Houston ISD Names Lathan As Interim Superintendent

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Independent School District Board of Education unanimously voted Thursday night to name Chief Academic Officer Grenita Lathan as interim superintendent of the state’s largest school district.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to help our schools achieve educational excellence,” Lathan said. “We are on the right path toward educational excellence in all of our schools, and I want to ensure all our students have quality educational opportunities that will prepare them for college or career. I’m fully prepared to lead the district in this season of swift transition.”

Lathan takes over the role of acting superintendent immediately, and she will become interim superintendent on April 1. HISD trustees will begin searching for a permanent replacement for outgoing Superintendent Richard Carranza, who is leaving the district after nearly a year and a half to take over as Chancellor of the New York City Schools.

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Lathan, who joined HISD in 2015, is an educator of 26 years. She has served as Chief Academic Officer since the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. She previously served as the chief school officer in the HISD Office of School Support for the district’s north area. Prior to that role, she served as the chief school officer over elementary transformation schools during the 2015-2016 school year in which she led more than 20 schools of out an "improvement required" state rating to a "met standard" rating.

“Dr. Lathan has a track record of turning schools around,” said Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones. “We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber on our leadership team, and we hope this will be a seamless transition as we continue to move the district forward.”

Lathan previously served as superintendent of schools for Peoria Public Schools, where she oversaw approximately 14,000 students and 2,700 staff. She began her education career as a high school teacher in North Carolina and later served as both an assistant principal and principal in the state. She went on to serve as chief elementary school improvement officer of the San Diego Unified School District and as an interim deputy superintendent.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business education from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s degree in business education from the University of North Carolina, and a doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University.

The Board of Education Thursday night accepted Carranza's resignation, and they said they'll use the same search firm that resulted in Carranza’s hiring. Because he left in less than two years, the search will not cost the district.

The firm will be tasked with helping trustees conduct a survey and hold community meetings to gather input on the superintendent candidate profile. That profile will then be used to recruit candidates.

Photo via Houston ISD