this bother you?”
“It makes sense that people would have angst, some confusion, some anger about all the reforms,” Miles said.
Not just the reforms, but Miles has brought sweeping changes, including letting go of popular principals.
“How is someone who is principal of the year one year out of the job the next?” Cannon asked.
"I can't speak to how someone got principal of the year, teacher of the year last year,” he said. “I would say it probably wasn't very rigorous how a principal got evaluated.”
Watch the full interview here:
Despite the year of turmoil and criticism, Miles said the latest STAAR tests show one of the highest years of academic growth the district has ever experienced.
"We had a very good year,” Miles said. “That’s a tribute to our kids. That’s a tribute to our teachers.”
He admitted that one year isn't a trend, and there's one statistic that showed just how far the district has to go -- HISD has 274 schools, and 123 of them, about 40%, have a campus accountability rating of D or F. Miles expects an improvement when the latest accountability ratings come out in August.
“You were brought in to make changes to improve the district. If HISD does not improve over a certain period of time, should you be fired?” Cannon asked.
“I should be,” Miles said.
“And who would fire you?” Cannon asked.
“The (TEA's) Board of Managers,” Miles said.
That's not likely without approval from the man who hired Miles: Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.
“The Board of Managers ultimately has the say, but I am pretty sure they would check in with the Commissioner of Education,” Miles said.
And the one question everyone is asking -- how long could the state takeover last?
“If we see strong gains for three years in a row, in my educated guess, we could see a transition back starting in the fourth year," Miles said.