HISD interim superintendent calls for school finance reform as district aims to build on literacy gains

Speaking before a packed ballroom, HISD Interim Superintendent Ken Huewitt urged the community to rally around its most struggling schools, while Board of Education President Manuel Rodriguez announced the district has won a national Magna Award for its literacy efforts.

Both Huewitt and Rodriguez delivered their messages while speaking Thursday to a sold-out crowd at the Hilton Americas-Houston during the district’s 2016 State of the Schools address.

In his first address since assuming leadership of the district earlier this week, Huewitt urged the crowd to never lose sight of the district’s driving force — children. All students — no matter their background or personal circumstances — can learn, he said, but they must have the resources they need to be successful and people in their lives who believe in them and are committed to their success.

Critical to that success, Huewitt said, are the district’s programs devoted to literacy, college preparation and career development — and adequate funding from the state Legislature.

“We have students with profound need and even greater potential, but these students don’t have an advocate or a single person in their life who can help them. These students are missing school, missing opportunities, and missing out on their only chance to escape poverty,” Huewitt said. “Houston is a can-do city, but we cannot ignore the challenges these students face.”