Millard House II officially approved as new HISD superintendent
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Millard House II era in the Houston Independent School District is officially here.
On Monday, the district's board of trustees gave unanimous approval to give the permanent job to the former director of schools for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Tennessee.
The video above is from a May 21, 2021, report on Millard House II's introduction to HISD.
House was the lone finalist for the superintendent job that had been in flux for the last several years. Dr. Grenita Lathan, who held onto the interim position, officially departed the job over the weekend.
Last month, House was introduced by board members under unanimous appointment.
SEE MORE: Lone finalist for HISD superintendent Millard House II promises reform and urges no state takeover
In the face of a possible state takeover, House was positive about taking on the role.
"A lot of people focus on challenges in terms of new job opportunity," House said on May 21. "I focus on the opportunities. There are great people here in HISD. I think we have the tools in our tool belt to move beyond some of the drama and the issues that have been plagued by the school system."
Of a state takeover, House stood firm on letting HISD control its own destiny in troubled times.
"We're not looking for the school system to be taken over or this board to be taken over," he said. "We're looking forward to providing what's needed and showing that we have the capacity to do so."
Houston ISD, the seventh largest school district in the U.S. and, by far, Texas's largest, is House's biggest role in his 22 years as an education leader.
Aside from Clarksville-Montgomery County, he has served for school systems in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
SEE MORE: Dr. Grenita Lathan says 'she did what was asked' during time as HISD's interim superintendent
