BROADIE COWBOY MIKE MILES ORDERED TO HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PRIVATIZE
Breaking News: Houston Independent School District (HISD) has a new superintendent, Mike Miles, who is here to destroy and privatize the district! Or at least that's what some people are saying.
Miles, a former Army Ranger and U.S. State Department official, has a reputation for being a reformer and a disruptor in education. He started his career as a teacher and principal in Colorado Springs, where he founded a charter school network called Pikes Peak Prep. He then became the superintendent of Harrison School District 2, where he implemented a pay-for-performance system for teachers and principals that linked their salaries to student achievement.
But that's not all! Miles is also a graduate of the Broad Superintendent Academy, a program that trains current and aspiring urban school system leaders in the principles and practices of business management. It was founded by billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, who believes that public education can be improved by applying corporate strategies and market-based reforms. So, basically, Miles is a corporate privatizer who is here to ruin HISD. Or is he?
Miles was appointed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath on June 1, 2023, as part of the state’s takeover of HISD. The takeover was triggered by years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus in the district, Phillis Wheatley High School; allegations of misconduct against school board members; and the ongoing presence of a conservator who’s been overseeing the district for years. So, it's not like Miles just showed up one day and said, "Hey, let me ruin your schools!"
In fact, Miles has said he decided to come back to Texas and take on the challenge of leading HISD because he believes he can make a difference for the students and families in Houston. He said he plans to focus on 30 of the highest-need schools in his first year, introducing a new staffing model that pays teachers more but cuts some positions like librarians. He also said he will not close any schools in his first year, but that there will likely be closures down the line. He predicted his vision of a transformed HISD would take about five or six years to execute.
But let's get back to the fun stuff. Miles has been described as a military-minded leader who pushes reform but doesn’t do well with politics or people. He has been accused of undermining academic standards, censoring free speech, and imposing his ideology on others. He has also faced lawsuits and complaints from former employees and parents who alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or violation of rights. So, basically, he's like your boss who thinks he knows everything but really just makes everyone's life miserable.
But hey, maybe Miles will surprise us all and actually do some good for HISD. Maybe he'll turn those 30 high-need schools into shining examples of academic excellence. Maybe he'll find a way to pay teachers more without cutting positions like librarians. Maybe he'll even learn how to do well with politics and people!
In conclusion, Mike Miles may or may not be a corporate privatizer who is here to destroy HISD. But one thing is for sure: he's going to have a tough job ahead of him. Let's hope he's up for the challenge. And if not, well, at least we can make some jokes about it.
New Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles promises sweeping reforms to 29 schools https://www.keranews.org/education/2023-06-02/new-houston-isd-superintendent-mike-miles-promises-sweeping-reforms-to-29-schools
Big Education Ape: BREAKING NEWS: TEA TAKES OVER HISD, PLANS TO RENAME IT THE 'MIKE DISTRICT' https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/06/breaking-news-tea-takes-over-hids-plans.html
