After thorough searches of qualified and experienced individuals for Terry Grier’s replacement, the Houston Independent School District has found their interim superintendent in Kenneth “Ken” Huewitt.
Once the news broke that Grier has stepped down as superintendent of the Houston ISD due to health reasons, HISD’s Board of Education have been searching for a temporary overseer of the largest public school system in Texas and seventh-largest in the country. Ken Huewitt, who was the district’s deputy superintendent and chief financial officer, was unanimously chosen by the nine-member board when Grier resigned months before his contract expired at June 2016.
“I found out about the news on February 17, a couple of weeks before the start,” Huewitt said.
Huewitt, a Texas State University alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, began in the HISD on December 2001 as the district’s controller. Combined with chief financial officer and deputy superintendent, he brings in 20 years of experience.
In a Click To Houston online article, Grier has said in an interview that the district is in much better shape than when he came in the summer of 2009. The district, from the same article, has seen graduation rates at an all-time high while dropout rates fell by more than 50 percent, Grier’s reason to leave as scheduled. Huewitt saw the good of HISD, but with the good comes the bad and he’ll be doing that as one of his tasks as the temporary leader. His years and strong relationship with the district are going to get things done, and will do so together.
“I know the district and the district knows me,” Huewitt said.
He brings in not only his knowledge but his experience, especially on the budget side of the district.
“I work with district financing, the finance area of the district, and budget is one of the main things of the district,” Huewitt said.
He also adds his years of working and aiding the students. Although he never worked as a teacher, he enjoys the student’s progress and their ability of improving themselves as scholars and as humans.
“When you believe you’re adding value to what you do, it makes you want to get up in the morning every day and come to work.”
Huewitt does not turn his back on the kids, and his worth in the students gives him a purpose fulfillment. He will be looking at other things in the education progress, and one example is the STAAR Examination.
“Students are taking the STAAR tests. This will give us feedback.”
A search for a permanent superintendent is continuing, but Huewitt will do what he will do while he is interim superintendent. Along with the test feedback, Huewitt will hear from the Board of Trustees and HISD everything they need to know what is working in HISD, but whatever needs to get better, the district will do just that and will work to move forward. Ken Huewitt will begin his new position on March 1.