TEA Appoints New District-Wide Conservator for Houston ISD

Community members walk into Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.

The Texas Education Agency is bringing in Anastasia Anderson as the new district-wide conservator for Houston ISD.

The state agency’s deputy commissioner for governance, Steve Lecholop, made the announcement during Thursday’s HISD school board meeting.

“We feel incredibly fortunate at the agency to be able to recruit someone of such high caliber to serve in this very important role as the new conservator for the district,” Lecholop said.

TEA assigns monitors and conservators to school districts they consider “systems in need” as another layer of state oversight. According to the Texas Education Code, the TEA commissioner has the power to appoint a conservator to oversee the district’s operations.

HISD’s Recent History

HISD’s board, however, is also appointed by the state. The TEA took over the school district in 2023 because Wheatley High School received a string of failing ratings from the state agency.

Doris Delaney, who held the conservator position since before the state takeover, retired in December.

Conservator’s Role

Conservators, under the Texas Education Code, have the power to “direct an action to be taken by the principal of a campus, the superintendent of the school district, or the board of trustees of the district.”

About Anastasia Anderson

Anderson has served in the education field for more than three decades – much of which has been spent in HISD.

Anderson’s education career began as an English teacher. She has also served as an elementary and middle school principal.

“I’ve been driven by a commitment to meet students where they are, cultivate their aspirations, and prepare them for a lifetime of success,” Anderson said in a written statement. “That same commitment propels me in this new role with Houston ISD. Our district continues to make significant progress, and as conservator, I look forward to partnering with Superintendent (Mike) Miles, the Board of Managers, and our exceptional educators to accelerate this progress and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive and achieve a brighter future.”

In 2004, Anderson oversaw all HISD middle schools as a school improvement officer, and most recently, in 2022 she was named CEO of EMERGE, an organization that supports students from low-income communities to apply for and succeed in college.

FAQs

Q: What is the role of a conservator in a school district?

A: A conservator, under the Texas Education Code, has the power to direct actions taken by the principal of a campus, the superintendent of the school district, or the board of trustees of the district.

Q: Why was the TEA appointed as the conservator for HISD?

A: The TEA took over the school district in 2023 because Wheatley High School received a string of failing ratings from the state agency.

Q: What is the Texas Education Agency’s goal in appointing a conservator for HISD?