In December, Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams visited schools in the former North Forest school district, which was annexed into HISD in July 2013. The decision to make the schools part of HISD was his, and as he states in a Houston Chronicle opinion piece, he hoped for a “wholesale transformation.” The visit confirmed that his hope is being realized.

“The North Forest High School campus looked remarkable,” Williams wrote. “As I walked through the halls and peered into math classes, tutoring sessions and graduation labs, I found students and teachers actively engaged in learning.”

More importantly, he reported that attendance is up and discipline issues are down across the former district.

Williams expressed his confidence in the HISD Board of Education and Superintendent Terry Grier, and acknowledged the “hard work and dedication” that has brought much achievement in a brief period of time.