Houston ISD superintendent focuses on re-engagement, safety and 'the children' this school year

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Millard House II met with U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) this week outlining his goals as he begins the school year at Texas' largest school district. 

House was elected in June following a unanimous vote by the Board of Education. He succeeds interim superintendent Dr. Grenita Lethan, who now serves in a superintendent role in Missouri. In his previous role as superintendent of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Tennessee, House was named TN Mid-Cumberland Superintendent of the Year. 

"I enjoyed welcoming him to our city, appreciated hearing his goals for our city's schools, and look forward to the work we can do together to help educate students across HTown," Fletcher said in a tweet.

For the first three months, the main goals will be focused on re-engagement, safety and developing a strategic plan moving forward, House said in an interview with ABC 13.

"One thing that's going to be extremely helpful as we look at our highest-need schools is equity. We've got to focus our efforts on making sure that the kids that need these extra dollars, that need the kind of support that comes along with COVID relief dollars get it," House told ABC 13.

House is married and has two children—a 16-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. His hope in leading the district is to assure parents that their children will get exactly what they need during their time enrolled in HISD. 

"I'm looking forward to ensuring that my leadership team, our board with HISD, focuses its efforts on exactly what we need to focus on and that's children," House told ABC 13.

Earlier this month, the HISD Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of House's mask mandate, requiring face coverings be worn in all buildings, facilities and buses in the district, marking one of House's first major acts as head of HISD.

Although the mandate goes against Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order prohibiting school and government bodies from issuing mask requirements, House told KPRC 2 the board supported his decision after urging them to take the risk following a rise in COVID-19 cases. Under the order, a failure to comply could result in a fine of up to $1,000.

Recent public health guidance by the Texas Education Agency states current mask provisions under Abbott's executive order are not being enforced due to ongoing litigation.