State-appointed Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles lost several points in his annual performance evaluation from the board for failing to effectively communicate with community members and for not prioritizing a positive culture, according to recently released district records.
Miles earned 66.7 of the 100 possible points on his evaluation, meaning he received a bonus of $126,730, or 66.7% of the maximum possible bonus of $190,000, according to the evaluation the Board of Managers approved in an 8-1 vote in October meeting.
HISD initially said in October that the results of the evaluation were confidential, but it released the full scores to the Chronicle in response to an open records request.
According to an amendment to Miles’ contract, 60% of his evaluation is based on whether he met four specific student outcome goals and honored the constraints that the board set in November 2023, while the remaining 40% is based on how he scored on an executive leadership and vision rubric.
He earned 35 of 60 available points in the student outcomes section and 31.7 out of 40 points on the executive leadership and vision rubric.
Miles earned a perfect score from board members for demonstrating vision, as well as high marks for making effective decisions and maintaining an effective budget. The board also determined that he had effectively maximized human capital and worked well “as part of a high-performing team.”
However, he lost points for falling short on the district’s goal for third-grade student performance on the reading STAAR during the 2023-24 academic year. Board members also determined he had not been effective at constructing a positive communications strategy or prioritizing a positive culture and people wellness, according to the scores.
[…]
The executive leadership and vision rubric evaluates Miles based on how he has demonstrated vision, made effective decisions, maximized human capital, worked well as part of a high-functioning team, constructed a positive communications strategy, created and maintained an effective budget, and prioritized positive culture and wellness.
Each of the eight metrics is assigned a ranking ranging from “ineffective” to “highly effective” based on a score ranging from zero to five, except for the “demonstrates vision” category, which is assigned a score ranging from zero to 10. The scores are determined for each metric based on how Miles met a series of criteria.
Miles earned a 2.5 out of five for his communication strategy. To earn a higher score, he would need to strengthen outreach to parents, school partners and community members; communicate transparently to strengthen trust and engagement; and internalize the importance of clear communication strategies to support teachers and school leaders.
Miles also earned 2.5 out of five possible points on the “positive culture and wellness” section of the rubric. The maximum score requires Miles to create multiple feedback opportunities for community members, dedicate more resources to a positive culture and expand collaboration with community members.
Isn’t a 67, like, a D? Surely he could set a better example than that. And how he managed to avoid getting zeroes on the “communication” and “positive culture” rubrics – I’d demand a recount. There’s more if you want to read it. I’m just rolling my eyes.
UPDATE: The Chron editorial board is also unimpressed.
re: “Isn’t a 67, like, a D? Surely he could set a better example than that. And how he managed to avoid getting zeroes on the “communication” and “positive culture” rubrics – I’d demand a recount. There’s more if you want to read it. I’m just rolling my eyes.”
First, 67% is better than the job approval rating for any outgoing US President for the past 72 years. Only Clinton got close, and he was at 66%…24 years ago.
Second, at ‘31.7 out of 40 points on the executive leadership and vision rubric’, that’d be a “grade” of 79.25 (a B- or C, depending on how generous the Teacher is) , and at ’35 of 60 available points in the student outcomes section’, that’d be a “grade” of 58.33 (clearly a D). You can’t combine those two things and come up with a final score (“like a D ?”) as it’s the measurement of two separate and distinct things. One’s clearly a D, and one ain’t.
C.L.
Miles earned 66.7 of the 100 possible points on his evaluation
Apples vs Oranges?
Not the same as a job approval rating from the public
Ds no longer exist. 67 is an F. (Unless you are taking the STAAR test.)
Let’s assume you’re taking five classes at the university. Your final grades for the year are 76, 81, 63, 60, and a 92. Did you fail the semester, or did you fail two classes ?
Even with no dog in the fight, I’m no fan of Miles… but he didn’t fail every subject.
CL, I hear what you are saying, but I think you’re using the wrong analogy. I think this is more like a single class, where the teacher says “your final grade will be based 50% on tests, 30% on homework, and 20% on class participation”. Miles did well in some of the components of his grade and less well on the others, and when it was all put together he totaled up to a 67.
You can certainly say he did better than that on some aspects of his job. But the sum total of his job came to a 67.
Whether we call it awful or terrible, the bottom line is it ain’t good.
@Kuff… any data on how prior HISD Superintendent’s were graded ? Did they hit the lofty 67%, or were they higher or lower ?
CL, that’s a good question but I think this is something new for Miles. Previous Supers have been evaluated, of course, for the purpose of their bonus and whatnot, but they had different rubrics. I don’t think there would be any good direct comparisons. That said, it would be useful to know how previous Supers were evaluated, especially at this point in their tenure.
Why does this guy keep getting hired after he leaves a path destruction in every district in which he has served?