Hinojosa to fire education chief on day one

Governor-Elect Gina Hinojosa announced on Tuesday that she will fire Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath on her first day in office. She made the declaration during her victory speech, marking her entry as the first Latina to hold the governorship in Texas.

The decision addresses questions about the state's control over the Houston Independent School District. Hinojosa, a former school board member and advocate for public education, is set to take office on January 1, 2026.

Despite the immediate personnel change, the state takeover will not end overnight. Chris Tritico, general counsel for the Houston Federation of Teachers, explained that the board composition must shift through votes over time.

Tritico stated, “She will immediately terminate Mike Morath. He is going to be gone. But that doesn’t end the takeover here, Fort Worth or anywhere else immediately.” He noted that Texas education code laws require a phase-out of elected board members, allowing only a few to be replaced at a time.

Because the state cannot replace the entire elected board in a single cycle, it will take time before a new majority can vote to dismiss the current district leadership. Tritico added, “So it will be some time before there is majority of the elected board that is then able to then fire Mike Miles.”

When asked if the new administration will change the state of education immediately, Tritico responded, “Not today, but it will over the next few years.”