A major shakeup is on the horizon for Texas public education after Democrats won the governor’s race for the first time in more than three decades and are poised to take control of the state's education board.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa ran on a platform to fix the state's public education, starting with replacing Mike Morath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). She's already putting that plan in motion.
"On day one, I will fire Mike Morath, and we will work tirelessly to repair the damage of the Texas vouchers scam and end an era in which our schools are sold for parts," Hinojosa said in her victory speech on Nov. 3.
In her first news conference as governor-elect on Nov. 5, just days after her historic victory, Hinojosa said her team
is "actively interviewing people" to replace Morath.
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Morath commissioner of the state agency that oversees Texas' 1,207 school districts and more than 9,000 schools in 2016. His term expires Jan. 10, and Hinojosa takes office Jan. 19.
He also drove the revamp of the state's A-F school accountability system and state takeovers of large districts, including Houston ISD and Fort Worth ISD.
A TEA spokesperson told KPRC, the NBC affiliate in Houston, that Morath told a group of school leaders this week that he was committed to “ensuring a smooth and successful transition for the incoming education commissioner.”
USA TODAY reached out to the TEA for further comment, but has not heard back.
But the commissioner seat is not the only thing expected to change under Hinojosa, as Democrats are on track to hold a majority on the Texas State Board of Education.
Democrats poised to gain control of Texas Board of Education
Unofficial results show Democrats winning seven seats on the 15-member Texas State Board of Education, up from four. That leaves the board split 7-7, with one race too close to call that will determine which party controls the majority.
That race is District 8, where unofficial results from the Texas Secretary of State's office show Democrat Dana Van De Walker leading Republican incumbent Audrey Young by 564 votes as of Nov. 6.
The board works alongside the TEA commissioner to set curriculum standards, adopt teaching materials and establish graduation requirements for K-12 public schools in Texas.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gina Hinojosa vows to fire TEA chief, reshaping Texas schools
