The Houston Independent School District (ISD) Board of Education has selected Millard House II, a member of Chiefs for Change, as the lone finalist for superintendent. With approximately 210,000 students, Houston ISD is the eighth-largest district in the United States and the largest in Texas. House currently serves as director of schools for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), one of the fastest-growing school districts in Tennessee.
“Millard is an exceptional leader guided by his ironclad belief in students’ ability to learn at a high level, and his commitment to ensuring all teachers have what they need to help children excel in the classroom,” said Chiefs for Change CEO Mike Magee. “He will join Houston ISD as the district works to recover from COVID-19, accelerate learning, dramatically improve low-performing schools, create strong postsecondary opportunities, and support children’s social and emotional needs. With a record of successfully overseeing this complex and collaborative work in other schools and systems, Millard has the vision, energy, and deep experience to lead Houston ISD at this critical time.”
Earlier this month, House was named TN Mid-Cumberland Superintendent of the Year. Under his leadership, CMCSS produced steady academic gains across subject areas; expanded educational options for families; implemented an innovative Teacher Residency Program to prepare new teachers; ensured every student in kindergarten through 12th grade has technology to learn; and is implementing a Foundational Literacy Skills Plan to support young children who are learning to read.
House has more than 25 years of experience in education and the nonprofit sector. He previously served as chief operating officer of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina and as deputy superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma. Prior to joining the executive cabinet in Tulsa, he founded and led a college preparatory middle school in one of the city’s most economically underserved neighborhoods. Over four years, House’s school became one of the highest-performing and most sought-after schools in the community. His experience also includes roles as executive consultant and executive director of New Leaders for New Schools.
As an early-career educator, House was appointed assistant principal of an elementary school in Tusla and became principal the following year. During his five years at the school, it went from being one of the lowest-performing Title I schools in the state to one of the highest. He was the first African American to win the Tulsa Public Schools’ Principal of the Year Award and was named Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the Tulsa Area Alliance of Black School Educators.
House joined Chiefs for Change, a bipartisan network of state and district education leaders, in April 2020. Other Chiefs for Change members who lead districts in Texas include San Antonio ISD Superintendent and Chiefs for Change Board Chair Pedro Martinez, Aldine ISD Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, and Ector County ISD Superintendent Scott Muri. Two other members of Chiefs for Change in Texas who previously served as superintendents are senior leaders in the Dallas Independent School District: Susana Cordova is deputy superintendent, and Orlando Riddick is acting chief of school leadership.
About Chiefs for Change
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit, bipartisan network of diverse state and district education chiefs dedicated to preparing all students for today’s world and tomorrow’s through deeply committed leadership. Chiefs for Change advocates for policies and practices that are making a difference for students, and builds a pipeline of talented, diverse Future Chiefs ready to lead major school systems.
