Texas Education Commissioner Appointee Opens Up

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DALLAS (CBS11) - Mike Morath is not an educator, but he immersed himself in the study of educators.

"A good trustee understands how schools work, and that's necessary for governance," the Dallas School Board trustee explains.

For four years, Morath held the District 2 seat on the Dallas School Board. On January 1, he'll become Education Commissioner for the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Morath to the position Monday.

Abbott called Morath "a change agent" for public education.

There will be a significant change for a board member representing a section of North and East Dallas, connected by 15 schools.

"My job is to deliver outcome improvements," he says.

According to Morath, only 40% of Texas students are getting a "college ready" education. He says the Texas Education Agency must implement the mission of the State Legislature's education directives to improve the college ready statistic.

"My job is to execute what the Legislature policies create. The goal for the state by 2030 is 60% of our graduates have some post secondary education. We clearly need to look at changing some of the ways we work."

Morath's Dallas ISD tenure has faced criticism. He was a supporter of former Superintendent Mike Miles.

He helped craft a public campaign that would've allowed Dallas ISD to write its own charter. The Home Rule Charter plan failed. Morath was accused of trying to manipulate the direction of the district without working with other stakeholders. "I learned a great deal from that policy failure," he said. The lesson he garnered included listening to others and building a coalition.

Morath believes building the best teachers is an act that can be achieved through the TEA, and he will continue to work on that goal as the agency's new commissioner.

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